A new cycling studio opens this week, and thanks to its smart-thinking and customer-savvy Fresno owners, it will stand out from any cycling studio you’ve been to before.
Melissa Lev, a big fan of indoor cycling fitness classes (aka spin classes), and her husband, Layne, had long considered opening a local franchise of regional spin studios here in town. The Levs had headed pretty far down that path when they realized that a franchise would leave their business lacking something they felt their potential customers would value—strength training.
It was this customer-centric line of thinking that led to the couple creating their own brand of cycling studio, RIDE54, which officially opens its doors Thursday, Jan. 26.
“Melissa loves cycling, and we both thought opening a studio in Fresno would be really great since we didn’t have any of the larger studios here in town,” said Layne, “But for the price, we felt it was important to offer something that allowed people to train in cardio and strength.”
In order to bring this dual approach to Fresno fitness enthusiasts, the Levs built a studio that includes both a state-of-the-art spin class equipped with theater-style rows of top-of-the-line spin cycles and customized studio lighting that changes with the music and workout phase, and a pristine TRX classroom just a few feet away. It comes as no surprise that the Levs paid great attention to design as they build their studio—Layne also founded Hundred10, a Fresno-based design and branding business that has successfully showcased numerous local businesses since 2007. (RIDE54’s website also is, of course, very cool.)
TRX (which stands for Total-body Resistance Exercise) was invented by a Navy Seal and allows participants to work out using their own body weight as resistance. By utilizing the TRX resistance cable and band apparatus, and adjusting body positioning and movement, individuals with a variety of exercise experience can get a great strength-training workout that is appropriately challenging for their needs.
Prior to the studio’s grand opening, I had the opportunity to try a cycling class at RIDE54 along with other members of the FresYes team and, well… I still am unable to walk as I type this. I kid! I kid.
But seriously, it was a fantastic workout that really challenged me and even engaged my upper body more than I anticipated through the incorporation of hand weights and seated push-ups. The music helped me to stick it out when waves of exhaustion threatened to kick in, and by the end of the class, I had that great post-exercise high that leaves you feeling energized rather than worn out.
My experience with indoor cycling is limited, but based on what I saw, RIDE54 seems to really offer an exceptional program. Layne shared that he and Melissa worked hard to recruit the best of the best when it came to instructors, and their team has spent the last six months together every weekend perfecting their routines (on twenty spin bikes that were parked in the Levs’ dining room!).
If you’re interested in taking classes at RIDE54, pricing is flexible. You can either purchase classes individually or in groups and use them when your schedule allows or, if you prefer, you can sign up for an unlimited monthly or yearly membership.
New members can take advantage of discounted pricing on unlimited first weeks or months of classes, too. Also, there will be free, 30-minute fundamentals courses on Saturdays for those who are brand new to indoor cycling classes and would like to learn more about the methodology.
Learn More at RIDE54’s Open House
RIDE54 will host an open house this Thursday from 4-7 p.m. There will be food and drinks, and even a Lululemon Athletica trunk show, so if you’d like a chance to check out the studio and TRX classroom and learn more about classes, you should stop in.
For more information including class schedules, pricing, instructor info, and more, visit RIDE54’s website here.
- The FresYes Quiz - December 8, 2023
- What’s Hot & Happening December 8 – 10 - December 7, 2023
- The 2024 FresYes Pet Calendar - December 6, 2023
Leave a Reply