The Handle Bar Indoor Cycling Studio

I have been going to The Handle Bar a little over a year now and I will admit that I am fully addicted. I think it really says a lot when you look forward to going to a workout at 6 in the morning or after a hard work day.
From the time you walk in the door to when you toss in your sweaty towel, you feel welcome. The accommodating front desk staff is always friendly and reliable– they have memorized my show size (free rental) and are more than happy to help anyone clip into or adjust their bike.
Every instructor at The Handle Bar brings something a little bit different to the table, which I love. Matthew and Eve will make you feel like you are in the clubs dancing. Lena will make you feel motivated to do your best both inside and outside the spin room. Allie is so fun and makes anyone, no matter level or age feel like a rockstar. Candice will push your athletic side. Sarah C will keep you going and always asking for new great music.
The focus of HB is spinning to the beat of the music and I love this as a former dancer. Their playlists are also great!
You can fully engage or go at your own pace. Unlike other spin studios it is working out FOR you instead of a competitive atmosphere. They also give resistance cues that make me as a rider feel safe.
After every class I leave having completed a great workout and in a better mood. With 3 locations across the city, it is definite spin studio you should check out!
Logistics:
–Only Harvard Square studio has showers, all other studios have 2 bathrooms which after work can have long lines due to people changing.
–Free shoe rental
–SPD clips on bikes
–45 minute and 60 minute rides. Also GREAT theme rides and bar fights (2 spinning instructors with timely music battles)
–Charity rides

I spun at Handle Bar for a few months while I lived in Boston and this place is the absolute best. I moved to LA about a year ago and have searched the Greater Los Angeles area for a spin studio as great as HB and have been disappointed 95% of the time. Nothing compares to HB, Jess, and the rest of the HB staff. I’m looking forward to the day that Jess decides to expand her business venture to the west coast! :)

I have been spinning at HB Southie for a little over a year now and I absolutely love it. I look forward to seeing familiar faces (riders and staff) every week during both early morning and after work classes in the evening. The music is always great and the studio always keeps things interesting with fun theme rides to keep you motivated.
It does get hot in the studio as some have mentioned but I don’t really mind this at all. We are there to work hard and they provide you sweat towels so no harm done.
All teachers have their own style so I would recommend trying everyone to find who you like best. I am religious in attending most of Elise’s classes (miss her in the Saturday morning spot) but love Sara M, Candice and many others, too.
I was surprised to read some reviews about an unfriendly front desk staff. I really could not disagree more. The team deals with a really high volume of people coming in and out (especially after work hours) and have never been anything but pleasant and invested when they are checking me in. If you are a new rider then just let them know — they will definitely take care of you!

Love this place. I have never been disappointed by a class and all of the instructors are great! The only time I can seem to get out of bed in the a.m. for a workout is if I am planning to spin here. Love being able to support a small business run by a successful female entrepreneur!

This was the first class I’ve been to at the Southie HB location, and I was really disappointed.
The primary problem I had was with the instructor – I had Lena, and she really wasn’t great about instructing. She would say things without explaining what she meant, like «drop it back»…unclear if she meant resistance? Dropping to the saddle? Tempo?
There was also a point in the class where she crouched in the corner for two minutes without saying anything, pretty weird and not very motivating. Finally, the music selection was cool but had a really tough beat to follow, or the choreo she would give us didn’t match the beat at all.
The other problem I had was with the room setup, but I don’t think Lena helped. I had a bike in the back corner, and the bike wasn’t facing the instructor at all. additionally, you couldn’t hear what she was saying half the time, so adding that to not being able to see her meant a group of very confused people.
Hopefully I’ll make it back to try a class with another instructor, as this one was very disappointing.

