Tag Archives: Peloton

Roundup: 2 Bike Stories …

Posted on November 4, 2024 | 4 comments

Over 130 Westporters (and friends) had a great time yesterday, at our 2nd annual “Historic Homes of 06880” house tour.

In spectacular fall weather, they toured 4 fascinating properties.

Ed Gerber’s 1764 saltbox on Cross Highway was once the home of George Hand Wright, a founder of Westport’s artists’ colony. Ed proudly showed off his restoration work, which earned a Westport Preservation Award, and a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Dan and Nicole Donovan’s 1870 Queen Anne-style farmhouse on Maple Avenue South earned raves for its imaginative restoration, including a welcoming kitchen (where their 6 children gather when they’re all home), and a wine cellar that’s been converted into a pub.

Around the corner on Greens Farms Road, Al and Chris DiGuido’s 1860 Colonial’s renovations were on display. The 4 fireplaces, mahogany ceilings and rooftop balcony competed with the full bar and entertainment center upstairs, complemented by Al’s extensive collection of sports memorabilia.

The fourth house, at 296 Compo Road South, is new construction — a future historic home. Architectural designer Michael Greenberg, builder Peter Greenberg of Able Construction, and owner Kim and Niv Harizman described the work they’ve done, and showed off their open floor plan.

Thanks to the owners who opened their homes; to our friends at KMS Team at Compass, who sponsored the event and made it extra fun; to “06880” board members and Staples Service League of Boys who provided support, and of course all who attended.

Dan Donovan turned a 6,000-bottle wine cellar in his 1870 home into a pub.

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Frank Sisson writes: “While I commend the increasing attention being given to bikers’ rights and safety, I wonder if this new sign — one of several I noticed recently that have gone up on Cross Highway near Wakeman Park — was fully thought out.


“It sounds good in principle. But some bikers — particularly younger ones — are likely to take it very literally and ride their bikes in the center of the lane, assuming that vehicles behind them will just have to match their much slower pace.

“I have a feeling that vehicles like this one — not to mention the many impatient tailgating drivers we all encounter in this area — may not ‘get it.”

(Photos/Frank Sisson)

“I fear that our younger bikers will take these new traffic signs too trustingly, and assume that traffic will obey them, but that much of the driving public will not. Wouldn’t the establishment of an official ‘bike lane’ be a much better approach to biker rights and safety?”

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Congratulations to Peter Stern.

Last week, Peloton named the 1990 Staples High School graduate as its new CEO. He takes over in January.

Stern has broad experience managing digital products. He currently serves as president of Ford Integrated Services, overseeing subscription offerings like BlueCruise, Pro Intelligence, and connectivity and security initiatives.

Previously, he co-founded Apple Fitness+, and held significant positions at other major companies, including Time Warner Cable.

Click here for a story from CEO Today. Click here for an “06880” story on Stern from 2019.

Peter Stern (Photo courtesy of Peloton)

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Westport artistw Janine Brown, Jay Petrow and Janet Slom, plus former Westporter Jocelyn Braxton Armstrong, will participate in Bridgeport’s 19th annual American Fabrics Arts Building Open Studio event November 9 and 10 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

The weekend includes art sales, music, and a raffle of original art. Proceeds aid 4 local charities, and food and clothing donations will be accepted for Bridgeport Rescue Mission.

Dogs are welcome at the family-friendly event.

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The English choral group  Gesualdo Six makes its Westport debut with a program of polyphonic English Motets this Sunday (November 10, 5 p.m., Christ & Holy Trinity Church).

The program will be followed by a buffet and reception, with a chance to meet the musicians before they head back to Europe.

Tickets are available by clicking here, and at the door.

Gesulado Six

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Halloween is over.

Most pumpkins have headed to the compost heap, or the Great Pumpkin Patch in the Sky.

Others may be served as a Thanksgiving pie.

These 2 have managed to avoid any of those fates.

