Review: BOOM Cycle

What’s the buzz? BOOM is one of a growing band of bespoke spin studios, purporting to offer more than the average gym spin class. It’s all about high motivation, carefully crafted playlists and low lighting: candlelit classes allow you to forget the outside world and focus on your cycling. The main thing is to keep riding to the beat throughout, which becomes more challenging as you become more tired and sweaty.

Melissa, the instructor who taught my Sunday morning class in Holborn, was especially motivating. Her 10am class, an hour long, was worth getting up early for. She’s excellent: I felt as though she was really pushing the class and I had an excellent, endorphin-inducing workout. I also sampled a good Saturday morning class at Shoreditch: the pace was less intense, with less emphasis on adding resistance, but a decent workout all the same and made most enjoyable by loud drum and bass, which is the best music to spin to.

Staff in both studios are very friendly and helpful — they do customer service really well here. The Holborn studio is newer and if you’re small like me this is the one to come to, as the bikes can be more easily adjusted to those of little height. You can wear your own trainers or rent cleated shoes, which keep you stapled to the bike and reduce the chance of your shoelaces getting caught in the machinery (ouch). Would I go again? Yes, to Holborn, as I need a petite-friendly bike and I want Melissa to whip me into shape.

Location: Shoreditch and Holborn

How much does it cost? From £13 a class depending on the time of your class and the package you buy.