This month in honor of March Madness, let’s acknowledge some of our very own fierce teams, RealRyder® teams, that have recently and specifically come across our radar.

(*Let me say here that we are always looking for studios to spotlight and champion so feel free to send us videos, articles, success stories, etc)

Let the shout outs begin with In the RA Fitness (www.intherafitness.com), who were the first studio to bring the RealRyder® bikes to Arizona! They just had their RealRyder® certification training on March 4^th, and members inaugurated the bikes two days later. Several new ryders are seeing immediate results, one client lost 11 lbs in 3 visits and another lost 10lbs in 5! Andrea Riley, WNBA superstar for the Phoenix Mercury, even came to get her tilt on at the 5:30am class! Holla! In the Ra Fitness’s motto is “… we are literally for everyone…but more so for the person who just wants to have fun and workout. We are not a competitive, serious studio. We are about acceptance in who you are right now! Whether you have 100 pounds to lose or 10, we are all about acceptance and fun!” –Serina Kappes, owner

Working our way toward the Midwest, R3 in Chicago, who is one the most successful RealRyder® studio chains was just featured in Northwestern’s Medill Reports as giving ‘old school’ indoor cycling a run… or a ryde for its money:  Watch now!   http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=203316  As Chicago manager Matt Kornblatt points out “ …you can have your grandfather on one bike and Lance Armstrong on another….anyone can do it.”  Well said Matt, we concur!

Then down in the Sunshine State, M Cycle Gym was recently featured twice, once in the Self.com article about being one of the 33 hottest new workouts in the U.S: http://www.self.com/fitness/2012/04/hottest-workout-classes-slideshow#slide=13 and then, are you looking to brush up on your Spanish? Because Andrea Cruz, M Cycle instructor, was on Despierta America (Wake Up America) demonstrating the difference and advantages of the RealRyder® bike : http://youtu.be/ml0m_hgBmT8 — It’s a fun segment!!

Also in Florida, Iron Lion Fitness in Wellington, FL (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCh32p9c5BM are going to be hosting a Ryde-A-Thon for the Palm Beach School of Autism on April 15th. They are trying to help them raise 10k to build their new facility. If you’re in that area and want to join the philanthropical fun, visit their website for more details: www.ironlionfit.com

Now, because I’m an Ohio girl and my beloved OSU Buckeyes made it into the Final Four I have to share a success story that comes out of Complete Kettlebell and Fitness in Warren, OH (www.completekettlebell.com) In combination with weight training, Kettlebell, and RealRyder® classes CKF owner Michael Cricks saw his client Kim drop 95 lbs! In her words, at 48 she is in the best shape of her life and as of February of this year she got her RealRyder® AND personal training certification. She now teaches the Express Ryde as well as a Boomers and Beginners class. In both she is a shining example of the fact that it’s never too late to make a change in your life… why not get better as we get older?!

Way to go Kim!

Let us not forget the upcoming Be a Hero event on 4.28.12 as referenced in our last blog (To the Batmobile….) and all the studios who’ll be rockin’ a cape and helping to grant the wishes of several people and families in need!MultiSport Fitness and FitRyde, (PA) B East and Cycle Evolution (NY) , GoRyde, Hammer House, and The Club at Morristown (NJ), Cheetahfit (CO), Elevate Cycling (MT), Beachside Ryde, Elite Fitness, Slim Cycle, Sweat Therapy (FL),  Attitude Fitness (GA), C-Cycle (SC), Level Fitness (MD), Alpena Health and Racquet Club (MI) Cadence Cardio, Sweat Fitness Center (CA), and  R3, Qi Ryders, and Core Power Yoga.

http://www.beaheroevent.com/ 

And finally, a huge pat on the back to EVERYONE in the RealRyder® family as the RealRyder bike was touted in Shape magazine’s as one of

“The Best Cardio Machines You’ve Never Seen”

http://www.shape.com/fitness/cardio/best-cardio-machines-youve-never-seen?page=7

KEEP IT UP, KEEP IT UP….. KEEP THAT RYDER SPIRIT UP!!

