The Cycle Annex

I hate stationary bikes, more so than going to the dentist. They're just not anatomically enjoyable. And no amount of padded shorts will change that.

However, I'd been making the South Pasadena rounds and noticed that Cycle Annex had great reviews, and the first class was free, so figured, why not? Maybe my body's made changes that I'm not aware of that will make the grueling task of sitting on a bicycle seat more tolerable. Their classes are pretty sporadic, but so is my schedule, so when I popped in on a Tuesday at noon, I was one of four other tortured souls ready to get my cycle on. As I was fumbling with the bike seat adjustment tool like a damn fool, Nikki came and introduced herself to me and explained to this inexperienced rider where the seat should fall and how to get comfortable with the shoe straps and handles, which I very much appreciated.

The ride (it's not spin, as spin usually incorporates more cardioesque instruction and upper body movement) was unpleasant. I couldn't get past the uncomfortable nature of the seat, and every time I looked up at the clock, only a minute had passed from the last time I caught a glance. I thought it would never end.

Now, the above is all me and in no way a reflection of the studio or Nikki. In fact, she was super encouraging, using every rider's name to push us to keep going, and there was a really great range of motion (hard straight rides, inclines, going from position 1 to 3 to 1 to 3 multiple times), and she had a great selection of music, too.

I'm definitely glad I took advantage of the free ride, and I'd be interested to go back to check out their half ride/half ab class because I think I'm just one of those worker outerers that needs a workout interspersed with different activities to keep me from being reminded that it is, indeed, a workout.

If you like a rough and tough ride, then Cycle Annex is for you.

Just a note: if you go WEDNESDAYS at NOON, be prepared for DEATH METAL HARD HARD ROCK type of music the ENTIRE hour. NOT my cup if tea at all, especially when I'm on a ride to uplift myself-not get all aggro and think about wanting to KICK PUPPIES!

In Spinning, it is ALL ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR, you have to like their personality and the type of music they select-which should cater to EVERYONE, not themselves!
I am not saying this because I also am an instructor, I am being unbiased here and commenting from a student point of view.

Just forewarning you, in case it's not your thing!

P.S. the 3 STARS is for the WEDNESDAY class, NOT to be confused please with my overall 5 STAR score umbrella'ing the entire gym etc.

I first heard about this place through Yelp's passport of Pasadena, Thanks Katie for setting this up. I had a great experience. I hope to go again soon.

I am not the athletic type, but I did enjoy my experience here. Leslie was the instructor yesterday and she did an awesome job. It was alot of work, but very motivational. Leslie was very helpful with adjusting the bike and very encouraging throughout the work out and pushes you to do your best. The music was energetic and it totally gave me the chance to release all my stress after my exam. The location is a bit hidden, there's no giant sign that says Cycle Annex, but if you follow the address, you'll find it. It's right next to snap fitness. The place had many bikes and mirrors all around the room.
Brandon, the owner, was super nice. There's plenty of street parking around the area.

Tip: Bring a water bottle and a towel.

This review is looooong overdue and I'm almost hesitant to write a review about Cycle Annex simply because it's a hidden gem that's so precious, especially Christy's classes that I want it to be mine! I finally decided to give my piece of honest advice for this awesome workout space.

When I first came to Cycle Annex, Brandon (the owner) warned me that after the Annex experience I won't want to go spinning anywhere else. He was RIGHT!  I have been going now for over a year and am happy to report that I have become healthier and addicted to spinning due to the experience at ANNEX especially though Christy's "Metal Pedal" Class.  

After the years of trying different spinning studios and countless instructors, Christy's class is so far the THE BEST I have ever had. The intense workout always cleared my mind of the constant, got me riding into a zone and the hard classes gave me an endorphin rush for hours after. I always leave here in a better head space than when I come in, and to my surprise over the year the class is not getting any easier.

Christy is a great instructor, equal parts inspiring and challenging. She knows how to motivate you to push yourself, gives you breaks to allow you to stretch and recover, and gives individual attention when she is riding along side with you.

The Christmas lights give a unique atmosphere, fueled by the Metal and Rock handpicked music playlist, and after the uplifting 45 mins of crazy dragon slaying workout, I left dripping in sweat and felt STRONG and burned MAJOR fat. I didn't know how much I would love spin until I got my rock and metal on with Christy and her class.

Not only does Christy do a great job as an instructor, she is just an amazing person. She is fun, hilarious and tough. She not only ends up teaching you a class but becomes a trusted friend by the end of it. People in the class are really friendly and the music is ALWAYS GOOD! She always is there to help, whether it's filling up your water or set up your bike, she is there for you.

