Jess Rothschild

I asked her to characterize the three founders.

I asked her to characterize the three founders.

And what was Ruth like?

And what was Ruth like?

In the very beginning, you would actually sign up for class using MindBodyOnline. MindBodyOnline is a generic site where you can sign up for all sorts of classes, yoga, Pilates, gyms, and SoulCycle was just lumped in with the hundreds across New York City. The SoulCycle website was extremely primitive, with barely the logo and the address. Again, this is spring of 2006.

In the very beginning, you would actually sign up for class using MindBodyOnline. MindBodyOnline is a generic site where you can sign up for all sorts of classes, yoga, Pilates, gyms, and SoulCycle was just lumped in with the hundreds across New York City. The SoulCycle website was extremely primitive, with barely the logo and the address. Again, this is spring of 2006.

Lululemon wasn't open yet, and we're still a year away from the very first iPhone release in June of 2007. And an app for signups? Well, that wouldn't be built until 2015.

Lululemon wasn't open yet, and we're still a year away from the very first iPhone release in June of 2007. And an app for signups? Well, that wouldn't be built until 2015.

This is Miles. He and Louise work together at Alice's Tea Cup, cobbling together restaurant jobs to support themselves in New York City.

This is Miles. He and Louise work together at Alice's Tea Cup, cobbling together restaurant jobs to support themselves in New York City.

Some of the original instructors were regulars at Alice's Teacup because of the proximity, so they would encourage the staff to come on over and ride. After all, they were neighboring businesses.

Some of the original instructors were regulars at Alice's Teacup because of the proximity, so they would encourage the staff to come on over and ride. After all, they were neighboring businesses.

The lobby was so tiny that people were shoulder to shoulder going in and out of class. There was one bathroom, a few lockers, and no shower. They decorated the entry with grapefruit-scented candles, which would become the brand's signature scent. They sold one piece of merch, a t-shirt with a yellow wheel that said SoulCycle.

The lobby was so tiny that people were shoulder to shoulder going in and out of class. There was one bathroom, a few lockers, and no shower. They decorated the entry with grapefruit-scented candles, which would become the brand's signature scent. They sold one piece of merch, a t-shirt with a yellow wheel that said SoulCycle.

Miles would go on to not only work for SoulCycle HQ, but witness the company's expansion firsthand as he managed studio openings across the country.

Miles would go on to not only work for SoulCycle HQ, but witness the company's expansion firsthand as he managed studio openings across the country.

Master Instructor, Janet Fitzgerald.

Master Instructor, Janet Fitzgerald.

It would take two years, cutting Ruth Zuckerman, and a bit of success to seduce Janet. The first few months were slow. Some classes had just a few people. The sound system broke nearly every day, and they received regular noise complaints, so they sometimes had to lower the music to just a whisper.

It would take two years, cutting Ruth Zuckerman, and a bit of success to seduce Janet. The first few months were slow. Some classes had just a few people. The sound system broke nearly every day, and they received regular noise complaints, so they sometimes had to lower the music to just a whisper.