Welcome to Pennsylvania, home of MultiSport Fitness and RealRyder® super-cyclists! Owners Matt and Jennifer Fleischer just celebrated the one-year anniversary of their Mt. Bethel location (their second location in Bethlehem is edging up on its one-year mark). We recently spoke with Jennifer about her experiences as an owner, as an instructor and as a Ryder. The indoor cycling business is jammin’ but there is one more aspect that is incredibly important to the MultiSport Fitness owners: the community that is being built among her instructors and customers. In December of 2010, Jennifer asked her instructors to take a moment and record the successes and goals people were meeting using RealRyder bikes. The results of weight loss – 20, 30, 60 and even 80 pounds – flooded in, as well as accounts of increased energy and decreased stress. Success? We think so!

Spring and summer brought a new set of success benchmarks as the indoor training began translating to outdoor events and races. The fun and dynamic riding experience of the RealRyder bike keeps people engaged and working hard, no matter how cold or hot the weather – even rain (we don’t recommend putting your bike in the rain, we think the dedication in this videois pretty inspiring!). Pennsylvania, much like the rest of the Northeast, has winters that keep even the most avid outdoor cyclist off the road. Jennifer recounted people using snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles to arrive to class over the winter months. The hard work has paid has paid off for the RealRyders at MultiSport Fitness. Find out how Bev, a RealRyder Indoor Cycling Certified instructor and yoga instructor, and Stephen, an operating room anesthetist and runner, have broken their PRs – personal records – with RealRyder training.

BEV – Yogi & RealRyder:

My name is Bev Fatebene. From April to October you will find me several days a week climbing the most vigorous hills I can find. I absolutely love to cycle!!  Jenn Fleischer has known me from the area and as a yoga instructor.  She spotted me on a warm sunny day, peddling one of the most challenging climbs  in our area.  As I came over the top with a huge smile on my face, Jenn said at that moment she knew in her heart she wanted me [as an instructor].  Jenn asked me to join the MultiSport Fitness team at her 2nd RealRyder gym in Bethlehem, PA.  I’m an outdoor cyclist, and have never been a fan of indoor gyms.  I began RealRyder in December 2010 as an instructor and student.  I was amazed how challenging the bikes were and how sweaty I got. And it was fun!! Impressed, my thoughts were, ‘this was a great way to stay in shape and ‘beat’ the winter blues.

Than the weather warmed up and I took my first ride for the season.  When I ride, my routes include a serious climb.  Cycling to me is like a Yoga practice.  My mind and body connect into a rhythm and I escape into the wilderness, and quietness of the outdoors.  I rarely watch my times or speeds, as I ride pretty much the same routes and know the approximate time I get back home.  As I peddled that evening, I noticed my legs were really strong.  My heart was strong.  I attacked the last 300 feet to the top of my most difficult climb.  Smiling from ear to ear, almost chuckling of how good I felt, and I had more to give.  In my head, I related to my RealRyder class; my butt over the saddle, feeling the power in my legs and knowing my heart could handle pushing my threshold.  We practice pushing your threshold in class and at certified training.  Amazing!! I arrived home 45 minutes earlier than usual!

My confidence is boosted, and I am planning some crazy mutli-climb routes.  I can’t thank Jenn Fleischer enough for asking me to join the MultiSport Fitness team.  Every trainer is fantastic!  We have no egos, just a sense to support one another, have a good time, and get a great workout in.  Adam Reid and Douglas Brooks modelled the same behavior at  the RealRyder Indoor Cycling Certified Instructor training.  I am truly grateful for RealRyder and the MultiSport Fitness team! Thank you!!!

STEPHEN – Runner & RealRyder:

I’m 57 years old and work as an anesthetist in a busy operating room. My work days are frequently long, but I work hard and play hard. I got back into running road racing in 2007 after being away from running for over 10 years. Since taking RealRyder classes this past winter, I was confident I was going to have a good racing season but I didn’t know it would be this good. I PR’d 5 times this year: two on half-marathons in May, two 10 mile races in March and April and one five-miler in February. I also placed in my age group in a 5K. Walking to the podium for a medal at any age feels great but at 57 it feels awesome.When friends of mine came to cheer me on during the Odyssey half marathon in Philadelphia, the first thing they shouted was “Steve, you don’t have your knee support on”! Since  2007, I had to wear an elastic knee support and after about 7 RealRyder classes, my knee no longer hurt when running. It seems that my patella is “tracking” much better with the improved quad strength I achieved from RealRyder classes.

I was invited to work as part of a volunteer  medical team in Haiti in 2010 and wound up having a schedule conflict with the Marine Corps Marathon which I was already signed up. The Marine Corps Marathon granted me a one time deferment to run it this year. The surprising thing is that I now find that I’m in for running the New York Marathon…..they’re one week apart!!! The answer is YES, I’m running both now that I developed the strength to run pain free. Thanks RealRyder, my racing season keeps getting better and I don’t miss that elastic knee support.

I’m particularly grateful to  the outstanding instructors from Multisport Fitness. While all the instructors are outstanding, Jennifer stands out  as one instructor/coach who will help her students “dig deep” to accomplish their best performance. Jennifer will modestly acknowledge that she competed in the “Iron Man Triathalon“. She is an amazing athlete whose high energy spirit  is transferred to her students.

Happy New Year from everyone at RealRyder! It’s that time of year where we all review the last 12 months and look forward with optimism to what the new year will bring.

It has been a busy time for us as the word has continued to spread on the RealRyder Stationary Bike and we are especially pleased to see the number of new indoor cycling studios who have chosen our fitness equipment to create a more realistic cycling experience.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who serve in our military to protect and defend the way of life we all cherish and our thoughts go out to them and their families.

Make those New Year resolutions and we wish everyone a successful and healthy 2011!

Thanks to our Troops! RealRyder at U.S. Army Base in Germany

Happy Birthday America! Have a great 4th of July from everyone at RealRyder! Enjoy the holiday weekend with friends and family!

Spare a thought and say a little prayer for those serving in foreign lands!

Happy Memorial Day everyone! Have a great day with family and friends!

Let’s not forget Memorial Day is not just the official start of Summer, it’s the one day every year where we pay respect and thank those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Those fallen heroes, who gave up their lives to keep us safe and free.

The world is a dangerous place these days, so to all those who serve and their families we thank you and have a Happy Memorial Day, wherever you are!

I hope everyone had a Happy Mother’s Day! It’s that one day a year where we show our appreciation and love for that special person in our lives, although it certainly shouldn’t be the only one.

Family and friends are important to us at RealRyder and you will have seen this mentioned in some of our posts.

So no talk of the stationary bike or indoor cycling today! But look out for some great human interest stories we have planned over the next few weeks.