KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — If you’ve been to a spinning class, you know the drill. Get on bike, strap your shoes into the pedals, cycle at varying intervals to get your heart rate up... as good a cardio workout as it may be, it all gets pretty monotonous pretty fast.
Fitness enthusiasts Jason Choong and Crystal Ng felt the same, until they tried a unique type of indoor cycling while travelling overseas that was more than just RPM-driven, but combined functional and strength training for a full body workout. Together with Jason’s cousin, Kenny, the trio began discussing introducing it to Kuala Lumpur in January.
“It was something of a New Year’s resolution,” Jason reveals. “Back at school, I was very active in sports but when I started working, I began putting on weight. At my heaviest, I tipped the scales at close to 100kg.
“I began exercising again not too long ago but I hate cardio workouts. Running on the treadmill, spinning... it’s very dry and not at all motivating.”
At the same time, Crystal, who was working in the telecommunications industry, was looking for something new to focus on. She had always been active in sports and fitness, and had tried a variety of activities.
“I wanted more excitement, a challenge... we realised that this style of fitness was new to Malaysia so we did our research, carried out surveys, and found that people were responsive to the concept.”
They began building their Fly Crew, comprising experienced fitness professionals including private trainers and Zumba instructors, and sent them overseas for training. The bikes had to be imported from the USA and the trio spared no expenses, deciding on the very best or what Crystal dubs the Rolls-Royce of indoor cycling bikes.
They also had to source shoes that are designed specially for this type of bike, which would clip right onto the pedals to hold the rider steady and in the correct position. If you’re not sitting right, the shoes will pop right off.
FlyCycle opened its doors in June, for friends to try out while they prepared for the official launch in August. Word spread quickly among the city’s fitness community, however, who began snapping up their Fly Miles packages.
Each Fly Mile entitles you to one 45-minute class, and you can buy them singularly or in packages of up to 40, which averages out the price to about RM37 per class. For first-timers, consider the First Fliers promotion, which offers two sessions for RM65.
“We decided on two classes to give you a good understanding of how things go. In your first class, you may feel a bit lost or that you can’t catch up. By the second class, you will have a much better idea,” Jason explains.
FlyCycle currently offers 17 classes each week, with up to three classes per day. The feedback has been positive, to say the least. “You can burn between 500-700 calories per class, if you keep pace with the instructor. We have a client who lost 2kg in two weeks, doing classes twice a week,” Crystal reveals.
She goes on to explain that with the cleat and pedals holding you in the right position, you will be sure to engage the right muscles that will tone, not bulk, your body up.
Beginners start with Fly Ride 101 before advancing to Fly Ride, and there are also fun thematic classes each month. This month, it’s Tomorrowland, inspired by the popular UK music festival so pretty garlands decorate the boutique studio while instructors don floral head pieces.
I joined one such class, led by Jessica Ong or Jess. “Compared to a regular spinning class, this is more high intensity, energetic and gives you a total body workout, including the core muscles,” she says, adding that this is also proving to be a different kettle of fish for her as an instructor.
“Before each class, I have to spend time crafting the routine and as the moves are supposed to match the music, I always start by picking the songs and then decide the order and finally, put everything together.”
FlyCycle’s instructors also have the additional task of adjusting the coloured LED lighting throughout the class, which can be a bit tricky at times if the remote control is not working fast enough!
In the darkened studio — FlyCycle currently has only one, with the capacity for up to 30 riders — the single spotlight falls on Jess, while the zig-zag LED bar rests above the platform where her bike is stationed.
The amplifiers and audio system are within her easy reach as she has to control the music while leading the class. With her headset microphone strapped in and her encouraging tone, she works the class into an enthusiastic mode. It was almost like watching a DJ at a happening club where everyone is ready to party.
In this case, it’s an intense cardio party. To begin, I was shown how to get into position by first adjusting the seat to hip height. The shoes, which look like regular strap-on sneakers at a glance, have cleats attached to the bottom. You slide the shoes onto the pedals and lock the cleats into place.
Once everyone was in position, Jess started the class by explaining the bike controls, safety measures, and basic moves — if you think all you do is sit and spin, think again. During the warm-up itself, we went through some of the positions we would be doing more of later, which included cycling while standing and bending the upper body over the front of the bike. What this really means is you will use your thigh muscles A LOT — mine were already burning after several minutes!
As the studio lights went down, the LED bar came into chameleonic life, pulsating music filled the room and the workout began. The first thing I noticed was how different it felt compared to other fitness bikes; with the feet locked onto the pedals, the legs move in a more angular, up-down motion and the inner thigh muscles were more engaged.
The first half of the class went by in a flurry of panting, sweating, “are we there yet” and “can the room be even darker!”. Just as I thought I’d gotten into a good rhythm, Jess kicked up the intensity and instructed us to spin at high speed.
Some parts of the routine had us alternate between sitting and standing, all the while cycling without stopping, then performing arm push-ups over the handle bars.
I probably only managed to follow their pace about 30 per cent of the time and spent most of the class admiring my fellow riders’ stamina and strength.
We moved on to the strength and functional exercises; with a 1kg dumbbell in each hand and the body curled back about halfway, activating the core, we proceeded to do a series of bicep and tricep curls, and arm lifts. And all the while, our legs kept spinning.
It was only afterwards that I found out the Tomorrowland class is tougher and more intense than the usual Fly Ride sessions, which made me feel a lot better and dare I say, accomplished? But as Jason explains it, FlyCycle is not about forcing someone to push their limits but instead, encourages participants to follow their own pace.
“The dark room helps take the edge off for those who may be self-conscious, while the music is meant to motivate you. Plus, the studio is acoustically-enhanced for a better sound and overall experience.”
The “feel good” vibe manifests in other ways too; when you book a class online, you will be assigned a bike and locker. They will write your name on the locker along with a motivational message such as “Ride strong!” or “Show me what you’ve got!”
Another reason that made Jason and Crystal so keen to bring in this style of indoor cycling was the connection factor. “In school, we played a lot of group sports but as we grow older, fitness becomes an increasingly individualistic pursuit,” says Jason.
“You walk in and out of the gym without needing to talk to anyone. In life, work and social pursuits often take over, so we lose that connection.”
To that effect, FlyCycle was intentionally designed to be an interactive space. In the reception area, the benches face each other. The lockers are lined up against the wall in a narrow corridor to “facilitate” people bumping into each other and ideally, start conversations as well.
For me, that conversation is more of an internal dialogue. Like Jason, I abhor cardio but even though I couldn’t catch up with most of the class, I found aspiration in the workout style, pace and energy — I may not be able to keep pace today but someday, I will. And then I will fly.
FlyCycle is at Verve Shops, 6-1A Floor, Jalan Kiara 5, Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur
Tel 03-6206 2082
Schedule Find it at their website flycycle.my and book your bike online
Note It’s generally a safe workout for everyone, but for those with existing health conditions, do inform FlyCycle so that they can advise if you should go ahead with it.
Vivian Chong is not a fan of cardio workouts but once in a while, she makes herself do it anyway. Read about her other active pursuits at thisbunnyhops.com
