The Super Excellent Not Too Serious Bike That Goes Nowhere Podcast

Spooky vibes start us off!   Meredith is on a LOTR kick.  Sheldon took a trip to New Orleans.  And the changing of the seasons is here so we retreat to the indoor equipment!  We also take a dive into Meredith's candy handing out dilemma.

Rowan Foggitt is our esteemed guest from the UK.  He brings a great technical and real world expertise to the bike due to all of his road cycling experience.  We discuss his path to fitness and coaching and it is a reminder that not everyone discovers their passion in life right away.  Rowan discovered his a little later on and now even has two businesses of his own with a very specific niche.  Sheldon is trying to understand the voodoo magic that lets Rowan look 10 years younger than him despite being a few years older!  On Instagram find him @5060fit

In industry news, Peloton cuts again and launches the sale of refurbished bikes at a discount.  related to this, selling your connected fitness equipment just gets harder and harder as the market is flooded with unused devices.  Lawsuit from a Peloton instructor that we learn was making something like $260k a year... We talk salaries a bit, and in related news Soulcycle is lowering the pay of their top instructors from $300 to about $100 a class.  A former Peloton instructor posts a video on how to jailbreak a Peloton bike... so you can use the content from her new company.... that should go over well.  

In Echelon News - Costume Contest!  Curvy Echelon Crew invades Miami.  Dani runs a marathon and qualifies for Boston.  Lindsey Gurry is getting married!  Some fun names, and ALLLLLLLL the shoutouts with a few familiar names and former guests hitting some milestones.

Snackdown! results are in and this week we take on perhaps the most important question ever.... how much to toast a marshmallow.

Sheldon is a star!  Well, at least his video created for Echelon was shared by them on their socials.  So he's Eche-famous.

Our guest is the one and only Kelli Quinn, aka "Pigmom".  Yes, she has a pet pig.  His name is Todd.  Todd the pet pig is awesome.  Kelli is an amazing member of the community, humble in her demeanor, she rocks all four pieces of Echelon equipment and is a beast on the road bike.  We have a great talk about the community, accountability partners, and her very cool goal that involves traveling to every state.

In industry news, Nautilus is potentially looking for a buyer; Headspace buys Shine; Peloton settles with lululemon; Peloton will be in every Hilton brand hotel and will also be selling their bikes at Dicks; Hydrow Wave sees a price increase; Zwift releases their own brand of direc drive trainer.

In Echelon news:  It's breast cancer awareness month and Echelon partners with Susan G. Komen foundation for a special event and lots of equipment and gear to commemorate the month.  Marsha and Mari taking some time to heal up.  And we wish community member Pamela Hughes a fast recovery.  Please respect folks' privacy when it comes to personal matters like health and personal decisions.  We know people mean well, but it's private for a lot of folks.

Shout outs galore including someone hitting 2000!

We wrap it up with a Snackdown! on weirdest Halloween treat to receive.

Find Kelli Quinn on IG:  @KCCL1014

Kicking things off Sheldon and Meredith had just finished a 45 minute ride - not a duration either typically enjoy, but it was an epic dual ride so they couldn't say no.  Besides Sheldon is paying penance for a few days of butter burgers, cheese curds and beer in Wisconsin.

Our guest today is the amazing Sage Figueroa, lead instructor at Echelon UK.  Her story inspires, and her confidence and poise make you just love her almost instantly.  Her stories of seeing the world, her journey of fitness through pregnancy, and her solid advice for the importance of rest and variation made the conversation a must listen to!

Fitness news brings Peloton dropping their new rower, but content will only be available if you have the machine.  It has some potentially cool features but the price... not as cool.  Hydrow and USA Triathlon team up.  Therabody gets a big influx and are expanding their focus to wellness.  We also talk a bit on personalized nutrition that uses your DNA to pick food.

In Echelon news - Ryn joins the spin bike.  Yay!  It's hispanic heritage month and Echelon has a great dual ride for it.  Home rider Richard Wilnes and Frankfurt Instructor Florian also have a dual ride.  Mere delivers the shout outs!

