Meet Beatrice “Bebe” Ding — The Human Dynamite behind Singapore’s Fitness Trend
From Sibling Squad to Spin‑Sational Studio Empire
At the ripe age of 30, Bebe Ding has turned her natural love of sports into an entrepreneurial powerhouse. In 2014, she, along with her older brothers and sister, launched Cru, a trail‑blazing fitness concept that’s now spinned into five bustling studios across Singapore.
Why “Bebe” Loves the Sweat Game
- CRUcycle – the spinning station that makes every pedal feel like a one‑liner cheer;
- CRUbox – a fierce boxing hub for razor‑sharp cardio;
- CRUyoga – where your zen meets the heat of a hot‑press routine;
- CRUHIIT – the high‑intensity interval zone that guarantees a sweat‑dripping encore.
Bebe doesn’t just coach – she trains the trainers, making sure each instructor can nail the perfect burn.
“We were all very rambunctious growing up”
The early Ding days were a playful circus. Their parents ran shipping and real‑estate ventures, so multiple entrepreneurial vibes were already in the household air. Yet, the idea of starting a joint business felt “crazy” to everyone. “We had to convince ourselves and everyone else that it was something worth crossing the line for,” Bebe confides.
Comedic Insight: A Family That Bustles Together, Burnt Together
Keep your feet on the treadmills, your heart on the line—and stay with Bebe Ding, the mastermind who proves that a little sibling drama can generate big wins.
Keeping it in the family
Bebe, Valerie, and Calvin: Turning Spin into Singapore’s Daily Delight
Picture this: a trio of siblings growing up bouncing between Singapore and Los Angeles, juggling school schedules, and discovering their love for spinning. When the family finally settled on spinning as a business, they didn’t just create a studio—they sparked a whole movement in Singapore.
Birth of Crucycle
- Bebe (30) – the visionary who built the website and kept the business humming.
- Valerie (34) – the marketing maven in charge of turning fans into journey‑goers.
- Calvin (33) – the production guru making sure every spin session is flawless.
“Back when it was just the three of us,” Bebe reminisces, “Calvin would sweep the floor while I handled the website and the admin stuff.” Fast forward to the present: the family routinizes every role so smoothly it almost reads like a well‑tuned machine—except that it’s their own family.
Family Dynamics: The Good, the Bad, and the Even More Spinning
Running a family business might sound like a carefree family picnic, but it’s actually a jungle of temper tantrums and turf wars. The siblings joke:
“We’re all strong‑headed. Back in our younger days we let tempers flare up, which made decision‑making as chaotic as a spin class where everyone’s trying to grab the same bike.
They’ve learned to sidestep these snags, but daily life still brings a new set of challenges.
Never a Day Off
In their “all‑year‑open” studios, there are no breaks, no off‑seasons. Every day, just like a fitness trainer who never sleeps, they wrestle with maintenance, customers, and a buzzing floor manager – all while keeping a staff of nearly sixty fine-tuned to perfection.
With unexpectedly high stakes but undeniably high spirits, Bebe, Valerie, and Calvin manage to keep their business, friendships, and the world spinning—one pedal at a time.
Moving ahead
Bebe’s 2020 Pivot Playbook
When the world shut down, Bebe didn’t just sit around; she swapped “expand” for “pivot.” It’s a fresh take on entrepreneurship that turns a pandemic into a spin‑cycle of opportunity.
The Home‑Workout Revolution
She rolled out two game‑changing goodies.
- TV Bike – a sleek home spin bike that plugs right into your living room and comes with a built‑in touchscreen.
- TV App – an on‑demand fitness platform that streams Cru’s signature classes. In just two months, the app racked up more than 45,000 minutes of view time.
Results? Pure Boom!
The numbers speak loud and clear: business is thriving, people are lighting up their living rooms, and the world’s got a new favorite way to sweat.
Delegate, But Not All
Even as Bebe has handed over most of the day‑to‑day grind, she keeps a few tasks under her own control. The secret sauce? She personally interviews trainers to make sure they’re the perfect fit for the Cru vibe.
Flex With Schedule Flexibility
Becuase most of their crew juggle day jobs, Bebe’s training programs kick off at 5 am. It’s early, but it’s also the perfect way to jumpstart the day before the office lights go on.
From Kitchen to Crowd: Bebe’s Recipe for Success
When the evening rounds with quieter punches and softer jabs, Bebe swaps her gloves for a spatula. She loves whipping up family dinners with flair – think edible flowers, colorful plating, and all‑out kitchen theatrics that make each dish a tiny masterpiece.