Now, with the online community and platform of Wish Upon a Hero (www.wishuponahero.com) and a mantra of “No wish too large and no donation too small” we can all be those heroes! The website itself first launched in September in 2007, six years post 9/11 which was the very inspiration for founder Dave Girgenti. He saw the urgency in finding an efficient way to connect people in need, and voila WUAH was born. The first wish granted was actually one of the first ones posted (the 19^th to be exact) even before the site officially launched.  A ‘soft opening’ email was sent out to help WUAH gain some early exposure and a 26 year old army staff sergeant replied with his wish for Lasik surgery. Rich couldn’t wear his contacts because of the dry air and sand, and his glasses fogged up from sweat and heat making his job very difficult. In the end, Nevyas Eye Associates were the ones to make Rich’s wish come true. The success of that first wish created a snowball effect; the establishment of the Wish Upon a Hero Foundation and receipt of their 501c3 in 2008 to raising $10, 000 in just 3 days for Rob, a Chemotherapy patient and father of two, in December of 2009.

WUAH now has an extensive list of opportunities to honor your inner superhero and heed that Bat Signal:

• H.E.R.O Team (during times of natural disaster)
• Baby Hero (supporting wishes of families with babies 12months and under)
• Homeless Heroes (encouraging people to help themselves by helping others)
• Hungry for Heroes
• Pet Hero
• Soldiers Welcome
• Strike a Chord
• Wish Warehouse

So how is RealRyder® International LLC donning their cape and making a difference? …the Be a Hero Event taking place on April 28, 2012 (http://www.beaheroevent.com/) Participating RealRyder® Indoor Cycling facilities who are leading the pack include: MultiSport Fitness and FitRyde, (PA) B East and Cycle Evolution (NY) , GoRyde, Hammer House, and The Club at Morristown (NJ), Cheetahfit (CO), Elevate Cycling (MT), Beachside Ryde, Elite Fitness, Slim Cycle, Sweat Therapy (FL),  Attitude Fitness (GA), C-Cycle (SC), Level Fitness (MD), Alpena Health and Racquet Club (MI) Cadence Cardio, Sweat Fitness Center (CA), and  R3, Qi Ryders, and Core Power Yoga. EMG LIVE Fitness will be the online host for the ‘Be A Hero Event.’ They will feature LIVE streaming cycling classes from four locations, including B East, a premiere RealRyder® cycling studio in the New York Hamptons, while simultaneously streaming LIVE wishes being granted to wish seekers.

“Wish Upon A Hero is proud to have RealRyder® International as our partner for this ground breaking visionary event,” said Jill Pavel, WUAH’s National Event Director. “For the first time registrants can participate from their home and see their funding go to the wishes we are granting LIVE on event day. Please join us on event day as we all celebrate our efforts together!” All registered participants receive a free Event T-Shirt and can create Personal Fundraising or build Team Fundraising Pages to support the Be A Hero Event and qualify for our Incentive Program. Incentive prizes including the Apple iPod Shuffle, iPod Touch, MacBook Air and the iPad2 will be awarded to participants who raise money at various levels. Participants do not have to register as a rider to participate as a fundraiser to earn incentive prizes. ANYONE is eligible to raise funds.

This is it, your chance to answer the distress calls of so many all at the same time!….And all you have to do is jump on a bike!

Be A Hero! 4.28.12

The Healing Power of Exercise, Neal for Real!

We recently received this amazing story and heartfelt endorsement. Kevin Neal of Chula Vista, CA, about a month away from turning 49, has been an indoor cycling coach for the last 12 years. He is currently a teacher at the Gonzalez Sports Academy in San Diego. (http://www.gonzalezsportsacademy.com) He is also a three time cancer survivor; leukemia, prostate and yes, even breast. Kevin also had his right hip replaced and survived a head first, one story fall into concrete…all this within a 3-4 year time span!  He believes, “I have survived all this through my belief that God has gotten me through this because I’ve nurtured my body with fitness.”  He’s always been active and cycling, both outdoor and indoor, is one of his favorite past-times. So naturally, Kevin and the RealRyder® bike were a perfect fit! 

