The Monster Cycle

Holy heat! Just had went to my first cycle class and was pleasantly surprised. My roommate told me about this class so I thought I’d give it a try. The inside décor has that «badass» feel walking in. Definitely more of a «I’m cooler than you SoulCycle» kind of vibe — very trendy. The class is downstairs in the basement area — which is a bit crammed especially when it’s in between class change.
The studio itself is dark with black lights and two TV monitors that play music videos behind the instructor. I chose the party monster class with Demetre since I prefer cycling to EDM music. I’ve heard about the music videos playing during class. And lemme tell you about theses music videos… they were somethin else! Just think of Rihanna’s «We Found Love» music video for 45 minutes — no joke. I’m not complaining but it’s some serious psychedelic trippy business, so you’ve been warned!
The playlist of songs for this class was interesting. I guess I was expecting more known EDM/​House music that I could really dance my bike to. It started out slow with more trippy/​dark unknown trap/​dubstep-​like beats but then progressively shifted to more fun, upbeat house/​dance music. For some reason, the music playlist somehow worked tho! The music was perfectly in line with the appropriate intensity level.
The class was challenging but definitely fun. Demetre was a great instructor and had a lot of energy. I came outta that class sweating bullets, so that shows it’s a great ass kicker! I’m curious to know what the other instructors are like, so I’ll be back.
Price Breakdown:
Shoe Rental — $ 2
First Class — $ 15
Regular Class — $ 34

Class wise Monster is fantastic. I’ve been here several times. This place has one of the better arm workouts I’ve experienced and the bikes are great. I feel like I get a lot out of my work out and I enjoyed having music videos playing. I am not a conservative person, but I wasn’t very into some of the very exploitative female oggling videos that played, like one that was nothing but 6 minutes of booty shaking close ups. NOTHING but booty shaking. I love to booty shake, I like seeing it on occasion, but for an entire video? Followed by more gangster rap of mostly naked chicks bouncing on the laps of smug men for another 4 videos? I think your taste in music can be more positive, more empowering and more progressive. This last ride I found to be a bit cringe worthy because of this. That and the music felt way too loud. If I’m here again I need to remember to bring ear plugs.
Overall though I am really not a fan of the facility. There are only two showers that leave too much room for selfish riders to stay changing in when there’s a line of 8+ people waiting for their turn. I’ve watched a few shower changers be quite snarky about being hurried up. I waited a very long time to get into the shower and when I finally did there wasn’t any hot water … EVERY time.
Waiting in line feels even longer since there’s hardly any cell signal down there. I connected to their wifi but that didn’t work. We were just standing and getting more frustrated. No FB or anything to distract us!
There are a few other creature comfort things that I think also detract from the flow of the place, like not having more bins for towels after you come out of the shower that isn’t so far from the shower. There is a lot of bottle necking between classes around the lockers, something I haven’t had to deal with as frustratingly at Flywheel, Peloton, Swerve, or Revolve. There also aren’t enough lockers for everyone.
The industrial look is a bit too cold for me and I find the make up station to be lacking in simple, helpful amenities like a shelf to at least put your make up on. It doesn’t feel like a place designed with women in mind, who are the largest demographic when it comes to spin riders.
I’m looking at other places to spend my class time at. Not my preferred place to be.

While at first I was on the fence about the music video style of Monster Cycle, I have decided that is one of the best spin studios in NYC for several reasons.
1^st: Michael, one of the owners, is probably the best spinning instructor in NYC. I say that having been a member of ClassPass for the past year and having gone to many spin studios and taken many many instructors.
2^nd: All the instructors and staff are helpful and the studio is a nice change from the corporate and franchise feeling of most gym and boutique spin studios.
3^rd: The music videos do give you a nice distraction and it is a close to a dance club as I will get.
All of the negatives are really the same as every other spin studio and not specific to Monster — the shower to person ratio is not great, it’s always a bit cramped when people are coming in and out of classes and spinning is as much work as you make it. I do hope they change to the lockers with the electronic codes.
While I also tend to like the spin bikes with metrics, I realized that it’s good to not only rely on technology and heart rate is always the best measure of how you are working, not #s on a bike.

