T
he words “boutique
cycling studio” may
conjure up the image
of dimly lit studios with loud
music, energetic instructors
and SoulCycle. Thanks to
the success of SoulCycle in
America, the indoor cycling
market is booming. So will
the effect start lapping on
our sandy shores?
While SoulCycle itself is not a franchise,
the success of this fitness movement is
evident by the boutique indoor cycling
studios that are popping up all over the
U.S.
SoulCycle opened its first studio back in
2006 at W72 Street, New York. Arguably
creating the boutique fitness studio
revolution, it has grown to 84 studios (at
time of publishing) and although their
initial public offering (IPO) was applied
for in 2015, it has yet to move forward
with its stock exchange listing.
Flywheel Sports (another non-franchise),
its closest rival in numbers with 43 (at
time of publishing) launched in 2010
by one of SoulCycle’s founders, Ruth
Zukerman, now the creative director.
The antithesis of SoulCycle, Flywheel
makes no claims of a spiritual
experience, nor does it have disco balls
or ‘dancing’ on bikes. Instead, it features
a stadium like layout and a display that
ranks a riders effort as a lure for
competitive athletes.
...indoor cycling
has become the
fastest growing
workout concepts
in fitness with
boutique studios
experiencing
400% year-on-
year growth since
2010...
And so the popularity grows.
This time it’s with franchise operators who
have created their own turnkey solution
for wannabe boutique studio owners to
tap into the success of the cycle class
craze, and this could be why; according
to a recent U.S. report, indoor cycling
has become the fastest growing workout
concepts in fitness with boutique fitness
studios experiencing 400% year-on-year
growth since 2010, making up 42% of the
U.S. health club market.
their bikes in real time, every member
knows exactly where they are standing
in the class at any given time, using it to
push themselves even more.
www.rushcycle.com/rush-cycle-
franchise
It’s a lifestyle movement! Franchises in the U.S.: 6 (8 coming soon)
In this article, we feature some of the
U.S. franchise operators making waves
with their own unique cycle experience,
starting with the world’s first indoor
cycling franchise and biggest rival to
both SoulCycle and Flywheel Sports,
Cyclebar. Franchise fee (USD): $259,000 - $465,000
Franchises in the U.S.: 117 (32 open soon)
Full Psycle’s goal is to create the ultimate
cycling experience, and with 4 thriving
sites already established, they certainly
have met their mark.
Founded in 2013 by Paul Hermelin and
Shelly Scott in Costa Mesa, CA, Full
Full Psycle offers clients an exciting
atmosphere and efficient full-body
workout - upper body strength training is
included in the session and not just as an
added afterthought.
www.fullpsycle.com/franchise-promo
Franchise fee (USD): No range. It
depends on location (city or rural), size
of location and structural cost.
CycleBar was founded in 2004 in Boston
by brother and sister team Bill Pryor and
Alex Kemmer.
The lighting, sound systems, video
graphics and heart-pumping music
makes each workout fun and exciting.
Each theatre holds up to 55 bikes, with
a range of music style options to match
the personality of each class and its
instructor. CycleBar is not your average
cycling class. It is a multi-sensory journey
where riders can completely immerse
themselves in the moment.
www.cyclebarfranchise.com
Franchises in the U.S.: 6 (18 open soon)
Franchise fee (USD): $300,000 - $400,000
RushCycle began in La Jolla CA with a
simple mission of making clients happy.
Their approach to fitness is that it should
be fun, inspiring and exciting, while still
getting results.
In a dimly lit room, riders will all pedal
together as a team, in sync with the
beat of the music for a full-body, sweaty
workout. With their metrics displayed on
WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - SUMMER 2017
Franchises in the U.S.: 6 (more coming)
Franchise fee (USD): N/A
StarCycle offers more than just a cycling
class. Clients follow choreography on a
bike that makes fitness fun and exciting,
while still being effective.
In a candlelit studio, riders experience
a low-impact, high-energy fitness
experience like never before. They also
become part of a bigger community
from their very first class, riding as a
group to the beat of the music.
Franchisees of StarCycle are also in for a
fun, inspirational and rewarding career,
with a focus on changing people’s lives
for the better and transforming their
minds and bodies.
www.starcycleride.com/franchise
Enter the technology
company that aims to
disrupt the fitness
equipment category and
change how we visualise
indoor cycling.
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