Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Let’s Go for a Spin
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Indoor cycling has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity and is here to stay, reported the New York Times in a recent article. It has continued to attract new participants, as baby boomers who seek the post exercise bliss of a long run or the competitive spirit of a basketball game realize they may no longer be able to withstand the effects of pounding on their joints. Riders of different skills gather in one place, and there is no chance of being dropped since each participant can set the pace and tension for their own ride.
Spynergy Cycling Studio, Metrowest Boston’s boutique indoor cycling facility, was on top of this trend when it opened its first dedicated studio; and the company is about to open a second location. Founders Alex Klemmer and Bill Pryor, a brother and sister duo, invite Misstropolis readers to help open their doors at an all-day event November 3rd at their new studio at 823 Washington Street in Newton.
Spynergy draws a group of committed riders and fitness enthusiasts to its current Wellesley location at Train Boston, an innovative personal training and rehabilitative facility. The facility offers a consistently high level of training options – no small feat in a competitive fitness market where indoor cycling is only part of a larger program in most gyms.
In opening a dedicated spin cycling facility, Klemmer and Pryor felt confident that they could offer superior classes that would appeal to all kinds of riders – outdoor cyclists and fitness enthusiasts. The focus on spin programming has paid off, as clients report a high level of satisfaction with the maintenance of the bikes (ever ridden on the squeaky bike at a health club?), a state-of-the-art sound system and an online reservation system that lets clients sign up, cancel and check the status or their ride cards from home.
Allison Parker of Wellesley began spinning two years ago while recovering from an injury, and despite the fact that she had no previous experience and little interest in biking, the highly aerobic workouts have become the foundation of her fitness program. She belongs to a group of dawn riders who regularly attend the 6am classes. Another member of this select group, Beth of Newton (who asked that her last name not be used), rises at 4:45 to walk her dogs then arrives at Spynergy most mornings to ride.
After years of spurning spin classes, outdoor cyclists have returned to spin bikes as an alternative to training on rollers in the winter. As the weather gets colder Spynergy offers several longer endurance classes geared to road riders. Pryor also credits the advent of the MP3 player as a revitalizing factor for instructors and riders. No longer dependent on CDs or canned workout music, the flexibility of creating new playlists and rides daily prevents boredom. Pryor’s playlists are inspired, although he likes to point out the diversity of the music in Spynergy’s class offerings – there is truly a class for everyone.
Spynergy’s success may point to a smarter fitness consumer, willing to make the extra effort to get the best workout. The studio model seems to be returning to other fitness modalities, and the popularity of yoga and/or pilates studios as well as personal training facilities points to the willingness of the fitness consumer to seek workouts created by experts in a given discipline and attended by people seeking the same thing.
If you haven’t been on a bike in a while, or are looking to mitigate the effects of raiding your children’s Halloween bags, drop by Spynergy on Saturday. Hope to see you there!
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