This is by far the best spin studio I’ve been to in LA or New York.
First, the dècor and vibe is great. Think s&m meets spin plus street art and you have The Monster Cycle studio. Spin bikes with gold skeletons, graffiti murals and amazing staff.
The studio itself is dark, has massive TVs, 70″ or more on each side of the front. The instructor has determined the playlists, occasionally themed, the music videos play throughout the class and it’s perfect to get lost in while burning through. The playlists are dope. Prudes that don’t like the music and find it offensive should go to SoulCycle.
I don’t take showers here but it looks packed. There are plenty of lockers per class, a coat rack and towel is provided. I bring spin shoes but you can rent.
The spin bikes are really good, similar quality to flywheel. What I love is that you have the option to check your little screen for RPMs etc but can always go to the rhythm which I prefer.
The instructors are excellent. Super motivating, fun, pushes you hard in great way. They give great instruction, get off their bikes and get us going. I leave the room drenched in sweat and feeling accomplished.
So basically yeah I don’t want it to get any more popular than it already is for selfish reasons but must share how great this studio is.

Instructor constantly screams ‘you monsters!’ Now I understand the reason behind the name monster cycle. The cycle studio is located downstairs, almost dungeon like feel. Crammed locker space. No lockers so bring your own, unless you don’t mind leaving your locker unlocked. Very little sitting area so everyone was just kind of everywhere. Shower, bathroom, changing room were all dim/​dark in cement. Classroom had two tvs that was playing music videos. Good distraction I guess? I wasn’t feeling this class, this studio, or the instructor. He kept saying we’re working for him. Smh. Don’t think that’s a way to motivate people.

Michael’s class is the only one where I’ve sweat the most and felt like I really cleansed myself of toxins and negativity. Great music and infectious spirit. There are so many days I’ve left work full of rage and discouragement, but Michael’s mantras sprinkled through out his workouts really put me back onto the right track again feeling empowered and invincible. Today, his «it gets faster and lighter after this. Keep going». Resonated with me so well. Many people find peace through yoga, but his spin class is most effective for me. Thank you Michael. I wish you would open up a studio in SF and ride there. If not, I’ll be sure to come back whenever I visit NYC.

I’ve been coming to Monster Cycle since they opened a little over a year ago. It’s hands down my favorite spin studio that I’ve ever been to. Michael is the best teacher, I’ve been to a few others but he is the best. The music is on point, and even on days where I’ve been exhausted I get pumped up and have an awesome workout. The room near the studio can’t get really crazy when one class is ending and another is starting, but you just deal with it. I don’t mind that the shoes are required for rental, it actually makes for a better class. I wish Michael taught more morning classes, but I take what I can get! The one thing I wish they had was a changing area as there are only three bathrooms and they’re always full. Love monster cycle!

I tried this place out after hitting many of the other spin studios in the city and beyond. It has its own vibe and style as other reviewers have mentioned. It didnt necessarily hit a sweet spot but it did make me sweat on the spot through the 45 minutes. I tend to prefer metrics rides that you can compare and excel based on the bike computers. Here they just show RPM. The music, videos, and instructor guide your exertion and position through the ride. There was a brief upper body portion which I find to be a waste of time anywhere when your on a bike.
Music was loud, and featured plenty of language. I liked the videos if no other reason than to distract as I think my music video days hearken back to early mtv and things have gotten far more elaborate since then.
Common areas– dark, compact, two shower rooms so consider wait time if you want to leave clean. The instructor who was subbing or another was good, and made sure newbies were ready and set up. Kind of dungeon’y though I suspect thats what they wanted.
Overall Id return but again this style of spin is not my cup of tea.

