Melissa Power
TikTok, Instagram and the cult of the superstar instructor have been bad news for indoor cycling, says the founder of MPowered and Cadence. She tells Kate Cracknell why she’s leading a movement to fight back.
Scent-sational
Signe Fjord has combined indoor cycling with aromatherapy to create a concept she calls Aroma Bike, adding new layers of experience to every class. She speaks to Kate Cracknell
Brett Sutton
Indoor cycling is far from dead at Les Mills New Zealand, says its CEO. In fact, it’s part of the ‘boutique in a box’ strategy that’s driving the brand’s success. He speaks to Kate Cracknell.
Uffe A Olesen
As BODY BIKE marks its 27th birthday, its CEO celebrates his own milestone of 20 years with the company. He takes a walk down memory lane with Kate Cracknell.
David Watt
As Psycle celebrates its 10th birthday, its CEO outlines plans to scale the brand in the London market as a springboard to growth across the UK and beyond. He speaks to Kate Cracknell.
The Saudi game changers
Fatima Batook and Rasha Bubshait were instrumental in changing the laws in Saudi Arabia, empowering and enabling women to exercise, improve their health and change their lives. They tell Kate Cracknell the story behind Studio55.
Gundula Cöllen-Sorger
The founder of BECYCLE and BEYOND, Germany’s trailblazing boutiques, tells Kate Cracknell how a visit to the Burning Man festival inspired a dramatic career change.
Fuelled by community
Many clubs talk about building a community. Few are built for – and by – a community. Fuel Cycling co-founders Molly Kennedy and Margarett Gabrielson share their inspirational story with Kate Cracknell.
Selling normality in Ukraine
In the Ukrainian city of Odessa, Formula Wellness & Spa has re-opened its doors to offer members and employees a sense of normality in the face of the ongoing war. General manager Mariia Brezytska speaks to Kate Cracknell.
Shine Brunei
How many studios can say they have members who come every day, often more than once a day? Kate Cracknell talks to the team behind Shine Cycle and Shine X to discover the secrets of success at this community-focused studio
Bebe Ding
In 2014, the Ding siblings – Bebe, Calvin and Valerie – set out to bring a US-style boutique cycling vibe to Singapore. Their CRU brand has since gone from strength to strength, spanning multiple disciplines and locations, a digital platform, a US presence and plans to expand across south-east Asia. CRU’s master trainer and co-founder speaks to Kate Cracknell.
United Fitness Brands
In 2021, Joe Cohen, Robert Rowland and Hilary Rowland co-founded United Fitness Brands (UFB), bringing together their respective businesses – KOBOX and Boom Cycle – as the first step in creating a new ‘supergroup’ of boutiques. They update Kate Cracknell on the story so far.
Simi Williams
Launching a new business is always a challenge, but add in a career change, relocation, economic downturn, COVID and first-time motherhood and many might have deemed it a challenge too far. Not so Simi Williams, the powerhouse behind Beyond Fitness, Lagos’s trailblazing new boutique. She speaks to Kate Cracknell.
Alejandro Ramos
Launched as a cycling studio in Mexico City in 2015, Síclo now has ambitions to become the world’s largest wellness community for the Spanish-speaking market. Its CEO and co-founder speaks to Kate Cracknell.
Activism at Virgin Active
With its clubs now re-open, Virgin Active UK is unveiling a series of signature group exercise concepts, including new cycle classes created by cycle ‘activist’ Sarah-Jane Aboboto. She gives us a sneak preview.
We have lift-off
This summer, Apollo Travel Group opened the doors to a new sports and fitness hotel in Greece, hosting the Swedish Winter Olympics team the moment Greek tourism re-opened for business. Apollo Sports’ Daniel Giray speaks to Kate Cracknell.
Ben Karoonkornsakul
Rhythm cycling is experiencing huge growth in south-east Asia, spurring The Absolute Group to expand into an at-home model and a franchised, standalone virtual concept. Its founder and CEO Ben Karoonkornsakul speaks to Kate Cracknell.
