Health

How to Score the Best Spot at Your First Indoor Cycling Class

Illustration by Jason Schneider.

Our expert: Teryn Hann, an instructor at Zengo, one of the fitness chains helping fuel Washington’s current fixation on indoor cycling.

1. Don’t be late. “Get there early, and ask for help setting up your bike. It’s pretty tough to set it up correctly if the lights have already gone down.”

2. Get in the thick of it. “The best spot is really up to the rider, but for newcomers I encourage the middle of the second row. You’ll feel like you’re a part of the class and you’ll have a good view of the teacher.”

3. Don’t go to the dark side. “In most cycling studios, it’s dark enough that you can get a little lost in the rhythm and motion of the class. But when you first start, brighter parts of the room can let you see what more experienced riders are doing, which is helpful.”

4. If you’re intimidated? “Don’t sit in the front row. And if you want to completely go at your own pace, head to the back of the class and do your own thing.”

Read more advice, tips, and tricks from Washington natives in our Secrets of the City package.

This article appears in our January 2016 issue of Washingtonian.