I 100% credit this studio with getting me into wedding shape for my May wedding this year. I’ve never loved cardio workouts until I started coming to Handle Bar, and now I totally feel that I have found the right workout for me; one that I can consistently come back to and feel great about when I leave. It’s so much fun, the time FLIES, and it’s a full body workout that I can feel good about. Rachel is my favorite instructor; her music is the bomb and she’s a badass motivator and also super friendly. There’s a total community feel to this studio, and they are incredibly welcoming. I just moved to San Francisco, and am so sad to leave this place but will definitely go back when visiting Boston. Keep it up HB!

Just took Ashley’s class. AMAZING. I will be a regular. I was here about a month ago on a Sunday evening and didn’t love it. I’m SO glad I gave it a second chance and took Ashley’s class. It was pretty packed on an early Saturday class which speaks for itself! She was full of great energy, had fun choreography you can follow with ease, and most importantly pushed me to my limits.

I love spinning (in fact you might say I am obsessed) and have been to many different studios in different cities. I recently relocated to Boston and was excited to try out a Monday afternoon class at Handle Bar. From the moment I walked in the door the front desk staff was less than helpful and actually a little rude. Not once did they acknowledge it was the my first ride at the studio or ask if I needed any help with set up, if I wanted to rent shoes etc. The girl working at the front desk actually seemed annoyed when I asked to purchase a bottle of water with cash.
Once in the studio I had to waive down the instructor (after several tries as she was chatting casually with her friends) to ask if my bike was set up properly and her response was «I think that looks ok» and then she immediately walked away. For someone who had never been to the studio I did not feel welcome or like anyone wanted to take the time to explain to me what was going on or ensure that my experience was enjoyable. The instructors music malfunctioned at the end of class and she got off her bike and went out of the studio to get her ipod to play the song she originally wanted.
I am sad to say I do not think I will be going back to Handle Bar after this experience.

I love spinning and have been to lots of different studios in different cities. Handle Bar is good, but it’s not my favorite. I prefer a class that mimics a road ride — big hills, sprints, just focused on riding. Handle Bar classes incorporate lots of crunches and push ups and upper body work, which just isn’t my thing. (But it might be yours!) They also do one song of weight work, which isn’t bad. I like that they provide free towels, free shoe rental (though I already own my own) and the bikes are in great working order.

The Handle Bar is fantastic! I have been riding with the HB for just over a year now and I have had the best experience. The staff is friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable about all things HB and indoor cycling. The instructors are fabulous! Each instructor is very motivating and welcoming to all new, experienced, and frequent riders. The music/​playlists are great and instructors are always taking song requests. Each class is different from the next and it is a guarantee you will sweat! I have been to all three locations and all are excellent, especially Harvard Square (brand new, great sound, raised back row, beautiful showers). Both Southie and Harvard Square are SPD compatible and Fenway is mostly Look Delta clip compatible. If you don’t own cycling shoes they are always available to rent at all locations. Definitely check out the Handle Bar, you won’t regret it!

I have been spinning at HB Southie since Sept 2014 and I am addicted, in a good way! I did my first class on a Saturday morning with Elise for a full 60 minutes and I wanted to DIE. Don’t worry, that feeling goes away and turns into something awesome you can’t explain. You just have to keep going and you get so much better and learn so much. No class is the same and you always feel like each ride was different from the last. I can’t say enough good things about this place, the staff, the bikes, the room, everything is great. My favorite instructors are Elise, Lena, Rachel and Jess. I take the same classes weekly so I dont always get to try new instructors but Erin, both Sarahs C&M, Michelle and Jenn are also great! Elisa and Lena really make you feel good about being there and make you think about the bigger picture while spinning which is a nice addition to sweating your butt off. And boy will you sweat, dont worry they provide complimentry towels. Shoes are also included but after spinning 4 – 5 times a week I invested in my own for comfort.
I dont have many bad things to say but for every review there had to be some critical feedback. I see Jess is very attentive to her studio and that is appreciated as a rider.
I wish the cancellation time of 12 hours was shorter especially for 5:45 pm classes. If you wake up sick that day which has happened you have to cancel by 5:45 am to not get charged/​lose a class. Maybe even 8 hours would be more reasonable. Ii get it, the classes are full and its not fair to cancel but 12 hours is tough. Just a thought/​suggestion really.
The space outside the classroom is small but there is only so much you can do about that. You’re not there long and if you have to change just give yourself enough time because the bathroom lines could be long.
The bathrooms are cute and kept tidy but I feel they could be just a little cleaner. A few times I have noticed the same dirtyness a few days in a row but it could have been an off day and its undertstood especially in an environment such as spin.
Other than that I highly recommend the studio and can’t get there enough!