We wrap up the show with our own tribute to hispanic heritage month where Shel and Mere talk about two people that inspire them.

Don't forget to follow Sage's IG:  unlock_themovement

Also - if you love the Great British Baking Show and want more of Shel and Mere along with their friend Alison - follow their NEW podcast - Scrummy Handshakes - where they recap each show and have a grand ole' time!

Labor Day has come and gone.  BBQ was had and cookies were baked.  Meredith won a BumpBox!  How cool is that?!

Our guest today is an expert on something many of us experience and deal with - especially as we start to get a little older - pain.  We need to note right away.  This show is NOT medical advice.  You should always check with your doctor or care provider any time you are dealing with pain or trying different activities to deal with pain.   Rick Olderman brings a unique and holistic perspective on dealing with pain.  Struggling with his of issues of managing pain for patients, he began to study different methods and ways of addressing pain.  As he learned more, he recognized that many people treated pain by looking at a "component".  Rick advocated for a more comprehensive "system" method for addressing pain.  He has written a series of books targeting common pain areas, and he has developed programs to help professionals that engage folks that have pain.  A very interesting conversation.  Find more at rickolderman.com.  Rick offered 20% off programs by using the code FIXINGYOU.

In Industry news.  Tonal files for some patents.  Peloton releases the sign up for Row info and they also launch a celebrity series that features Ashton Kutcher and his training for a marathon.  He also brought Kim K into the studio with him.  PERFORM launches a run coaching app that also has AI that adjust music to your pace ands heart rate.  Impossible foods debuts frozen meals.  TRX original founder rebuys the financially struggling company.  Zwift launches a low cost direct drive trainer compatible with its app. Exercise is medicine - 40% lower mortality with 5 hours of exercise a week.

Echelon Coach is launching soon!  Programs that set you up 1:1 with instructors for coaching and programs.  Batman month launches.Echelon is launching Susan B Komen 100 mile challenge.  Echelon sponsors prizes for the event as well - see more on their website.  Meredith runs down the long list of shoutouts  and fun names.

Snackdown results "do we wait for TRUE fall for fall treats?"  New challenge:  Favorite fall activity?

Hello Echelots!  Sheldon brings a festive shirt to the Friday recording... after he basically forgot they needed to record this week.  Oops.  Mere was on time so her podcast performance review is saved once again!   Amusement park rides are still fun, but old person anxiety starting to creep in.  But until it takes over - roller coasters!

Florian Brennecke is today's guest.  He's an Echelon instructor in the Frankfurt studio and he just might be the hardest man in Germany!  He's got his own full client base, a gym featuring muscle stimulation, and plans for more!   We learn how Florian went from struggling just to make ends meet to being a business owner and Echelon instructor.  Such a ball of energy and someone who truly loves engaging with the community - but he did pull a fast one on me (you'll hear about it in the episode).

Find Florian on Instagram @florian.brennecke

SO much industry news with the meditation and mental wellness industry struggling where a bit market player, Calm, is laying off a good number of folks in an effort to right size and focus.  The industry as a whole is taking a beating as they decline from the boom of mental health support desired during the pandemic.  Soul Cycle closing 25% of their studios..."f**k it, let's shut down" I guess.  Thennn... there's Peloton.  Just brutal earning's report.  $1.2B lost in the quarter... massive cash burn still.  Subs only up net 4000... ouch.  Equipment margins, MINUS 98% (I'm still trying to figure out how that is even possible).  The are now selling the Bike, Guide, and some accessories on Amazon and offering do it yourself options... much to the chagrin to a lot of their people that think that is "cheap".  I honestly think it's pretty smart.  Hey, Echelon has been doing that for ages!

Tons of Echelon news, 6AM EST 30 minute classes coming back, expanding music library (Bieber, Joan Jett, and the Stones!), more Broadway etc.  We will be seeing more "Tour de Echelon" like events around the "big 6 marathons" and rowing events that correspond to events like Head of the Charles!  Meredith has some fun names and a bunch of shout outs... including one for a certain podcast host!

