“Pain is temporary,” said seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. “ … If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” Staying true to this inspirational quote, the instructors at Cycle Revolutions—which features the mantra on its website—maintain that spinning is more than just an aerobic fitness regimen but also an opportunity to push yourself beyond perceived limits. Although they encourage intensity, the coaches strive to create a friendly, motivational environment where participants can cultivate camaraderie without feeling intimidated. To ensure this, they adapt their sessions to fit all fitness levels and allow each rider to control how fast and hard they pedal.

Once class begins, students adjust the settings of their stationary bikes before the instructor at the front of the room leads them through a simulated course with turns, hills, or long straightaways. Depending on the class, teachers may focus on endurance, strength, or power. Sometimes they also incorporate techniques from different forms of exercise, such as yoga, or further motivate students by having them outrun the studio’s stationary bear.