“…I’ve been teaching indoor cycling/Spinning®/etc for over 12 years and I started teaching on the RealRyder® indoor cycles late last year. Words don’t express the increase of intensity and mental stimulation that the RealRyder brings to the game.  Not only do you have to ride a wheel that is almost twice the weight of the average indoor cycle, but you have to use your entire body to maintain balance, take turns, stabilize the bike, take flats, take hills, not to mention endure the entire ride as a whole!!! When I first rode the RealRyder bike, I was doing a practice ‘run’ and I exhausted myself halfway through my normal routine. (My ‘normal’ would stand up at the tough level on any regular indoor cycle.) I continued through and toughed it out for the hour and I can truly attest that everything (fitness level, heart rate, power out, calorie burn, and MENTAL game) is increased on these bikes!”

All of Kevin’s consistent training created a solid foundation for all that his body was about to endure, it instilled a ‘fight’ mode as he refers to it. When he fell head first from a one-story balcony, he was put into a medically induced coma for four days so he wouldn’t experience the pain of his brain’s swelling. Even though he’d dropped a substantial amount of weight because his body wasn’t receiving the same kind of nutrients, his metabolic rate remained high and vitals strong. In regards to his hip replacement, his surgeon felt very confident about a quick recovery because of his high level of fitness. For example, the morning of surgery his resting heart rate was a mere 39bpm. On average, post hip replacement, most people can return to gentle yet brisk walking at around 8-10 weeks, Kevin slashed that and was back on a bike pushing a decent load at 6 weeks!! He of course went through several sessions of physical therapy, but says “…cycling was the primary tool that helped balance my knee muscles out and additionally aided in my full recovery, and I have to admit that once I got used to the RealRyder bike it was easier and more natural on my hips than a traditional bike because of its pivoting action that mimics riding outdoors.”

      This story reminded us that the power of exercise has a long reach. It’s one thing to hear someone’s personal story exemplifying this statement, and it’s another when an article, like “The Healing Power of Exercise” from the Chicago Tribune, specifically mentions that “the standard weapons in the fight against cancer –surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation—may soon be joined but something far simpler: exercise. New research shows that regular physical activity helps reduce the recurrence of breast cancer and slows the advance of prostate cancer” Even the American College of Sports Medicine (http://www.certification.acsm.org/) offers a specialized certification, (Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer) to trainers wanting to work with cancer patients, not just survivors, people actually still in treatment. In fact many patients are being encouraged to start or continue their fitness regime while undergoing treatment. Of course the workouts may need to be modified, but according to the American Cancer Society, “evidence strongly suggests that exercise is not only safe and feasible during cancer treatment, but that it can improve the physical functioning…”

Other findings include:

• Reduction in the levels of insulin, a substance causing the cells to multiply and grow more quickly
• Reparation of infection-fighting T-cells, thus repairing the overall immune system which gets highly compromised in the treatment process
• Reduction in hormones, both estrogen and testosterone which are linked with breast, endometrial, and prostate cancers. Even with medication to control estrogen production, some still ends up in fat cells and as we know exercise converts fat to muscle.
• Increased energy for those in the midst of their chemo and radiation

We think this embrace of a more holistic approach to disease is very exciting as well as a huge victory for the entire fitness industry. We are even more excited though to have Kevin Neal, such a brave and inspiring real life example on our Team! If you’re in the San Diego area, please visit Gonzalez Sports Academy and take his class, Wednesday evenings at 6…we’ve heard it’s one heck of a workout!

A special ‘Congratulations!’ to M Cycle Gym in South Miami, FL (http://www.mcyclegym.com/) — who after their THIRD order now have 45 RealRyderÒ Bikes!

