Ground Floor: Sisters bring indoor cycling experience

CEDAR RAPIDS - Stacie Shannon and Michelle Horak were on opposite sides of the country when the sisters discovered how the right indoor cycling environment could motivate them to higher levels of physical fitness.

With their new business, Burst Cycling Studio, they are bringing that environment to Cedar Rapids.

Shannon, a longtime avid runner, added cycling to her fitness routine a few years ago when she began competing in triathlons. But when it came time to train indoors, the cycling classes at her local gym left her uninspired.

'I could never quite find the experience I was looking for,” she said.

Shannon's job required frequent travel to the West Coast. There, she found indoor cycling studios that used state-of-the art performance technology and audio visual elements to engage riders - exactly what she was trying to find back home.

Horak, who was living in the Tampa, Fla., area, discovered indoor cycling through a deal-of-the-day website.

'I was trying to switch up my exercise routine and found a Groupon deal for a cycling studio in Tampa,” Horak recalled. 'It was such a phenomenal experience that I stuck with it.”

Horak's experience with indoor cycling in Tampa was similar to what Shannon was finding on the West Coast - classes that used energizing music and visualization to motivate participants.

Having grown up in an entrepreneurial family, the sisters always wanted to own a business together. They realized that their bicoastal indoor cycling experiences provided a great business opportunity back in their hometown.

Shannon and Horak started developing their business plan in January.

With guidance from the local Small Business Association, they included a competitive analysis in their planning process. Their research took them to New York City to visit two of the country's leading indoor cycling facilities.

'We participated in some of their classes to gauge what made them successful,” Shannon said. 'We then integrated those aspects into our business plan.”

Like the bicoastal businesses that inspired it, Burst Cycling Studio offers classes taught by certified Spinning instructors, an online scheduling system, which includes the ability see the studio's layout and reserve a specific bike, performance tracking technology, and shoe rental. No membership is required.

Burst Cycling's 1,000 square-foot studio features 30 bikes with room for 10 more. During classes, lights in the studio are dimmed and two 100-inch screens stream music videos selected by the instructors.

'The focus is on the individual pushing themselves in a non-competitive environment,” Shannon said.

At a Glance

' Owners: Stacie Shannon and Michelle Horak

' Business: Burst Cycling Studio

' Address: 5300 Fountains Dr. NE, Suite 112, Cedar Rapids

' Phone: (319) 346-7649

' Website: www.burstcycle.com