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Riding High: How I Kissed SoulCycle Goodbye, Co-Founded Flywheel, and Built the Life I Always Wanted
From the co-founder of Flywheel and SoulCycle comes a story of perseverance and success.
“Ruth Zukerman is an inspiration. She somehow had a keen sense that indoor cycling was going to be a huge trend and she wasted no time turning it into a lucrative business. I'm among the legions of Flywheel fans who make Ruth's class part of our regular routine. Her energy, enthusiasm and great playlist keeps us spinning and coming back for more." ―KATIE COURIC
Ruth Zukerman is the Queen of she put the Soul in SoulCycle and the Fly in Flywheel.
Recounting the pivotal moments that helped launch Zukerman as the breakout star of the boutique fitness world, Riding High is a reminder that the greatest success stories often start in the unlikeliest of places.
Ruth Zukerman used her heartache–at the death of her father, the end of her marriage, and the dissolution of her first business partnership with SoulCycle, as the inspiration to reinvent herself. At 51, she co-founded a new business, the highly successful Flywheel, and built the life she’d always dreamed of. And she did it all while navigating through single motherhood and a business world that is often unkind to women, especially those who wear their hearts on their sleeves.
Riding High is a prescriptive, warts-and-all journey through Ruth’s evolution, offering fresh, unexpected business and life lessons to help readers recognize their own potential and channel their passion into success. Part confidante, part mentor, Ruth pulls no punches and holds nothing back.
“Ruth Zukerman is an inspiration. She somehow had a keen sense that indoor cycling was going to be a huge trend and she wasted no time turning it into a lucrative business. I'm among the legions of Flywheel fans who make Ruth's class part of our regular routine. Her energy, enthusiasm and great playlist keeps us spinning and coming back for more." ―KATIE COURIC
Ruth Zukerman is the Queen of she put the Soul in SoulCycle and the Fly in Flywheel.
Recounting the pivotal moments that helped launch Zukerman as the breakout star of the boutique fitness world, Riding High is a reminder that the greatest success stories often start in the unlikeliest of places.
Ruth Zukerman used her heartache–at the death of her father, the end of her marriage, and the dissolution of her first business partnership with SoulCycle, as the inspiration to reinvent herself. At 51, she co-founded a new business, the highly successful Flywheel, and built the life she’d always dreamed of. And she did it all while navigating through single motherhood and a business world that is often unkind to women, especially those who wear their hearts on their sleeves.
Riding High is a prescriptive, warts-and-all journey through Ruth’s evolution, offering fresh, unexpected business and life lessons to help readers recognize their own potential and channel their passion into success. Part confidante, part mentor, Ruth pulls no punches and holds nothing back.
- GenresBiography
320 pages, Hardcover
Published October 2, 2018
21 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 12, 2018
This book is 60% name dropping and 40% random personal anecdotes from the author. The only thing it succeeded in doing was making me want to go to spin class.
May 26, 2020
On the last Monday of every month, my book review will highlight a female founder or business owner. Most of these women started a company from their homes with less than $10,000. This is my review for June 2020.
This week I am reviewing Riding High: How I Kissed SoulCycle Goodbye, Co-Founded Flywheel, and Built the Life I Always Wanted by Ruther Zukerman. Ruth is the founder of both SoulCycle and Flywheel. I love listening to all different kinds of female founders no matter what industry they are in. Many of the female entrepreneurial stories where the women are trying to juggle their business, family, and #allthethings. Along the way they break, and then find their passion when they start over again. This story also includes how one particular woman left her own business and moved onto the next. There is so much that is interesting in this book, I highly recommend it.
The full video review will be available June 30, 2020 at https://youtu.be/2N1F3XYkG9M
This week I am reviewing Riding High: How I Kissed SoulCycle Goodbye, Co-Founded Flywheel, and Built the Life I Always Wanted by Ruther Zukerman. Ruth is the founder of both SoulCycle and Flywheel. I love listening to all different kinds of female founders no matter what industry they are in. Many of the female entrepreneurial stories where the women are trying to juggle their business, family, and #allthethings. Along the way they break, and then find their passion when they start over again. This story also includes how one particular woman left her own business and moved onto the next. There is so much that is interesting in this book, I highly recommend it.
The full video review will be available June 30, 2020 at https://youtu.be/2N1F3XYkG9M
December 7, 2018
As a Flywheel regular, I really enjoyed hearing the story of its founding. It gave me a newfound appreciation for the work that went into creating a class that I look forward to several times a week.
As a business school graduate with many friends that don’t find energy at work, I found it refreshing to hear from someone who loved really loved her job. I loved hearing the story of someone who succeed from sheer grit, passion, and love of her job.
I’m so grateful for the business she’s built and that she took the time to capture the story for others.
