quad east

I’ve been to Quad on and off for years and the instructors and music are great the facility, bikes and change room are in desperate need of a update and good cleaning.
Its OK if you buy a groupon and get a deal on classes but I would never pay full price for this place. The bikes are really old and aren’t being maintained, the ceiling fans in the studio are covered in dust and the change room is cold, small and the lockers are always taken up so you have no where to store your stuff. The showers barely drizzle water out and take forever to warm up. I’m sorry but when you pay that much $$ you expect a lot more and you can definitely find better gyms in the city for that price.

I love this place. And if they can get ME to come out and spin twice a week, I must love it. That said, I’ve always gone to Justines classes, which are motivating, and interesting. Went to one of the other instructors class on Wed while Justine was away. Not as good, unfortunately. But I’m sure thats the same anywhere. Its just what you like. This place is kinda pricey though since the bikes are pretty old.

The location is convenient, but everything else is a compromise.
The bikes are old and don’t have displays to monitor your RPM.
The classes focus on a style of spinning that bears little resemblance to actual riding — no one pedals 100 RPM out of the saddle in real life, or grind away in the saddle at 40 RPM. For that reason, I find the workouts pointless and likely to lead to injury.

Big fan of Quad — have been going the past few years and found all the instructors to be amazing and love the super high energy classes! Certainly not like any gym spin class — have done many over the years and they don’t even compare.
Space is nice, open, clean — definitely gets stuffy/​sweaty after a few classes, but adds to the atmosphere.
Bikes are in decent shape — probably the only reasons I’d drop a bit below the 5 star rating. You know the are definitely well used! Always good to test out the bike a bit before starting a class because if you’re on a squeaky one, doesn’t make for a great 45 min
Really like all the instructors — its funny a lot of the like comes down to their music selection… awesome music, love the instructor, music not-​so-​great, spin is meh. But overall everyone is there to ensure you get your sweat-​on and will help you out if you’re a newbie and trying to get set up.
As for getting-​in, would say the busier months, i.e. New Years Resolutions and Saturday mornings its packed! So definitely sign up the night before, or go early to avoid disappointment. A full class makes for a great one, but always sucks to drag yourself there to find out its full! (which has happened once or twice!)
And always look out for their card sales… they come around from time to time and definitely good to stock up on the punch cards to make the leap to unlimited.

Quad East is an awesome spot for spinning. I go all the time and they run a tight ship. George is clearly the top dog here and it comes down to his energy and his music. He comes around and helps adjust if necessary and he just clearly enjoys what he does. They cram in as many as they can when demand is high. Sadly there are instructors I avoid, but that is how it goes. My only feedback would be for instructors to really think about the music they are playing. Slow jams and weird emo music are not going to get my heart rate up. I recognize everyone has their tastes, but come on, play new wave, dance, even top 40 if you have to. It has to have a good beat or spinning gets boring fast!

I just moved down the street from Quad East coincidentally at the same time they were offering a Groupon deal. So I tried it and I LOVE it.
Quad is fabulous. They have a wonderful modern industrial-​like space. The bikes are in good condition for the most part, I’ve had one was kind of off but it only happened once.
The staff is so friendly and welcoming. If you’re new to spin they make sure to show you the ropes so you don’t feel left behind. The best part about spin is that you can work at your own pace without feeling overwhelmed.
Most of the instructors are amazing. Their classes are fast paced but good for any experience level, they’re so much fun, great music, and the best part is you barely even realize you’re working out. I’m so glad I started going to Quad because it totally took me out of a workout rut.
Reason for four stars instead of five:
On two occasions I’ve had instructors who I did not enjoy at all. Both of their classes seemed to dragged on, were unenjoyable, had bad music, and were not motivating. This is possibly a personal preference but based on the attendance to these particular classes I wonder if there are others out there who feel the same. Either way, there are a couple of instructors who’s classes I avoid, even if it’s the only class I can attend that day.
The price! I LOVE Quad but when my three month membership runs out I’m torn as to whether or not I’m going to renew. I’m a student and the price is a little steep for a three month membership. They offer student 10 class pass option but I would use that in a couple of weeks.