The subjects of today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature, they’re sitting fat and pretty at Riverside Park.

At least, they were yesterday.

(Photo/Pam Docters)

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And finally … jazz trumpeter/arranger/composer/record producer Quincy Jones died yesterday in California. He was 91.

He has the third-highest total of Grammy Awards won by a single person (28 — behind Beyoncé’s 32 and Georg Solti is second with 31.) He received honorary degrees from Harvard, Princeton, Juilliard, the New England Conservatory, the Berklee School of Music and many other institutions, along with a National Medal of Arts.

Click here for a full obituary.

(“06880” is your hyper-local source for news, events, history, profiles and much more. If you enjoy our work, please make a tax-deductible contribution by clicking here. Thank you!)

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Posted in Arts, Real estate, Transportation

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Roundup: Intensity, Longevity …

Posted on January 17, 2023 | 2 comments

The ad said: “INTENSITY — everything must go!” 

Westporters worried that the tennis/squash/fitness/dance center just over the Norwalk line would close. 

Racquet sports are still there. But the health and fitness component is changing.

Clair Mason, owner of Elliptica, and co-owner of Intensity — says that the health and fitness industry has changed. COVID, and the rise of paddle and pickleball, provided an opportunity to remodel both businesses.

Elliptica developed a virtual offering, with a class and partnership with a machine manufacturer. 

And all Intensity fitness classes are now under the Elliptica brand at a new (and nearby) location: 345 Post Road West, Westport. They include barre, Herman Walker Body Design System, dance fitness, bodypump, Pilates, bootcamps and more. For more information on Elliptica, click here. 

On January 1, Intensity became a racquets-only club. There are 6 indoor tennis courts, 4 squash courts, 4 pickleball courts and 2 new paddle courts. A warming hut opens soon. For more information on Intensity racquets, click here. 

Clair Mason owns both Elliptica and Intensity.

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Speaking of fitness: For Peloton, COVID was just what the doctor ordered.

The stationary bike company’s sales surged during the pandemic. With gyms closed, home workouts — which Peloton delivered, via its equipment and streaming platforms — were the only game in town (or anywhere else).

Since 2018, Peloton had a retail presence here. The Main Street store — one of the few of its 80-plus outlets not in a mall — closed temporarily, along with nearly every other retailer.

It reopened (though supply chain issues made it difficult to meet the enormous demand for bikes and treadmills).

This coming Sunday, it will close for good. The decision is part of an “aggressive” reduction in retail stores (and, last summer, the elimination of roughly 780 employees.

Peloton’s fortunes crashed as quickly as they rose. As COVID eased, people returned to the gym.

The Main Street tenant before Peloton sold Sperry boat shoes. There is no word on what kind of business — sports and leisure-related, or not — will replace it.

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Speaking still of fitness: Longevity Westport — the center offering non-invasive, quick and very sophisticated testing of muscle mass, bone density, metabolism, cardiovascular health, oxygen consumption and more — opened on Post Road East in 2021.

But — true to their name — they may be the business with the longest time before hosting an official ribbon-cutting.

It’s set for this Saturday (January 21, 1835 Post Road East). First Selectwoman Jen Tooker does the honors at 1 p.m.

She’ll be followed by 3 speakers: Ralph Esposito, a naturopathic physician and head of nutrition at Athletic Greens; Atlas Nutrition chiropractic physician Dr. Beth Atlas, and Sherpa Westport’s Jean Paul Desrosiers.

All will offer specials for customers. In addition, Longevity will provide 50% off a second test, with the purchase of a full price test (and 20% off a bundle package).

There’s food too. Healthy, of course.

Inside Longevity. The DEXA scan machine is at left.

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Hard to believe, but Westport Book Shop is 2 years old.

The used book store (and much more) honors the milestone with several community events.

A Volunteer Appreciation Celebration is set for January 28 (10:30 a.m. to noon), at the Westport Library across Jesup Green from the shop.