We wrap up with results of the sandwich Snackdown!  and kick off another with "When should we allow fall treats to start?"

By Bikkkkkkkkkke!

Meredith and Sheldon take vacations about as far apart in the continental US as is possible.  Sheldon sees Orcas and giant trees, Meredith sees Echelon people and waterfalls!  There was coffee, wine, hiking and fun to be had.

Jaime Wilbanks is today's guest and we learn a lot about how she has been through some challenges including shifting her life from Nextflix and couch to rowing/running/fitness phenom!  From teaching toddlers to coaching some of the toughest workouts at Echelon, Jaime delivers the goods and gives a fantastic interview.  Find Jaime at FB and IG: jaime_fitforlife

SO much connected fitness news.  Layoffs come to Tonal, F45, and Peloton, along with Peloton planning to greatly reduce retail presence and have raised the prices several hundred dollars for the Bike+ and Tread products.  Soul Cycle offers a very odd offer of 47 classes in trade for your Peloton bike.... I then quiz Mere on what would it take to give up her Echelon.  Tempo to offer personal training packages.  Fitbit removing capability to synch an actual computer with product - mobile only.

Echelon has a number of things in August including 8/22 Goodbye Summer, End of Summer Pitbull party, and September is BATMAN month!  Sale going on now with 22% off, and Labor Day promotions to come.  New apparel - 4 styles with 7 new tops - NOW with sizes up to 4X on some products!  Meredith has a TON of fun names and ALL the shoutouts.

We wrap up with Snackdown! results, and then sandwich trivia and a sandwich based Snackdown!

We kick off today with a little chat about how useless vitamins are.  So.  There's that.  It's still hot as Hades, the rowers lie to us (update: firmware fix seems to fix output!), and Meredith takes a road trip.

Our guest today is the incredibly kind and bendy Ryn Tucker!  Ryn is an instructor on the rower, Reflect, Stride, and Fitpass with her "specialty" being yoga where she has taught thousands of Echelots to bennnnnnnd.  Her classes are magnificent and even Sheldon took a couple (that's a big deal if you know Sheldon).  She also has an amazingly interesting journey.  Professional dancer.  Actress cred.  Oh and degrees in Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Literature, because, "why not!"  She lives her life with the goal of "do something that scares you" and it's one that has led her to us here at Echelon, so for that we are thankful!  Find her Facebook group at Beautiful People of Echelon, her page Ryn Clem Tucker, and her IG accounts: ryn.tucker and dooryogagirl

In industry news, Peloton may be re-releasing the Tread+ with new safety features and their Lizzo ride "breaks Peloton" (but I'm not so sure).  They are also reopening their studio in August and folks are already complaining that the system is broken and that they can't get rides.  Layoffs at Hydrow and Whoop. Nordictrack offering free equipment with a 4 year membership.  Do we need a sleep robot in our lives?  Oura rings now integrate with Strava.

Echelon has some great deals themselves - get a free rower with 2-year membership, an ipad with 1-year membership of EX3 with 2-year membership.  See their website to learn more about the full details.  Lots of new summer programs.  Tour d'echelon coming to a close.  BeatBoxx deals and Treasure hunts.  Bieber ride. New CEO is formally announced and we are thinking we need a new cereal - Echelon Crunch.

In the MovieDown - it was a close one!  Snackdown! is all about staying cool in summer.

It's hot in Oklahoma, and Meredith describes the misery of having her rower on the 3 season porch (spoiler alert the one of the 3 seasons is apparently NOT summer).  Big news with our 20,000th episode play!  Summer blah's kick in a bit for Sheldon.