Third Space
From signature concepts to pop-up outdoor venues to connectivity between gym floor, GX studio and the home, Chris Stanton and Susie Millen – performance master trainer and cycle master trainer for Third Space – give the low-down on the brand’s cycle programme.
Puk Lyng Thomsen
A leading light in the Danish ladies’ golf team, Thomsen is currently fighting her way back into the game after major surgery – and indoor cycling is proving a great ally. She speaks to Kate Cracknell
The three arenas of ACTIC
With a new collection of concept classes, a new app and an evolution of its outdoor offering just three of its hot-off-the-press initiatives, the 177-club ACTIC Group is set to explode out of the blocks in 2021. Group training product manager Jessica Tito Martins speaks to Kate Cracknell
The word from New Zealand
With New Zealand a fair way ahead of many markets on the COVID recovery curve, we were keen to learn what might be coming down the line for the rest of us. We turned to Auckland-based Sam Aldred for his insights into the current NZ state of play.
Setting the world on fire
Founded in Malaysia in 2015, boutique brand FIRE Fitness is now looking to expand globally through an innovative licensing model. Kate Cracknell reports
Joey Gonzalez
Rebranding, RIDE and a transformation inspired by COVID. The CEO of global boutique megabrand Barry’s speaks to Kate Cracknell about 2020’s rollercoaster ride
Styles Studios Fitness
Carrie Kepple and Amy Styles have created a new ‘health club of boutiques’ model, and their club’s COVID journey speaks volumes about the power of community. They speak to Kate Cracknell
Humphrey Cobbold
PureGym will expand globally through a multi-brand approach, but that won’t involve a boutique format, as its CEO explains to Kate Cracknell
On the fly
Why did Town Sports International want to buy Flywheel, why did Flywheel want to be bought, and what does all this mean for the sector as a whole? Kate Cracknell investigates
Esben Dalgaard Andersen
The well-known Danish actor regularly has to gain or lose 30kg for his roles. He shares his diet and exercise secrets with Kate Cracknell
JJ Sweeney
From elite trainer to co-founder of Celebrity Fitness to founder of new health club brand Paradigm, JJ Sweeney tells Kate Cracknell about his journey through fitness, and how his experiences have led to the creation of his perfect club
Colin Grant
Immersive, gamified cycling; sleep as the next wellbeing trend; and the launch of an in-club boutique concept. The founder and CEO of Asia’s Pure Group talks to Kate Cracknell
SoulCycle London: Our verdict
SoulCycle London. It’s been a long time coming, but after years of speculation and eager anticipation, America’s cult indoor cycling workout has finally made its way across the Pond, opening its first non-North American studio in the Soho area of London, UK.
Fitness World – indoor cycling version 2.0
Fitness World, the largest chain of fitness clubs in Denmark, is in the process of launching a new indoor cycling concept at their 106 fitness centres. RIDE HIGH Magazine talks to Mie Sisse Konradsen, Group Fitness Manager at Fitness World, about their new concept.
Matthew Allison
Space Cycle, the cycling boutique that’s redefining millennial fitness in Asia, is eyeing expansion across the major cities of China – and beyond, through new strategic partnerships. Its founder talks to Kate Cracknell.
Boutique cycle
From Coast to Coast the boutique cycling space is claiming its place on the Australian fitness landscape. Well over 30 boutiques have popped up over the last couple of years in all major cities of what is a land area almost as wide as the United States and just a big north to south. That’s big! The difference is that the USA has a population of 320 million whereas Australia has just over 28 million.
Welcome to Cockburn Arc!
Across the vast country that is Australia – one that has always prided itself on being a sporty nation – local governments have for many years been the suppliers of local, community amenities that go above and beyond grass fields for football or cricket and the local swimming pool.
Business is Boom-ing
When Boom Cycle launched in 2011, with its ‘party on a bike’ classes that made fitness fun, it blazed a trail in the London boutique studio scene. Now operating four studios across London, it remains one of the city’s leading cycling brands. Its founders, Robert and Hilary Rowland, speak to Kate Cracknell.