This has been my favorite new workout spot in NYC so far!
This has personality. You walk in to a big lobby to bunch of cool and gritty art like old TV playing static with their logo over it and an enormous bad ass mural. Skulls, masks, eyeballs and pentagrams round out their occult aesthetic.
When I walked downstairs and saw one spin trainer dressed like a member of the misfits (devillock!) and another spin trainer dressed as a zombie (it was Halloween themed), I knew I was in a cool place. This gym is more cuts down on the whole kumbaya empowerment mumbo jumbo and is more about kicking ass making sure the the stress of your day job doesn’t hold you down.
The spin class was challenging but fun. The room had a great soundsystem and cool lighting. The kicker was the workout was centered around the 80’s soundtrack of American Psycho. It was so hilarious to listen to Huey Lewis and the news while watching clips of Christian Bale’s Patrick Batemen chop off Jared Leto’s character’s head. I totally love the dark humor and pop culture savvy of this place.
Plus the showers are great!
Only thing I don’t like is the wall tiny lockers that can only fit locks they provide and creates a serious issue of bottlenecking in between classes.
Besides that, spin classes here is a great way to destress after a workday!

Michael, I love you. I wish you and I could be best friends. I can tell, we’d get along so well! We could shop together (I also have a fetish for leather!), get tattooed together, and go to metal shows. We have so much in common.
Ok, creepy stalker mode: OFF.
Monster cycle is great. All the instructors are enthusiastic and encouraging. All the music is upbeat and gets you going. The videos with all these sickeningly hot people, while results in a little bit of self loathing, is probably the best motivator you can ask for. This is one class where I never check the time waiting to see if it it almost over yet: Iose track of time at every monster class… Between the vibe, the music and the dark, it’s just me, cycling away until the music stops.
Check out the theme classes! It’s easy to be into it, and you can tell the instructors love it too! Just took Sexy Witch this week. So fun!
Heads up: Locker room is unisex, and gets super crowded. Have only taken night classes, as I worry about the shower situation before work.

Hell yeah, I am a fan of this studio. The only thing holding back the 5^th star is the lack of shower facilities. I mean, you are guaranteed to emerge from class dripping in sweat, and you’re in a great neighborhood to meet up with friends afterwards for a drink or a bite to eat. You gotta shower! And you will have to wait in line for one of two showers. Bummer. At least they are clean though.
Regarding the class itself, it’s awesome. I love the music, the instructors, the concept, the crazy videos. Great attitude, no pretense, fantastic workout. And the location is a huge plus for downtowners!

The Monster Cycle is probably one of my most favorite things I have to actually look forward to during the day. I have been to many cycling studios in the city, thanks to classpass Ive tried them all. None of them compare to TMC. Its truly an unforgettable experience.
The owner/​instructor Michael really knows how to teach. I mean really knows. His personal style in every class just gets you pumped up. I am a full time member now, the packages are reasonable compared to other studios, and their themes are «off the chain». My favorite place to burn off empty calories.

I’m sure this would be a great studio for some and I’m all for fun workout experiences, but Monster Cycle struck me as just being too much. Even leaving aside the cramped locker room and limited bathroom and shower space, the major issue was the class set up. The room was very dark and the music was very loud.
Monster cycle is clearly trying to set a certain type of vibe, but I’m not into instructors shouting «hell yeah» or referring to students as little monsters. It’s just off putting. Moreover, the instructors spend so much time adjusting lightening to create the right aesthetic that it is distracting. During one class, an instructor told us to visualize someone who could not work out because of a disability or medical person and ride for that person/​be grateful, which I found slightly distasteful.
The music video idea was a nice touch, but some of the music and videos were boarder line offensive. And of course because you are trying to distract yourself from the pain of the work out all you can do is fixate on the music videos.
The ride itself was fine, but I would not return because of the atmosphere. Overall, Monster Cycle struck me as trying way too hard to be edgy.

Did the trap workout series via classpass. The studio is trendy, clean, contrary to other reviews the spin class is much more spacious than others in the city. Wish the instructor had a little more pizzazz, but with any fitness class you have to find the instructor that works for you, so its really personal preference. Soho is a bit far from me so i dont see myself going back but it was fun to try, very effective, and went by quickly!

