Happy & Healthy

New york meets amsterdam

Yes, it’s time for soul cycle

It’s been buzzing through the entire city. Soul cylce finally crossed the pond and made its way to Amsterdam. Here’s a crash course if you have yet to be introduced to this hit concept: spinning (fast paced cycling) in the dark with candle lights and hits blaring through the speakers (think Michael Jackson, J.Lo, Usher, etc). In New York you’ll find it on practically every street corner and showing up for a 6AM class has become a part of people’s normal day-to-day routines. Hollywood celebrities (Kimmie K, DvF, Sarah Jessica Parker) always show up 10 minutes after a class has already begun and leave a couple minutes earlier. Working out in the dark, no one who recognizes them. Celebrity-workout-heaven.

Together with our text editor and translator Elke, I headed on over to the very first soul cycle class in the Dam at ROCYCLE, founded by Rogier van Duyn.

Hotel vibes

The price for a single class might startle you at first – it comes with an 18 euro price tag – buttt, then again they have dressing rooms that are impeccably clean, the showers are filled with the best products from Zenology and there are plenty of clean towels for you to use. So all in all, worth every penny. Oh, and before I forget, they also have a counter filled with hair ties (I always manage to forget those), cotton pads, blow dryers and deodorant for you to use. Nothing they didn’t think of.

On the bike

The room consists of about 50 bikes, each containing two weights and a small (sweat) towel (how’s that for even more service!). The lights get switched off, the candles are lit and you’re ready to go. You have three class options: 45 minutes, 60 minutes and for the ultimate diehards, a 90 minute class. Whichever one you opt for, you’re going to get your ass kicked (in the best way possible). Throughout the class you’ll be cycling at a fast pace and you continuously adapt your resistance. Plus, you swap things around by cycling standing up, sitting down and back to standing again with weights, all the while listening to incredibly loud dance music; deephouse, pop, hiphop, R&B or soul. Which is great because it nearly makes you forget how hard you’re actually working out. Another added bonus: no one can see how profusely you are sweating. All the more reason to pull out all the stops.