Hi John~ How have you been? It's probably been close to 2 or more years since I've touched base with you. I promised I'd let you know how my Total Rider In Motion Cycling Studio is doing as the years went by.
Here's my update: After two years of just getting by we, like many people, say “you learn from what doesn't work”. We found out that groupon works to bring new people in and we had a large rush and kept about 20-30%. We were in the newspaper, radio and TV too, but word of mouth is what worked the best!!!
We had too much overhead and although we were having fun, we were not making any money to take home. Brenda and I always said if it the studio wasn't for either one of us anymore we could just get out. So this being said, we did go our separate ways (still great friends) but I wanted to keep going.
I moved my business to another location near our last and instead of leasing I sublease (so much less$) from a gentleman that is also into fitness. My space is within his Boot Camp and PT establishment. This is a large warehouse area and the people just flow in.
I'm happy to let you know that after 2 1/2 years I now have sold out classes weeks in advance and am not just having a GREAT time, but making money too 🙂 I see only good things for the future and adding more Real Ryder bikes!!!
Thank you for all your encouragement when we started and wonderful advice at the ICI/PRO convention. I miss those!!
Be well! Say Hi to Amy….she too was wonderful to us!
Wishing you a FIT day! Darcie Adams
Congratulations Darcie! Your idea to partner with another fitness company sounds like it was a great decision. Seeing that your space costs are typically the largest single year to year expense, I'm amazed that I don't hear more fitness entrepreneurs partnering up together and share a studio.
You know we've gone mainstream when a large advertiser like Gillette, begins connecting their products to Indoor Cycling.
I ran across this article today in the online version of Shape Magazine. Seems like a typical bit of content designed to attract readers who have an interest in SoulCycle / Indoor Cycling.
Sure, sitting on the stationary bike and powering through a brutal “hill” climb in an indoor cycling class can be super challenging, but new research shows you’d be better off getting out of the saddle–even if that slows you down a bit. A recent study in The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research found that standing climbs and “runs” provide the greatest cardio response in spin class (compared to sitting) even when you're not pedaling at your max effort. (Check out 8 Benefits of High Intensity Interval Training.) You should, however, be sure to maintain good form while standing–if you get hurt, you won’t be able to ride seated or standing! Take these four tips from Kaili Stevens, a SoulCycle instructor in New York City, to heart next time you hop on the bike.
What caught my attention wasn't the article itself, but the image of a very fit and serious women riding a time trial bike – she's even wearing an aero helmet. The background gives the impression of power and speed. And there at the bottom of the image is an ad banner for a women's razor. That made me smile 🙂
I'm willing to bet that this post was created specifically as an advertisement for Gillette. Online magazines exist for only one reason, to make money. The bulk of their revenue comes from advertisers. Publishers like Shape have small armies of creative people who dream up ways to build promotions around advertisers. This article is a great example.
So my question for you. Is Indoor Cycling becoming mainstream a good thing?
I'm super excited to participate at IHRSA 2015Â next week – this is the largest fitness equipment/programing and services show in the USA. Our industry is continuously changing and many manufacturers launch their latest and greatest at this huge event.
Amy is joining me again this year and we'd love to meet you! We get into LA Tuesday 3/10 morning and will be there until noon friday.
Here's the IHRSA promotional video – highlights from last year. I need to comment that Callie Bowling (a past guest on the podcast) picked out Amy and me registering last year @ 0:26 – recognising us both before she'd ever met us in person 🙂
First, who I'm excited to meet at IHRSA
I've know him “virtually” for years, but at long last I'll get to meet David McQuillen of Sufferfest video fame. He is traveling from his home in Sufferlandria (which is on the opposite side of the globe) and will be there – booth #2554.
Cameron Chinati, Laurel Mylon and of course Dennis Mellon from Stages Indoor Cycling – they were notably absent last year – booth #2735
Both of the Display Training companies; Shay Amir with Spivi and Tae Yoo from Performance IQ.
