Ride Indoor Cycling will close two locations as the broader indoor cycling category faces waning consumer interest and increased competition from emerging fitness trends
One of the OG group fitness workouts, indoor cycling is experiencing a decline that some brands can’t keep up with.
Ride Indoor Cycling, a popular Texas-based studio brand, recently announced the closures of two of its locations in Houston and Austin in an Instagram post.
“We’re closing our Downtown (Austin) and West U (Houston) studios, and while it’s bittersweet, we’re choosing to celebrate every sweaty, powerful, unforgettable RIDE we’ve shared with you over the years,” the post read. “Before we say goodbye, we’ll be showing our gratitude in a few special ways. Come RIDE with us and be part of the send-off.”
The boutique brand’s other locations in Houston’s Heights, Austin Westlake, and Woodlands locations will stay open, while members can ride in downtown Austin until February 14, and West University’s last day will be February 22.
“If you’re grieving, you’re not alone,” Alana Woolf Wade, an instructor at the downtown Austin location, wrote in the comments of the post. “So many of us loved these studios with our whole hearts and the grief is feeling love with nowhere to put it. We have until Saturday to put our love into this space a few last times.”
The comments section on the post was flooded with shock, sadness and disappointment from studio members.
“West U will always hold a cherished place in so many people’s hearts. This space was there for the good days and the hard ones… our tribe rode together through milestone celebrations and heartbreaking loss,” one commenter wrote. “I will always be grateful to RIDE for the opportunity to teach in such a special place, alongside such wonderful people.”
The closures arrive as other brands are struggling to keep cycling studios and classes going amid declining interest post-pandemic.
Amid big-box gym operator LA Fitness’s several closures last year, members were also disappointed with the removal of cycle classes at their locations.
Moreover, among the top fitness modalities of 2025, cycling was nowhere to be seen, with racket sports, running, strength training and Pilates taking over as people’s preferred workouts.
