Have you tried indoor cycling yet?
It's our most booked class across High Life Highland — week in, week out, across 21 leisure centres from Thurso to Fort William. And the people booking it aren't just doing it once. They're coming back for the same slot, the same instructor, the same energy — because once it gets you, it really gets you.
What makes it different
There's no shortage of ways to get fit. So why does indoor cycling consistently top the bookings?
Part of it is the format. A studio, a great instructor, music that actually makes you want to move, and a room full of people all putting in the work together. It's structured enough to push you harder than you'd push yourself alone, but the resistance is always yours to control — so the class works whether you're going all out or finding your feet.
Part of it is the results. Indoor cycling is one of the most effective cardiovascular workouts you can do — building endurance, strengthening legs, and burning calories efficiently, all without the impact stress that comes with running. It's hard work, but it's the kind of hard work that feels good.
And part of it is simply the feeling when you finish. That's the bit that's hard to explain until you've experienced it.
The community is real
Ask regular indoor cyclists what keeps them coming back and most of them won't lead with the fitness benefits. They'll talk about the instructor who knows their name, the familiar faces they've been booking alongside for months, the way a Wednesday morning class has quietly become the best part of their week.
Group fitness builds something that solo exercise rarely does — a genuine sense of belonging. And indoor cycling, with its shared intensity and collective energy, does that better than almost any other class format.
The mental health benefits matter too
The physical benefits of regular aerobic exercise are well established. But the impact on mental health is just as real — and for many of our members, it's the bigger draw.
Regular indoor cycling is strongly linked to reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep, and improved mood. The endorphin release from a high-energy class can genuinely shift your headspace in a way that gentler exercise can't always match. And the social element of group fitness adds another layer of wellbeing on top of that.
A lot of our members will tell you their weekly cycling class isn't just exercise. It's their reset button.
Find a class near you
Indoor cycling runs at over 20 of our leisure centres, seven days a week, with sessions from as early as 6:35am through to evening slots. Classes run from 30 to 60 minutes, so there's a format to fit whatever your schedule looks like.
Sessions do fill up — so we recommend booking your spot up to seven days in advance through the High Life Highland booking system.
Is it included in membership?
All indoor cycling classes are included in a highlife membership — so if you're already a member, you can book in right now. If you're not yet a member, it's one of the many classes included from £29.99 a month with no joining fee and no minimum contract.
Find out more about membership
Let your instructor know before class if it's your first time — they'll get you set up and talk you through everything. After that, all you have to do is ride.
