ASTORIA — A new cycling studio that opened this weekend in Astoria is looking to offer a variety of workouts at more affordable prices than those offered in Manhattan, according to the gym's owner.
Simply Cycle Astoria debuted this weekend, opening on the second floor at 30-69 Steinway St. The gym is the first dedicated cycling studio to open in the neighborhood, according to owner Lisa Eskenazi.
"I just really wanted to have a place close to home. The best cycling places are all in Manhattan," she said. "Also [to] be able to provide something that's affordable as well — the rates in Manhattan are really astronomical."
A 45-minute class at Simply Cycle Astoria costs $22, and customers can purchase class packs of up to 50 classes (by comparison, a class at the popular SoulCycle runs $34, according to SoulCycle's website).
Eskenazi is no stranger to Astoria fitness: she already owns another gym, Simply Fit Astoria, at nearby 37-16 Astoria Blvd., where she offers a variety of workouts, from Zumba to cardio kickboxing to Piloxing, a mash-up between Pilates and boxing.
"I wanted something that was going to offer all different kinds of classes," she said of her first gym, something she's hoping to replicate at the new cycling studio.
"I'm taking that same kind of idea with the spin classes," she said. She plans to let her instructors come up with their own twists, including an endurance-based class or "rhythm rides" that change with the beat of the music.
"I wanted to let them kind of come up with new ideas," she said. "You get to grow with the teachers."
A current schedule of Simply Cycle Astoria classes can be found here. Eskenazi said she plans to add more teachers and classes in the future.
