RIDE | Sweat & Tonic - Class Pass Free Trial
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I wanted to fit in a good cardio workout with my Class Pass trial and chose to do a RIDE class at Sweat & Tonic. This was my very first cycling class and I don’t know what I was expecting but this definitely caught me off guard.
Sweat & Tonic located in The Well at Front and Spadina, 486 Front St W Unit SF 32 and 33, Toronto, ON M5V 0V2. Class changeover time is really crowded as everyone checks in for their class. You check in at the front desk by all the merchandise and they tell you your bike number. They give you directions to the cycling room and tell you to grab shoes along the way.
RIDE room entry with lights and fog effect
We made our way to the RIDE room and saw cubbies full of bike shoes. They are marked with sizes but many sizes were already gone. My friend had to get shoes two sizes bigger but was still able to manage. Prior to getting into the room there is not much instruction so it can be a little confusing for first timers. You eventually figure out how to tighten your bike shoes with the dial and once you’re set you can put your things away in the lockers they provide by setting your own lock combination.
Here’s when things get flashy. And I mean this literally. The cycling room is dark with flashing neon lights on the ceiling and around the instructors bike platform. When we came in there was even fog coming out from the room?? The music was already on and loud before class started. This in combination with the dark lighting made it really difficult to see and hear when trying to figure out how to clip on our shoes. There are people around to help you clip them in, but it was hard to hear them.
On the bike there is a space for you to hold your water bottle and phone. They provide you with a towel and ear plugs as well. I did use these throughout the class because the music was too loud for me.
The spacing between the bikes is very tight. You are right next to your neighbour and maneuvering through the bikes to find yours was quite difficult. If you are claustrophobic and not a fan of tight and dark places, cycling here probably wont be a good fit for you. I was bike 63, I am assuming that means at least that many people were in the class.
Bike display/set-up with a personal welcome card!
The actual class itself was a great cardio class. Tiana the instructor is great at explaining how to use the bike and the different choreo. Once you got into the work out, it was just keep pedalling and do your best. If you can’t add in the advanced modifications you just stay seated and cycle. The bike had different resistance levels and we tried to maintain an RPM that matched to the songs. Once I got into the rhythm of it, it was fun and easier to do the different choreo. Tiana sings along to the songs and encourages you to sing along too but I was way too busy trying to just keep up.
This class was so sweaty. Part way through my hair was sticking to my body and face because of how wet it was. I really made use of the towel.
Tianan did do a small arm workout to give us a break from pedalling during the class, and then did a cool down with the class at the end.
Ratings:
Enjoyment - 7/10
After the initial confusion and preparation of class, you do get into the workout and things start to get fun. You can challenge yourself throughout the class and just go along with the music. Classes are themed — our class was Early 2010s, so knowing the music and the beat helps you get into the motion. You definitely feel like you’re getting a good workout in. For someone who doesn’t like cardio this is a fun way to do it. It can feel a little repetitive at times but it was still enjoyable. The second time, set up would definitely go much smoother. I do have to admit I am not a huge fan of the lighting and super loud music though. I think I prefer brighter workouts.
Difficulty - 10/10
Cardio is my enemy so this class was really hard to keep up all the time. Some of the RPM speeds she told us to get up to I never even reached. If i did, I had to really focus and push myself just to reach it. It would be so hard to maintain and I would slow down again. It is very very tiring. I wasn’t able to do a lot of the standing up and advanced modifications for the entirety of the class. But you can just continuing cycle at the suggested speed during these parts and still be sweating a lot.
Facilities - 8/10
The bike room itself was a little too tight for me. Something about the ventilation made it stuffy and more difficult to breathe. Not sure if this is how they make you sweat more, but there is also a lot of warm bodies in one enclosed space so it can feel very hot and suffocating. The instructor was great though I do wish they would’ve turned down the music and had the lights on while we were getting ready.
The facilities are very new with a fancy gold aesthetic with lots of mirrors. We went to the bathroom before class and the women’s bathroom is huge with showers, change rooms, bathrooms, and a whole area to get yourself ready.
The studio front has its own cafe and merch, a great business idea! It easily tempts you for a treat after a workout. We did fall for it, but be warned of expensive pricing.
Location - 7/10
The Well is a nice place to explore pre/post workout but parking downtown comes with a higher cost. The well has parking for $20; $15 on weekends. There is a lot across the street for $10 but it was full when we went so we overflowed into the next lot that charges $20. It is TTC accessible if you take the Spadina Street car (currently a bus) or the King streetcar.
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