Hollywood Cycle is a fly-on-the-wall reality series at one of the ‘IT’ fitness destinations in LA, writes Debashine Thangevelo
THERE are no dearth of ideas when it comes to reality TV. Anything can be spun into a series provided it ticks the elementary boxes boasting that bitchiness quotient mixed with melodrama, ambition and, of course, opinionated/compelling characters.
Hollywood Cycle transports viewers into the inner sanctum of Hollywood’s elite and their über hot instructors as they navigate their way through various issues in life and health.
It goes without saying that the show is sexy. At the same time, it offers a glimpse into the obsession with fitness, the clashes as a result and, in a way, separates the gym fanatics from the attention-seeking glamour pusses, too.
Tonight caught up with two of the main characters, Nichelle Hines, the chief riding officer and lead instructor, and Nick Hounslow, the apparel director/ instructor, to find out what they bring to the table.
Hines knows what she wants and is unapologetic in her goals. And she can be frank, to a fault. On how she got involved in the world of cycling, she reveals: “I was very overweight and my father was a big indoor cycling fan. I finally decided to start trying to lose weight and just gravitated towards it because of him. And I fell in love with cycling.”
An alumni from New York University, where she got her masters in acting, Hines has also been actively involved in movies and TV: “I have been acting for a long time. It’s something I’ve always done and enjoyed. I’ve done movies and TV for 15 years; so it’s never left my life.”
Interestingly, she came to be an instructor quite by chance.
She recalls: “A teacher at my gym didn’t show up and the manager… asked me to teach it. It was accidental. And a very happy one, in fact.”
As for the idea of documenting the goings-on at Cycle House, she shares: “One of our regular students at Cycle House is a film producer. She would watch the inner workings and became convinced that it was a show. She asked if we would allow her to follow us for a few days and we did. And, within a couple of months, E! came calling.”
By the way, her brother Aaron is also on the show. He is the director of training/instructor and has no qualms about mixing work and play.
On the two working together, she admits: “It’s amazing. My brother and I are very tight, the best of friends, so it’s always fun when you get the opportunity to hang out and work with your best friend as much as we do. We are very honest with each other and that comes across on the show.”
Aside from loving what she does, she works with celebrities on a daily basis.
She offers: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with people like Jamie Chung and Naya Rivera, who are now great friends, and the experience has been great. Celebrities are just like us, they want to look and feel their best. So whether I’m training a mother, a producer or a celebrity, the experience differs depending on the client’s personality. I’m in the fortunate position that I only train people I like, so my experiences have been incredible regardless of what they do for a living. I kick their butt all the same, doesn’t matter who you are, if you called me for a work out I’m going to give you a workout of a lifetime.”
Meanwhile, Hounslow is the glue that keeps the Cycle House “family” together.
Shedding light on his journey, he reveals: “I was modelling, full-time, in London and Europe. I first tried indoor cycling when I was 17, in London. I actually mixed up the class times and all that was available that day was a spin class. After 10 minutes I got off this instrument of torture and swore to never go near one again. By the time I was 18, I was an instructor and teaching at three of the top gyms in London! It became a great income supplement when modelling was slow, and kept me busy, and out of trouble, in the evenings in London.”
When he moved to LA, the gym manager asked him to teach a few classes. A few years later, he is a regular at gym.
He has quite an enviable clientele list, both from his past and present. They include Nicole Kidman, Julie Benz, Nigella Lawson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Claire Holt and Keith Urban and he has shot music videos with Britney Spears and Hilary Duff.
He laughs: “Life is always interesting. Honestly, I’ve been so lucky to have the most amazing celebrity clients who are fun to train and fun to shoot with! We have a huge celebrity clientele at Cycle House. It is by far the hardest, most intense workout that takes place in a very dark, loud room. In that room everyone is the same to me, and I take no prisoners. So I will be shouting at you if you are not working hard enough regardless of your status or job description.”
Aside from tensions running high as the sweat levels increase, Hollywood Cycle strikes a chord with the heartfelt relationships and family spirit. Of course, the scantily-clad hot bodies are not a bad inducement either.
Oh, and Hounslow is one of the few willing to stand up to Hines – and that’s a showdown not to be missed.
l Hollywood Cycle airs on E! (DStv channel 124) on Fridays at 8pm.