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For the uninitiated, walking into the gym can feel like entering a whole new planet. From dumbbells that seem to weigh a tonne, to set-ups that look like they could be used for nefarious deeds — not to mention the grubbiness of overused yoga mats and treadmill grips — finding the right mix of equipment for one’s workout regimen is a process much dreaded by even the most seasoned of gym-rats. 

Then there's the problem of actually getting to the gym; not everyone has the luxury of time to drive down to the nearest outlet every other day, after all. And figuring it all out in a public space poses another confidence-busting conundrum; much as our peers or instructors may claim the gym is a safe haven, it is difficult to shake off the self-consciousness that comes with getting tangled up in a mass of ropes and kettlebells in front of a Greek god.

Home gyms offer a healthy solution to those last two problems. Having a private zone right in your abode, where you can stumble, tumble and grumble your way through a workout on your own, certainly goes a long way. 

Still, the issue of equipment remains. Cycling Bears, co-founded by husband-and-wife team Tudi Guillamot and Debra Tay, aims to resolve just that. “Having experienced a wide range of fitness facilities globally, we noticed a common scenario,” the duo tells Options in an email. “Many gyms are filled with lacklustre, monochromatic equipment that often falls short of users’ expectations.”

Further pushing them to establish Cycling Bears in 2022 was the poor quality of products on the market. The two self-professed fitness enthusiasts share an experience where Tay’s yoga mat “literally melted” and stained their parquet floor. “We were really upset and felt that there must be better-quality exercise equipment out there, and that was how we started the search for durable and sustainable equipment for exercising.”

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Personalised physicality

Speaking on their process when it comes to creating a home gym, Guillamot and Tay share that it all begins with a discussion on the client’s exercise routine. “This way, we recommend only what they need.” In other words, no more aimlessly wandering around the gym, thinking about whether to jump on that treadmill or turn the other way.

A key consideration, Tay adds, is to have “equipment that you would enjoy using”. “It’s always better to have a space that is inviting: one that entices you to want to exercise more, instead of making your workouts a dread.”

Cycling Bears — which began as a passion project that the couple worked on part-time — previously operated out of an appointment-only space. With Guillamot now committed to the company full-time, they moved into a full experiential showroom in Joo Chiat this April. The new space allows clients to try the equipment and figure out what suits them best.

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“We designed the showroom in Joo Chiat to be an interactive space that mirrors living environments,” Guillamot and Tay explain. “The showroom invites visitors to engage directly with the products, experiencing their quality and functionality firsthand.”

Besides getting a set of curated equipment, the couple adds that another draw of home gyms is the convenience they bring. “The true advantage of a private home gym lies in its ability to be tailored specifically to the user’s habits and exercise preferences. Even the busiest person can squeeze in 15 minutes for an ‘exercise snack’ between two meetings.”

Aesthetic athleticism

Of course, having a set-up at home also means having to balance function with form; after all, does anyone really want their living room to look like the set of a retro Jane Fonda video on steroids?

To this end, Cycling Bears’ stock includes curated equipment from luxury brands such as Ciclotte, NOHrD and Pent, with everything handcrafted to match not only the exercise needs of each client, but also the aesthetic and functional requirements of each individual’s home. 

It also provides a range of custom materials, such as wood and leather, to fit the needs of any design theme. With Guillamot having expertise in carpentry and Tay being trained in interior design, the couple is well-positioned to create bespoke equipment that balances high performance with stunning looks. 

One major upside of having beautiful fitness equipment is that a dedicated gym area is no longer a necessity; in fact, pieces can be laid across one’s house to match the furniture and decor. Guillamot and Tay share the story of a client who requested for their Ciclotte Teckell exercise bike to be placed next to a grand piano, so the two crystal creations would play well with each other.

Another area that Cycling Bears considers is the actual space in which the gym will be placed; the company has worked on set-ups not only in homes, but also in hotels and even yachts. This prevents having a bunch of fancy equipment lying around that simply takes up space — something that is often in short supply, especially in Singapore. Guillamot and Tay explain that prior to starting Cycling Bears, they found themselves “scrambling to stow away the bulky, unsightly equipment whenever anyone visited”. 

Cycling Bears’ catalogue thus also includes moveable pieces, such as Pent’s Sophia fitness equipment mobile set, which can be wheeled away when not in use, as well as smaller pieces, like the Slimbeam cable station by NOHrD, which maximises vertical space to take up as little floor area as possible.

Sustainable strength-training

Anyone who has ever set foot in a gym has probably had to deal with a smorgasbord of mucky, outdated fitness equipment. While home gyms will most likely not see as much use as their public counterparts, durability is still a key concern; replacing broken or worn pieces is both expensive and a massive logistical nightmare. 

Besides longevity in and of itself, high-quality equipment comes with the added benefit of placing less strain on the environment. The production of standard equipment typically involves large amounts of plastic and metal, which means a whole lot of material ends up in landfill when such equipment gets thrown out.

Guillamot and Tay thus pay extra attention to what goes into Cycling Bears’ equipment. “This includes innovative material choices, such as using wood instead of metal where possible, to improve both durability and aesthetic appeal,” they say. Where metal pieces are necessary, such as in weights, they opt for marine-grade stainless steel.

The duo also points to the production practices of their partners, in particular Pent, which sources its wood sustainably and uses scrap leather to fill its punching bags. The two labels recently collaborated on a Pent x Cycling Bears collection, which includes pieces such as the Colmia dumbbells, which range from 2kg to 8kg, and come with a matching wooden stand.

Ultimately, for Guillamot and Tay, setting up a home gym is about creating a space that can integrate seamlessly into one’s home — and more importantly, one’s life. Having equipment that will stand the test of time is but one facet of that; it is also about those unique marks that make each piece one’s own, along with the knowledge that the gym as a whole has been curated specifically for one’s needs. “With special customisation and personalisation, these are things that users will treasure and want to keep for a long time,” the couple adds.