First, there’s the bike. In my opinion, it’s the most superior indoor cycling bike out there. Highly connected, it offers up each rider’s personal cadence, resistance and output along with a real-time leaderboard, so that we can see how we measure up against the rest of the class and others tuning in from home.  It rides like a dream.

For virtual cyclists, Peloton is the first experience to provide streaming of live and on-demand classes, right from their home gyms, libraries or living rooms.  So, if you skipped Lisa Niren‘s 10:30am class last Sunday because you slept in, were on a plane or simply live in Detroit, don’t worry, because it’s available…24/7. (And, trust me, if you want to be in amazing shape, you don’t want to miss Lisa’s Endurance ride–check out her way enviable abs.)

For New Yorkers, Peloton’s 23rd Street studio is the brand’s home base. With a spacious lobby lounge that’s like a comfy-meets-chic living room and a Jack’s outpost with freshly-brewed coffee and fruit-infused water, the pre-and post-ride experience is made to feel equally important.

And, as always, there’s a full collection of branded tees, tanks and crop capris on your way in and out. (If you don’t have your own cycling shoes, they’re complimentary with the ride, along with water.)

In New York, we often grumble that everyone is always looking for the next best thing in lunch spots, labels and even love. But, after having taken three Peloton classes with another scheduled for tomorrow morning, I gotta admit: my present is pretty perfect.

Remember my ride at T2?  That sweaty, endorphin-fueled experience can be yours too!

Five readers will have the chance to learn the ABCs of outdoor cycling from T2’s team of expert coaches indoors at the UES studio—and, all before spring really hits.

Enter to win a class at T2 in one of these EASY ways:
Here, on my site: Leave a comment on this post, so that I know where to find you.
On Twitter: Follow @FitGirlRachel and RE-TWEET my @T2MultiSportNYC post with tags #ride #win #giveaway.
On Instagram: Follow @FitGirlRachel, “like” & comment on my T2 Win It! photo and I’ll see that you entered there.

Winners will be notified by April 7.

Class passes and image above provided by T2.

In place of promotional signage and a wall of merchandise, you’ll find a projector screen with riders’ names and performance numbers, the weekly schedule on a gigantic chalk board and stacks of magazines like Competitor and Women’s Running. No frills, but, totally authentic.

The technology behind T2 is the CompuTrainer, which delivers real-time results as you ride. Whether you bring your own bike or use one from the studio, everyone is plugged into the system, showing the “road” and our individual numbers (watts, distance, calories burned, etc.) on flatscreens.

After inputting my height, weight & age and selecting my virtual outfit colors, my bike was waiting for me, so, I hopped on and started getting familiar.  While I’m a huge indoor cyclist, I’m less experienced with riding outdoors on anything more complicated than a Citi Bike, so, my only challenge was shifting gears.  Otherwise, it was very simple–each rider followed his/her personal pane, showing our course and metrics (I was bottom left).

My neighbor, whom I jokingly nicknamed “the guy,” was a tall, hardcore triathlete and international finance type whose output was consistently through the roof: he hit 375 watts vs. mine, which ranged between 100-140 during the 90-minute class.  I was more than happy to follow his tips and tricks, which he happily offered throughout our ride.

Meanwhile, all around us, there was a lot of sweating going on.

Things to know before you go:

• Bring a slim water bottle that will fit into your bike (mine’s Klean Kanteen); refills provided.
• As with any cycling class, if you have shoes, wear those, otherwise, baskets are available so that you can rock your sneakers, too.
• Eat something light but substantial before you ride: a banana with peanut butter or small bowl of high protein cereal with almond milk.
• And, there are showers, if you’re headed to brunch with friends afterward.

It’s always easy to zone out on an elliptical and call that a workout. So, one of the things that I’ve loved about writing STRENGTH+Sole is pushing myself far from what was once my usual routine.

Next week, I’m back at T2 for another class and my FTP (Functional Threshold Power) test, which will give me an accurate sense of where I am now, performance-wise, and help set my training goals.

And, ya never know, you just might see me this spring in Central Park, dressed in head-to-toe spandex and riding alongside “the guy.”

Are you with me?  Try T2!  Log on to T2NYC.com and use promo code STRENGTH for 25% off a single class or any class package through February 28, 2014.

Stay tuned for more from my FTP test and a special giveaway, coming soon.

Photos by Jeanne Meyer.
This post is in partnership with T2; all thoughts/assessments are my own.

