RYDE – River Oaks

Took the Friday afternoon class with Kelly and it was awesome! She had a lot of energy, motivated the class really well and had great music! I would definitely recommend this studio to anyone who is new in town and looking for a upbeat workout. I didn’t even feel like I was working out because it was so much fun!

Best spin studio I’ve come across in Houston so far (and I’m a seasoned spinner). The classes are always packed, great bikes, sound system, and energetic instructors. The house music can be a bit annoying, but I mange to make it through with my clothes dripping with sweat.

I just finished my first class and thought it was challenging in the best kind of way. The instructor Ashley was really nice, she introduced herself and gave me some tips before the class started. I love that you get an email with your performance numbers. Pretty neat place, super clean! BTW they have the nicest bikes I have seen at any Houston spin class!

This is probably a 3.5 stars review but I’ve rounded down in the hopes of effecting change.
I just moved to Houston recently and have been looking for an alternative to Flywheel. I’ve been a consistent Flywheel rider for about 3 years and have also been to classes at SoulCycle and Peloton. Ryde is much more akin to SoulCycle than Flywheel. Flywheel uses metrics and numbers. The Ryde bikes have a display that shows you RPMs, watts, and gear but it’s not used very much during the classes.
Classes: At Ryde, you spend almost the entire class riding out of the saddle. During most songs, they ask you to do «choreography» such as bending down and doing crunches into the handlebars or swaying from side to side or back to front. You generally ride to the beat of the class. I prefer classes where you alternate riding both in the saddle and out of the saddle. I miss doing seated climbs. I also don’t enjoy the choreography very much; I just don’t think doing crunches while riding a bike provides that much of an extra workout. This is my biggest gripe with Ryde. The class is a lot like SoulCycle so if you like SoulCycle, it’ll probably work for you. I prefer my spin classes to be focused on bike riding so it’s not my favourite.
Instructors: I’ve now taken classes with almost every instructor they have and overall, they all seem fairly pleasant. The differences between instructors are pretty small and most classes are structured similarly. If you’re new, the instructors or staff will help you set up your bike and give you some tips before the class starts which is helpful.
Music: They pretty much only play EDM. Once in a while, an instructor throws in a throwback song or a recent pop jam but mostly — EDM. I am generally not down with bike riding to music I can’t sing along to so this brings the stars down a bit too. I think if the instructors were more varied in their music choices, I could just pick the ones that played the music I like but they legit ALL play only EDM. It’s bananas.
Timing: This must be a Houston problem but I don’t understand why they have no classes in the 7:00 am hour. There is one on Wednesdays but that’s it. I don’t need to get up 6:30 am for work so I never make the really early classes and I can’t go to the 8:30 am because it’s not cool if I roll into work at 10. I end up going to the evening classes but I would immensely prefer to work out in the mornings so Ryde, if you’re listening: please add 7:30am classes.
Amenities: Lockers are pretty standard. The cold towels they hand out at the end are a nice touch. Regular towels are stacked on the bike. There’s only one shower which is odd but I get the sense no one really showers there. They do have soap, shampoo, etc. if you do. I guess people go home to get ready and then go to work? Seems pretty clean. Clip-​in shoes and water cost extra ($ 2 each I think) which is a bummer but it seems most studios here do that so not out of the ordinary.

If you are looking for a fun way to get a work out, come here!!!
I am addicted to working out here, it is so much fun! at first I bought the 1 week pass, thinking it was going to be something to do for a week. But, I ended up buying the Infinite month package. It’s a little pricey, but worth it! I like scheduling in my work out times. So many times I say I’m going to the gym after work, but end up bailing on it. This method allows me to remain on schedule and keep up with working out regularly.
Lisi and Rush will push you to give it your all! Everyone has really good beats, and great classes. On average, I burn 450+ calories a class.
I tried revolution studio, and I preferred the staff and ambience at Ryde. The rooms are not as hot and stuffy.
I have recommend all my friends to at least try it!

