Rare, There, All Too Well: A Pod About SoulCycle

Back in 2007, a colleague from my living-in-NYC-post-university-days of working-in-a-restaurant-while-figuring-out-how-I-wanted-to-be-a-performing-artist…after a year of persistent invitations…finally convinced me to walk ½ block around the corner on the Upper West Side of Manhattan & join her at a workout class in a tiny shoebox (which used to be a dance studio) where she'd been working part-time, called SoulCycle.

While the rest might be history (after all…you're reading this boutique-fitness-focused email from me 18 years later! Also… at the passage of time) the history of that era not only was the kick-off to my riding consistently for 4 years…then auditioning into & completing the Soul instructor training in 2011…then teaching 15+ classes a week elsewhere…

…but a time in hindsight which, to me from a business, fitness industry & cultural standpoint…in a city which the world observes/obsessively visits for the best-of-the-best…is actually worth unpacking.

Jess Rothschild (@jessxnyc on Instagram) did exactly this & produced a 7+ part podcast called “Cult of Body & Soul”. She interviewed old friends of mine who choose their words with integrity, including the colleague who cajoled me on the bike for the first time (Louise), and another colleague who worked in every department at the company except for instructor talent, opening locations (Miles) & key-players without whose contributions for better or for worse (as lofty & wild as this feels to write) our niche-boutique-fitness-industry would not be the same. 

The stories shared? Same ones I remembered from being there as a rider/friends with multiple early staff members & from 2011 instructor training. This pod is rightfully opinions/reminiscing/dot-connecting…but it is also legit. 

[If you're in the fitness industry but NOT in cycle/"spin"™…still a worthwhile listen with takeaways for your own business.]

In my moments of off-time while caregiving, I have been slowly diving in & sharing more via Instagram Stories (do we follow each other?! I'm @noelcycles - please join me!) & they're on my Highlight.

For now, I'll send this off by saying: back in the early days, the co-founders were very present at the studio. Knew which riders liked cold Smart Water or room temperature & had it ready. Cleaned bikes, folded towels, sprayed shoes. Were willing to do whatever it took to be successful, and even as they expanded & manager staff were onboarded, absorbing aspects of that work…they were still very involved in delivering the experience which inspired a bunch of global 'copies.' I believe this is, in part, why the brand was a smashing-success.

And for the original Upper West Side Rear Lobby riders whose evangelism supported their expansion, ignited a sale to Equinox & the founders' eventual exit of USD $100 million or so each…yeah, they have every right to be annoyed that their new neighborhood studio still didn't have a shower when all the others, did.

If you're listening, too, reply & let me know what resonates the most in your own studio!

Have a great rest of your week!

P.S. Purchase our customizable Employee Handbook Template HERE. Remote ways to work together are here.