i was in toronto a while ago and bought a groupon for quad east. unfortunately, it was a busy trip and i was only able to use two of the five classes — but compared to the prices at the studio i belong to in vancouver, i still got a super good deal.
the space itself is amazing. it’s clean, the change rooms/​shower area are spacious and bright. the staff are super nice and helpful. both classes i attended were great — challenging, for sure, but that’s what i was there for.
the only reasons i’m not giving 5 stars: i feel like shoe rental should be included (i’ve never paid for this before) and also i kind of thought derek was a bit of a dick — good class, though :)

I have lived in Toronto for seven years, and somewhere along the line, got the impression from someone that Quad was snobby. I cannot remember when or how or from whom, but I wish I’d chosen to decide for myself a heck of a lot sooner.
Because it’s not. Not even a little. It’s like home.
Everything practical you might require or desire is a given, and then some. Bikes are perfect. Space is clean. Locker rooms are lovely. More than enough towels. The extra mile is a beautiful loft above the cycling area with a surprisingly vast array of fitness equipment, all in beautiful condition. My one complaint with spinning as a fitness lifestyle has always been that it neglects the upper body — no matter here, the only thing stopping you from popping in after your ride for some shoulder presses is your own laziness. The result is a surprisingly well rounded fitness option.
I have to say, however, Quad East has become like home to me (surprisingly fast) purely because of it’s staff and instructors. The energy and passion emanating from the front of that room is remarkable. They scream themselves hoarse for you on a daily basis. Everyone with a unique energy and dialogue, but a consistent quality level that never wavers. I can count on getting to the result that I need (a gruesome 600-​calorie sweat bath — sorry, that’s gross) but every instructor has a slightly different way of getting you there, which is what makes it possible to stay content with doing one thing six days a week.
When was the last time you saw a nightclub-​worthy line spiralling out onto the sidewalk, queuing for the privilege of exercising at 9:45 on a Saturday morning?
The desk staff are unflappable, efficient, and will know your first and last name before you start recognizing them. That’s pretty impressive.
The music helps a lot too, and this is the other way Quad truly has an edge over any other group exercise fitness provider I’ve ever patronized. I spun regularly in other spaces previously, and I would estimate about one to two new songs per instructor per month, at best, all tending towards house. I have no idea how all the instructors at Quad keep it so fresh. 90% of the tracks fall into one of three categories. 1: «Oh, snap, I LOVE this song but had totally forgotten about it.» Or 2: «I love this tremendously embarrassing song un-​ironically and am tickled this hard-​core grown-​ass man does also.» And 3: «They’ve asked us never to use our phones during class and that’s too bad because I totally need to Shazam this joint.»
Small thing, but it makes a huge difference if you’re a regular. Anyways — Micheline and her staff have fostered an incredible little community here, and I’m a fan for life.

I friggin love this place. It’s like going to a rave but instead of e, there are spin bikes.
The classes are amazing. The music is loud. The instructors are clearly having a blast. The folks at the desk are friendly and helpful. The facility is clean and well-​maintained.
Oh, and when you’re cycling your heart out, climbing the third major hill in your set, starting to feel a little fatigued and wondering whether you should hop off the bike to refill your water bottle — just as quickly as you can process the decision, someone from Quad East refills your water and bring it back to you. I’ve never seen any gym or spin class do this before.
I’ve been to other spin classes before but none were like this. Quad East blows them all away — love, love, love!

So two months ago I bought a Groupon for Quad East. I’m not huge into Groupons really, but Quad is a quick walk from home, Chris P is always raving about it and I am a huge fan of spinning. Fast forward a couple weeks and I am an unapologetic, diehard fanatical regular.
Quad is awesome. The bikes are in good condition, the staff is really friendly, the space is gorgeous and very clean. Everyone is so relaxed and you feel completely comfortable whether you are new to spin or not.
The teachers cover a wide range of styles, so find what you like. Several instruct the class off-​bike as well which is interesting! My favourites are Josh, Rae, Justine and George.
They are also open all day, have a great selection of weekend classes and I went on both Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, so they accommodate us that want to sweat through the holidays as well.
I love you Quad. You have completely ruined Goodlife for me.

Went for my first ever spin class today and I had a blast! The facility itself is very nice. Everyone seemed super welcoming and supportive… absolutely zero doucebags at least that I encountered. I have no basis of comparison, but I really enjoyed our instructor. Her music choice was great and even if I giggle a little at the running commentary of motivational hype, she was fun.
I feel good about this place and I will deffo return!

