Your Spin Class Is Too Loud (Yes, You Heard That Correctly)

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The heart-pounding music is one of the draws of a high-intensity cycling class, but when reporters from New York's PIX11 went undercover to classes at both SoulCycle and Flywheel Sports — arguably some of New York's most popular spin destinations — they found that the volume of said music was such that it could actually end up being detrimental to a riders health.

Of all four studios studied by the reporters, there wasn't a single class that played music below 90 decibels, the fine line between loud and unhealthily loud, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In fact, the music remained at an almost constant 100 decibels, sometimes spiking up to 115.

"When we see it at 99 or above for more than an hour on a regular basis, there’s a very high risk of hearing loss," explained health professor Dr. Leslie Stengert of Indiana University in Pittsburgh to the network. "Once it’s gone, you’re not getting it back."

While both SoulCycle and Flywheel declined to comment on the story, SoulCycle stated, "We are familiar with OSHA guidelines and provide complimentary hearing protection for all our riders at every studio." How many riders actually use them, however, is likely another story.