It’s 6 a.m. on a frigid February morning and the streetlights on Forest Avenue are still flashing. But on the second floor of Rêve Cycling Studio, spin instructor Carolyn Williams has already been up for an hour when she dons her headset and greets the 34 bleary eyed people strapped to stationary bicycles.

It’s not long before the temperature is rising and Williams has the room in a workout frenzy, syncing the rhythms of the bicycles to that of her custom-made playlists.

“I was a music minor in college and I just loved it,” said Williams, who began cycling while living in New York. “I never thought I would do professionally something that combined my passion for music and fitness.”

Williams is part of the multitude of instructors at Rêve, a business founded by Stephanie Cabot almost two years ago when she saw a need for more spin workouts in Portland. Rêve offers between 22 and 25 classes a week spread through 11 different instructors, each bringing her own music and vibe to the class.

“There’s just something about the energy of the room and the people who are there combined with the music. I just love it,” said Williams. “We really have a nice community that is very welcoming.”


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