VIBE
Quad East is your friendly neighbourhood spin studio. It’s an easy streetcar ride from Broadview Station or Queen streetcar ride from east or west. For me, I love that there’s something like this in the east end considering their other location is across the city (for me) at King and Portland (which is also great).
Super friendly staff here. Great, clean studio with that «warehouse, I want to sweat until I puke» vibe and gorgeous studio for stretching upstairs. I really like the change rooms. They have an earthy, airy feel and there are plenty of benches to put your stuff on. Plus, they have feminine hygiene products in the ladies room. I like that added little touch.
And PS you can get a two week pass for $ 33 if you’re new or haven’t been to the studio in over 6 months. What a great deal!
THE WORKOUT
I’ve been here before and I always get my ass kicked. I’ve been out of the workout game for a while and knew coming here would get me motivated again. I’ve had George Chaker before (who in my opinion is one of, if not the best, instructors in the city and always brings good music to his classes) but this time I had Derek.
Derek was GREAT! He really pushes you when you need to and his music choices were fun and uplifting. An added bonus was his half hour deep stretch after the class. He used to be a ballet dancer so we got the ballet stretches and they were more challenging than the spin class! He adjusted everyone to get the stretch that they needed after class.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
I really need to work on my QUADS. The passes aren’t cheap but it motivates you to get to the studio, get a good sweaty work out and get back into the game. You see results here. I’m sore but it’s a good sore!

I have been attending spin classes at Quad for almost two years now. Having tried other spin classes at both traditional gyms and spin studios, it was easy to decide that Quad is the place for me.
First of all, the location is perfect. Not only is Quad East close to home (making it substantially easier to motivate myself off my butt and onto a bike), there are two other locations to choose from, wherever my day may take me.
Second, the classes are great. The intro/​beginner classes are the perfect way to get initiated to the world of spin and are invaluable if you want to spend some time perfecting your form. The theme classes throughout the week are a lot of fun and delightfully high energy.
And of course, the teachers. Quintin is an amazing instructor who chooses wicked music each class. Micheline is so much fun and manages to get more out of me than any other trainer ever has. The teachers who run the morning classes have an amazing amount of energy, and always make the early morning wake-​up well worth it.
The facilities are nice and well-​maintained, and the desk staff are super friendly and remember you after multiple visits, an impressive feat considering how many people spin on a weekly basis.
If you’re thinking about getting into spinning, give one of the weekend or evening intro/​beginner classes a try. I guarantee you’ll be pricing out a monthly/​yearly pass shortly thereafter.

Thanks to Lisa C. for dragging me out to try spinning. Two weeks in and I’m loving it. The staff are great. If it’s your first time they make sure to point you in the right direction, get you set up correctly before the class and answer any questions you have. The instructor is great. Her music selection is awesome and keeps you going the whole time. The men’s change room is clean and well taken care of. There are lockers if needed (bring your own lock) and showers.
So far a great experience. We’ll see what the next 6 weeks of classes bring.

Quad East is much more spacious than its King Street counterpart. The feel is still that of a club with loud music and lots of lighting options that the instructors frequently switch up. They also have a yoga/​pilates studio upstairs for bootcamps or post-​ride core work.
Change rooms are upstairs and (the ladies’ anyway) is clean and complete with showers and lockers… don’t be thrown off by the ‘private’ on the door, a leftover from whatever this building used to be.
I can’t say I loved the music my instructor chose on my first visit to this location, but she did say she will take requests in future weeks. She was very helpful and attentive to those who needed assistance and/​or water during the class.

I have been to Quad East an additional four or five times since my original review because of circumstances that allowed me to attend at a reduced rate.
I still think that the price is excessive and, I would have thought, uncompetitive in the market. I am clearly wrong about the uncompetitive part at least, as the classes are often rammed, so evidently to a lot people find the price to be reasonable.
As is typical with this type of thing, some instructors are better than others, but in general the quality of instruction is quite good. I also do spinning at the Adelaide Club and I would say the main difference is that Quad East is a bit more fun. The Adelaide Club tends towards training as though you are going to be in a bike race or triathlon. At Quad it’s more about the workout itself, rather than long term training. Another benefit to Quad is that you can show up at any class at any time and it’s not as though your jumping into the middle of an 8 week program. At the Adelaide Club the intent seems to be that you go to the same class every week, which is unrealistic in my opinion.
Basically Quad East is a three in my mind, so I balanced out my previous two star review with a four star this time. It has good classes, balanced against high prices. I still think the change rooms are terrible and the shower situation is a joke, but frankly most people show up, work out and leave without actually going up there.
Because of the price difference I am going to stick with the Adelaide Club, but I now understand the affinity of many toward Quad.