This place would’ve gotten 4 stars but… Read along
The facility is nice and clean. Shoe rental is $ 2 and a bottle of Figi water is $ 4 (madness. Bring your own water folks). The unisex locker room is downstairs along with the spin studio, restrooms and showers. You should either bring your own lock for the lockers or you can leave your ID or a credit card with the front desk and they will let you borrow one.
There are 2 shower rooms and both have toilets. Pretty clean which was a major ++ on my list! I’ve heard about the massive lines for the showers during the work week and did not care to endure the painful wait which is why I came on a weekend.
Now let’s talk about the class: the instructor was great. Apparently she hurt her foot a week or so ago so she didn’t ride along with the class but she did coach us along. The ride was definitely a challenge and I sweated my ass off.
What was a for me was some of the music. Music videos are used to provide visual inspiration and was a half success. A few songs were played that had the word «ni$$a» on repeat. {le sigh} why don’t instructors realize how offensive the use of this term is? If you’re that in love with a song and want to use it for your class find the CLEAN version!

Saturday morning spent with Jonathan was just the right amount of sass and sweetness for me. Meanwhile, Liz got me sweating within the very first minute during an after work ride. Michael seems to have the least amount of rules and just wants you to enjoy the music while feeling like a sweaty badass. Demetre makes me want to go to every music festival half naked because I swear he must have been a DJ in his past life. I literally partied my ass off this past Sunday morning and could not have asked for a better start to the week. I’ve yet to try the other instructors’ classes, but I’m sure theirs will also be filled with amazing music, videos with images of firm booties for swimsuit season inspiration, and of course, a kick ass attitude.
Now onto the space itself. Monster Cycle is a tad bit of a haute mess in terms of the changing/​locker area which is co-​ed and can get very cramped (so I advise you to come at least 20 minutes before class to change, use the bathroom, and get a locker. also bring your own lock) right between classes. Other than that, the rest of the place seems new, funky, and ready to party.
Just a few notes: spin shoe rentals are $ 2 which is pretty fair for me since I only come here twice a week at most, but the water is a whopping $ 4 which is ridiculous considering the fact that the studio is right by Chinatown where you can just pick up a bottle for $ 1 or bring your own. Also, if you or a friend are on the fence about spinning/​cycling, the classes without weights are a good place to start.
Monster is perfect for those who are in the Chinatown/​SoHo/​NoHo/​Nolita area and want a fun ride but want to break away from the Soul Cycle crowd, as the two are not comparable. Think of Soul Cycle as the prim and proper overachiever with exceptional taste, and Monster Cycle as the rebellious younger sibling who will rage all night and still show up the next morning to get their sh*t done.

Beyond in love with these classes. Michael is one of the best instructor’s I’ve ever had, you will sweat a LOT, and sexy goth vibes are everywhere. Music videos are projected behind the instructor throughout class — the videos are somehow always visually engaging and energetic, quality music. The videos work so well — it’s fun to watch them when the instructor isn’t guiding class.
Instruction is on point. You are always pedaling to the beat. Classes are planned out perfectly. You always know where you should be, instructors are inspiring to push you more than you might expect, and the energy in the room is exhilarating. The amount of fun I have while simultaneously sweating my ass off is unmatched. There are lots of hills and high resistance portions, which I think are the best parts of class.
The only thing to keep in mind is that there are two showers, and people average 10 – 15 minutes in them. You can still do these classes right before work or a date/​happy hour — you’ll have to run out of class the moment stretching starts. Otherwise, expect to wait or plan to shower elsewhere.
The owners Michael and Demetre are both amazing and cute, the décor in the studio is a delicious blend of Lady Gaga/​goth/​edgy/​sexiness. Cannot recommend this place enough. If you do classpass, COME HERE. If not, they have a $ 13 first-​class deal. Do it.