I am an indoor cycling instructor from KY, I Always go to various spin classes when I’m on vacation. Usually none of them are challenging enough for me but The Handle Bar was great! I got an excellent workout, and loved the music and atmosphere. I hope to be able to visit again in the future.

I recently took a Friday afternoon class at HB Southie. I had previously been to a class at HB Fenway that I didn’t really enjoy, but I know classes vary so much by instructor. Rachel was the teacher and it was a really good and fun class. They didn’t charge me for shoes even though I have class pass (maybe that was a really shortly lived policy). The vibe was upbeat and fun. It also wasn’t as dark as some studios (a plus for me, I’ve been in some where you can barely see what’s in front of your face). If I’m in the neighborhood again I’ll go back.
The only con was that class started and ended about 10 minutes late due to a problem with the mic. Since it was post-​work, it wasn’t a big deal for me.
Pro tip: get there early or come already in work-​out gear. The line for the bathroom was long.

I have nothing but GREAT things to say about The Handle Bar. The instructors are amazing and always switch it up so no 2 classes are the same. They have theme rides which are really fun too. Everyone who works there is friendly and really cares about everyone who walks through the door. And the energy is amazing… if you don’t leave The Handle Bar feeling great you didn’t push yourself hard enough.
I’ve been a runner for about 14 years and only used to run and weight train. Since I’ve implemented spinning into my training I’ve had MANY personal bests and I attribute this all to spinning because it’s working other muscles that I don’t typically work when I run which is making me a better runner. Cross training really works wonders so, THANKS Handle Bar! :)

For the last 30 years, I’ve never liked exercising.
I didn’t like sweating.
I didn’t like exercise clothes.
It took me nearly a year to get the balls to sign up for a spin class here.
I took a recess ride for $ 10 in August 2014, and immediately signed up for their unlimited months.
And now, 8 months later, I am obsessed. (Only with riding at the Handle Bar, I’m still not a fan of exercising.) I go about 4 – 5 times a week!
Things to know:
— If you’re new, go up and let them know. There’s set up with the bike and the shoes (included in the price) that take a few times to get used to.
— It’s dark. I like this because I didn’t want to stare at other people and I didn’t want others to stare at me.
— It’s a full body type work out. They incorporate push ups, chest presses, and an arm exercise. Just know that no one gets it immediately. You’ll feel like a floppy fish for the first few times (I did, and occasionally still do!) But once you get the hang of it, it’s awesome!
— Yes, no lie– it’s not cheap. But nothing is. It’s comparable to all other riding studios, specialty gyms, barre studios, etc. Everything seems to be about the same price.
— Getting a regular membership (versus Classpass) is worth it, because it becomes like a family. Instructors and staff will recognize you. You’ll become buddies with regular riders. I like being able to go where people are supportive of each other.
— All of the instructors are different. You have to try them all out to decide who’s style, music, etc. you like most. They all push you to do your best and are very open to chatting/​feedback after the class.
— I see people of all sizes and ages here.
PS.
I still don’t really like sweating.
And yes, now I like some exercise clothes.

I have been spinning here since its first summer in Southie. I really love coming here and it is a great workout for all cycling abilities The instructors are really great and set all their classes to the music and the rhythm. I personally have no rhythm and I still get a great workout in every-​time I spin and the best part is I have been able to see myself evolve and get better at the choreography.
Jess and Maura are also super nice and helpful. They are great responding to emails and phone calls. Overall I LOVE coming to the HandleBar, it is a great experience!

