Pedal NYC

Profile

Hidden in the back of one of those gargantuan buildings that rose up along the West Side Highway is Pedal, a cycling studio that opened in January 2012. The two-room space is done up in green, purple, and black and outfitted with an army of silver Livestrong-branded stationary bikes. They’re computerized to show how hard you’re working, keeping you honest about your efforts. The instructor calls out how much resistance to inflict upon yourself and encourages cyclers through varying levels of strain. A string of pop tunes dictates a beat to match your pedaling—faster songs mean faster speeds. In the next room, students stretch, bend, and build muscle tone as the studio offers suspension training, intense core work, and yoga sessions. Can’t decide on a workout? Go with the 30/30, a combo class that combines spinning with suspension training and core work to give you a well-rounded workout. The studio’s abs class, called CoreRxN, is “crunchless,” which is especially beneficial to those with lower-back pain or other injuries who can’t handle the strain of a zillion situps. Those who don’t want to pedal in place can sign up for classes that “take it to the streets,” in which instructors will teach you how to maximize your bike rides and map out routes to make you sweat. — Edna Ishayik

The variety of classes allows for exercise routines that combine both cardio and strength building and mix it up enough to stave off boredom.

Cons
The remote location does not make it easy for those coming in from out of the neighborhood, and there are no showers.