On May 14, 2008, his doctor told him that he was going to die.  Not only was it a chore to get through day-to-day life, like walking up a flight of stairs, but, his heart was working twice as hard as it should.  The next day, he cut out sugar and soda–resulting in a weight loss of 50 pounds over the next few months, alone–and never looked back.

Meet Doug Johnson, über instructor at SWERVE and one of the most inspirational guys on the NYC fitness scene.

Why he’s different: Well, for one thing, there’s Doug’s story–which is pretty unreal, especially once you check him out in a tank top.  In class, you’ll also find Doug alternating between riding and walking around the studio with an iPad in hand, like a clipboard.  Yup, he’s got your RPM, resistance, gear and output right in front of him, so, basically he knows exactly how hard every rider is working at all times. “I hold you accountable because I want you to be a stronger and more efficient rider,” he says.  And really, who wants to mess with that?

Doug’s schedule: “Nothing less than 20 classes per week, typically 24″ which nets out to 4-5 per day.

What he loves about SWERVE: “There’s unity in the team.  We really rile people up and it’s this rooting for their team, and for each other, as friends, that changes how the class ends.”

Where you’ll find him before or after teaching class: At Barry’s Bootcamp! “The best way that you stay on top of your craft is learning from others,” he says, noting that his ever-expanding core group of favorites there include: Patrick Frost, Courtney Paul, Noah Neiman and Natalie Raitano.

What’s inside his closet: Sleek, form-fitting pieces by Y-3, Zara and Lululemon.

Favorite restaurants in SWERVE’s neighborhood? Westville and Republic.

Guilty pleasure? Sour Patch Kids (highly addictive, he says), along with any other type of sugar-loaded, gummy candy.

Fitness (and life) motto: “You are the embodiment of infinite possibilities.”  Can’t argue with that.

Want to book a class with Doug?  Click here.

Opened last week inside David Barton Gym‘s Astor Place location, it gives off a rock ‘n roll club vibe by osmosis, with CYC clients sharing the bustling lobby and dimly-lit locker rooms done up in British rocker chic style.

Combined with the studio’s own music decibel level (very loud) and club crowd (equal ratio of girls wearing diamond studs and Sparkly Soul headbands and tanned, toned guys in muscle tees), you’ll be in full #partyonabike mode by the time class starts.

Fresh off his appearance on Kathie Lee and Hoda/The Today Show, head instructor and CYC creator Keoni Hudoba was himself, tanned and toned (he’s a native Hawaiian) and super psyched about CYC. Hudoba spent the majority of class on the bike, demonstrating upper body moves inspired by sports like swimming, basketball and volleyball (done with 2- or 3-pound free weights throughout the entire 45-minute class vs. via a dedicated segment).

He took a few breaks to cheer us on, separating the 50 riders into three groups for a little friendly competition infused by the studio’s blacklight, and to play a short set on the large steel drum next to his bike. The class is fast-paced, a little frenetic and likely enjoyed most by riders with above average hand-eye coordination.

My biceps and triceps were definitely sore the next day. I do a decent amount of strength training and I find that this usually doesn’t happen after other indoor cycling classes. Bonus points for CYC.

Looking for a little eye candy and some big, crazy fun?  CYC is your place.  Hurts so good.

WIN IT!
The first 15 readers to comment below will receive an exclusive access code from STRENGTH+Sole for a complimentary ride at CYC (David Barton Gym/NYC location only).  So, let me know what you think of this post, what you’re looking forward to experiencing at CYC and see you on a bike!
Winners will be notified via email by Friday, 1/17.

Meet Kari Nicolle (pronounced “Kah-ree”). She’s an actress on the rise, an in-demand Flywheel instructor and the ultimate optimist.  I recently rocked a bike in Kari’s Flatiron class then sat down with her to talk about fitness, favorite products and her forecast for the notoriously tough-to-break-through town of New York City.

Her story: Kari hails from the San Francisco Bay Area and moved cross-country to study theater at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. For her, it was “New York, all the way.” Forever an athlete, having played soccer, softball and ridden horses competitively since grade school, she had never actually worked out inside a gym before moving east.

Now, she’s an actress with an agent and few Broadway and TV gigs under her skinny belt, out to score her first national commercial in 2014. “The talent level in this city is so beyond incredible, it makes me speechless.”