RealTraining:

The much beloved Adam Reid (Master Trainer Extraordinaire) taught 2 Introductory courses to our Military constituents, 1 Certified Instructor at Body Factory in Lafayette, Louisiana (http://www.bodyfactorylft.com/) and along with Douglas Brooks  (Master Trainer EXTRA-Extraordinaire) 1 Certified MASTER Instructor at Centro Forma Evolution in Verona, Italy (www.centroformaevolution.it) which brought instructors from England, Greece, Portugal, Russia and The Netherlands. All in all 25 certified and eager enthusiasts were unleashed to continue spreading the gospel and good word of RealRyderÒ.

Introductory Course at Joint Forces Staff College

Introductory Course in Kaiserslautem, Germany

MASTER Training in Verona, Italy

RealNews:

Now we are gearing up for our first SCW event of the year, in Philadelphia next weekend Feb 3-5^th. (www.scwfitness.com/philadelphia)  Our pre-conference Certification is sold out! Never fear though, we have 11 time slots throughout the rest of the weekend where we are very excited to be introducing 3 brand spanking new workshops!

1)   Burn Your Last Match

1. High intensity interval training (HIIT) is an effective way to help your ryders blast through fitness plateaus, build power and speed–and torch calories. How do you lead a safe HIIT workout that’s appropriate for riders of all ages and conditioning levels? Learn appropriate measurement, recovery time and cues to keep your interval training programs intelligent, fun and your riders coming back for more. Leverage the dynamic “turning” and “banking” movements, exclusive to the RealRyder® Indoor Cycle, to spark new excitement, confidence and team camaraderie as you lay it all on the line!

2)   Re-Cycle…Class Planning in Minutes

1. Planning classes should be quick, easy and fun. Learn how to create and re-cycle classes so you have a rich library of creative workouts to choose from each week. RealRyder’s unique RydeProfile Class Planning System shows you how to bring real road profiles inside the classroom while maximizing teaching options. Learn to shine as a strong teacher, and instruct a class that’s uniquely YOU. Inject new energy and creativity into your class planning. Produce a ryde experience participants won’t soon forget.

3)   Tri-Planar Ryding…Training for Sport & Life!

1. Propel functional training to   the next level by leveraging the dynamic movement exclusive to the RealRyder® Indoor Cycle. The only indoor bike that offers safe, tri-planar training, the RealRyder® Bike is paving a new path as a motion resistance tool that helps ryders discover a deeper core connection and greater movement efficiency through applied functional resistance. Learn the importance of training in three planes, how it translates to life, as well as various rotation and balance-based sports. Understand why 3-dimensional cycling could be the best Rx for compromised knees and back, injury prevention and fun!

RealStories:

For those of us who’ve drunk the RealRyderÒ Kool-Aid we know how delicious it is! It’s nice though when a story comes out that speaks to a wider audience specifically about the fact that the RealRyderÒ does not discriminate. The ‘unstationary’ quality and natural movement of the bike makes it physically compatible with just about everyone.  Allison Moore, a 46 yr old woman came to discover RealRyderÒ

at B-East RealRyder in Amagansett, NY (http://www.eastfit.com/) AFTER receiving a devastating diagnosis of a neurological disorder that has her wearing leg braces from the knee down. Please read her inspiring story here in MORE Magazine, http://www.more.com/inspirational-stories-charcot-marie-tooth

 When we hear people’s trepidation that the bike will be too hard for them, this is one of several ‘can-do’ stories we will be sharing to put their fears to rest.

Coming Soon!

We also have a lot of activity beneath the surface.

For example…

• By the end of the first quarter we will have those long awaited, much anticipated computers for the bikes that will read Heart Rate, RPM, Time, Distance, and Estimated Caloric Expenditure.
• The Shopping Cart on the website will make registering for certifications a snap!
• New apparel to make bragging easier about how much cooler YOUR indoor bike is because it moves!

After a 90-minute spin class and Zumba class at B. East Fitness Studio and an auction and raffle at a benefit party at the Stephen Talkhouse on Saturday, the donations were tallied. According to Romaine Gordon, who organized the fundraiser, over $28,500 was raised for Lisa Craine of East Hampton, who has been battling Stage 4 colon cancer for more than two years. Craine, a mother of three, thanked the community for “stepping up” for her family.

