CruCycle

When it comes to spinning this isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve been to Soul Cycle in the US, and lots and lots of other places in Texas. When I first learned I was moving to Singapore the first thing aside from my friends I knew I would miss was my spin place, which sounds crazy but broke my heart. It had a real sense of community, a facebook group, we went to events, and they did charity stuff. Anyway, fast forward to 2016, and boom, here I am in SG, and no spin home. I tried Anthem (meh) and a class at Virgin (double meh) and finally was able to check out Cru. By FAR, it is the closest you are going to come to Soul Cycle, and the closest I’ve been able to find to Revolution, the place I was going in Houston. The instructors are super upbeat, the majority of the time the classes are full, it has a great location, and they have a good facility. They have evening classes, one morning class, and of course weekend classes. Their schedule varies, and the instructors I have been to have impressed me. Make no mistake this is a WORK-​OUT and you will sweat. They have water for purchase, and I believe the shoes are free. I haven’t been going long enough to get a sense if it is just a place to spin, or if there is actually a community, so that is yet to be determined. The only killer is the cost. I had an unlimited membership in Houston (very similar set up, although better bikes) and the price is double (even with the US conversion) that was I was paying for ten classes. That would be my only complaint is that you ONLY have to chose to purchase a class package, which is pricey. I wish they would consider doing memberships, because I would be on board! All in all if you are new in town (like me) or just looking to change up your routine, then Cru is def. worth a shot.

You’re not here just to burn calories, you’re here for the *experience*.
Cru is a fashion-​forward, sleek, boutique spin studio a stone’s throw from Tanjong Pagar station. Pre-​book your class online, and the moment you step into the gorgeous shophouse, you’ll be well looked-​after — combination lockers pre-​assigned, with your pair of clipless cycling shoes waiting for you inside. And after you’re done working up that glow (more on that later), freshen up in a generously proportioned shower cabin; towels and essential toiletries provided, so riders get to pack light.
As for the actual workout, expect fun, fast riding and choreography, set to some pretty awesome music. Being securely clipped in to the bike means that your ride will be so much smoother, and that you’re able to perform a decent range of moves on it. Think narrow pushups, Tracy Anderson-​esque upper body exercises using light weights, obliques moves, etc. Besides working different muscles, the choreography keeps you constantly engaged and means that you never get bored during the 50 minute ride. To quote a fellow rider, «I get to pretend I’m in an MTV video!» Occasional themed rides keep that fantasy alive.
It’s heaps of fun, but a couple of things to note to make sure you get the most out of the experience:
— The choreography, and terms used, may take a while to get used to. New riders should attend a basics class to get acquainted with the Cru format or, at the very least, arrive 15 minutes early to allow for proper setup and a chat with the ride leader (instructor)
— Bring a bottle of water. Cru doesn’t have a water dispenser, though they do sell bottles of Fiji water from $ 4
— Look out for the handsome Bandit, a husky who’s the mascot and face of the Cru brand