Despite all the snow and slush, the outdoor cycling season will be upon us before you know it. And now there's a new place in Portland to get yourself ready to hit the pavement or trails.

Quest Cycle, at 132 Marginal Way, will hold an open house tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and opens its doors Friday for classes on 25 brand new bikes.

"Starting Friday through next Thursday we're running free rides every day," says Richard Evans, managing partner of Quest Fitness, which also has an indoor cycling studio in Kennebunk.

The freebies will be run on a shortened schedule - one class each day - and riders need only set up an account on the QFCycle.com website and sign up for a class.

Riders will find that classes are a little different at Quest than at other spinning and indoor cycling venues. Think hi-def virtual rides and light shows that lean toward a dance club atmosphere.

"Music is a main thing for us but we use some really creative lighting that integrates with the music so it kind of creates a really kind of dancy atmosphere," Evans says. Add to that virtual riding on a large screen with classes that are entire projection image riding. "For example, you can ride the Sedona National Park roads, we have wine country, or through the Cascades. There's hi-definition video rolling out in front of you as you're riding."

After the start-up week, Quest will offer indoor cycling classes seven days a week with no membership required. Single classes are $15 or riders can select a five-pack, 20-pack or 30-pack of rides.

"They can schedule online and when they come in and take a class takes it comes off their account," Evans says. Quest also offers a mobile app for purchasing and scheduling transactions.

Quest will also offer corporate group classes with five-day advance bookings. According to Evans, Idexx Labs, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have already signed up.

"Exercise, at the end of the day, you get out what you put in, and it can be hard," Evans says. "If we can motivate people and distract them to some extent, the results going to better."

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About the Author

Karen Beaudoin is an online editor for Maine Today Media and contributes two blogs to the company's websites.

In the City tells readers what to know if they want to know Portland. Pedal On offers info, events and advice for people who love their bikes more than, well ... almost anything.

Get in touch at kbeaudoin@mainetoday.com

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