What started as one man's pursuit to improve his own physical
condition, eventually turned into a global fitness revolution. That man
was Keene P. Dimick, the mastermind behind the legendary Lifecycle
exercise bike. Little did he know in 1968 that his modest invention
would go on to fuel the hopes and dreams of people around the world
forever.
The story of Life Fitness began when two young entrepreneurs, Ray
Wilson and Augie Nieto, saw the promise of Dr. Dimick’s invention. Even
though it was slightly ahead of its time, they believed the Lifecycle
exercise bike could help generations of athletes, trainers, exercisers,
and people everywhere live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling
lives.
Wilson and Nieto bought the rights to the Lifecycle bike from Dr.
Dimick, perfected it, and sold it out of a motor home to health clubs
across America. Despite the overwhelming odds and initial unpopularity
of the Lifecycle exercise bike, the two passion-filled pioneers turned
a two-man operation and a seemingly impossible vision into a prosperous
reality. Along the way, they shaped the future of Life Fitness as well
as the fitness industry, bringing cardiovascular training into the
mainstream and helping ignite the health club boom.
Today, Life Fitness employs more than 1,700 people at 12
international subsidiaries and manufacturing facilities, with 186
dealers and distributors in more than 120 countries. We have come a
long way since the Lifecycle bike and now offer more than 300 different
cardio and strength-training products. The history of Life Fitness is
painted with several ground-breaking product innovations and industry
“firsts”. The timeline below will help you follow our storied past and
learn about the role we have played in the evolution of the fitness
industry.