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.

RealRyder is hard at work on its installments featuring studios across the United States that have taken their indoor cycling studios to the next level (see our first installment on Real Ryder Revolution in metro-Detroit Michigan). What is their secret to selling out cycling classes, creating waiting lines and leaving their customers hungry for more? Watch the second part of this installment, featuring Qi Ryders, to learn more about the secrets to their success!

“Every month has been better than the last.”
“In 5 months I’ve never had one class not sell out.”
“Customer retention has been easy. We just put them on the bike.”
“RealRyders provide 100% more benefit – to everything.”

Qi has an incredible story in terms of its business success, but the classes featuring RealRyder® ABF8 bikes have also changed the lives of their participants. Below we have the story of how RealRyder changed the life of one of Qi’s top trainers and their Boxing Director, Nick Spinosa.

Nick has been on his feet for most of his life, growing up working his family’s restaurant in Pennsylvania. As an avid athlete, Nick played many sports – baseball, football, basketball – and continued to play baseball at the collegiate level at Penn State. He also developed a love and passion for boxing, which runs in his family. Nick’s grandfather was  a professional boxer.

Nick’s love of sports and time spent on his feet caught up with him. During his collegiate years, while playing both baseball and boxing, Nick had to undergo surgery for damages to his feet, also dealing with arthritis pains from being on so many surfaces. Surgeons had to fuse the bones of his feet together in a series of surgeries. Three surgeries, in fact. Not an easy thing to swallow for an active person. And that wasn’t the end.

Following college, two additional surgeries (for a total of 5 surgeries on his feet!) the newly-minted kineseology grad headed out west to live with his brother in Denver, Colorado. Nick said he could barely walk or bend over when he arrived in Colorado in early 2010. It was time to get back in form. His brother proceeded to introduce him to Chris Lindley, one of the co-owners of Qi.

The two hit it off immediately, bonding over boxing and the Army-style workouts Chris provided at Qi. Enter the RealRyders at Qi. Nick was re-learning to walk when RealRyders arrived at Qi, and with the RealRyder® ABF8′s, he was able to accomplish his goals of walking again, becoming physically active and shedding weight gained over multiple surgeries. Nick is now 60 pounds lighter, teaching at least 13 filled or sold out classes a week and directs the Boxing programs at Qi. Nick’s personal triumph is one of the many stories we are proud to highlight and share. Qi continues to make an impact in the Denver community and on the lives of its participants and employees.

Do you have a story to share? We would love to feature your story on RealRyder’s blog!

We are looking forward to one of the biggest fitness industry events in the world. The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, IHRSA, was our topic in an earlier blog this week, and we’re ready to roll out details on why this trade show is going to be so much fun! Adding to the excitement of IHRSA is the release of our brand-new promotional video (RealRyder Indoor Cycling 2011) and collaborations with some of the biggest names in the fitness industry.

RealRyder is teaming up with big names -  Motionsoft, Total Gym and Gatorade for amazing giveaways and experiences at IHRSA. RealRyder will be giving away 2, AFB8 bikes in conjunction with the Motionsoft, via text message. You can stop by their booth (#1026) for the details on entry and ways to win. Each day, a random winner will be selected to win a RealRyder Indoor Cycle or a Total Gym.

If you’re interested in going to IHRSA but haven’t committed yet, we have two ways for you to save on the trade show passes. Our promotional partners, Motionsoft have passes to offer! IHRSA is also offering an exclusive promotional code for their Facebook fans.

We only have one question … a Are You Ready for our Ryde?

• Thursday, March 17th: Beginning at 11:00am, we will be offering 15-minute classes on the only indoor cycling ride that moves you!
• If you complete one of the mini-classes, you will receive our RealRyder Messenger bag, perfect for the conference or on-the-go wherever you are!
• Friday, March 18th: We’re up bright and early at 6:00am! The RealRyder Performance & Hydration Station, Fueled by Gatorade – G Series Fit
• Ryde Real every 30 minutes, with classes ending at 8:30am. And no need for extra gear – we’ve got you covered with the brand-new G Series Fit drink and Gatorade towels, as well as a brand-new RealRyder t-shirt!

Have you heard the buzz about our RealRyder® Indoor Cycling Certified Instructor Training Program? We could tell you about it, but we’d much rather you hear (and see!) a few words from our recent indoor cycling trainings.

2011 is a BIG year for RealRyder, as we roll out the education program, bringing a new level of excitement to indoor cycling with our bikes and instruction. We have over 20 trainings scheduled this year alone, in both the U.S. and internationally. Our Certified Instructor Training Program sets that stage for club owners and instructors to “lead the pack” with one of the hottest pieces of fitness equipment on the market!

The RealRyder Indoor Cycle Certified Instructor Training Program builds on the history of indoor cycling, using a teaching system that eliminates guess work, so that planning intelligent and creative workouts is easy. Join a pack of enthusiastic RealRyder ambassadors and become part of a new era of indoor cycling today!

Have you taken the training or are you participating in an upcoming training at one of our many locations? Please share your thoughts and/or what you’re hoping to learn from the RealRyder® Indoor Cycling Certified Instructor Training Program.

Check out photos from some of our recent trainings at studios throughout the U.S. and Canada! RealRyder Cycling Studio (Los Angeles), Body-n-Mind Ryde (Miami), Equilibria Fitness (Doral, FL), Execl Fitness (BC, Canada)

RealRyder cycling is different. Our indoor cycling program is different. Our bike is different. No other indoor bike has our “Ryde”! RealRyder Cycling adds a level of excitement through innovation that can energize any existing cycling program. There are unlimited programming options for offering a unique riding experience that will be enjoyed by people of all fitness levels, interests and backgrounds.

One of the questions we often receive is from our teachers and studio owners is “How do I find or make the elevation maps for class?”. We enlisted a few of our instructors to answer this question. After putting our heads together we came up with three great sources for inspiration.

Ryde it Real Tool #1: Map My Ride, a division of Map My Fitness

Screenshot: Map My Ride

Ryde it Real Tool #2: Velo Routes

Screenshot: Velo Routes

Screenshot: Velo Routes

Ryde it Real Tool #3: Use Your Favorites Races!

The major races, like the Tour de France, offer comprehensive imagery and profiles for each stage of the race. CYKL, a RealRyder studio in Canada, simulated the entire Tour de France last year, complete with leaderboards, jerseys, footage of the race, and of course celebratory champagne! Use the tools found on race websites to excite your class participants and offer them an experience they will never forget. Some of our favorites to get you started are the Tour de France, USA Cycling, and here in RealRyder country we have SoCal Cycling.

Tell us about your inspirations for riding indoors! A parting shot from CYKL in Canada, to get your creative juices flowing!

CYKL's Tour de France Leaderboard

Ryde it real. Teach it real. It’s time to take the training wheels off!