Sweet Spot participants attach their bikes to stationary devices that measure their effort. (Sweet Spot)
A local cycling gym has wasted little time pedaling over to Lakeside as its former home in Scott’s Addition prepares to close up shop.
Sweet Spot Cycling opened this week at 5522-B Lakeside Ave. It had previously been based out of Richmond Bicycle Studio at 1717 Summit Ave., which will close at the end of the month.
Sweet Spot offers bicycling training classes in which participants bring their own bikes and set them into stationary stands, as well as coaching services and bike adjustments for competitive cyclists.
The Lakeside location is Sweet Spot’s first standalone home, and with the move, owner Erin Wittwer said the business will have a roommate.
Operating within the same suite will be Mike King, who provides bike fitting services.
Sweet Spot will also be a drop-off and pick-up location for Bright Bicycle Service, a repair company owned by Albert Bright, a mechanic who formerly worked at triathlete shop 3Sports. 3Sports recently closed its locations in Short Pump and River Road.
“It’s like a non-traditional bike shop,” Wittwer said of Sweet Spot, noting that it won’t keep a full inventory of bikes and apparel, but will have them available for order.
Erin Wittwer
“We’re planning to keep some basic things like tubes, pumps, tires and lights. But we’re not going to keep a large inventory of anything,” she said.
Sweet Spot is leasing the 1,200-square-foot space, which until the end of 2017 was home to consignment shop 2 B Inspired.
Wittwer and husband Greg founded Sweet Spot in 2015 after years of semi-pro racing. She said the idea came after hearing from Richmond Bicycle Studio and Richmond Cycling Corps founder Craig Dodson.
“Craig used to teach classes in RBS with a metronome, a whiteboard and a stopwatch,” she joked. “He said, ‘I’m not doing this anymore’ and asked if I want to do it. I was desperately trying to get out of my day job.”
Sweet Spot connects devices to participants’ rear wheels that measure their effort, similar to how gym chain Orangetheory Fitness measures heart rates. Wittwer said Sweet Spot isn’t a typical cycling studio, but also isn’t strictly for those who compete.
“Most of our market is people who have two, three, four bikes, triathletes, people like that,” she said. “People who own a bike, want to stay in shape and want to be healthy.”
Sweet Spot hosts about 10 classes per week, and Wittwer said she’s considering adding classes and expanding hours this summer.
Sweet Spot is the second fitness studio built on pedaling to open in recent months. In October, Boho Cycle Studio opened its second location in Church Hill.
Sweet Spot participants attach their bikes to stationary devices that measure their effort. (Sweet Spot)
A local cycling gym has wasted little time pedaling over to Lakeside as its former home in Scott’s Addition prepares to close up shop.
Sweet Spot Cycling opened this week at 5522-B Lakeside Ave. It had previously been based out of Richmond Bicycle Studio at 1717 Summit Ave., which will close at the end of the month.
Sweet Spot offers bicycling training classes in which participants bring their own bikes and set them into stationary stands, as well as coaching services and bike adjustments for competitive cyclists.
The Lakeside location is Sweet Spot’s first standalone home, and with the move, owner Erin Wittwer said the business will have a roommate.
Operating within the same suite will be Mike King, who provides bike fitting services.
Sweet Spot will also be a drop-off and pick-up location for Bright Bicycle Service, a repair company owned by Albert Bright, a mechanic who formerly worked at triathlete shop 3Sports. 3Sports recently closed its locations in Short Pump and River Road.
“It’s like a non-traditional bike shop,” Wittwer said of Sweet Spot, noting that it won’t keep a full inventory of bikes and apparel, but will have them available for order.
Erin Wittwer
“We’re planning to keep some basic things like tubes, pumps, tires and lights. But we’re not going to keep a large inventory of anything,” she said.
Sweet Spot is leasing the 1,200-square-foot space, which until the end of 2017 was home to consignment shop 2 B Inspired.
Wittwer and husband Greg founded Sweet Spot in 2015 after years of semi-pro racing. She said the idea came after hearing from Richmond Bicycle Studio and Richmond Cycling Corps founder Craig Dodson.
“Craig used to teach classes in RBS with a metronome, a whiteboard and a stopwatch,” she joked. “He said, ‘I’m not doing this anymore’ and asked if I want to do it. I was desperately trying to get out of my day job.”
Sweet Spot connects devices to participants’ rear wheels that measure their effort, similar to how gym chain Orangetheory Fitness measures heart rates. Wittwer said Sweet Spot isn’t a typical cycling studio, but also isn’t strictly for those who compete.
“Most of our market is people who have two, three, four bikes, triathletes, people like that,” she said. “People who own a bike, want to stay in shape and want to be healthy.”
Sweet Spot hosts about 10 classes per week, and Wittwer said she’s considering adding classes and expanding hours this summer.
Sweet Spot is the second fitness studio built on pedaling to open in recent months. In October, Boho Cycle Studio opened its second location in Church Hill.