fitness
With their stylish design and sense of community, cycle studios are among the most popular of all boutique fitness offers. We look at two of the latest venues.
FirstLight Cycle
The pioneering concept behind the FirstLight indoor cycling studios uses sunlight simulation technology to recreate the experience of sunrise and sunset, both of which have been proven to work in harmony with the natural Circadian rhythms of the body, improving physical, mental and behavioural wellbeing.
CELEBRITY fitness trainer Mark Anthony teamed up with leisure, design and build specialist Createability to create the world’s first sunlight simulation-based indoor cycling experience at Westfield shopping centre in Shepherd’s Bush, London. It’s the second time the two have worked
together. Createability was the development partner on Anthony’s previous health club concept, Rush Fitness, which he sold in 2017 to fund the new £1.75m venture. FirstLight, which is part of Westfield’s new £600m expansion, consists of three studios and is set to revolutionise the world of indoor cycling. Studio One features 57 bespoke bikes from Schwinn with stadium-style seating, offering unrestricted views of the 30ft ‘magic mirror’ from every angle. The screen transports riders to destinations such as Africa, Manhattan, Rio, Ibiza or Dubai, with FirstLight’s ‘Maestro’ instructors using sound, visuals and sunlight simulation to enhance the experience and reflect the energy demands of each class. Schwinn supplied its A.C.™ Sport bike with Carbon Blue™ drives system, which features a carbon fibre reinforced belt with teeth for maximum durability and true bike performance. The result is a belt-based drive system that combines the maintenance-free durability and performance of a belt with the authentic-ride feel of a chain. The bikes incorporate the FirstLight branding and also include Schwinn’s new body bars with 4lbs and 6lbs and triple link pedals. FirstLight’s signature 45 and 60-minute full
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body cycle workouts take place in a darkened room and include cardio, mindfulness and meditation, together with an upper-body strength workout using body bars to build and tone core muscles. During each class the advanced sunlight technology mimics the natural sunlight you need at each part of the day, so you can ride through the beauty of dawn to awaken and invigorate yourself, through the energising light of midday to boost alertness and focus, and then the evening light, helping your body produce the sleep-
enhancing hormone, melatonin. “We’re revolutionising cycling workouts
and wanted London to be the first city to discover our fully immersive experience. When it came to designing the perfect studio environment, we’ve gone for something radical. Riders will be working out in a darkened room, their senses heightened and focused on the task,” says Anthony. Createability’s commercial director, Brian Thompson agrees. “We set out to build the best, high-end boutique club in London and
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