As a business school graduate with many friends that don’t find energy at work, I found it refreshing to hear from someone who loved really loved her job. I loved hearing the story of someone who succeed from sheer grit, passion, and love of her job.
I’m so grateful for the business she’s built and that she took the time to capture the story for others.
January 20, 2020
Disappointed in the lack of details about her decision to leave Soulcycle. It also felt like no one bothered to proofread and eliminate repetitive sections. About half of the book could have been eliminated (especially the last third of straight name dropping random celebrities with no real reason for doing so) and nothing would have been lost. The interesting parts - her marriage, attempt to be a dancer, raising her girls, building Soul, were all too short.
November 25, 2019
I didn't love this book-I was hoping to learn a lot about why the author left Soul and the lessons learned from it, but I'm guessing due to her NDA there was very little in there on that and I felt that the author was tougher on other people than she was on herself in her narrative.
July 5, 2024
Reading a book about Flywheel during a time when the studio is no longer around is a bit awkward but that also sums up my feelings of Ruth Zuckerman's Riding High: How I Kissed SoulCycle Goodbye, Co-Founded Flywheel, and Built the Life I Always Wanted.
Riding High is Zuckerman's autobiographical account of her life and journey with Flywheel, a spin studio that popularized incorporating metrics to measure your performance during a ride. As an avid Flywheeler who was devestated when the business closed, I was eager to see what takeaways were shared.
While there are some adage, such as the importance of "focusing on your own health and well-being" to "keep going after a setback" or to "defining success as living a life where you’re excited to get up every morning and feeling content with the work you’ve done by the end of the day", I do believe the book suffers a bit from Zuckerman's personal tribulations and information gaps.
As some reviewers have already cited, Zuckerman never details the reasons she left Soul Cycle, which, while is in her right to not disclose, makes her transition to Flywheel feel a little disjointed. Exemplified in the snippet above, she is celebrating in one sentence and in the next, she is stepping down from the very business that gave her success.
This lack of insight may be a self refusal of further evaluation, as shown in
Of course, we all have our flaws and she is entitled to hers, but it does make for a strange reading experience when she purports this inspiring journey of escaping the shackles of parental upbringings and finding something fulfilling with morally dubious unrelated actions sprinkled throughout. But perhaps that's an underlying unintended message—that in spite of our personal misdemeanors, we are all capable and deserving of success.
Speaking of success, the book rides at its peak when Zuckerman talks about the ups and downs of Flywheel—which should be a given since this is what readers are here for. Her insight shines when she is able to reference back to The stories are fascinating and the whole book can be tighter if Zuckerman chooses to focus more on the company and its rise.
But Flywheel has never been just about the workout. It's about the journey, the ride of a lifetime. Like life with its ups, downs, and imperfections, Ruth Zuckerman's Riding High stresses that we can all make it out of the ride better, more successful, with one pedal stroke at a time.
Riding High is Zuckerman's autobiographical account of her life and journey with Flywheel, a spin studio that popularized incorporating metrics to measure your performance during a ride. As an avid Flywheeler who was devestated when the business closed, I was eager to see what takeaways were shared.
While there are some adage, such as the importance of "focusing on your own health and well-being" to "keep going after a setback" or to "defining success as living a life where you’re excited to get up every morning and feeling content with the work you’ve done by the end of the day", I do believe the book suffers a bit from Zuckerman's personal tribulations and information gaps.
I was thrilled by our rapidly growing business and more enthusiastic than ever about making SoulCycle a success. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as I’d hoped. Our partnership ended so abruptly that I was left feeling wrung out and exhausted.
What was I going to do now?
As some reviewers have already cited, Zuckerman never details the reasons she left Soul Cycle, which, while is in her right to not disclose, makes her transition to Flywheel feel a little disjointed. Exemplified in the snippet above, she is celebrating in one sentence and in the next, she is stepping down from the very business that gave her success.
This lack of insight may be a self refusal of further evaluation, as shown in
Of course, we all have our flaws and she is entitled to hers, but it does make for a strange reading experience when she purports this inspiring journey of escaping the shackles of parental upbringings and finding something fulfilling with morally dubious unrelated actions sprinkled throughout. But perhaps that's an underlying unintended message—that in spite of our personal misdemeanors, we are all capable and deserving of success.
Speaking of success, the book rides at its peak when Zuckerman talks about the ups and downs of Flywheel—which should be a given since this is what readers are here for. Her insight shines when she is able to reference back to The stories are fascinating and the whole book can be tighter if Zuckerman chooses to focus more on the company and its rise.
But Flywheel has never been just about the workout. It's about the journey, the ride of a lifetime. Like life with its ups, downs, and imperfections, Ruth Zuckerman's Riding High stresses that we can all make it out of the ride better, more successful, with one pedal stroke at a time.
October 23, 2020
It's ostensibly a business book for women (and men). There are 22 lessons in here, but there are so many more between the lines.