Donations can still be made by sending checks payable to Friends of Lisa Craine, c/o Romaine Gordon, 12 Runnymede Drive, East Hampton, NY 11937.

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.

We recently spoke with John Petrick, an avid cyclist and RealRyder® devotee from California, whose story nearly stopped us in our tracks. John inherited a frightening kidney disorder, known as polycystic kidney disease, which afflicted his great grandmother, grandfather and his mother. The dominant family gene had a fifty percent chance of affecting his life, and unfortunately, both John and his sister were eventually diagnosed.

The prognosis for polycystic kidney disease can be unpredictable and for some, the risk for mortality is high. In order to stay alive, patients must either bear a lifetime of dialysis or undergo a kidney transplant. The latter is no easy feat, as the demand for kidneys far outweighs the supply. However, John’s business partner stepped up and offered to make a donation that would give John a new lease on life.

John told us, “Poor kidney function causes the red blood cell count to go down. Slowly over time, I lost energy as well as the ability to maintain my body temperature. Even in the summertime, I was cold.” Recalling the days when completing life’s most common tasks felt like a battle, John remembered losing the ability to ride his bike, swim or simply work a full day.

However, John’s life took a dramatic turn for the better on August 17, 2004 when John underwent a kidney transplant at UCLA Medical Center. When someone tells you they had a kidney transplant, the last thing you’re expecting to hear next is that they’re completing century rides, triathlons or competing in bike events in Death Valley, where it’s 104˚ degrees! But unlike other baby boomers who tend to slow down, John is driven by an incredible responsibility to his donor – that is, to live his life to the fullest degree possible.

Since his transplant, John continues to support and stay closely connected with other transplant patients worldwide. In fact, every two years, thousands of patients compete in the U.S. Transplant Olympics or the World Transplant Games, in events like cycling, swimming, bowling, and track and field events. Here, John competes with other inspiring individuals who’ve undergone successful transplants of the kidney, heart, liver, bone marrow and more.

When he’s not competing for medals, you can find John training hard on his RealRyder® bike in his home gym. John says, “I find traditional stationary bikes to be really boring. On the RealRyder bike, I’m able to get a better workout in the same amount of time because I’m using my core muscles to balance the bike. This is how I ride outdoors. You just don’t get that on other indoor bikes.”

On June 13th, John will travel to Sweden to compete in the 2011 World Transplant Games, where 1,500 athletes representing an estimated 69 countries will compete at a high level in an atmosphere of fun and friendship.

A special thanks to John for sharing his story with us and for exemplifying a life of great courage. You’re an inspiration to all of us, John!

RealRyder’s Indoor Cycling Certified Instructor Training Program became recognized by ACE as an approved continuing education provider. We were VERY excited to have our education program, led by Douglas Brooks, M.S. (Exercise Physiologist & ACE-certified), recognized by such an incredible organization. Below are a few excerpts from the ACE article, RealRyder: Taking the Training Wheels Off Indoor Cycling.

It has been more than 20 years since Johnny G introduced Spinning® and transformed the stationary bike from a solo piece of cardio equipment into a new group-fitness phenomenon called indoor cycling. The Spinning bike’s design, with the heavy flywheel, chain drive and friction resistance, offered a pedaling experience that mimicked that of an actual road bike. “It was a brilliant design that created the ability to get on top of the gear and keep it rolling,” says Colin Irving, creator of the RealRyder® bike and co-founder of RealRyder® International. Douglas Brooks adds, “Since Johnny G introduced the Spinning bike, there has really been nothing new about the riding experience, until now.”

