Teacher Review: Keli H from Flywheel

Category: Spinning

Target Zone: Legs Location: Rittenhouse Square 

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On the teacher?

Hello Monday Morning! After a Sunday Funday watching football playoffs, I managed to get myself out of bed and make it to Flywheel for the early morning class.. it HURT but I was so happy that I did! Keli is an enthusiastic, motivating instructor that gets you energized to start your day-- she only teaches 6am and 7am on Mondays, but it’s well worth the wake up call! All I kept thinking was wowzas I'll take 3 of whatever she's having. Don't be fooled by her peppy personality though, this girl is a seasoned pro. She'll have you dripping sweat before the warm up is over and eager for the rest of the ride. 

Do I know you? Keli made eye contact with everyone as they walked into class, which automatically created a connection, making me feel like it was my 10th class with her. She did the whole ride with us while instructing--MAJOR props. 

Motivating. But not annoying. Her upbeat demeanor is the driving force of the class. You're not going to get the screaming-in-your-face-cursing-every-other-word, but you will hear a keep-pushing-don't-stop-go-faster throughout the ride. 

Prepared. The countdowns were perfect, the music was selected with purpose, and the pushes were timed flawlessly to the choruses. 

http://philadelphia.flywheelsports.com/instructors/keli-hefele

On the class?

There was a puddle of sweat around my bike. AKA I was sweating profusely. Great mix of higher and lower resistance according to the music. Also enjoyed the nice mix of saddle, out of saddle, hills, jogging, run and sprints. So glad I grabbed two towels before class! 

Jams. Sprinted out of class to download some of her new songs before I forgot! Expect to hear a variety of newer and older songs, timed perfectly with the pace of the ride. 

Goals. The first thing she says is to set a goal. Okay, so my goal is 300. 42 minutes later we're on our last song and I'm only at 271, yikes! I've never pushed so hard for 3 minutes straight and ended up slightly passing my goal-- I was pumped! The gentle reminders throughout class about your goal 

The crowd. Ehhh a little low energy. The room was full of spinners who were not really showing her any love, but Keli was peppy as ever. She asked the class how we were doing a few times, and didn't seem phased or agitated by the lack of woohoos. Her persistence kept me going and actually made me want to try harder to make up for the rest of the crowd. 

Intensity. Keli won me over and the class was definitely fun, but it wasn't the most challenging. This may be a good ride to try out if you're new to Flywheel. 

All in All. 

From what I’ve seen, most of the Philly Flywheel instructors are amazing and Keli is no different. She has her own style/personality and I always leave looking forward to the next ride with her. If you’re an early riser, don't press snooze and get to Keli's class! 

Take Off With Flywheel

Category: Spinning

Target Zone: Legs Location: Rittenhouse Square 

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When I first learned that Flywheel, the NYC based indoor cycling big-hitter was coming to Philly, I was beyond excited. Having gone to a few classes in NYC, I knew I was a fan, but after my first class in Philly, I went quickly from a fan to an addict. 

Where is it? Center City studio is located at 1521 Locust Street. 
Main Line studio is located at 711 West Lancaster Ave, Suite 300. 

What is it?  Cycling on steroids. This class will have you huffing, puffing, completely drenched in sweat and probably cursing your teachers name under your breath... all in the first 10 minutes. Just trust us, it's worth it. 

First impressions?  Immaculate, inviting, and CLEAN. From the decor to the amenities to the actual bikes, you know as soon as you walk in the door that this place is legit. Even the front entryway and the bathrooms are beautiful. I kind of wanted to just hang out in the studio and not even work out! I'll get to the actual spinning later - if studios were rated purely on aesthetics, this one would get an A+.

Why Flywheel? The technology! At Flywheel each individual bike is equipped with the technology to allow you to track your own personal output/exertion/power level throughout class, and also track your progress over time. Feeling competitive? Choose to display your total power score on the Torqboard and let your inner athlete shine because lets be honest - no one likes to lose. Nothing will motivate you more than beating a personal best, or that girl 3 bikes down who for some reason is totally on your nerves. If competition isn't your thing or you're struggling to shake the cobwebs after a big Thursday night, don't worry, you can easily opt out of the Torqboard and still see your own personal power score without advertising it to the rest of the class. 

thequickanddirtydirty.com

The Perks 

Music.  A spin class without good music would be like a margarita with no tequila. Seriously incomplete! Well luckily at Flywheel the music is always amazing. You'll hear different genres depending on the teacher, with the beat always timed perfectly to the flow of the class. 

Free-bies. First class is FREE! Other freebies are yours at every visit; shoes, water, hair ties, even earplugs (if thats your thing).

Arms. Rarely when you walk into a spin class are you expecting any kind of upper body workout. Well get ready. At Flywheel there are actually weighted bars attached to each bike, turning your typical cycling class into an incredible full body workout. Doesn't get much better than that!

fitnessfrugalistic.com

What else do you need to know?

Is it worth buying a package?  How often are you going to go? If you're fully committed to being there 3 to 4 times a week then the answer is YES! Unlimited monthly packages are $180, $130 for students. Individual classes aren't cheap ($25) and my recommendation would be to buy the 10-class package for $225 with an expiration date one year from purchase.

Results? It’s a full body workout, torching calories and working muscles in your legs, core and arms. Aka.. Keep at it and you will absolutely see your body start to change. For maximum results, pair this high intensity cardio blast with something like a barre or yoga class that will focus on building long, lean muscles.

Need to cancel? Don't forget to do it by 5PM the day before, otherwise you'll still have to pay for the class or a $20 cancellation fee. Ugh!!

Hidden fees? The membership seems like a great deal (and it is) but you’re locked in for at least 3 months and need to send a written notice to cancel. Not a big deal if you’re hooked, but don't get stuck paying month after month without realizing!

Overall
Flywheel is definitely my favorite spin studio in Philly. A little on the pricier side but worth every penny when you leave feeling empowered and motivated. Isn't that the point when you're spending the money and taking valuable time out of your day? Flywheel won't disappoint and you'll leave counting down the hours until you can come back and do it all over again.