What's With the Orange Bikes Around Safety Harbor?

Article written by Patch local editor Katie Dolac. 

Eye-catching orange bicycles seem to be popping up everywhere — from Dunedin to Clearwater and even Safety Harbor.

"There is one in the bike rack across from my shop and last night I saw one in a bike rack in Safety Harbor," said downtown Dunedin merchant Lynn Thorn, owner of The Celtic Shop of Dunedin. "The one across from my shop has been there for a week."

Repeated sightings of these bright bikes have many residents wondering, as Thorn is, "Do you know what this is about?"

Well, it is not a magic trick or public art project.

It is a marketing and branding strategy for a new fitness center opening Jan. 2 at 25853 U.S. Highway 19 N, in Cypress Point Plaza next to Burlington Coat Factory in Clearwater.

"We wanted to get the buzz out there," said Deann Venuti, owner of the incoming Orangetheory Fitness. 

Venuti lost 30 pounds in the program herself. She managed the St. Petersburg location for a year before starting the Clearwater venture with her husband.

About 16 orange bicycles have been placed throughout the Dunedin, Countryside, Clearwater and Safety Harbor area. They're meant to spark conversation about the studio, which offers various, affordable, one-hour group personal training classes per week.

The workout classes combine short bursts of intense exercise, using treadmills, rowing machines, TRX Suspension Training and free weights. The goal of the heart-rate monitored training is to be in the orange target zone in order to achieve the “orange effect."

Venuti says she tries to maintain a friendly atmosphere and welcome people of all fitness levels.

"We try to create, I call it, my Orange family," she said.

Orangetheory Fitness already has locations in St. Petersburg, Tyrone, New Tampa, South Tampa and Westchase.

Interested in joining? Orangetheory Fitness is offering pre-sale discounts on membership rates. Find them on Facebook for details. Open Monday through Friday 9 to 6, for membership Saturday, 9:30 to 5, Sundays 10 to 3, 

Planning events like 2nd Friday in Dunedin, 5K 

For more information, visit OrangetheoryFitness.com or call 727-288-9897.