Some spin classes charge a premium by promising riders a workout that not only burns calories but also improves their lives through inspiring messages from well-compensated instructors. Bi-Cycle authentically recreates the cult-like energy of this brand of spin class, whilst slowly and purposely building up the more important narrative surrounding diverging feelings of sexuality.

The spin class begins as the instructor bursts onto the stage dripping with sweat, wearing biker shorts with a sleeveless shirt. His accurate depiction of a spin teacher comes through as he displays fake enthusiasm to raise the energy in the room. He dishes out health advice and digs deeper into people’s motivation for attending the class, which creates some authentic characters for him to interact with during the performance. This makes for a hilarious opening fifteen minutes, however the cracks in his strong outward persona to the class begin to surface. Thus the generic messages of overcoming life’s adversities typically given in a spin class turn into a retelling of the instructor’s own struggle over his sexuality.

Using the physical motion of miming riding a stationary bike and interacting with the audience the instructor keeps the crowd aware of the setting whilst weaving through his own personal story. You can feel the struggle in the instructor as he seeks to find answers in his journey to understand his own sexuality. In order to help, he seeks guidance from professional and family sources, raising more conflict and at times more confusion. His personal story begins to blur into the themes provided to the class, as he becomes more confident in his own self, he begins to impart knowledge onto the class. Ultimately, the messages provide focus on the idea of letting go of past regrets and abandoning the need to conform to others’ hopes and dreams for you.

What starts as a funny show mocking some of the more insincere messages of spin classes, eventually becomes a much deeper story. Bi-Cycle provides a full journey of self-discovery and struggles with sexual orientation delivered cleverly by replacing these bogus messages with much more important themes of letting go of and self-acceptance.