After Trying Every Workout Class in Athens, Here’s My Honest Classic City Cycling Review

Rhythm-Based Cycling in Downtown Athens, Ga

$$$$         230 W Clayton St, Athens, GA 30601

Perfect for: high-intensity, cardio, weight training, energetic atmosphere

Finding the motivation to work out in college is hard. Pretty soon all of those vodka cranberries at DoubleBarrel and cookies on the way out of Bolton start to catch up with you, and it’s time to get rid of the freshman fifteen. Ramsey is free, but parking is a pain. OrangeTheory Fitness and CrossFit are expensive and extremely intense. And classes at yoga studios like Shakti and Fuel quickly become repetitive and don’t seem to get the job done. When it comes to Athens workouts, I’ve tried everything from kickboxing at X3 Sports (how does Gigi Hadid make kickboxing look graceful?) to Chloe Ting YouTube videos in my bedroom (never will I ever do another burpee again). 

After endless membership fees and disappointing results, I’ve finally found an exercise class that leaves me invigorated, not just exhausted, and consistently looking forward to my next time in the studio. Here’s everything you need to know about Classic City Cycling and why the endorphin rush that comes with rhythm-based cycling is worth your college-student dollar. 

Rhythm-Based Cycling? Explain.

Classic City Cycling is a boutique indoor cycling studio conveniently located on Clayton Street in downtown Athens, GA. They feature a rhythm-based, high-intensity, cardio workout with interval weight training choreographed to the beat of the music. What is a “rhythm-based, high-intensity, cardio workout” you ask? Riding with the rhythm of the music is when you’re hitting the front push of the pedal stroke on the down beat of the track. These 45-minute classes are structured around high energy songs with build ups and clear beat drops. It’s easy to work out when you’re more focused on matching the rhythm of your favorite Kanye West album than your thighs feeling like they’re on fire. 

A Miley vs. Noah Cyrus Ride? Sign Me Up

The key to rhythm cycling is the music, and Classic City has some awesome playlists. Each week, they’ll offer three to four specially themed rides which are fun to look forward to and even more fun to attend. Wake up Drake Up, Miley vs. Noah, and a Total Rihanna Ride are all on the schedule for this week. The music played during the standard Classic City rides is a random assortment of popular, upbeat songs chosen by the instructor. These classes are great, but the themed rides add a nice variety and will keep you from getting bored which is important when joining a studio. Motivating yourself to get up and go to any workout class can be hard, but knowing you get to spend the next 45 minutes following the rhythm of songs by your favorite artists makes it a lot easier. You get distracted by thinking about what songs they might play and leave feeling energized and wanting to login to Spotify and create a new playlist. I’m still waiting on the day when I open the app and see a Hamilton Ride on the calendar. 

Your First Ride Is Free!

If you’ve tried Peloton or any sort of cycling class before, you’ll love Classic City. And if you’re completely new to the world of rhythm-based cycling, don’t be nervous. The instructors are all super friendly and make the experience of getting started and setting up your bike completely comfortable. The studio is beautiful and spacious, and aims to foster a sense of community with things such as a milestone chalkboard wall and free coffee after classes on Saturdays. It might take you a few rides to get familiar with the movements, but it’s extremely satisfying and exciting to feel yourself get stronger and notice your endurance improve. 

After 78 classes, I still look forward to going back to Classic City Cycling each week. Every time I step into the studio, the lights go dark, and the music begins, I immediately forget about the worries of my day and drop into the bliss that comes with focusing on nothing else but moving your body and being present. Originally I started going to Classic City Cycling to lose weight, and you might be, too. But losing weight is a lot easier when you’re actually enjoying yourself. Pretty soon you’ll forget all about trying to lose the freshman fifteen and just want to go have fun.