As a retired gymnast, I can truly say it’s been a struggle to find a workout studio that has been able to keep me motivated. I’ve tried several fitness studios in the area but RYDE was the game changer for me. I was actually first introduced to the studio by a former gymnast/​teammate of mine, who swore this would be one of the hardest yet enjoyable workouts, and she was right.
Nearly a year later and I’m still hooked. Every instructor is different and challenging in their own way. I’ve never been a cyclist, nor have I ever really enjoyed cardio, but this work out doesn’t even feel like a work out. It’s literally a party on a bike! (And killing calories which is always good) I’ve never felt like I had the same workout twice.
The instructors are extremely motivating and knowledgeable. The staff in general are warm and welcoming and have truly mastered the art of customer service. You really feel a part of the ‘RYDE Family’ the minute you walk in the door.
In the big city of Houston, I can’t explain how many times I’ve been approached and asked about this studio if I’m wearing any of the gear. Seriously. A nail salon on the other side of town, a hole in the wall burger joint, anywhere. This is small business who really cares about their clients, which is rare and refreshing to find in today’s society.

My first spin class ever was at Soul Cycle so it’s hard to compare to the original cult cycling class. This was pretty decent and a nice change to my usual workout. I like the 5:30am options, riding in the dark and neon lights versus my old gym where we had to suffer in bright lights, and the cold towels at the end. Definitely worth a try!

RYDE is by far my favorite and the best rhythmic based spin studio in Houston!
RYDE has a very crisp and energetic vibe with very friendly staff to greet you as you walk-​in the door. I usually come straight from my office to de-​stress from my work day to the 6pm or 7pm classes. The women’s bathroom is clean and has complimentary toiletry items (hair ties, feminine care products, mints, hair spray, dry shampoo, hair dryer, etc.) which makes it easy to transition from business attire to spin attire. There is also a shower with towels provided for post-​spin class!
I have struggled for many years on sticking to and finding a good work-​out routine that I enjoy. However, RYDE has forever changed that for me! I have gone to approximately 100 RYDEs and I STILL leave every class feeling challenged which keeps me coming back for more! All of the instructors at RYDE are high quality, energetic and knowledgeable about every aspect of the class. Typically, I will attend Andrew, Ashley, Lisi or Morgan’s classes, as I prefer the variation of instructors to keep it challenging because each instructor has their own unique RYDE style. I always work up a great sweat during every class so the cold eucalyptus infused towels handed out during the closing stretches are amazing!
RYDE is the only spin studio I have been to in Houston that has the console on the bike which keeps me in check that I am pushing myself during my work out. After spin class, I look forward to receiving the email with my statistics which provides me with my High Watts, Average Watts, High RPM, Average RPM, Distance, Total Energy and Calories Burned. Also, all of my statistics from every class are compiled into my profile on their website (
) so I can compete against myself from class to class.
I can finally say I have found a work out regimen that de-​stresses me from work, I can see physical results from and most importantly that I LOVE! I can never thank RYDE enough for the healthy life style change you have given me!

Well after 100+ checkins i have decided to give this facility 5 stars… it has kept me motivated in not only biking, but keeping a good mindset on eating better and hitting he weight room too.

I came here for a special workshop with Keith Thompson this past weekend. Don’t know how it would be during a «regular» class, but I don’t think I would try again. I’ve attended one other cycle classes in the area — and the other cycle class just seems better to me for the following reasons based on my experience this past weekend:
1. PARKING — seems to be non existent. This location is in a area with a lot of other retail stores, so maybe because it was a Saturday, everything was packed but I had to park 2 blocks away. Not good.
2. Actual classroom — again I don’t know if it was because of the workshop, but the room was crowded with bikes. So much so, half of the time in the class, I was not able to see what moves the teacher was doing during the workout. This is not a problem at the other place I go to.
3. Bathroom — I might be a little over the top about bathrooms/​showers at gym and exercise facilities, but this one didn’t seem super clean to me. It was nice but not sure about the cleanest.
One good thing I will say about the place is that the people working there seemed very nice and helpful.

