Declaring Independents

There is more to Lytham and St Annes than coastline and cafes. Meet the creative people showing these two towns mean business

- Emma Mayoh

Many successful entrepreneurs will tell you launching a company takes sacrifice. But for Sophie Lowe and Sarah Burgess it took more than most – they moved almost 7,000 miles away. The Lytham pair, who became friends while studying journalism and law at Cardiff University, spent 11 months working in Malaysia so they could save up the funds they needed to launch Ride, the spinning studio they opened in December last year. The fitness enthusiasts had always longed to run their own gym but lacked the funds. Sarah’s brother Stewart ran an English school in Malaysia and cheap living costs meant they could save money. While they were in South East Asia they attended a spinning class and they were hooked. ‘We knew that was what we wanted to do straight away,’ said Sarah, 24. ‘It was such a different concept, in the dark, using your whole body for fitness while on the bike. We loved it.’

Although they both studied in different fields, they both have a love of fitness. Sarah was also a competitive bodybuilder and won at the Show of Strength competition in Singapore. The business has been such a success they launched a second site, in Boundary Road, giving them a spinning studio and a separate gym at the first location in the centre of Lytham.

The Fylde AFC men’s and ladies teams train with them as has Bradford City footballer Joe Riley and some of the golfers who recently attended the Senior Open Championship at Royal Lytham in July. They have also helped people recovering from chemo as well as those wanting to improve their fitness.

‘We’re so happy with how well it’s gone,’ said Sophie, also 24. ‘Lytham has been so supportive of us and want to see us doing well. It’s so good to hear people saying Ride has had a positive impact.

‘Watching 40 people in class all doing something you have created is really special.’