To all that Annex offers speaks volumes about the space and their instructor. I like the instructors that are quiet and motivating so you can focus to have an amazing workout. Try Christy and Anna- Lisa, they do just that.

If you want more of a spiritual motivator, try Brandon.

Take one of their classes at Annex. It's totally worth it. It has become the best start to my fitness. I highly recommend that you check out the space...you will be happy that you did.

Thank you Cycle Annex!

6AM Cycle Annex class is worth the early rise.

The owner/instructor is an incredibly nice guy who makes sure you're enjoying every minute. That said, he pushes you to your limit, smiling as he encourages you. Meanwhile, the music feels like a nightclub, perfectly suited for each part of the class...some parts are fast and steady (cue dance music), other parts are slow and hard (cue hip hop), and at the perfect moment he lets you "coast" (cue indie pop). Since you're in control of your bike's resistance knob, it's really up to you how heavy you want to take it when he tells you to take it to "6 out of 10", making it a workout on par with a personal trainer riding along side you.

I walked out drenched, invigorated and extremely happy I found this little gem. I'm sold, and will be back next week for more.

I'll start off by saying that I'm not the biggest fan of spinning. My first experience was at SoulCycle, which was brutal, but surprisingly fun because of the dark, disco lights, and music. Unfortunately, I'm not rich and $30 a class is way too steep for me.

So, Yelp directed me toward The Cycle Annex, which is conveniently located in my town.

First off, this place is tiny. It's a small little room wedged between Heirloom Bakery and Snap Fitness. I'd advise getting there at least ten to fifteen minutes early to claim a bike because they fill up quickly (I believe this little place has a pretty loyal following).

Brandon, the owner, is one of the nicest people you'll meet. He's energetic and very positive, which is great for people who have trouble staying alive at 8 in the morning. If you're new to spin, the instructor is always happy to help you adjust your seat and even offer a gel cover. Seriously, if someone offers you that seat cover, TAKE IT.

Now to the nitty gritty:

This place will kick your butt. At SoulCycle, there was a lot of "out of the saddle" action, half-pushup thingies, and a lot of fancy stuff that required a lot of full body movement, which was what I thought made spinning so hard.

Nope. Apparently, just pedaling the crap out of that stupid bike is enough to make you want to die. By the time I left, my legs were shaking and I had hardly enough energy to make it to my car.

Nothing can compete with the aesthetics of SoulCycle. It smells nice, looks nice, feels nice, and every member of staff is gorgeous. However, if you really want to get a good sweat on, The Cycle Annex is definitely the winner. The workout is harder, but it's half the price of SoulCycle, and even cheaper if you get package deals.

Another thing to note is that it's much harder to cheat yourself here. I'm that one person who tries to get away with doing less when the instructor isn't paying attention. Yeah, no such thing. They know that you can push yourself more even when you're convinced you can't, and it makes the workout that much more effective.

I couldn't wait to get home to write this review. For all of you who love sweating your ass off, being pushed mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally ... and for those of you {like me} who want to feel like the instructors really care, welcome to The Cycle Annex.

I've been spinning for years, but recently took a little workout hiatus due to a very overwhelming work schedule. I already have a gym membership, but cycling is the ONE cardiovascular activity that sculpts and shapes my body like no other. I saw a deal on Living Social for this place, and made the commitment.

Before I showed up today, I actually listened to Brandon's {the owner and an instructor} pod cast on his website. This man really, truly, cares. I'd call him mindful. He's aware of every person who walks in that door - whether you are brand new or have been coming for awhile. His class is KILLER, and I am that kind of person who feels like I've haven't been rocked unless I leave a class dripping in sweat. Brandon, you ROCK! I'm excited to meet some of the other instructors, as well. For all you newbies, show up early. Bring your towel, water bottle, and an open mind. There's no reservations here folks - first come, first serve. I bet the studio fits max 16-20.

And Brandon - thank you for making my first time at your studio so fantastic; for encouraging us, pushing us {by name}, acknowledging our presence in the room, and reminding us spin class is so much more than just a workout - it's a total mind/body experience! I'm hooked, and I encourage anyone reading this review to go to Cycle Annex!!! Now!! ...Now! ;-)

Burnnnnn!!!

If you want to seriously burn it off, it being stress, fat, or whatever, you should come here!

I use to be a regular here and had unlimited classes for one entire year. Due to moving, money, and focusing on trail running, I stopped coming here, but I highly recommend this studio still. I used cycle annex as a supplement to training to run my first marathon.