Rockstar workout.
I came to Ryde on a guest pass that my buddy Vik gave me. The studio is only a 20-​minute drive from downtown and I was easily able to find a parking spot in the back near an e-​cig store. I met Andrew when I arrived who was very friendly and showed me around the facility.
This location is very clean, but small. As Vik stated, the locker room is very tiny and has a single shower. A filtered water tap is conveniently located just outside the studio for your water bottle.
You can reserve a numbered bike online prior to the class and receive an email afterwards with your results. Nice use of technology.
Keyless lockers and towels are provided. Shoes are also available if needed. This place really does everything for you and you don’t have to worry about a thing.
The studio itself has about 32 bikes and books-​up fast. Arrive early, because it’s going to be dark. The workout has a lot of head bobbing, push-​ups, and leaning in different directions. Expect to work more muscles than just your legs. During one song, we did arm & shoulder exercises with dumbbells. Overall a good workout and you definitely will sweat. I also like the menthol-​fresh towel that was served to me at the end of the workout.
For what I didn’t like about Ryde, one thing is that the studio was very hot. I started sweating right after the first song and the fans were not really going until the end of the session. I have never left this much sweat on the floor of a spin class, and I almost ran out of water. I’m used to cleaning-​up my sweat puddles afterwards and was a little embarrassed that I left a couple of lakes that I was told would be wiped-​up for me.
I can always tell when a spin class instructor is a cyclist. We didn’t really focus much on cycling techniques, except for a little shoulder stabilization at one point of the session. You will spend most of your time standing, so not much for up and down intervals, long hill climbs or posture. We did do a little bit of speed training and sprints, though, and recovery time in between songs is minimal. It would be nice to see optimal cadence, FTP and FTHR training. I’m not looking for a personal, specialized triathlon training session. I would like to see a group class that focuses on legs, core and riding techniques to help me on my weekend, century and two-​day rides. There is a studio in Dallas that does this for the MS-​150 and HH100 events.
For $ 22 a session I would love to come back to this place if I could focus strictly on cycling techniques and not cardio spin for the masses. Unfortunately all I received for the most part was a good sweat session. For pure calorie burn, there are cheaper options out there.
I would give Ryde 3.5 stars for my own personal rating, but bump it up to 4 for the outstanding service you will receive.
1÷22÷2016 UPDATE
— — — — — — — –
Ryde is offering 90-​minute MS-​150 training rides every Sunday at 12:30pm. Cost is $ 40. MS-​150 recommended rides are about the same cost as Ryde’s training session, so not a bad deal if you look at it that way. Will try a session in a week and report back.

Best spin class I’ve been to by far! High energy, full body workout and rave instead of just cycling. Was intimidated being a first timer, but the staff was super welcoming, and got me set up and running in only a few minutes. The workout was hard but very diversified… And the ice cold eucalyptus towel was such a refreshing finishing touch!
Entire studio, restrooms, and bikes are super clean and the instructors constant high energy kept me pushing…
Highly recommend.

Overall, really like Ryde! I live in Washington, DC where I am surrounded by amazing spin studios (ie: Soul Cycle, Flywheel, Zengo Cycle). I am an instructor at Zengo Cycle there and am always desperate for the same level of wonderful when I am in Houston visiting my parents. Took two classes here over the holidays and it is on par with the caliber of music/​feel/​instruction as places I frequent in DC and NYC.
Pros: The style of teaching and riding is almost identical to Soul Cycle without the cheesy motivational rhetoric and lots more upper body work (push-​ups and oblique work while riding in almost every song). I enjoy the workout itself a lot more than Ryde’s rival Revolution Studio down the street. It’s more challenging and diverse. Choreography is done to the beat of the music and instructor playlists are awesome — high energy and carefully selected. Studio is clean and beautiful. Love the metrics you get emailed to you after class. I’ve never been to a studio that rides to the beat of the music, but incorporates the traditional computered bikes, too.
Cons: Size of room. The room is really deep, but not wide. There’s only about 8 bikes in the front row. I imagine its miserable and hard to see the instructor third row and back. One of the instructors I took was calling out to lead on the right food but was always on the left. The off-​the-​bike stuff the instructors did was a little forced and awkward. I guess because Soul Cycle has perfected this «art» of instructing off the bike, it makes it uncomfortable to watch anyone else do it who hasn’t had that same training. When the instructor was on the bike, it was great!
Highly recommend for anyone looking to change up their workout routine and/​or visiting from a city where you’re spoiled with the boutique fitness scene.

