Best Cycling Studios In NYC

New York has no shortage of indoor cycling studios. These days just about every block boasts a place where you can clip in and ride your heart out. So where should you go? Before you get paralyzed by the number of choices and opt to stay on your couch, have a look at our picks for New York's best indoor cycling studios, below. By Jessica Allen.

AQUA Studio
78 Franklin Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 966-6784
http://www.aquastudiony.com
You know what's intense? Pedaling fast and furiously to the music, an instructor urging you to do better, climb higher, reach all your goals now, now, now. You know what's even more intense? Doing all that while riding underwater. Yup, it's true: the bikes at AQUA Studio are submerged. Its classes (about 45 minutes, on average) are great for folks who are coping with injuries, dealing with joint pain, pregnant, or looking for an alternative to the typical dark studio-based cycling workout. You'll need to pack a bathing suit and check the schedule, as the classes are gender specific (some coed, some only for women).

Peloton
140 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011
(646) 277-4497
https://studio.pelotoncycle.com
Given the day-to-day grind, it's easy to forget that we are living in the future. Case in point: the cycling classes at Peloton. Every single day the workouts here are filmed and, through the magic of technology, livestreamed to folks pedaling away on Peloton bikes in the comfort of their own homes. Participants are able to keep track of their progress and goals through various metrics on their bikes' touchscreens. How cool is that? Some classes feature their very own live DJ, who spins while you spin. Last but not least, water, shoes, and towels are free.

Revolve
52 East 13th Street
New York, NY 10003
(646) 756-5114
http://www.revolvefitness.com
It's very easy to get overwhelmed at any one of the city's many, many cycling studios. Revolve helps demystify the experience by helping you stay focused on form. Instructors work patiently to make sure you're correctly aligned and properly positioned, thereby enabling your body to get its best workout. Classes range from Body Ride, which blends strength training and cycling, to Real Ride, which focuses on cardio and helps participants build endurance. We particularly like the way instructors are given tons of freedom to shape their classes, and playlists, according to their personalities.

SoulCycle
12 East 18th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 208.1300
https://www.soul-cycle.com
In many ways, SoulCycle created the contemporary cycling experience when it landed on the exercise scene in 2006. Today it boasts some 70+ locations around the US, as well as a slew of famous fans, from Jay Z to Lena Dunham. The routines incorporate core work, hand weights, and other bike-based movement, in an effort to not only change your body but to improve your very soul. Studios are candle-lit, instructors are inspirational, riders are transformed. Begin with a SOUL 101 class to learn how to strap in and move, then work your way up to SoulSurvivor, an hour-long exercise extravaganza.

SWERVE
21 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
(917) 388-3190
http://www.swervefitness.com
If you prefer to pedal with friends, then SWERVE is for you. Founded by three former collegiate athletes, this cycling studio emphasizes teamwork. Literally. As you enter, you're put into one of three teams (Red, Blue, and Green). As you ride, your metrics combined with those of your teammates, and everyone can see which team is leaving the others in the proverbial dust on the electronic leaderboard. Don't worry about privacy, though: only you can see your own progress. The workout is total HIIT (high intensity interval training), so your whole body will get sculpted and shaped.

Jessica Allen is a New York-based writer.