By Katelyn Lam, Staff Writer

With the pandemic still raging and gyms shut down, cycling has become a popular means of exercise as well as a reason to go outside. With more roads being opened to bikes, the possibilities are growing. Now that everyone’s stuck at home, getting up and out of the house is important, and being able to bike with a goal in mind also encourages people to get out more, getting you somewhere while still being active.

Cycling can be both an individual and communal activity, seeing as it’s a great way to spend time with friends or family while still being able to safely social distance. From riding around the neighborhood to going on a trip across the country, the possibilities are endless. 

Cycling hasn’t just become popular recently though, throughout the past decades it has been brought into the spotlight on multiple occasions as a great way to improve strength, balance, and coordination. It also plays into the eco-friendly aspect of life many people are trying to achieve. With many forms of cycling including road cycling and SoulCycle, it has opened up to everyone.

Road cycling is the most popular type of cycling out there, with nothing but endurance and stamina as the limit. There’s more freedom than simply getting in your car and driving somewhere, it sets a personal challenge for yourself and there’s no set way to do it. It can be as quick and easy and getting your bike and hitting the road. Road cycling doesn’t require a membership and each time you can push yourself to go further, faster, and getting to the goal and making it to your destination is a feeling of accomplishment you can’t get from riding a stationary bike at the gym or in your basement. It’s a great way to explore places you might never have bothered to go to before or were too far out of the way. Now that many people are working and doing school from home the roads are as empty as they’re ever going to get and it’s the perfect opportunity to get started. As long as all the guidelines and rules are followed and you know your way back home, nothing much is stopping you. Road cycling isn’t for everyone though, but it isn’t the only type of cycling out there.

SoulCycle has grown exponentially since it was founded in New York, New York in 2006 by Elizabeth Cutler, Julie Rice, and Ruth Zukerman. As of March 2020 they now have 99 locations in the U.S, Canada, and United Kingdom. SoulCycle is different from regular cycling which would be riding a bike and has become increasingly popular over the years since its conception. It includes a stationary bike which isn’t anything new, but their twist on it is what makes it so popular. It has cardio and strength training and includes more than just riding a bike going nowhere for a couple of hours. It has a specific regime of exercises from crunches to tap backs all used to increase stamina and endurance, and being indoors adds to the new possibilities it opens. SoulCycle differs from regular stationary cycling in that it also includes an instructor along with music and candles. Their playlists are one-of-a-kind high-energy music, something only found in their classes and adds to what makes them unique.

Although the appeal of cycling in a dark room with lots of other people all sweating and panting may be lost on some, the thousands of people that stream into their buildings for classes all across the country would beg to differ. It is all done to focus on yourself and your body. When asked what makes it enjoyable and worth the money spent on classes, many people said that they could find community and friendship as well as inspiration to do better among their peers and the instructors. Everyone moves together doing the same workouts and connected with the music and rhythmic activity it serves as a mind-clearing ritual. As of now, they have a location in San Mateo, three in San Francisco, and Stanford to name a few.

Now more than ever it’s important to make exercise part of our daily lives and there are always new options available. It’s like a breath of fresh air amongst the stuffiness of staying home all day. There are always new ways to reach goals without it feeling like a chore, and as long as you try new things the next day is always exciting. Cycling has grown into an activity anyone can enjoy, it’s just a matter of choosing the right path.