Revolve – New Energetic Cycling Studio in Clarendon

By Punch Pep Correspondent Elizabeth Fischer

Something Old (history), something new (Revolve), something borrowed (a family heirloom), and something blue (topaz).  I love all the “somethings” and in this case the something is new.  While cycling has been around for awhile, this studio and what it offers is innovative.

Revolve is a high-end, enthusiastic and dedicated indoor cycling studio that pays close attention to detail, priding itself on maintaining the highest standards for both instructors and equipment; and the music rocks.  It is energetic and loud.  For me, indoor exercise, especially when cycling, needs to offer something other than that image of your parents’ outdated basement.  This room is everything but … it is swanky, funky, dark, cozy but comfortable with space between you and the next rider.

Located in the bustling neighborhood of Clarendon in Arlington, VA, it is the first indoor cycling studio to open in the area.  It seems every time I visit the neighborhood, I discover something new.  On this night, because of my invite to the Launch Party, I uncovered my next endeavor – cycling.

While the launch party was in January, the club opened in December.  In its epigrammatic history, it has already begun to sell out classes.

Revolve is tucked off the beaten path on 1025 N. Fillmore Street.

When you enter, you check-in on the iPad (very hip) and then either rent shoes or head to the studio.  If you need to change, there is a room just for that purpose.

Before walking into the studio, you can grab a towel and some fresh water.  As a participant, you can expect to find a community where bonds with instructors and fellow riders grow beyond the cycle room.  Revolve welcomes cyclists of all ages, backgrounds, levels of fitness and experience.

Many times what is said in writing is not true and your experience hollows compared to the warm and welcoming words.  Yet, in this case, given my limited experience, but knowing I can (or think I can ) smell a phony a mile away (thanks to my litigation experience), I was encouraged by the warm and sincere welcome from the President, Sylvan Garfunkel and several of his instructors.  I believe them when they said my lack of experience and involvement with tennis and soccer plus swimming will not make me the odd man out or uncomfortable.  While it might take me a time or two to get it, Sylvan and Elyse believe I will enjoy it.  Well, time will tell.

Moinian, Co-Founder and Sylvan Garfunkel, President

Sylvan Garfunkel is a recovering attorney, same as me; and he was fortunate to back into this opportunity.  He was interviewing in NY when he met his partner.  He liked the idea and agreed to move to DC to open the studio.  Before cycling became a part of his daily routine, he participated in many sports, including basketball, swimming and tennis.  He is most excited about, outside of the studio of course, Revolve’s commitment to be environmentally conscious and incorporate green initiatives.  (See below).

Revolve is open seven days a week.  Class times and reservations are available at www.revolvefitness.com.  When making your reservation, you are able to reserve a bike in a certain location in the studio. It costs $17 for 1 class; $80.75 for a 5 class pack; $153 for a 10 class pack; and $289 for a 20 class pack.  It is metro accessible Clarendon Metro (orange line).

Revolve offers three unique indoor cycling classes:

1. Read Ride: Traditional cycling classes focusing on cardio and building endurance. Real Ride is designed to provide participants with a competitive edge in a body that can deliver in real life.

2. Complete Body Ride:  Custom-designed hybrid classes incorporating cycling and upper body weight training. Complete Body Ride is designed to offer everything needed in one complete class – cardio, strength and flexibility.

3. Barre Ride:  Custom-designed hybrid classes incorporating cycling and barre method training.  Barre Ride is designed to provide both intense cycling cardio and toning barre-based exercises all in one class.

For more information visit www.revolvefitness.com

Other important facts to know – making this not only a good choice for exercise but for the environment:

Revolve strives to be environmentally conscious and incorporate green initiatives in all aspects of operation.  From the construction of the studio to the merchandise they sell and the cleaning products they use, Revolve endeavors to make green choices with every possible selection and continue to challenge it to find more ways to be more sustainable and eco-friendly.  Here are some of the ways it has incorporated green initiatives in our studios:

Merchandise
Want to drink water out of bottles that help reduce our carbon footprint and rock clothing that was made with environmentally friendly fabric? Then stop by the merchandise section and check out what Revolve has to offer!

• The reusable aluminum water bottles it sells is 100% recyclable and sure beats using plastic bottles that will ultimately join the billions of tons of plastic waste that is currently floating in our oceans and clogging up our landfills.
• The clothing it sells is made out of organic cotton and/or bamboo, both of which are produced without pesticides, ensuring that the surrounding animals, land, and air were not damaged.
• The shopping bags are non-woven tote bags made from recycled material, with 100 gsm polypropylene. They are reusable and hand-washable.

Cleaning Products
From the detergent used to launder the towels to the cleaner used to sparkle the mirrors, the cleaning products used are sustainable and safe. They are composed of nontoxic chemicals and biodegradable ingredients that are at least 95% natural, so you dont have to worry about catching a whiff of harsh chemical fumes in the studio.

Design
During the design and construction of the studio, Revolve made every effort to use recycled and/or sustainable products and use environmentally friendly techniques, such as:

• Installing flooring made from recycled rubber.
• Using recycled plywood and saw dust for the millwork.
• Lighting the studios with energy efficient LED and compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Installing filtered water filling stations.
• Using low VOC paint and wall coverings.

Marketing Materials
While most of the marketing is done electronically, to the extent that Revolve does use printed marketing materials, it makes every effort to print on 100% recycled content, process with chlorine-free paper using soy inks.

So it is possible to begin anew in the current economic climate thinking and incorporating sustainability and environmentally safe products.  For the future they are researching lighting the studio with the bikes.

I am excited to begin.  Stay tuned for my write-up after I have started cycling

*** Attorney Elizabeth Fischer is Punch Pep Correspondent. She is working as an Entrepreneur, Lawyer and Student (environmental studies), covering events for Pamela’s Punch as a generalist correspondent. When she is not working, studying or playing soccer or tennis, she is walking her pups, traveling the globe, running marathons, and enjoying all DC has to offer. Contact her at elizabethfischer15@yahoo.com.***