It is strange that there is such a dearth of affordable health clubs in Moscow. It would seem that there would be more demand for places to work out among people as obsessed with fashion and their appearance as Muscovites. However, demand is low and the cost of clubs remains high at around $1,500-$2,000 a year, a forbidding price for the average Russian.

Yet there is hope for the penny-pinching fitness fanatic. The stingy and athletically minded can have their workout for about $20-$100 a month – as opposed to $200 – if they look far and long enough.

This is a relatively new development, according to Alexander Pushkarev at Zal Championov, who said that halls only became widespread roughly 10 years ago. In fact, he claimed that, in Soviet days, bodybuilding was considered an "underground sport."

"There were always gyms," he said. "Weightlifting, boxing and wrestling have always been popular, but bodybuilding used to be thought of as too capitalistic."

Not anymore; now, the vain and beautiful can and do spend plenty of hours flexing in front of the mirror.

Unfortunately, gyms still suffer from short working hours. With the exception of Gold's Gym and a few others, there are virtually no 24-hour gyms in Moscow. Most fitness centers, including the fancy ones, are only open from about 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It seems that Russia lacks the same class of emaciated fitness freaks and body-builders that keeps the health-club industry going in the United States and other Western countries.

The following is a list of affordable places to pump iron on a budget.

BANANA GYM

Not only does it have a cool name, it's probably the best bang for your buck. This is a big gym with nice equipment, including bikes. The upstairs is newly remodeled for aerobics, Tae Kwon Do and boxing classes. The downstairs is scheduled to be fixed up soon. Friendly and competent staff.

Price: 700 rubles a month (for a one-year membership), 1,000 rubles a month (for a three-month membership) or 120 rubles for a single session. Eight boxing lessons for 900 rubles. Eight hundred rubles for eight aerobics classes, or 1,200 for a month of unlimited courses. Tennis is 650 rubles an hour.

Where: 28 Talalikhina Ul., in back of the main building. Go through the parking lot, past the sleeping dogs. They won't bite.
Metro: Proletarskaya, Volgogradsky Pr.
Tel: 277-0211.
Hours: Mon., Wed. and Fri. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tues., Thurs. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun. Noon to 5 p.m.

HOUSE FOR CHILDREN'S SPORTS

Not just for kids anymore. Those who are nostalgic for the Soviet Union will be comforted by the bizarre Constructivist architecture. The best climbing wall in Moscow, according to www.risk.ru. Anyone who takes the shortcut under the fence and across the track should watch out for javelin throwers.

Price: Weight room: Morning membership: 900 rubles a month, or 1100 rubles a month to come anytime. The pool and tennis are both 90-95 rubles an hour. Climbing: 120 rubles an hour.

Where: 63 Robochaya Ul.
Metro: Ploshchad Ilycha.
Tel: 270-2180, 912-4405.
Hours: Weekdays noon to 8:45 p.m. Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.

ZAL CHAMPIONOV

A casual place with posters of body-builders, American football players and wrestlers to provide inspiration. No one racks weights, but the staff is friendly and helpful. No cardio equipment or classes, just weights.

Price: Varies from 900 rubles a month for an open (anytime, any day) membership to 700 rubles a month for those who use the hall only three times a week. Regulars tend to negotiate their own rates.

Where: Inside the Dynamo stadium, Entrance 14.
Metro: Dynamo.
Tel: 213-7730.
Hours: Weekdays 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Weekends 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

DELFIN

A simple, but well cared-for club with a large weight room featuring modern equipment. Nice pool and conveniently located near the metro. Be careful not to stumble through the wrong door and wind up in the factory next door. Uncommonly long working hours, but a little pricey.

Prices: $100 a month, but only 80 rubles an hour between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. 700 rubles an hour in the evenings!

Where: 3 Stolyarniye Per.
Metro: Ulitsa 1905 Goda.
Tel: 255-3459.
Hours: 7 a.m. to midnight.

CHEREMUSHKI

Too bad this place is so far away from the center. It has well-maintained, well-spaced and modern weightlifting equipment, including bikes and treadmills. Friendly staff and a full range of other activities including Karate and aerobics.

Prices: 700 rubles a month, for just the weight room.

Where: 62 Profsoyuznaya Ul., Korpus 5. Tucked away behind Korpus 1.
Metro: Noviye Cheryomushki.
Tel: 120-7190, 128-4778.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays; Weekends 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

SM-SPORT

A swank little club with a nice wooden interior. The gym is small but has a cool aquarium-like view of the equally tiny swimming pool. The staff is helpful and unpretentious. Suffers from short working hours and high prices.

Prices: $950 a year for an open (any-time-of-the-day) membership. $740 a year for a six-month membership. A mornings-only (8 a.m. to noon) membership costs $650 a year, $525 for six months.

Where: 62 Usachyova Ul., Str. 1.
Metro: Sportivnaya.
Tel: 245-5660.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 10:45 p.m.

ASM-HOLDING

Unusually small, but located right downtown. Nice, new equipment and helpful staff. Sadly, it would only take five people to completely fill the weight room. Offers aerobics classes, tanning and a spiffy hydro-massage machine.

Prices: $50 a month for an any-time-of-the-day membership. $40 a month for hours between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Where: 21/5 Ul. Kuznetsky Most, across the street from Sedmoi Kontinent.
Metro: Kuznetsky Most.
Tel: 926-0044, 926-0160.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

LEON'S

Unpretentious is probably the kindest way to describe this place. It's a bit too Soviet for those looking for a modern experience. The smell of Novocaine and the sound of drilling from the dentist's office next door may make even the toughest tough guys sweat. Otherworldly undersea mural on the building's facade to remind patrons there is a pool inside. A long walk from the metro. Cheap!

Price: 50 rubles an hour for the weight room. 60 rubles an hour for the pool.

Where: 25 Novoalexeyevskaya Ul.
Metro: Alexeyevskaya.
Tel: 286-3738.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

FIT OLYMPICS

Nice place with almost all the services of a big-time health club. Plus, it's located inside the old Olympic stadium. Unfortunately, it's a little expensive, but the club offers a variety of complicated discounts. It's worth going in to find out what's available. Huge swimming pool.

Price: Weekday membership for both the weight-room and pool, plus mornings and evenings costs 2,000 rubles a month. Morning membership (8 a.m. to noon) costs only 1,200 rubles a month and evening (after 5 p.m.) 1,700 a month.

Where: 16 Olympiisky Pr. Str. 2, Entrance 5.
Metro: Prospekt Mira.
Tel: 288-8739, 937-7875.
Hours: Weekdays 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

GREENWAY CLUB

This place just barely makes it on the list. Big club with lots of parking. A bit too "New Russian," though. Very unhelpful and pretentious staff.

Price: 5,000 rubles a month for the gym and pool, plus aerobics classes, but massages and tanning cost extra.

Where: 39 Leningradsky Pr.
Metro: Dynamo, Aeroport.
Tel: 967-6813/6815.
Hours: 7 a.m to midnight, every day.