Okay, February 2026…LET’S GO!

After a week in central Florida, back to FREEZING COLD west Michigan…time to plan another getaway to warmer climate! Maybe a Caribbean cruise this time because this current arctic blast is in Florida too.

While in Florida I was hoping to checkout the Gainesville CycleBar, but found that location is permanently closed. Seems like many of the franchise locations have closed in recent years, and this may explain why (Google Gemini AI)…

CycleBar studio closures in 2025 and early 2026 are largely driven by financial instability within parent company Xponential Fitness, specifically under former franchisee management groups like MD Professional Holdings. Many locations are closing due to unsustainable operating costs, low profitability, and corporate issues. 

Key Reasons for Closures:

• Management & Payroll Failures: Reports emerged that a major holding company (MD Professional Holdings) failed to pay employees and effectively with studio managers.
• Financial Instability: Many studios were not profitable enough to cover high overhead costs, leading to closures or, in some cases, rebranding as independent studios.
• Corporate Restructuring: A high number of franchises have been closing or rebranding over the past two years, reflecting a wider instability in the brand’s network.
• Local Studio Struggles: Some owners found it impossible to maintain profitability in their specific locations, leading to abrupt shutdowns (e.g., in Carmel, Fishers, and Aspen). 

While some locations have closed abruptly, others have chosen to rebrand to escape the issues associated with changes in corporate structure.

Today is my first Sunday morning ride at the Y. Instead of an extended 90-minute Endurance format, this will be a 60-minute zone 2-4 format…and could morph into an endurance format before the last class in late March.

So, LET’S GO!

Summary ride profile & playlist:

1. Warm-up: Something’s Coming / Cheat Codes, Lady A
2. Combo flat: Feels This Good / Sigala, Mae Miller…
3. Combo climb: About To Happen / Oh The Larceny
4. Quick seated flat with sprints: lalala / JAWNY
5. Rolling hills: Here We Go Again / Oliver Tree, David Guetta
6. Attacks on a hill: Anti-Hero / Taylor Swift, ILLENIUM
7. Quick seated run: NO BAD DAYS / Macklemore, Collett
8. Combo flat with standing runs: Runaway / P!nk
9. Progressive climb: Bright Lights / Kx5, deadmau5, Kaskade
10. Combo flat: BAD / Young Bombs
11. Combo flat with sprints: All Nighter / Tiesto
12. Combo climb: Ego Death / Azzecca
13. Power climb with attacks: Still Alive / Demi Lovato
14. Quick seated flat: Wild Dogs / Matchbox Twenty
15. Progressive climb: Supermassive Black Hole / Muse
16. Jumps on a hill: Eat Your Young / Hozier
17. Combo power climb: Open Fire / Kate Boy
18. Sprints: Let’s Go / Calvin Harris, Ne-Yo
19. Cool down & stretch: Leftovers / Dennis Lloyd

On Spotify:

On YouTube:

spIn the News:

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a70028462/walking-vs-cycling-which-is-a-better-workout/

Stay warm…Enjoy the Ride!