Indoorcycling Group (ICG) Launches into North American Market

SAN FRANCISCO (March 15, 2011) – Executing on its plans for aggressive growth in the US indoor cycling market, ICG today announced that John Ford, CEO of Virtual Active, will take on the additional role of Managing Director of ICG North America. In this new role, Ford will carry out ICG’s plans with the support of experienced trainers and seasoned international presenter Jim Karanas in a new San Francisco facility.

“ICG North America’s first job will be to provide our distribution partners at Matrix Fitness the sales and education support required to grow the traditional business in a very competitive market,” said Ford. “But the future of Indoor Cycling will be shaped by new technology. Indoorcycling Group’s investment in a joint San Francisco office and deepening partnership with Virtual Active will ensure that we lead that future.”

Education and sales support for the Matrix Team and their dealers will begin immediately with demonstrations at the new facility during the IHRSA trade show. “With successful operations embedded in the UK and Europe, 2011 is the perfect time for ICG to establish direct marketing and product support in North America” said Gary Warren, Global Product & Brand Director.

“ICG is hitting on all cylinders by combining their comprehensive education and technology with the media created by VA that is setting industry standards in virtual exercise enhancement. It’s an exciting place to be after 30 years as an industry trainer and fitness leader,” said Karanas.

About Indoorcycling Group (ICG)

Creator of the Tomahawk® Indoor Cycle, home to the I.C.E® education program and innovator behind the Myride® virtual cycling experience, the Indoorcycling Group® (ICG) is renowned for it’s commercial grade equipment and visionary concepts. I.C.G is Europe’s number one Indoor Cycling provider and the world’s largest specialist manufacturer.


About Virtual Active

Virtual Active is a San Francisco-based video and technology company that enables revolutionary virtual-reality exercise products. Virtual Active licenses its unique content and proprietary interactive video technologies to leading manufacturers of cardio entertainment systems, experience-driven health clubs, and directly to end users through a variety of digital entertainment platforms. With its partners, Virtual Active takes exercisers to hundreds of beautiful and iconic locations around the globe during their workouts — for more information, take a trip to www.vafitness.com.