I was thrilled when the Handle Bar opened a few months ago in my neighborhood. It has been a good experience so far — classes are fun and upbeat, Jess is probably my favorite instructor. It is a great workout for people of all cycling abilities.
The only con I will mention is that they often don’t air out the studio enough. It is really gross when you take a class right after another one lets out and the air is so humid — sometimes I wish they would open some windows so that the studio isn’t so sweaty before the workout even begins!

This place is amazing. It’s addicting it’s so good, although a pricey addiction. :(
I’ve been to other studios and Handle Bar is up there with the best. The music is always amazing and I haven’t had an instructor who is bad — they all are great!
However, some teachers are better than others. If you’re athletic and like a more challenging class, Ali, Elise and Erin are the way to go. The others while still great instructors, aren’t as challenging as those three. Elise is the best for motivating you and making you go harder. Erin does a lot of arms and jumps and Ali rarely gives you a break in between songs — goes from one song to the next and makes you keep working which I love!
My only thing about this place is how expensive it is — if I could afford it, I would be there every day, but I’m not sure anyone right out of college can do that. I’m hoping for another Black Friday — ish sale so that I can purchase another month pass or 10 classes.
Great work HB!

I recently took my first ever spin class here, and it was great!
The instructor (Sarah) helped my clueless self get set up, teaching me how to adjust the height of the seat, the handlebars, and clip in (you need special shoes, rented for $ 2 at the front desk). She did a great job of explaining the basics of what the class was going to have, and the entire time she was motivating and helpful!
I attended one of their «themed» classes, which was $ 25 instead of the usual $ 20, but it was well worth it! The «MasquRAVE» had beads, masks, and stickers to go home with. Plus the best part: a glass of champagne at the end!
Talking with other people at the class and friends that love spin, the handle bar seems to also be great for more advanced spinners. Great place!

Went to a 5:45 class with Alexa today and it was awesome!
Jess– the owner – was nice enough to spare me the 2 dollar fee for the spin shoes since I was clueless they are required for taking classes there.
The space is CLEAN, ORGANIZED, and has all the essentials: towels for drying off, water cooler in the back, cubbies, and gum and hair ties.
PROS:
–music is LOUD and GOOD. feels like you are in a legit. night club (i.e. don’t bring your mother over age 45; she might not like it!).
–awesome teacher who was high energy and didn’t spin during the class but instead danced around and motivated you
–45 minutes so easy to get in before work or after before a happy hour :-)
–good vibe; all women and some gay men which was fun!
–shoes for 2 bucks; the shoes are very stabilizing.
–liked the fact that weights were used in the class at the end.
Would have liked slightly more direction in terms of what level we should have been at; i. e level 3 vs. 10 for the intensity… sometimes the teacher just motivated and danced which was amazing but I wanted to know like how hard should I be working at any given point in time.
ONLY MAJOR CON and this is a big one:
why in the world is a spin class 20 dollars plus 2 dollars for shoe rental :(i know that Recycle and other places charge insanely for classes but c’mon; a 45 minute spin class should never ever be over 15 dollars. Even some of the best yoga classes in the city at Exhale which are 1.5 hours are only 20−−24 dollars a class and those include using spa amenities at say, Exale or Equinox.
As someone who pays 200 a month for CrossFit Southie I understand that people say CrossFit is so much blah blah blah but when you break it down, CrossFit is actually only 10−−16 a class… I wish spin could could be more affordable especially because South Boston/​Southie is not as high end as South End or Back Bay. However, I won’t hold it against Handle Bar or Jess because I understand that they are trying to be competitive with other places in the city and make a profit…
Def. worth trying and if you want to give up your gym membership or you are a Boston millionaire you could probably make this place a regular work out spot for you!
Tamara W