Today we’d like to introduce you to Tammeca Rochester.
Hi Tammeca, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up in Atlanta, I dreamed of coming to New York City and most of all coming to Harlem. Harlem to me represented culture, arts and music. I dreamed about walking down the street and running into the legendary Maya Angelou, rubbing the “Tree of Hope” at the Apollo Theater and listening to live Jazz at any of the famous clubs. But once I got here, I realized that despite all the arts and culture in Harlem, there was still one thing missing, the ability for Harlem residents to take care of their health. There were huge gaps in the health and wellness space. The residents of Harlem didn’t have the same amenities and level of customer service as residents downtown were receiving at boutique fitness studios. Harlem had very limited options in the fitness space with the majority of studios focused on only Yoga and Pilates. In a community with a high rate of heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, we needed cardio workout options. When it came towards health and wellness, I believed we deserved better options to serve the needs of the people and options that incorporated the spirit and soul of Harlem.
So, in 2016, I decided to turn my passion for fitness and open Harlem’s 1st and only indoor cycling studio. The road to opening Harlem Cycle has not been easy. Starting with only the money in my savings and just two months from the date I signed the lease to opening was a true challenge. But in our six years, we’ve taught over 12,135 people within our studio. We’ve created an amazing community dedicated to wellness and uplifting lives. This journey has had many ups and downs but seeing those sweaty smiles at the end of each class makes it all worth it.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
As the studio of our kind, opening our doors was not easy at all. I had to convince landlords to listen to my proposal, convince clients they should try cycling and entice instructors to lead classes filled with all first-timers. And through all of this, I’ve created a strong brand that has done amazing work in the community. With COVID-19, we’ve had to rely on my grit and resilience to keep Harlem Cycle going. As a fitness studio centered around group spin classes on stationary workout bikes, the mandated closures were especially difficult to navigate. But once our doors were closed, I quickly shipped out our bikes to our top clients to keep them active during this pandemic and to help provide a small source of revenue to the studio. To continue to encourage and engage our community, I quickly pivoted our workout formats and created new at-home livestream and on-demand workouts that could be done with no equipment and transitioned these classes online. I’ve created quarterly free community programs including an outdoor bike ride, classes in the park, family fun/walks, etc and provided free daily IG workouts from June 2020-June 2021 to ensure our community was healthy. My love for community has given me purpose and ensures that each day I work hard to create a generational change within my community.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Harlem Cycle was born from the belief that fitness is essential, and essential to fitness is belonging.
We are pioneering a new kind of fitness community: one that values body health over body shape, high engagement over high fees, and community over competition. All with the swagger, vibe, and cultural richness of Harlem itself. There is no competition here, just community. Daily, we serve the teacher, writer, executive, painter, doctor, and everyday people, making them all feel equal and welcomed. Our mission is to create a lasting change through health and wellness while celebrating all bodies and all fitness levels.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I took the risk of leaving behind my 6 figure corporate career to open Harlem Cycle with no fitness background. I simply believed my community deserved more and I felt the reward of changing people’s lives was bigger than the risk. I’ve always considered myself a risk taker and believe even if you fail, you will always be better than where you started. If it’s just the lessons you learn in the process, there will always be a reward for taking a risk.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://harlem-cycle.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/harlemcycle
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/harlemcycle
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/harlemcycle
Image Credits
Noah Banks