Fun class — 3.5 stars. I’ve only been here once so far, but have a package of spin classes to use up, so I will be back to try the others.
The format is interesting: you are spinning while watching music videos, and the play list was fun. The bikes are Schwinn bikes with sneaker cages so if you don’t have spinning shoes, you can just wear sneakers. I do see why it would be better to clip in, because standing on the balls of your feet in the sneaker cages can feel uncomfortable, but if you have them, bring them. They do not rent spinning shoes.
The locker space is downstairs, and there are 2 restrooms and 2 showers with restrooms. The # on your bike corresponds to the locker #.
The showers were OK, not the cleanest in the world, but I was in and out in a jiffy — they have shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc.
I do like that for the most part, you ride to the music. The instructor guides you on how fast your rpm should be on the monitor attached to the bike. I enjoyed the music videos and was surprised when the instructor said there were only 2 more songs left.
TIPS: BYO water bottle and lock. The water costs $ 6, and there is a purified water fountain. Don’t be late — even if your train is the slowest train in the world, if you don’t make it in, they close the doors and you get locked out :(
I’ve only had Liz, and she was ok. I’ll be back to try the other instructors.

YAAAS okay, I’ve taken 4 different coaches here now for spinning, and they’ve revamped their yoga program and partnered with Y7 (who I love, and wrote a separate review for!) so you can pretty much disregard my previous yoga-​centric review.
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While Monster’s cycling classes don’t have measured metrics/​distance/​leaderboards (what I usually crave in a spin class, because of my competitive nature), the coaches really make up for it with their energy, enthusiasm, and genuine KINDNESS. Seriously, everyone here is extremely down to earth, friendly, approachable, and chill.
My first cycling class here was Pavel’s 1-​hour endurance class, which was fun! The bikes here are more traditional and no frills, so hopefully your butt is accustomed to the stiffness of a bare bones racing saddle!
My other visit here was for a special 3-​HOUR endurance event benefiting GMHC for HIV/​AIDS support, and the energy and spirit of everyone in the building was stellar. I rode all 3 legs of the event and got to have class with Jonathan (who also teaches at Revolve), Michael, and Demetre. Out of all 3, they each have a very different style, so choose depending on what you’re looking for.
JONATHAN — sassy, upbeat, focused. I think Jonathan’s music mix is hands down my favourite so far out of all of the coaches I’ve taken here. He’s also got an assertive and commanding voice that offers new riders a lot of helpful guidance and structure during the ride.
MICHAEL — probably the chillest/​friendliest, and felt the most spiritual/energy/“good vibes” based. I really love his personality and demeanor, both on and off the bike.
DEMETRE — hands down, probably the most energetic and inspired of the day (also he was closing out the 3 hour event so he SERIOUSLY tore the house down!). His music is insane, intense, and his coaching is the same. I loved it, and really fed off of his energy (especially when he came around to each rider in the class to encourage us to push harder).
Overall, it takes a lot for me to fold a new spin studio into my rotation, but Monster’s definitely carved out a solid spot! I’m definitely becoming a regular. Don’t hesitate to give this place a shot, but keep an open mind and be aware that they definitely have their own style, and it might not be for everyone. That said, you get what you give, and as long as you come here with an open mind and open heart, I think you’ll be handsomely rewarded (and get a seriously good workout!)

I went to Monster Cycle for the first time today via ClassPass. From a visual standpoint I quite liked the studio. The first floor has a lot of open space and a smoothie bar. Check in was easy and they gave useful instructions. Lockers and studio downstairs, bike number is locker number. They don’t have locks on the actual lockers, but if you ask the attendant at the desk they will lend you one. Unfortunately I’ve been spoiled by some of the other studios in the city so it was a bit of a bummer that they don’t provide spin shoes.
When I first walked into the studio I had to ask myself did I come here to spin or did I come here to do hot yoga?! It was so hot in the studio, it felt like there was no air ventilation and it was very humid. I don’t see how it could be so warm in there before the class even started! That made the class very uncomfortable as well because there was no cool air anywhere!
The actual class was alright. It was somewhat annoying that I had to constantly click the tracking device to see what my RPMs were since the brightness wasn’t automatic. The instructor kept telling us to do gear x, y, z but there really wasn’t any indication to me of how I knew I was at the right gear. I definitely did like the music a lot and I did like the screens that showed the music videos. I kind of felt like I was at a club and the instructor was very energetic. Some were a bit more graphic than I would have liked though. The bike was a bit uncomfortable for me. I’ve been to a few spinning studios in the city and I don’t remember having such discomfort on the saddle.
Monster was alright. I would go again to give them another shot but it was a disappointing first class.