Genius: Body Cycle Studio’s Free ‘Intro to Indoor Cycling’ Classes

Hands-down, the most common thing I hear from people who haven’t tried Spinning is that they’re nervous to try it because they don’t know how to do it. It’s not that they don’t know how to pedal a bike, of course. It’s just that setting up a Spin bike so it’s at the right height, and adjusting the handlebars, seat and resistance can feel a tad overwhelming. Although any good instructor will spend time adjusting newbies’ bikes before class, some people still feel sheepish. And I get it—trying something new is always intimidating, especially in a room of Spandex-clad people who seem like they’re already part of a club  you don’t entirely understand.

All of which is a long-winded way to say: Body Cycle Studio’s Intro to Indoor Cycling classes are brilliant. For one, the sessions are free, so you don’t have to feel pressure to actually commit to Spinning before you’ve ever even sat on a bike. They’re also only 20 minutes long, which is long enough for studio manager Shoshanna Katz to run you through the basics—good form, how a typical class works, etc.—and offer some adjustments, but it’s not like you’re stuck there for an hour watching the clock. Genius, right? You’re welcome.

Body Cycle’s intro classes run every Sunday afternoon at 12:30. Sign up here.