A “Show Your Love” competition offers a $50 Westport Book Shop gift card. Just film a short video showing why you love the Book Shop, then post it on social media.

Every entrant receives a free vinyl record, CD or book of their choice from the current inventory ($6 or less). The deadline is 6 p.m. January 27. Click here for details, and the entry form.

Meanwhile, story time for kids at the Book Shop runs on Saturday and Sunday, January 28-29. Call for details: 203-952-0070.

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Westport favorite Melissa Newman — one of our own — headlines this week’s Jazz at the Post (Thursday, January 19; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 7 p.m.; $15 cover; reservations strongly suggested: JazzatthePost@gmail.com).

Joining Melissa: guitarist Tony Lombardozzi, bassist Phil Bowler and drummer Arti Dixson.

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PFAS chemicals in the Weston water supply?

On this week’s “What’s Next in Weston?” podcast, 1st Selectwoman Sam Nestor describes how her town has addressed the issue, with remediation and clean water for every family.

The bi-weekly series is produced by the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston. Click below to listen:

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Aspetuck Land Trust’s first “Lunch and Learn” webinar of 2023 is called “Landscapes for Better Living.”

On January 27 (noon to 1 p.m.), Jay Archer of Green Jay Landscape Design will discuss how ecological landscape design, organic horticulture and land stewardship can improve human health (and save the planet).

In addition to designing, building, managing and maintaining beautiful, natural ecosystems and plantscapes, Archer has taught, lectured and consulted with organizations from NYBG and The Institute for Ecosystem Studies to the Native Plant Center, Nature Conservancy and Audubon International.

For more information and to register, click here.

One of Jay Archer’s ecological landscapes.

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Many “Westport … Naturally” photos are gorgeous.

This one isn’t.

A reader who lives nearby writes: “I saw these giant birds in the dumpsters behind Gaetano’s.

“The dumpsters are open, and so is the door on one side. There were others in a tree, walking nearby, and sitting on the roof of a house, all waiting their turn. Apparently they are black buzzards.

“I called Gaetano’s. The woman who answered said, ‘yeah, it’s been like that all week.’ I said, ‘just close the dumpsters.’ She thanked me.”

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And finally … today is the birthday of Muhammad Ali. “The Greatest” boxer — and an important political activist was born in 1942. He died in 2016, age 74.

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(If all the stories above about fitness leave you exhausted … take a break! As you rest, please click here to support “06880.” Thank you!)

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Posted in Downtown, Environment, Local business, Sports, Weston

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Peloton Bikers Ride Out The COVID Crisis

Posted on May 28, 2020 | 4 comments

As Connecticut reopens, we can once again shop until we drop. (Or our mask falls off.) We can go to restaurants. (Sort of.)

Soon we can once again get our hair cut, styled and/or colored. And our nails done.

What we can’t do — at least for a while — is go to a gym. The Y, fitness centers, spin studios — all are too dangerous for our hot, sweaty, once-toned and possibly now-COVID-carrying bodies.

Westporters have adapted in a number of ways. We’ve livestreamed workout videos. We’ve jogged, walked and biked on suddenly empty streets. We’ve climbed walls. (Okay, that’s only figurative. But still…)

Those fortunate enough to have the foresight to already own a Peloton bike* were lucky. Those who suddenly realized they wanted one were out of luck. Thought there’s an actual store selling real bikes on Main Street, it closed in mid-March. Online orders were backed up for weeks.

It’s one thing to ride a Peloton bike at home. Sure, you’re linked up with an instructor and fellow bikers. But a group of Westport moms wanted more.

In the early days of the shutdown, Maria Mulvehill and a few friends — all with Pelotons — started texting. They wanted motivation and accountability to main their physical (and mental) health.

That text chain got many on the bike and moving even when they did not want to, Maria says.

Suzanne Slade — the mother of 4, all under the age of 7 — loves her Peloton group.