Today's guest is Michael Browne who instructs on the bike, rower, and fitpass.  He has a great story and the team loves interviewing him.  Michael brings a lot of uniqueness to his instruction.  One look at him and you know "strength" is a forte.  He recently just started a kettlebell series that is amazing.  He also brings a lot of fun style including starting the first hip hop tabata series that was a favorite of Sheldon's.  And we can't let the interview conclude without mentioning the magnificent specimen that his beard is.  Stellar.  Follow Michael on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Bfit247

IG: bfit247.mb

Tons of industry news, with Hydrow releasing a new lower priced rower.  It has the same patented resistance tech, but is lighter, and has a smaller screen.  Peloton adjusted the "strike" price for a bunch of options for their employees in a retention effort.  Mirror rebrands to "lululemon Studio".  Tonal lays off 35% of their workforce.... while also raising the price of their device $500.

HUGE Echelon news - you'll have to listen for the announcement!  But lots of other things as well - Pitbull Summer Party will run through 8/22.  Be on the look out for announcements including a TikTok challenge and the "Treasure hunt". A number of members participating in the Stop Soldier Suicide efforts - please support if you can.

Take a listen to our commercial this episode as we help support one of Echelon's finest member's new business Sweet and Sassy Styles!

Sheldon managed to get sick again.  Fun times!  We talk about 4th of July plans and how Meredith took a trip to one of our greatest national treasures, while also managing to not get gored by a bison (which apparently is something other people seem to excel at...).

Our guest today is one of the Echelon community's most recognizable and most fun members.  Daphne Palacio, aka SpinDiva is always one of the very first to step up and be supportive when someone needs a boost.  If there's a group ride and she's around, she's down.  And on the social media pages you'll see her in one of her stylish outfits, crushing goals and lifting souls.  Oh and when she's not being an Echelon superstar, she is a special education teacher, mom, and wife.  We loved getting to know her better and hearing her surprising journey.  

In the post interview we hit industry news with Hydrow offering an interesting mother's/father's day feature and they have entered into an agreement with USA Triathlon, we discuss the world of "post-workout recovery" and how it will grow to $9.5B by 2027, "Smart Fabric" is a thing and it is clothing that gives you data about yourself!, Tonal opens a NYC studio - is that relevant?, naked pickleball.... enough said, and TRX goes bankrupt.

Echelon news is exciting this week:  gaming is coming!  1:1 coaching from Echelon also preparing to launch (Echelon Coach app is on the app stores); great deals in the 4th of July sale (up to 40% off and free shipping on orders over $40), Pitbull Summer Party July 12th, new products coming soon, and Amber is just about a week away from her maternity leave!  Congrats Amber we love you and can't wait to see you after your maternity leave!  Meredith has about 3000 shoutouts as well!

We wrap up with Snackdown results and kick off another showdown about the proper way to eat a popular snack.

Sheldon and Meredith take a trip to Chattanooga with a number of the Echelon fam, and to attend the Riverbend festival.  Great fun was had by all and it wasn't hot as all heck, so that's a bonus.  Meredith also got to experience the joy that is Clumpie's ice cream.  Happy Juneteenth to all.  Meredith recommends a book:  400 Souls by Keisha M. Blaine in reference to Juneteenth as well.

Today we invite the fantastic, funny, and fit John Holt to the show.  John is a fantastic coach in both Fitpass and the rower, bringing his motivation, energy, and great sense of humor to the platform.  He is humble, but he has a great number of folks that love his classes and they've started a Facebook page that you should follow - John Holt's Fan Page.  John came to fitness a bit unconventionally and his easy going style allowed him to build a very interesting set of experiences from Zumba to water aerobics and then eventually, when someone recognized the magic that is his personality, to the platform of Echelon.  He also brings us into his non-Echelon world where he works with older people.  A lot of what he learns from working with them influences his routines and allows him to offer accommodation ideas.

In connected fitness we talk about the Apple Watch upgrades and there are a lot including support for triathletes, med tracking, and heart rate zones.  Mental health apps are feeling some pain as retention and subscriptions drop.  Tripp - a VR meditation app raised $11.2 MM.  And Peloton looks to reopen studios (slowly).

Echelon has a number of Pride rides (Check out the Echelon Rainbow Army - great group for LGBTQ+ riders and allies).

We wrap up the show with another Snackdown!