But beyond the joy factor, it is the quality of the ride that Brooks and other cyclists are referring to when they say that Colin Irving “got it right” when he developed the concept of the RealRyder bike more than 15 years ago. “As a competitive cyclist, I spent many hours training on rollers in the hallway (for balance) and thought how nice it would be to just turn,” explains Irving, describing how he came up with the concept for the RealRyder bike. This led to sketches on training logs, cardboard, paper or whatever was available. “I wanted to create a riding experience, not just pedaling,” he says.

Picture a Buddha statue – the highest symbol in yogic culture – and immediately the idea of unshakable faith, mental discipline and fearlessness come to mind. Ask a professional cyclist what it takes to complete a 100-mile race and you’ll hear about similar self-mastery. Trevor Tice, CEO of Core Power Yoga (CPY), has always appreciated the similarities between power yoga and the sport of cycling, and now he’s investing in both.

Making his mark with sweaty, core-centric yoga classes, Tice selected the bike that would serve his members’ needs best – the RealRyder® Indoor Cycle. This “unstationary” indoor bike actually leans and turns, emulating the same functional, core-centric movement you feel on the real road.

“The lateral movement adds a whole new dimension to the experience. You’re not only getting your arms more involved in the workout, but it’s also more specific work for the core… just like the type of yoga we offer at Core Power Yoga,” says Tice. “We wanted to provide this as a value-add, so that our members could move away from the gym and be completely fulfilled spiritually, mentally and physically at Core Power Yoga.”

Read more on RealRyder and Core Power Yoga by clicking here.

Another question that’s far more frequent is the purpose of this blog: “Is the RealRyder workout harder than a traditional stationary bike workout?”

Before you bust out with a definitive answer, we believe it depends on whom you ask. Take Kathy Wilder, a dedicated RealRyder Indoor Cyclist at 501SPIN in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Now in her 50s, Kathy has been extremely passionate about fitness her entire life. She was an avid runner in her 20s. She’s always known maintaining muscle mass and keeping her heart strong and healthy is important as she ages. Yet, while most baby boomers are complaining about stiff knees or achy backs, Kathy wakes up each day confronting a 32-year battle with Multiple Sclerosis.

“I remember waking up one day and the lower half of my body was completely numb. Then, I woke up another time and my upper body was completely numb. We didn’t have MRIs in the 1980s, so I had no clue what was wrong with me, so I just kept on moving through life with random, scary symptoms,” said Kathy.

Over the years her condition worsened. Her six-mile daily runs came to a gradual halt. Leg exercises with weights became too much for her lower body to tolerate and inevitably, balance became an issue. Fast forward to today, Kathy finds it difficult to complete a half-mile walk with her husband, whom she used to enjoy hours of walking with around the city. The burdensome obstacle that prevents her from being physically active begins in her legs.

“My legs start to feel like Gumby. I get a spasm in my low back and dull pain radiates up my spinal muscles,” says Kathy.

Determined to keep her body moving, Kathy decided to try a new gym and fitness facility in her neighborhood called 501SPIN. What initially attracted her to this facility was the upper body ergometer machine (think cycling using your arms), which she believed would work well for her, given it excluded the lower body. While getting acclimated to the studio, Kathy discovered the facility’s uniquely fun and dynamic RealRyder® Indoor Cycling classes. Curious about the new bikes that could tilt and lean, she decided to try a class.

“I was afraid of falling off the RealRyder bike at first. I wasn’t worried about the bike tipping over. I was concerned about my problems with balance!” says Kathy. “But I realized I just needed to get used to it and take it slow.”

And that’s just what Kathy did.

Today – thanks to Kathy’s courage, and an inspirational teacher named Dawn Doll, whom she credits as a major influence and motivational force -  Kathy told us, “I’m able to complete an entire class. I’m able to stand up and ride, which I never thought I could do. The fact that the bike moves and simulates turns, and improves core strength is really helping me.”

Newly enlightened and deeply moved by Kathy’s incredible story of personal triumph, we decided to ask her the ever-popular question that newbie RealRyders often ask us:

“Do you think RealRyder Indoor Cycling is harder than traditional cycling?”

Kathy: “It’s not harder. It’s just different. And most importantly, the classes are fun!”