How Did Barry’s Ride Chelsea Score Overall?
The full client experience at Barry’s Ride Chelsea was good, achieving our Recommended rating.
The class experience achieved our Rated score.
The Highlights
The whole experience captured the famous Barry’s magic, with the lights, the music and a coach that was enthusiastic, energetic and looked the part. As you would expect, the branding, equipment and studio were first rate.
What Our Evaluator Had To Say
“You could see the coach gave 100% to the workout. You could feel his energy.”
“The equipment and studio space lived up to the strong reputation of the Barry’s brand.”
The reception team were very friendly and welcoming and did a good job, despite it being very busy.”
What To Expect From A Barry’s Ride Session
Barry’s Ride is best described as the regular Barry’s workout, but with a stationary bike taking the place of the treadmill. With 50% on the bike, 50% strength training on the floor, the format will be familiar to anyone who’s done a Barry’s session and offers the chance for you to experience the famous Barry’s ‘red room’ magic in a different modality.
For those that don’t like running or want a lower-impact workout, this is a welcome addition to the brand. Of course, you can still expect the banging tunes and industry-leading coaches that Barry’s is famous for.
The Reception Service
Our call to the branch gave us a good idea of what to expect from the session and left us feeling prepared and excited. On arrival, our evaluators were greeted by a friendly reception team that did a good job of explaining what to expect from the workout and how the tailor-made shoes worked.
After the session, the staff were able to answer some basic queries during a busy time, but some opportunities to connect with our evaluators were missed and more information and encouragement to continue training could have been offered.
The Class Experience
Barry’s Ride Chelsea received our Rated rating for the Class Experience.
Our instructor was motivating, friendly and gave 100% to the workout. His efforts, combined with the lights, music and energy of the room gave our evaluators a taste of the Barry's “secret sauce” that has made it famous.
However, the workout was hard to follow at times as the instructor was struggling to coach both the bikers and those doing floor strength work, and opportunities for the coach to connect with the first time members before and after the class were missed.
The Equipment And Studio
The equipment and studio space lived up to the strong reputation of the brand. The flooring and equipment were clean and in good condition, and they use the high-end and popular Stages bikes. The sound system was, as you would expect from Barry’s, capable of pumping out their usual mix of beats and house to a high spec. It was loud, so if you’d like a quieter experience pick a spot away from the speakers.
The Facilities And Public Areas
Barry’s is famous for its slick and sexy branding, and the public areas at Barry’s Ride Chelsea are no exception. As soon as you walk through the door, there’s a strong sense of arrival. Simply put, you know you’ve just arrived at Barry’s.
Facilities were clean and in good condition and with a large number of showers available there was no need to wait, even during peak hours. The changing room, however, was a little cramped during these busy times.
Workout and shower towels were provided free of charge. Lockers were provided with number locks. Free water refill stations were available.
Digital And Technology
The website and booking process was easy to use and intuitive and their social media got us excited to train and left a strong impression. The booking app was also very well designed. Barry’s offers online training options for those that can’t make one of their in person experiences.
Pricing
Barry’s Ride offers three trial sessions for the discounted price of $60.
If you’re looking for a longer-term commitment, memberships are available from $270 for eight classes per month up to $525 for 30 classes.
Drop-in sessions are available at $40 per class, with smaller commitment packages also available, starting at a 5-pack for $195.
Keep in mind that the classes purchased for Barry’s Ride workouts are the same as regular Barry’s Bootcamp classes, so when at the Chelsea branch, you can choose either workout.