Meet Melissa Dasakis | Owner and Instructor at Psycle 9600 Spin® Studio

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Dasakis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
Be open to change! A business is not a static entity; it is a living, breathing, ever shifting being. All businesses are made up of people in the roles of either employee or patron and human beings are interesting creatures in the flux of living and not always predictable. The business needs to be prepared to flow with the changes rather than resist them. Of course, as we learned in 2020, there are also unforeseen outside forces. like a pandemic, which no one saw coming and required a lot of creative thinking and pivoting just to keep the business viable.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Psycle 9600 is the highest elevated cycling studio in the world. Located at the base of Peak 9 of the Breckenridge Ski Resort we operate at 9,600 feet; hence the name. We are an official Spinning® brand studio which means we focus more on the mechanics of good riding and performance while still riding to the beat. The experience is enhanced by using Spivi®. This system allows us to cycle with virtual rides from all over the world. You get to choose your avatar and see yourself pop up on the screens in the peloton and you can look forward to your email post class with all of your stats so you can track your gains. I decided to open this business because there weren’t any boutique cycling studios in Summit County, which due to our world class ski resorts, attracts visitors from all over the world. Thankfully, my heart was in this venture 100% because no matter how much you prepare, certain situations will blindside you…like a global pandemic! Before I opened this studio, I taught yoga for about 20 years and I’m very grateful for that philosophical foundation and grounding that comes with the practice. COVID shut our doors 14 months after we opened and it’s changed the way we operate since. Within a few days we rented out all of our bikes and started recording classes for those riders. Once we were able to re-open we pivoted once again by offering classes outside on our plaza which overlooks the Ten Mile Range and Maggie Pond; a truly stunning setting. I have learned the importance of being ok with not being ok. Of not knowing what the next day will bring and truly having to live in the present putting one foot in front of the other every day with a grateful heart and my fingers crossed. Giving it your all while at the same time knowing it might not go the way you want it to.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This changes depending on the season up here in the High Country, but since it’s spring I’m going to give you my best summer recommendations. Grab some breakfast in Breck at Cool River Coffee House sitting outside on the back patio along the Blue River. Then hop on the adjacent bike path with a road bike and head towards Frisco for a ride around Lake Dillon (I prefer to ride up Swan Mountain Road on your way around). Stop at Sapphire Point at the top and take a short walk over to the lookout spot. You might even catch a wedding in progress as it’s a popular spot for nuptials (even yours truly got married there…in January)! Once you get to Dillon you have a few choices. You could stop at the Dillon Marina Tiki Bar and enjoy your favorite beverage while taking in the boat scene or you can continue on until you get to Frisco and enjoy a beverage at the Island Grill at the Frisco Marina. If you have time take a stroll down Frisco’s Main Street which is great for shopping small local businesses and I highly recommend stopping at Next Page Bookstore for some reading materials for your evenings by a fire. That evening I would recommend dining at one of our newest restaurants, Rootstalk, but make reservations well in advance as it books out. Another day aim for a hike or mountain bike ride along the Peaks Trail going from Breck to Frisco and grab brunch or lunch at Bread+Salt in downtown Frisco. Then take the free Summit Stage back to Breck and enjoy a happy hour on a patio. The best patios are Kenosha, Southridge Seafood or Quandary Grille. Other adventures for the week would be climbing Quandary which is an easy 14-er but get there early and go mid-week to avoid the crowds. Take a SUP yoga class on Maggie Pond with Bhava Yoga, hike up to Mohawk Lake, take the gondola up to the ski area and then the ski lift up even higher for amazing views and then grab some food and drinks at Robbie’s Tavern. Attend a concert at the Dillon Amphitheatre, kayak or canoe around Lake Dillon, climb Mt. Royal, and definitely have dinner at the Ski Tip in Keystone! So. Many. Things.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My instructors! They are truly the essence of Psycle 9600 and they have put their heart and soul into it. In general, fitness instructors don’t teach for the money; they tend to have another professional career and teaching brings them joy. My small but big hearted group of teachers have been through the ups and downs of the business, especially the challenges that COVID brought, with me every step of the way. They have been asked to do so much more with less and they never complained about it. Not one instructor stopped teaching during the pandemic. Many offered to continue to teach with no pay and would frequently check in to see how I was doing through the difficult times. It is the norm to walk into the studio and have a beautiful and encouraging hand written note from the person who taught last. I have arrived at the Studio on days when I wasn’t confident we would get through the additional restrictions and capacity limits of local health orders to find flowers and a card from one of them. Their kindness and humanity has shined a bright light on the dark times of the past year. They show up with great energy and a smile ready to brighten anyone’s day that walks through our doors.

Website: www.psycle9600.com

Instagram: psycle9600

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psycle9600

Image Credits
Meredith Austin Photography