The Wheel Deal

Story by Danielle Directo-Meston / Photos by Paul Body

Eardrum-busting beats, trippy LED lights and a serious perspiration party that’ll burn more calories than brain cells - when was the last time you pedaled and pumped alongside your DJ? Such an EDM experience might be the last thing you’d expect in La Jolla, but that’s where playlist-powered SPARKCYCLE debuted in May.

“People love the music, and it’s the most fun and intense workout,” says SPARKCYCLE co-founder Stephanie Cochrane, a former equestrian who fell in love with similar pedal-driven workouts at Costa Mesa’s GRIT Cycle before rolling out of Orange County to launch her business in the Village.

“Each trainer’s playlist is a little bit different,” she says. “It’s usually pop, hip-hop, EDM and remixes, and usually stuff you’re not going to hear on the radio. It’s almost like a dance class.”

Tucked away in a commercial building on Fay Avenue, the 3,000-square-foot indoor cycling studio formerly known as Breakaway Cycle enjoyed a major makeover when SPARKCYCLE moved in. Cochrane brightened the lobby with porcelain tiling, outfitting the cycling room with new air conditioning, 40 Schwinn bikes, a top-of-the-line speaker system, soundproof walls and a stadium-style setup that makes every stationary seat in the house a good one. Cyclists also enjoy a host of luxe amenities for pre- and post-ride relaxation, like an outdoor patio and fully stocked showers.

Riders can burn up to 900 calories during a 45-minute, full-body sweat sesh, an arm- and core-sculpting workout amplified by light strength training and crunches.While the high-energy class might be overwhelming for first-timers,
Cochrane says it’s not a competition.

“You’re here to have fun, and everyone’s here to work together. We want to build a community and [we’re] really for all levels,” she says.

In addition to being steps from the sand, SPARKCYCLE is a stone’s throw from fashionable fitness retailers like Lorna Jane, Lucy and Lululemon. Working out in La Jolla never looked - or sounded - this good.

TIP: Got beginner’s bashfulness or pro’s pride? SPARKCYCLE’s online booking allows riders to select their very own bikes in advance - from the front row to the back corner.

SPARKCYCLE
7777 Fay Ave., Ste. G1, La Jolla
858.454.2453, sparkcycle.com