This studio is located in South Pasadena off of Meriden. There is plenty of parking underground, which is FREE. I know, the rarity! And there's a lot of cute shops and eateries around. On Thursday evenings, there is also the South Pasadena Farmer's Market nearby. The studio itself is solely a cycling studio. There are 15 or so bikes and surrounding mirrors. During cycling, the lights are off. I actually prefer this. It helps you focus on yourself and no one else. There is no need to compare yourself to others. Just compare yourself to yourself. During night classes, candles are lit to have some light. Also, there are mini fans around the room. Trust me, you're gonna need it on, because things get STEAMY, literally.

What I LOVE about cycle annex is their mantra of breathe, mind, form.. something like that. Before each class, the instructor would usually talk about that and even ask you what are your intentions with this class and how to focus on that throughout the class. Brandon, the owner, particularly reminded us throughout the class to focus on that. Other instructors who I loved as well would do that, but based on their current website, they no longer teach there. But back to mental focus. Reminders from the instructor of our intentions throughout class, helped me focus on my cycling. Cycling itself is also a great stress reliever. Like running, I feel like I'm riding past all that junk clogged up in my mind. At the end I feel clear. Sometimes, the instructors would even have us write down our intentions or goals on the surrounding mirrors. It may seem kinda corny at first, but it really helped me stay focused. But on the real, mental strength is super important. I have used it with cycling, running, and in life in general. I personally believe your outlook or perspective on things can change up your game. Cycle annex helps you physically and mentally.

My favorite instructor was actually Brandon. I started cycling a few years back with a hardcore triathlete. She pumped up loud EDM music (fast pace) and encouraged us loudly to do our best. I get off on this sort of stuff. Especially when I'm lazy. When someone believes in you, you believe in yourself. And when I can't tell myself to do it, I need that coach to push me. However, due to moving I didn't have that instructor anymore. And that's where Brandon comes in. He is similar to my past cycling trainer, minus the yelling. He is a triathlete. His music has a bit of hip hop and/or EDM; and the mixes he had were ridiculously good (high energy); he said most of these mixes were from a friend of his. I seriously wanna get hooked up with these songs. Brandon has several drills and I mean HARD drills too. Drills of the high intensity to low intensity on repeat; these drills made me feel super strong, especially in running and mentally. He would call me out throughout class to push it, especially when it was getting tough. In fact, he would do that with other students as well. It was great to have the instructor say your name personally. It pushes you. At the end of each class, my bike and the floor beneath were drenched with sweat. Sometimes I sweated so much that I was trying to determine whether or not they were tears (of pain) or just drops of sweat. Serious work was getting done. If Brandon is in town (he lives in Hawaii), take his class!

Other things to note. There is filtered water at this studio. The instructors would offer to refill your bottle during class (super nice!) You have to bring your own towel, and there isn't a bathroom in this studio. However, there is a bathroom in the building the studio is at. You need to get a key to go there. Also, I loved the little box of cards they have, with your names in alphabetical order with your bike adjustment numbers. I would always forget mine and would just go to that. Not sure if they still have brick workouts (cycle then run); but since I lived so close I would do my own brick workouts (run from Old town Pasadena, cycle, run back home.. probably 5 miles roundtrip for running?)

Overall, come here! Writing this review makes me really miss coming here.

I have only had 2 teachers so far (Brandon, the owner and Anna Lisa) and I have been happy with both. The studio is professionally run, clean, located in a quiet residential/commercial mix area in downtown South Pas.

Pricing is also really good - first trial class is free and $15 per class thereafter. They also have pre-paid package pricing bringing the per-class cost down even lower.

There's not much else I can add since everyone has already been singing their praises!

:)

OK, let's keep this 100%. I've never been nor will be a "gym rat". I'm not what society would deem "athletic". With that in mind, I'd like to say that I LOVE the Cycle Annex. I started going to Cycle Annex before they moved into their new location. The old location was nice but this new spot is much nicer. I love all the mirrors and the space. I also love the diversity of bodies, gender and ethnicities in the classes I've been to.

I will say that I miss Brandon's classes (you feel like you're in the movie The Secret when you're taking his class). I hope he comes back soon! My ULTIMATE FAVE instructor is Joey. She's so uplifting and pushes you to do your best without calling you out if you have to sit while everyone else is "out of the saddle". Her music is the best and she even sometimes takes requests (I always ask for something by Beyonce, obvs) I love Joey as an instructor so much that I actually look FORWARD to her 1.5hr class on Saturday mornings (no, I'm not crazy)

When I go to class and give it my all, I feel super amazing (and sweaty) after class. I totally recommend anyone try it out. At least once (take Joey's class if it's your first time, you'll love her!)

Logistics:

Free parking (street and structure next door)
Get to class at least 7-10 min before to get a bike and set up
Bring your own water bottle/container (they have a free oxygenated water dispenser)
Bring your own towel (or be prepared to pay $1 for one)
Come with an open mind