SoulCycle

Profile

Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler made a splash in the New York fitness world in 2006 when they opened a small indoor cycling studio on the Upper West Side that has since expanded to seven locations. Music is the key component to these calorie-blasting 45-minute rides, with instructors acting both as DJ and teacher. In addition to sprints and hills, cyclers can expect extensive arm and ab work throughout the class, including an entire song dedicated to using lightweight dumbbells while riding, plus a finish with a few rounds of yoga-style breathing. Even more expansion is afoot, as the upscale national gym brand Equinox bought the chain in 2011, keeping Rice and Cutler on board. — Randi Eichenbaum

Online reservations keeps things convenient, while their strict cancellation policies leave little room for last-minute bailing out.

Cons
Classes alone aren’t cheap ($32), and shoe rental is an additional $3.