I’ve been to all the spin studios in Houston, and I must report that Ryde is actually my least favorite. I’ve never had a bad experience here, just had better everywhere else.
First, I was surprised that they don’t offer the first class free or a reduced price for one week or something of that nature. I called to ask and they were nice enough to give me a few bucks off the regular price for my first ride. If I wasn’t a spin junkie committed to trying them all, I would have said ‘no thank you’.
My first class was great but the overall experience seemed impersonal, and not much changed my second class. No one asks about or remembers your name and I didn’t really feel super welcomed into the ~family~ so to speak. The ride itself is set up like other spin studios — a mixture of climbs, speed, out of the saddle, and arms. I LOVE the music here — it’s very EDM + rap focused which is great for pushup + tap back sequences. What really sets this place apart is that each bike is equipped with a tracker for performance metrics like speed, intensity, miles, etc which is then emailed to you after class.
If they were on ClassPass I would definitely come regularly, but for the price I have to pass.

I’ve been to all of the spin studios inside the loop, and THE famous one in NYC and I have to say that I’ve really enjoyed and continue to enjoy my time at Ryde.
I was hesitant that Ryde wouldn’t give me the full body work out I got at the barre class I frequented for a long time, but Ryde gives me all of the strength training I need plus the cardio I missed so much.
Each class has a good variety of paces, quick sprints, long climbs, a good arm work out (start with a smaller weight, trust me) and ends with a refreshing eucalyptus towel.
Some instructors are a little more generous with the fans, but thanks to the really high ceilings and the space between each bike it doesn’t get nearly as hot as other studios I’ve been too. It’s warm but not uncomfortable. Pro-​Tip: Make sure you have a full bottle of water when you start.
The email with the statistics keeps me working hard. Competing with yourself is the best motivation, and if you need any extra inspiration you can see where you rank in the class. Don’t worry, you can opt out of the leader board if it makes you uncomfortable.
Overall, Ryde is a modern looking and very clean studio with friendly staff and energetic instructors. As an added bonus for an EDM fan like me, the playlists always have new and great songs that make this intense work out a little more fun so you don’t notice how hard you’re working.

I’ve been coming for the past couple of months and am in love w working out here. I think I’ve tried all the spin studios in the loop so far and Ryde is definitely my favorite. The location is excellent, it’s close to dt and home. The classes are fun and the 45 minutes go by fast which is something I appreciate since I typically hate working out. Something about having a console on your bike tracking your exercise makes working out more enjoyable. Love that they email you your workout stats after class. The eucalyptus towel afterwards is just another perk. The bikes are also not super close to each other which is something I hate at some of the other studios. Not a big fan of being so close to someone else and having their sweat fly on me, not to mention hitting your neighbors while doing push-​ups. I like my space when working out.
The owners seem really passionate about their studio which is something I’m really impressed with. Every time I’m here, seems like Ashley (one of the co-​owners) is as well.
Only downside would be that pole that’s on one side of the spin room which blocks your view of the podium if you’re on bike number 16. Not a big deal but prob not the best bike to be on if you’re new.
So far really like this place!

