New Glasgow class combines spin with metal music for hard-hitting workout anyone can enjoy
Alternative music fans looking to get fit in Glasgow could have the answer they are looking for in a new class that combines spin with a soundtrack that's more on the heavier side.
The Cycle Pit, which is the brainchild of Hamilton-based couple Ian Todd and Heather Ryce, takes the low-impact, high-intensity workout and transforms it into a 'gig on a bike' that aims to get fans of the likes of Emo, Metal and Punk music moving.
With classes already running at Garscube Sports Complex on a Thursday evening and Sunday morning, they have just added classes on a Tuesday evening at Energie Fitness in the southside. The duo are seeing a rising demand for their fun new way to get in shape.
"We started dating and on our third date Ian dragged me to a spin class and we just bonded over going to the classes," explains Heather. "We also have very similar music tastes with rock and metal and we always felt 'wouldn't this be great if we could spin to the music we actually enjoy' and so the idea was born out of that."
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Though the duo were told by some of the studios they first approached that it would never work, Ian explained that thanks to his competitive nature he just wouldn't let it lie.
Fast forward six months from their first classes at the start of March and he and Heather now have a growing waiting list for their classes and more people looking to sign up.
Ian, who fell into spin six or seven years ago after wanting to stay fit following an ACL injury at football, said: "I put a post on Reddit and it really took off, and there were lots of people saying it was a great idea, so we started an Instagram and went from there.
"We realised that we had been going to festivals like Download and aware of the popularity of the Rockfit classes we knew you could work out to that style of music. We knew there is a big community in Glasgow and the surrounding areas that love this kind of music and so it was just bringing those two worlds together."
The pair joked that the hardest part can be pleasing everyone with the playlists, especially as Heather loves Emo music and Ian grew up more in the Nu Metal era, but they say that they try to keep as broad a range as possible and rely on customer feedback and recommendations to keep each class's soundtracks evolving and fun.
Ian said: "Certain bands don't work they can be too slow (such as Tool) or too fast in the case of acts like Slayer, they need to be a good mix of BPMs (beats per minutes) but having been doing spin for so long you get to see what works, songs such as Angel Of Death might have people falling off their bikes by the end of it.
Heather says they then share their chosen playlist with their instructor who then creates the choreography for it, she adds: "Our focus is on people having fun and working out to good music, it's really a place to come to enjoy a gig on a bike - rather than getting caught up in who's fittest or the best dressed."
Having spotted the gap in the market and realising that fans of alternative music are often neglected in the world of fitness, they realised quickly that they wanted to be as welcoming as possible to anyone who wanted to come along.
Ian said: "Gyms can be quite intimidating, especially from a music and aesthetics standpoint, there's a perception of how you're supposed to look and act, and we want to appeal to anyone who wants to try and get into fitness and didn't feel they fit in where they currently are. It's not about how you look or how fit you are, it's just about having fun, enjoying music and getting moving.
"It's not a typical spin class, you can just come along and wear your favourite band T-shirt, it's a different vibe, and we want to be welcoming to everybody and be inclusive. Our clientele spans from very beginners to people who are serious about spin, which is great."
With spin having such a low entry barrier, Ian explained that if you can "sit and move your legs" you can do the class, and thanks to everyone's love of similar music, it's created a natural community that people love and has led to the couple even having to sit out of their own classes due to the demand.
Thankfully, the duo say they still always attend the classes, even if they can't get on a bike, to ensure that there is always a welcoming face on hand to help out beginners or to chat to regulars about the latest gig or album.
Heather said: "We are always there to help get people settled in and welcome people and chat with the regulars, we've become part of the experience and that makes us really proud, there are always friendly faces for first-timers.
"It's a pressure-free environment you can make it as intense or as relaxed as you want it to be – you can go hard as you like, or you can take it easy and just go at your own pace and enjoy the music."
With their start-up mixing two things people can be really passionate about, music and fitness, Heather believes the appeal will never grow stale and they now hope they can realise a dream of their own.
She said: "We've already started trying to hire more bikes and look at more spaces, the real dream is to own our own studio, in a location we desire and that means we can put classes on when we want, and have more control and then maybe branch out around the country.
"Perhaps then quit our day jobs, do something we love and continue to share it with other people who love it too."
The Cycle Pit is holding a 40-minute beginners class this Saturday for £4 at Energie Fitness Glasgow South you can find out more on their Facebook and Instagram pages and via their website
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