First Lady Jill Biden leaves SoulCycle in the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco on Tuesday. | Liz Lindqwister/The Standard
First Lady Jill Biden was spotted leaving a workout class at a San Francisco SoulCycle on Tuesday morning.
What appeared to be Secret Service agents in suits and plainclothes gathered outside the 400 Castro St. studio at around 8:15 a.m., flanked by black Chevrolet Suburban SUVs lining the curb outside.
"Happy Pride, Jill!" yelled an onlooker as Dr. Biden headed into a car.
Dr. Biden is visiting San Francisco for a busy day of fundraising for her husband's reelection campaign. President Joe Biden is also expected to visit the San Francisco Bay Area from June 19 to June 21. Further details have not been released.
First Lady Jill Biden leaves SoulCycle in the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco on Tuesday. | Liz Lindqwister/The Standard
Dr. Biden attended an 8 a.m. SoulCycle spin class with instructor Chris Layda for 45 minutes and was spotted leaving in blue leggings paired with white running shoes and a black top. Layda did not respond to requests for comment by publication time.
"[Dr. Biden] was sitting in the front, in the very front. It was kind of an empty class, so it was like whatever," said Kaylyn Shinault, a class attendee. "She did great! She was kind of right in front of me—she crushed it."
Attendees said security checked their bags and waved airport-style security wands. Shinault and another attendee said they had no idea the first lady was riding in their SoulCycle class.
A SoulCycle area manager, Caroline McConnell, declined to confirm the presence of any special guests at the site in an e-mail.
Jill Biden exits the Castro Soul Cycle on Tuesday. | Liz Lindqwister/The Standard
SoulCycle is a popular exercise chain with three San Francisco locations. It offers a signature spin class it describes as a "45-minute cardio dance party on a bike." Classes start at $25 for new riders.
The first lady is expected to attend a fundraising event for President Biden at civic events space Manny's on Tuesday night, according to a newsletter sent by the Mission-based cafe.
“That’s right—Dr. Jill Biden is coming to our little corner of San Francisco for a special afternoon fundraising reception for President Biden’s Campaign and I’d like to invite you to join,” wrote Manny’s proprietor Manny Yekutiel. “It’s a huge moment for me personally and for Manny's so I hope you’ll dig deep, get on board, support the President, and come hang with the First Lady and me.”