My intro to RYDE was a Unilocal elite event. Elites were able to take a cycling class with 2 of the 3 owners: I was hooked.
I then saw a tidbits deal for a 5 class package and purchased that. This has been such an awesome experience, since Houston doesn’t really have a studio like this. The only cycle class I’ve ever taken was at a gym, and it’s boring compared to RYDE. You cycle to really catchy, fast paced music, in a mood-​inducing atmosphere. The studio is very modern and simple. Nice lighting that changes throughout the class, with remote control ceiling fans they turn on as the class gets warmed up.
My favoriite part is the email summary. You get an account of the ‘energy’ you put forth during the class, as well as estimated calories burned, miles, etc. It’s a great way to push yourself each time, and beat your own record. Very motivational I might add!
The classes are $ 22 each, and $ 3 for a shoe rental. Class packages also available, and of course you can wear your own cycling shoes, if compatible with the bikes. Parking is sometimes available at the store front, but mostly in the lot behind the shopping strip.
I just purchased another 5 classes, so looking forward to my weekly cardio spin! Ashley and Andrew have been my favorite instructors thus far.

I’ve been coming to Ryde quite regularly now and I absolutely love it! I’ve only been to a few other cycling classes at different gyms and Ryde has been the only one that has been able to keep me interested and actually make me break a sweat.
I’ve taken classes with instructors Ashley, Brad, and Lauren. My favorite session has been with Ashley, her energy is out the roof and her teaching style is fantastic. It definitely helped keep me in the zone and focused.
The facility itself is very cool! As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by the receptionist at a very long bar-​like desk. In the corner they have some ‘Ryde’ flare for sale like T-​Shirts and Water Bottles. If you’ve been to Ryde before, no need to bring your wallet to buy anything. They already have your credit card on file tied to your membership. Heading towards the back area of the building you will find the lockers and two separate bathrooms for men and women. The bathrooms also include one shower if you prefer to clean up there.
The actual studio where all the fun takes place is pretty badass. It’s a dark setting. There are several fans on the ceiling to keep you cooled down during spinning. When the class actually starts although it’s dark, the crazy fun light show that goes on brightens it up quite a bit. The music choice is great, more of an EDM playlist which I enjoy a ton. At the end of your 45-​minute spin, the staff brings in cold mint-​freshed scented towels to wipe yourself down with.
I’ve been very pleased with my visits here, and recommend you check it out!

My new favorite place to cycle. I love everything about this place. Very clean, co-​ed, the location, the lighting, and online sign up for classes where you get to select which bike you want. Awesome. The bikes here are by far the nicest I’ve seen in houston.
They keep track of your performance digitally so everytime you come, you get a performance comparison with your prior self. So everytime you come you are competing against you! Love it!
The instructors here are super friendly. So if you’re a cycling novice, this is a good place to start. And if your a pro, it’s a good place to much improve.
All of the music is remixed. So it has a really nice beat. No awkward sprinting to taylor swift. And they hand out cold towels at the end, I never knew how much I needed this in my life until till now. You’ll like it, Try it!

Pretty much can say I might be Ryde’s #1 fan– I have been waiting for this studio to open up for quite some time now. It met my expectations and then some! This is such a fantastic place that I would literally recommend to ANYONE. I mean that! Any fitness level, whether or not you have any spin class experience. This is such a killer workout and you make it your own, which is the beauty of it.
The facility itself is clean, bright, and welcoming. The spin bikes are really nice, and easy to setup. The room itself is awesome, with mirrors, lights that change during class (like colors, brightness, etc), and the most important thing a great loud sound system!
I cannot say enough about the staff at Ryde. I have been taking spin classes for along time, and these are the crème de la crème of instructors. Trust me, this makes a WORLD of difference in a class like this. They are fun, energetic, charismatic, and most importantly helpful. I always leave class like, did I just dance for 45 mins or workout? Just such a great energy.
As for some of the other finer details, they have shoes available if you dot have the one’s that allow you to clip in. Towel service is provided. Bring your own water bottle (they have a filtered fountain), or you can purchase water. They also have a small selection of snacks and juice from Squeezed. Parking, at least for me so far, has been a BREEZE. You reserve your bike ahead of time, so there is no fighting for a spot here. The pricing ranges, but I think an average is about 18 – 22 dollars a session. Its worth it!
All the instructors are fantastic– but I have to give a big shout out to Rush! Hes the best instructor I have ever taken (and is the reason I am actually at Ryde!)