Dublin’s First Boutique Indoor Cycling Centre Has Opened On D’Olier Street

Sarah Finnan

Sure to be of interest to all you fitness fanatics on the hunt for a new challenge. Echelon is Dublin’s answer to SoulCycle, the cult workout class that has taken the USA by storm.

Are you wondering what an echelon is? Because same.

Well apparently, it refers to the diagonal fanned out formation that cyclers take across the road. According to Echelon’s Instagram page “at its core, the echelon is about a group of individuals – all hungry for individual glory and racing towards the finish line – working as a team when things get a little tougher”.

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• cmere; what’s an echelon • in cycling, an echelon formation is when the group of riders (the peloton) fan out in a diagonal line across the road. it usually happens in response to cross-winds which place additional burden on the peloton, particularly on exposed roads. the concept of drafting or slip-streaming is the reason echelons are formed, with the sweetspot for drafting directly behind and a little to the side of the rider in front of you. when all riders do this, it forms an echelon. each rider takes it in turn to step up, and you’ll often see the rider at the front peel off and go to the back, as the next rider steps up to take the brunt of the effort. at its core, the echelon is about a group of individuals – all hungry for individual glory and racing towards the finish line – working as a team when things get a little tougher. this collective effort matters. we all have our personal goals and our individual finish lines, but when we acknowledge the strength of the pack, and work as a team, we get further together.

A post shared by echelon (@echelon.ie) on Dec 6, 2018 at 10:21am PST

Classes are a combination of high-intensity cardio, upbeat music and intention-based coaching. All of which makes for quite the workout.

There’s an emphasis on endurance training and strength building so you’ll most definitely be put through your paces.

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• meet the team: carla b • carla has been coaching indoor cycling for 5 years, and first embraced it as an antidote to some cold and lonely miles being logged as part of her marathon training. she is passionate about the energy of the pack, and the unique quality of indoor cycling to generate something very special – there’s a power that comes from tapping into our strength and determination, fuelled by the music, liberated by the dark. it was always her goal to provide a space for that in the city. as the owner and director of echelon, she is honoured to lead you on that journey. #echelon #roadtoopening #onemoreday

A post shared by echelon (@echelon.ie) on Sep 11, 2019 at 12:00am PDT

Housed in the Times Building on D’Olier Street, the studio is soundproofed giving it the feel of a nightclub rather than a sweaty gym. Other perks include complimentary shoe hire, toiletries and towels. The luxury!

No joining fee and no membership. Just log in, buy your chosen class pack and get your spin on.

Visit their website to find out more.