The upbeat tempo of the tunes blasting at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center Saturday morning was outmatched only by the continuously rising enthusiasm of the unique workout group spread out under its shaded awning.
A pop-up cycling class called Grind + Cycle pulled a large attendance as General Manager and instructor Neil Bell hyped up the workout group and shared his passion for cycling with the exhausted, but invigorated, crowd. He and his managing partner, Charlie Carter, have grown the business into a beloved experience and their reach is still expanding. Unlike many cycling studios, Bell doesn’t use intimidation or competitive goals to get his students to commit to a full workout. Instead he leans into the belief that encouragement and vocal support is the way to build a loyal following.
And their methods appear to be working.
“We try to make it a party,” Bell said. “A lot of people put pressure on their riders and while that works for some people, for most that’s not an energy they want to be a part of. A lot of my riders would say they were discouraged because of the expectations that different classes had for them. We are for people at all levels. We want them to come out and have fun. We make the ride as enjoyable as possible. And we’re always open to suggestions if someone has an idea on how to make it even better.”
Grind + Cycle brings pop-up cycling events all over the area ranging from St. Petersburg to Orlando. Sometimes they’re at outdoor bars and clubs, other times they’re on rooftops and at anniversary parties. They will get booked for birthdays or fundraising rides. Bell joked they’re open to just about any type of venue. Wherever they’re invited, they’ll happily come and give guests a workout they won’t soon forget.
Despite the pandemic, the business was able to continue to offer its services as it already socially distances the bikes and operates outdoors.
This is the second time Grind + Cycle has come to Plant City. Bell is a local and said he wants to see cycling take off in in his community.
“We feel that, unfortunately, a lot of communities never get the chance to experience this type of environment and workout experience unless they travel to a major club or are willing to commit to lengthy and expensive memberships to studios,” Bell said. “Our thought process was ‘let’s bring the ride to the riders.’ We are wanting to help every level of cycler and show that this is a fun and effective workout. We love bringing it to communities that don’t have anything like this, especially communities of color. It’s not fair they didn’t get a chance to experience a workout like this. There’s really nothing else like it.”
After the class wrapped up, many riders stayed behind to chat. Bell said he’s seen many of his riders use the class to bond and network. There’s a camaraderie that comes from the environment Bell and Carter strive to create and the goal ultimately is that “we get to be neighbors again,” according to Bell.
The group prices per session and credits can be purchased online at grindandcycle.com. You can buy individual credits, recurring credits or combined credits, which you then turn around and redeem for classes when you register on the website. Each ride comes with water and towels and while bike shoes are recommended, they’re not required as the bikes are able to be used with sneakers and cleats.
While no date is yet scheduled for a return to Plant City, Bell said they hope to be back soon. Other events in the area are already booked and you can explore the options on their website. You can also stay up to date by following the business @GrindandCycle on Facebook and Instagram.