I tried Quad East as a relative newbie to the spinning world, but I think it’s safe to say that I’m hooked on Quad.
I’m not sure if it’s the instructors, the beautiful industrial space, the music, or the fact that I sweat more here than ever in my life, but I really enjoy coming here. Finally, a workout I enjoy!
Classes are challenging, but you are in control over whether you up the intensity or change positions on the bike. Instructors push you to work hard, but in a way that is motivating rather than terrifying. I haven’t seen every instructor but Bruce’s classes are fantastic. They’re usually packed (for good reason) so reserve a spot or show up early.
The downside — cha ching. The classes are expensive when compared to a regular gym membership. There is no denying that. But the difference is that I actually go to quad east fairly regularly, while I cannot say the same for the old gym. And I ENJOY going. Can’t say that about ol’ gymbo either.
FYI — You can register for classes in advance online. Workout towels are provided. Changerooms have shower facilities including blowdryers, but no bath-​sized towels or shampoo. Lockers and cubbies available.

I love this spin studio! Not only is spinning a great workout, but the spin instructors have great music and aren’t too intimidating. I appreciate that, while they encourage spinners to do better, they don’t come around and crank your resistance. It’s a really welcoming place to sweat your cojones off.
I almost had an epic fail while trying to clip in for the first time, but the instructor was really nice and helped me.
They have showers and changing rooms upstairs and you can even borrow clip in shoes if you want to try to see how different they are from spinning with running shoes. It’s also a really beautiful space. From the hardwood doors to the concrete floors, this space is amazingly designed. I’m impressed.
If you’ve never been spinning before, Josh is a very welcoming instructor who will give you a good sense of what to expect without killing you.
If you’re really energetic with a short attention span, Braedan will keep you pushing yourself with a variety of difficult combinations.
Bruce is a tough spin-​master who will motivate you to do your best and also somehow makes it seem like you’re not going to fall off your bike even when your legs are spinning so fast it feels like they’re almost not attached anymore.
The lovely Micheline (the owner of Quad and Quad East) plays great music, and does a great class, but don’t think that she hasn’t noticed you not «tapping up» as much as you should have!
Quentin’s theme spins are a great way to stay entertained while biking and Amy will sweetly guide you into pushing yourself harder than you thought possible.
All of the instructors are great and I haven’t had an instructor yet that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed!

Quad East is where I come to unwind. These high-​intensity spin classes make me forget about bill payments, the ever-​growing pile of laundry on my floor, and the twenty annoying errands I need to run but keep putting off. Ever since I started spinning at Quad over a year and a half ago, I’ve been showing up three or four times a week.
I’m nothing close to athletic and I was always convinced that I loathe exercise, but ever since the first day I got the courage to walk into Quad as a total spinning newbie, I’ve been hooked. The classes are appropriate for people of any fitness level — you can go at your own pace and difficulty regardless of what everyone around you is doing. The instructors are all friendly and attentive and will always check your form on the bike and give you as much individual help as you need. I don’t have favourites, but I often choose the classes I go to based on music preferences (most instructors’ classes are flavoured with the style of music they like to spin to, whether it be techo, latin-​inspired, or Top 40).
The facility is new and gorgeous, with small changing rooms for both sexes on the main floor, and larger ones equipped with showers upstairs. The second floor also has an area for yoga/​pilates/​ab exercises that often follow some of the spin classes. The whole place is pristine.
Quad East will definitely keep you coming back for more.

Quad East is definitely the place to get your grove going… on a bike that is.
It’s a pure spinning gym with friendly, fantastic instructors who will surely have you working hard throughout class. The ground floor is where all the bikes are located and there are a couple of disco balls above and strobe lights, along with an awesome sound system which lends a quasi club vibe to the environment. On the upper level, there is another gorgeous studio for pilates/​yoga instruction-​particularly handy if you want to work your core after a class.
The change rooms are spacious and wonderfully decorated, in fact the whole place has a relaxed, casual charm to it with the pastel colours and flower motifs throughout.
Favourite instructors:
Michelline-​this woman knows how to get her groove on!
Bruce-​the very definition of hardcore
George-​very popular, not hard to see why. part dj, part spin instructor=one deadly combo