Candice Mason is the Director of Commercial Sales for Mad Dogg Athletics. I've had the pleasure to talk with her by phone and I'm keen to learn what studio owner resources they'll be offering at the show – booth #1135
My friends from Keiser; Darrin Pelkey and hopefully Dennis Keiser. Amy and I had a great conversation with Dennis last year and I'm very interested to get his insights on the state IC technology.
And now what I'm looking forward to seeing
Star Trac / Spinning® is displaying their new “Fusion Drive” belt drive option for the NXT and Blade Indoor Cycles. I'm hoping design engineer Justin Kleber will be there to give me all of the technical details.
I'm hoping that Les Mills will be displaying their new IMMERSIVE FITNESS video presentation system. I've heard nothing but, this is totally awesome, from anyone who's been to their Santa Monica 24 Hour Fitness club.
MINDBODY is launching MINDBODY for Box, which they say offers workout and performance tracking. I've got no idea if this is targeted at their boutique studio customers, or (as the name implies) it's only for Big Box studios… but then that's why I'm going.
Wearable Technology like the Pulse ON watch that can read heart rate optically, without a chest strap.
And there are always surprises.
I'm not sure why, but ICG isn't showing as an exhibitor this year – although they may be part of the Matrix display. And Schwinn/Stairmaster isn't listed as a vendor either… UPDATE: Thanks to an email from Merrill Richmond I now understand that Schwinn is exhibiting along with the other brands owned by Core Health & Fitness, LLC – booth 1135. Merrill is now the Vice President of Marketing for Indoor Cycling brands Schwinn and Star Trac.
Stay tuned – I'll be live blogging during the event. If you have anything you like me to look at for you, please let me know.
I had an awesome phone call from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) today. The nice man told me that because of our sterling (we've never had a complaint) reputation, the BBB had upgraded our company's rating to A+… their highest rating 🙂
Like many other business, our actual name (Deep Breath In, LLC) is different from how we are known publicly – indoorcycleinstructor.com and ICI/PRO. The only place you'd see our name is on your credit card statement – which has to be listed as Deep Breath In, LLC vs. ICI/PRO. This has, at times, created some confusion; “honey, what's this charge on our credit card from Deep Breath In, LLC?” Â
Of course that wasn't the only reason why he called – the BBB offers a special “Accreditation” (which would remove the “This Business is not BBB Accredited” notification) for an annual fee of $490.00. I thanked him for recognising that we take very good care of our ICI/PRO members, but I would pass on the additional expense.
Is your business BBB Accredited? I don't know for sure, but I'll bet that it's more important for higher ticket products or services. I am curious to know if you feel it's worth the $500.00 a year cost.
I love helping startup companies like Kalara Kelly by promoting their products! Amy loves these non-slip headbands and wears the samples she was sent in every class she teaches.
Owner/entrepreneur Melissa Sherwood emailed me about a new Brand Clan Ambassador program. They are hoping to outfit some influential Instructors to show off their headbands. Click that link for more details.
They offer Indoor Cycling Studio Owners a wholesale program so you can offer these at retail to your participants. You can request details here.
Kathy Helmuth and I have just received confirmation that our ACE approved Parkinson's Indoor Cycling Coaching program has been accepted by the SilverSneakers organization!
Now, Parkinson's Cycling Coaches will now receive reimbursement directly from SilverSneakers, through their FLEX Instructor Program.
I am planning an interview with the SilverSneakers National Program director that will explain exactly how the FLEX program works.
My short description: a FLEX Instructor can walk into any studio and teach a SilverSneakers approved class and it's free to SilverSneakers members. SilverSneakers then compensates the Instructor directly.
To become a SilverSneakers group exercise class instructor, one must:
Be at least 18 years of age.
Maintain current CPR certification.
Hold a two or four year degree in health, exercise science, recreation or physical activity related field or maintain a nationally recognized certification (for example, ACE, AFAA, YMCA).
Attend a SilverSneakers instructor training workshop for the specific SilverSneakers class one would like to teach.
SilverSneakers classes are available in 12,000 locations and the FLEX Instructor program allows you to easily (and at no cost) add SilverSneakers classes to your studio 🙂