Why she’s different: She’s intensely positive–in and out of the studio. “Being a performer helps, it’s so in our bones to share ourselves with a crowd.”

Kari has mastered the art of teaching (she just celebrated her first “Flyversary” this month) and it may sound strange, but, I felt that she made amazing eye contact, despite the studio’s darkness during class. “I try to connect with every person in the room. People are only there because they really love it, from the staff to our clients…there are so many options,” she says.

What’s inside her beauty bag:
Clarins Gentle Care Day Cream: It’s the only thing that works for her super sensitive skin.

Paul Mitchell Super Clean Sculpting Gel: Great for girls with tight, stubborn curls.

MAC Lipglass in Prrr: “I don’t leave the house without it,” she says, and quickly whipped it out of her handbag to show me.

Fitness (and life) motto: “Don’t get in your own way–and, just keep showing up.”

Want to book a class with Kari?  Click here.

On Friday night, Audrey and Diane, two of my 100-mile relay teammates, drove down from Vermont for a fun fall weekend in the city.  On the agenda: shopping, snacking on B-day Truffles at Momofuku Milk Bar, sipping Salty Dogs at Willow Road and cycling at SWERVE, the newest studio in the city, which opened yesterday.

Located on West 18th Street in the Flatiron, the exterior is reminiscent of SoulCycle, with colorful branded window vinyls.

The SWERVE concept is a team inspired ride, whether you come with friends or solo (both are encouraged). The bikes are brand new Schwinn, with the most amazing flat handles for position 2, separated into three teams: red, green and blue via overhead lighting.

Each bike is equipped with a monitor à la Flywheel and Revolve, but here, it’s synced to measure team performance, which is displayed via color-blocked bar charts on flatscreens. Go, team spirit. (SWERVE’s founders are college friends with finance backgrounds.) You can also check out your personal performance at the end of class via the ride summary that appears on your monitor.

Our instructor was Trisha, a blonde, braided Cali turned city girl. This was her fourth class in two days, but, we never would have known–she had great energy on and off the bike, plus a killer playlist.

After class, you can hit the juice bar with a selection of freshly blended smoothies, Chia Bars and cold-pressed juices from neighborhood favorite Liquiteria.

While SWERVE’s studio interior also looks like SoulCycle, bespoke details make it feel more luxe.

As a new Cory Vines ambassador, I was psyched to see SWERVE’s branded apparel collection includes the brand’s tops and tanks, plus some Nike favorites.

The SWERVE experience was fun. It definitely brings some additional energy to the city’s increasingly crowded cycling scene, And, girls, if you’re looking for eye candy, you can find it here…the studio was filled with cute finance boys on bikes!

The rock climbing wall, a highlight of REI’s Adventure Zone in Soho.

Test riding Shimano Click’r CW40 Bike Shoes: a sneaker-meets-cycling shoe. These are great for bike commuters (you can walk normally on the ground once unclipped) and gym goers who want to spin then hit the free weights without a change of shoe.

Artsy at the Mondrian Soho.

Park Avenue totally got down with Crunch. Love him.

See you next Saturday!

On three Saturdays in August, runners, bikers and rollerbladers rule the road from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park (East 72nd Street) on Park Avenue.  This year’s events are August 3, 10 and 17 (mark your calendars now, 7am-1pm), and, in true New York City fashion, the DOT will up the ante with a host of artsy new features and sporty activities:

For the first time ever, the Park Avenue Tunnel will be open to pedestrians via Voice Tunnel, an interactive light and sound installation.  Spotlights within the tunnel will be influenced by the volume of people’s voices as they pass through from 33rd to 40th Streets.

In Soho, there will be a rock climbing wall as part of REI’s Adventure Zone.

And, in Midtown, fitness classes by Reebok and CrossFit demos.

A few of my favorite photos from past Summer Streets…

Remember the container pools, right outside Grand Central?

And, of course, no Summer Streets is complete without a full-on feast at Whole Foods’ City Picnic at 25th Street.  Any opportunity to eat gelato…I partake.

This summer, I’m most excited about the Zip Line downtown at Foley Square.  My last one was exactly five years ago in Mendoza, Argentina with two of my best friends.  It was both kinda crazy and crazy fun.  I’m a little afraid of heights (as you know from here), but, hey, ya only go around once.  Who’s with me?

If you’re in, let’s do it together.  Comment here or email me: strengthandsolenyc@gmail.com.