It's a good story. Divorced woman finds a job that grows into a career that grows into a business (or two) that grows into a movement.
Most of my friends/readers know I'm devoted to Flywheel for my thrice weekly sweat sessions. Reading this book was like visiting with my friends... My first instructor @marionroaman ... My spin mentor @ddb_fitness ... The most unflappable @johnwellmann ... even my friend @pam.stagram makes a cameo. And of course @fountainof_ruth
I suspect that after this book and the water under the bridge, there are 22 more lessons to be learned. Maybe over coffee? Or after a spin with her new venture @tru.community.
It's a good story. Divorced woman finds a job that grows into a career that grows into a business (or two) that grows into a movement.
Most of my friends/readers know I'm devoted to Flywheel for my thrice weekly sweat sessions. Reading this book was like visiting with my friends... My first instructor @marionroaman ... My spin mentor @ddb_fitness ... The most unflappable @johnwellmann ... even my friend @pam.stagram makes a cameo. And of course @fountainof_ruth
I suspect that after this book and the water under the bridge, there are 22 more lessons to be learned. Maybe over coffee? Or after a spin with her new venture @tru.community.
April 21, 2019
I am a Flywheel regular and I love the classes, coordinators and instructors and the little community. It was the biggest reason why I was interested in reading this book.
With that being said, this book needed more editing. From the repetition and the laundry list of celebrity associations I almost gave up half way through.
The story deserves to be written and read but the book was a challenge to get through purely on the formatting, wording and lack of flow.
With that being said, this book needed more editing. From the repetition and the laundry list of celebrity associations I almost gave up half way through.
The story deserves to be written and read but the book was a challenge to get through purely on the formatting, wording and lack of flow.
August 29, 2025
Well, with my love of spinning I really wanted to like this book. But it was pretty much of a letdown - poorly written and just not all that interesting. I was curious about Ruth's exit from SoulCycle, but I guess an NDA kept her from the juicy details on that.
On the bright side, I did appreciate her thought process on creating class experinces at both Flywheel and SoulCycle. I've been to both and can see how her class technique still exists today.
On the bright side, I did appreciate her thought process on creating class experinces at both Flywheel and SoulCycle. I've been to both and can see how her class technique still exists today.
October 21, 2018
Although the author has a very different background from me, I found her stories inspiring. She continued to pick herself back up when things didn't go well, which I admire. At the end of each chapter she has a lesson or two that she learned from those events. While none of them are new or unheard of, I enjoyed the way she wrote them.
February 27, 2019
My son is a HUGE SoulCycle fan and so I wanted to know more about what drives him and drove their success. Some claim one major brand, but Ruth built 2 major brands in a highly competitive unique niche of boutique fitness. Ruth Zukerman's story is truly inspiring and so I had her as a guest on the 5 Minute Success podcast. Karen Briscoe, author and podcast 5 Minute Success
November 13, 2018
Really engaging, entertaining and inspiring read. Part of what made it so good to me is that I love Flywheel, so it was interesting to read the full story of how Ruth started it. Lots of interesting tidbits along the way!
January 3, 2021
Great collection of lessons learned while founding two boutique fitness companies. The book itself could use some editing - some of the ideas and timelines feel jumbled. But I am inspired by a female founder story that starts in her 40's!
January 15, 2022
I didn’t really know much about spinning as an exercise, and listening to this book made me want to try spinning class.
The audiobook is read by the author and she does a very good job of reading it!
The audiobook is read by the author and she does a very good job of reading it!
December 28, 2018
Grade: B
December 14, 2019
I love a good brand story, but a majority of this is bashing soulcycle and other indoor cycling brands, name dropping, and bragging.
December 16, 2019
What I’ve learned from this book about success: It only comes when you know a lengthy list of superstars.
December 22, 2019
This book is poorly written and the editing atrocious. Not once but twice they refer to Katie Couric and Good Morning America. So sloppy
April 26, 2022
Interesting in that now I want to take a spin class. But this book needed serious editing.
Bragging celebrity name dropping, and annoying
Bragging celebrity name dropping, and annoying
November 1, 2020
I found this book enjoyable, especially to read about how the spinning phenomenal came to be what we know of it today. This is an inspiring book on how Ruth Zukerman made a name for herself in the spinning world from building Soulcycle to co-founding Flywheel. She candidly shares her professional experiences with starting a business and some of her learning experiences from it. I also loved when she got personal and and shared about being a divorcee mother to two daughters while trying to run a business. Despite the fears that comes with building your own company, Ruth defied all odds and ultimately built the life she always wanted. That oath to inspire any readers out there.
I hope one day I will be lucky enough to take her spin class - she sounds like a fun and badass spin instructor!
I hope one day I will be lucky enough to take her spin class - she sounds like a fun and badass spin instructor!
March 18, 2024
Not good. Just name dropping.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews