University of Delaware student starts his own business during the pandemic

Tuesday, October 13, 2020
NEWARK, Delaware (WPVI) -- "Oh So Cycle" is the brainchild of University of Delaware senior Blake Armentano.

He noticed there were no private, indoor cycling studios around Newark, his college town, so he opened his own.
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That was 14 days before the shutdown orders came because of the pandemic.

Like so many businesses he found a way to keep his fledgling studio alive.

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He started offering virtual memberships with unlimited access to virtual rides filmed at his studio and in-home spin bike rental.



He recently opened back up for in-person workouts.

Blake limited the number of bikes in the studio and put up see-through partitions between the bikes which are positioned six feet apart.
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Armentano is an entrepreneurship major at the University of Delaware.

He had one goal: to launch a business by the time he graduated, but he's not done yet.

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"My goal, of course, as a very entrepreneurial-minded person, is I want this "Oh So Cycle" to be the first of many. I also want to grow the virtual model as well because - it's great to be able to help the local community right here in Newark, Delaware - to reach their fitness or mental goals... whatever reason why they come here," Armentano told Action News.



His company will drop off a spin bike and pick it up at the end of the membership.

Armentano credits his professors, mentors, and other students for helping him make his dream happen even during a global health crisis.
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