Where: SoulCycle, 103 Warren Street, New York, NY

A Joy Ride with Charlee

Oh Charlee. You are exactly the reason why I listen when RYB readers recommend their favorite cycling instructors. Otherwise, how would I have discovered your awesomeness?

[Click here to review Charlee's class yourself, or check out her RateYourBurn profile here.]

On Charlee:

• Rocked the ride in a lime green sports bra and spandex. I’ll have a serving of those abs, please.
• There was one rider in the class who was new to Soul (right behind me, actually, so every time Charlee looked over to check on her I got irrationally excited that she was looking at me) and Charlee shouted out to her at the end of class to see how she was doing.
• About mid-way through the ride Charlee was off her bike dancing like a fiend. Literally kicking her legs up in the air like a rockette.

On the class:

• The ride started out with Charlee up on the bike, silent, everyone hitting the flat road together. “Oh great,” I thought, “It's going to be one of those tedious rides.” Oh how wrong I was!
• As soon as we launched into the second song Charlee started going APESHIT. She was yelling out to us the whole time, mostly questions: “CAN YOU DO THIS?” “ARE YOU WITH ME?” “ARE YOU READY?” “IS THIS BURNING?”
• Pushups: yes. But nothing I couldn’t handle (example of something I can't handle: double-time pushups on low resistance, standing). 
• Tap-backs: yes (I love these). 
• Lots of variation in the ride.

Music:

• The musical selection included new remixes of old songs - a la pumped up version of Kid Rock's “Cowboy”. She also played “Kernkraft 400” by Zombie Nation which I haven’t heard in YEARS.
• During “Personal Jesus” by Depeche Mode Charlee  had us riding with one arm stretched out toward her in third position. “Reach out and touch me,” indeed; it was like watching a group of worshipers at the Fountain of Lourdes.

• Charlee posts her class playlists (and her teaching schedule) to her blog so definitely check it out.

To the SoulCyclists in the class:

• The riders in this class were killing me a little bit. Charlee was up there, throwing herself into her ride with all she had, shouting, screaming - and the class response was tepid at best.
• I felt myself becoming indignant on Charlee’s behalf. Answer her when she asks how you’re all doing, damn you! (this criticism excludes the gentleman in the last row in an open shirt spandex cycling suit, who was a top-notch responder).

Quoteable:

I often wish that I was able to bring a tape recorder into these classes with me so that I could accurately repeat some of the gems these instructors drop in their classes. A few that I can remember:

• “Stop cock blocking yourself.”
• “By the end of class, you may love me, you may hate me. But at least you’ll have worked out.”
• (When the crowd response wasn’t what she was hoping) “Aw come on guys, it’s like that? LET ME HEAR YOU.”

All-in-all:

Loved this class something fierce. Charlee could pry sweat and shouts from a lamppost.

From the Soulcycle website: Charlee brings her energetic and uplifting SOUL from all over the US: Colorado, New Mexico, Hawaii, Seattle, and most recently Los Angeles. Delivering the class she would want to be taught, Charlee emphasizes form and plays an eclectic mix of tunes ranging from dance, to hip-hip, to alternative, to instrumental. But most notable is Charlee's motivational form of instructing. Her favorite quote is : "How you do anything is how you do everything" (T. Harv Ecker). Charlee creates a journey that focuses on the present, providing inspiration you can take with you in the future.

Find out more about SoulCycle at wwww.soulcycle.com

Find Charlee on facebook 

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Check out Charlee's teaching schedule here

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