Future clientele of Saline’s new RydeOn! cycling studio will not only burn calories and transform their bodies, but they can also expect to feel empowered, said Brigid Lossing, one of the studio’s managing members.

“It’s empowering when you take control over your body,” Lossing said. “It’s one of the few things we have control over. You carve out one hour a day to make yourself stronger physically and mentally so you can tackle the day-to-day stresses. That’s why I do it.”

The studio, co-owned by Lossing and Christina Turner, is located in a 1,800-square-foot space at 450 E. Michigan Ave. in Saline. it will celebrate with a grand opening event Oct. 1 after months of preparation.

“We knew that we could put something together that would be a real experience for people and essentially it grew out of our own desire to have something better,” Lossing said. “So we started talking about it and thought about how people would appreciate the indoor cycling. We invested in the very best bikes and sound equipment. This experience almost makes you forget you’re exercising.”

With 21 bikes — 20 for students and one for an instructor — the studio has an intimate feel. The room is well lit and outfitted with a brand new floor and music system.

“It’s very cheerful and serene,” she said.

Lossing said the studio sought to differentiate itself from its competitors by focusing its services exclusively on cycling.

“Our options locally were very limited,” she said. “Often the cycling is part of a program or it’s a class that’s offered in a different program and often that leads to attention not being paid to the indoor cycling. We are unique because it allows us to get the very best of that, we’re not spreading ourselves across different disciplines.”

Lossing and her business three partners are entirely focused on cycling because they believe there is a demand for it in the area.

“They are popping up all over the country and gaining popularity,” she said. “It appeals to outdoor cycling enthusiasts as well because they like to train all year-round and obviously in the winter and in this climate, they can’t do that.”

In addition to cycling enthusiasts, Lossing believes the studio will get a wide range of customers from a variety of backgrounds, including high school students.

“Our high school’s cross country team doesn’t really have options for training in the winter so we’re going to be offering that,” she said. “We’re kind of looking to do a 'team spin.'"

Instead of a membership program, the studio created a reservation system that can be accessed online.

“You can just walk in, so that’s an option, but the best way to do it is to go onto our website,” she said. “You can do that by purchasing one ride at a time or you can purchase what we call a 'virtual ride card' for a number of rides which would allow you to fill up that card any number of times.”

For a 60-minute class, customers will pay $14, and for a 90-minute weekend class, the price will remain the same for now. The owner-operated studio has four subcontracted instructors who teach specific classes.

Raising metabolism, lowering blood pressure and combating the effects of middle age are just a few of the reasons to exercise at RydeOn!, Lossing said.

“You can typically burn between 400 and 600 calories in a 60-minute time-frame, which is very significant,” she said.

During each class, instructors will have the option of choosing a “ride” that may give the effect of cycling up a hill or racing on a terrain.

“The excitement you get during the class makes you feel like a million dollars,” she said. “The people love it and they can’t get enough of it. Our intention is for it to feel like a team. We want everyone to feel like they’re working toward their goals together. I want people to feel like they are just trying to get back in shape and that this is a welcoming place. There’s no judgment here.”

Katrease Stafford is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com.