As friends pulled in friends, the texts also connected women who did not know each other. They cheer each other on, through messages and the leaderboard.

One woman will post that she’s doing a certain ride, at a certain time. Others join if they can. They see each other on screen. As they ride — sometimes racing, other times just keeping each other company — they “high-five.”

Later, they catch up by text.

The group branched out too. They shared stories about baking bread, coping with kids, and how they cry during rides when the instructor says something poignant or emotional.

Suzanne Slade is homeschooling 4 youngsters — all under 7. The Peloton community helped her maintain her health and fitness. “Knowing that I’m riding alongside other local mamas is motivating,” she says. “It would be easy to skip a ride. Knowing that others are showing up keeps me accountable.”

Julia Felleman calls her Peloton “a sanity saver. Thirty to 45 minutes to myself amidst 3 kids, homeschooling 2 of them, and a full-time job.”

Julie Felleman gets ready to rdie.

The best part? “I’ve gained a new text thread of 15 amazing moms. Some were strangers, but now I call them part of my mom-tribe. They motivate me (and my husband) to get on the bike and work out — even if it’s just to burn more calories for that extra cookie or cocktail. This crew of ladies is amazing!”

Vicky Powers adds that despite being apart, it feels like the group is together as they ride. She knew only a handful of the women when she started. “Now I have a whole new group of friends!”

Tally Jacobs says the group has given her things she was missing: “connection to friends, laughs at our group texts, scheduled exercise.”

It is also a chance to “make something positive out of this mess. When else would I get up to work out before my kids go to ‘school’?”

The leaderboard on a recent ride. Seven Westport women joined in.

Some of the moms have never actually met. “But we’ve been texting, sharing and riding together for 10 weeks,” Maria says. “One day we’ll all get together in person for a glass of wine!”

Though gyms and cycle studios may open soon, the women will continue their home Peloton rides — and their group texts.

They’d like to connect with other local riders. Use the hashtag #westportrideson with your Pelaton account. Questions? Email mariaffreeman@gmil.com.

* Peloton is an internet-connected stationary bike. Riders download classes — live, or on-demand — through a large touchscreen between the handlebars. 

Vicky Powers, in action.

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Posted in Environment, Local business, People, Sports

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Good News: Peloton Pedals Down Main Street

Posted on May 10, 2018 | 4 comments

After months in which big-name retailers fled downtown — Nike, Ann Taylor and Allen Edmonds, to name 3 — we’re about to score a big win.

Peloton is taking over the Sperry boat shoe store, just past Banana Republic on Main Street. They hope to open in early fall.

A peloton is the main bunch of bicyclists in a race. (Think of all those guys roaring 8 abreast down South Compo or Hillspoint, plowing past stop signs and forcing drivers into the other lane.)

But Peloton — the company — takes that group concept, and brings it into your home.

They sell stationary bikes. They’re sort of like the kind you find at a gym, or that sit unused in a corner of your house — but only in the sense that the Tour de France is like your 6-year-old on training wheels.

Peloton bikes are high-tech, and cutting edge. They’ve got big, bold interactive screens, through which you access “group” classes any time. You can track your performance through many different metrics.

There are tons of instructors — each with his or her own personality, all motivational. Just pick the one who suits your mood most, at the time.

All of this is streamed from a studio in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood. (A 2nd tread studio, for treadmill work, is on Christopher Street.)

A Peloton bike

So why is Peloton coming to Westport?

They’ve got 33 retail outlets, in 16 states. That’s where you buy the bike, plus accessories like shoes and heart monitors. (You don’t need a helmet!)

Right now, the closest one is in the Westchester Mall. In fact, most Peloton stores are in malls.

So the fact that Peloton has chosen Main Street, rather than Norwalk’s shiny new GGP Mall, is big.

In a few months, we’ll welcome them to Westport.

Just drive on down.

Or ride your bike.

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Posted in Downtown, Local business, Sports

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