There’s more than just culinary skill on her plate: she recently finished a holistic nutrition course and is already cooking up a food range for Cru. Her voice buzzes with excitement when she talks about it.
The Big Lesson for Solo Entrepreneurs
“BOLDNESS is the secret sauce,” she’d say. Like a sports star saying she’ll win a game, an entrepreneur must firm up the belief that your venture will thrive. Bebe started at 22, barely knowing herself. With each experience, she grew, built confidence, and learned the game of business.
Her days can swing from chaos to euphoria. One day she’s swamped; the next she’s gleefully “Got some good news!” She handles this flux by steering through challenges with calm.
“Respect is earned, never handed out,” she reminds us. To truly succeed, you must roll up your sleeves and dig into the difficult work yourself.
Bebe’s Three Team‑Building Tips
- Know your crew’s strengths – put the right people in the right places.
- Champion open communication – keep lines moving so ideas & concerns stay in the loop.
- Celebrate wins together – sharing triumphs fuels morale and drives collective effort.
With kitchen flair, a dash of nutrition science, and a bold entrepreneurial spirit, Bebe shows that success is as much about flavoring life as it is about winning the game.
Determine chemistry
Team Chemistry 101: Getting the Vibe Right
“I just can’t imagine adding someone to the crew if we’re tuning on totally different frequencies.” That’s the real talk. If a conversation flows naturally, the new teammate will also click with the fam and the rest of the coaching squad— and that’s the trick.
The Core of a Strong Squad
- Shared Energy: When vibes sync, the whole groove sticks.
- Seamless Talk: Easy chat flows turn into smooth teamwork.
- Group Harmony: A teammate who gels with family and colleagues feels right at home.
- The Secret Ingredient: That subtle, invisible ‘click’ that makes everyone on the same page.
Why It Matters
When there’s a natural flow in the dialogue, trust builds and the group dynamics become effortless. That’s why a seamless conversation with a prospective member might just tell you they’ll fit right into the whole coaching family. It’s not just about skill— it’s about the subtle, almost supernatural, chemistry that powers a winning team.
Find out their other interests
From Spin to Punch: My Unexpected Fitness Journey
Hey there, fitness fanatics! Let’s dive into a story that’s all about mastering new moves and finding your superhero confidence along the way.
Why Switching Classes Can Make You Better
- Spin first thing, then kick: I hopped onto a spinning class in the morning, but by the time I hit the boxing ring, I was already humming the rhythm of the cardio routine. Turns out the rhythmic pedaling helped me keep those punches flying straight.
- Boxing taught me balance: With boxing, every jab requires a tiny twist of the hips. That same hip tweak translated to a smoother pedal stroke on the spin bike—making me a more controlled, “cable” rider.
- Spin taught me endurance: Power‑pedaling boosted my lung capacity and stamina, so when I stepped into the boxing ring, I could punch for that extra minute without feeling like a walking exhibit!
The Ripple Effect
When I cleared the spinning certification, I found myself designing spin workouts that included a few light boxing drills—because, why not keep the muscles guessing? Later on, after I earned the boxing certification, the turns and footwork I had learned in spin class translated into more agile movement on the mat.
So essentially, the more muscles I taught to work together, the sharper I got at teaching each skill. Think of it like a dance routine where every step enhances the next.
How it Helps Your Clients
- A spin class with a punch: Clients feel the full-body impact—no workout feels “flat” anymore.
- Boxing class that has a spin upgrade: Punch accuracy improves without sacrificing breath control.
- A holistic skillset: Students become reliable at racing for calories or trying out knockout power—whichever they feel more inspired by.
Takeaway
Mastering diverse exercises isn’t just beneficial for you; it also keeps your students on their toes. If you’re up for expanding your skillset, trust me—you’ll get a trifecta of stamina, agility, and confidence.
Work hard, play hard
When Sweat Becomes the New Huddle: Inside Our Whimsical, Work‑Hard Gym
*Picture this: the instructors are swapping memes over the last shot of a craft cocktail, but the next moment they’re holding a barre for the next class. It might sound like a sitcom sketch, but a polished Punch & Demo studio operates under exactly that dual identity.
1⃣ The “Work‑Hard, Play‑Hard” Rule
- Social Fridays: Casually “dancing around” after class, sharing personal anecdotes over a chilled drink. The goal? Build trust so athletes feel safe to show their raw selves during practice.
- Class Core: Hard core workouts that prompt heartbeats and sweat. The instructors keep the segment lean, no fluff, ensuring every beat counts.
2⃣ The “Vulnerability‑Made‑Visible” Code
From the quoted panelists:
“Our instructors and I joke around and have drinks together, but when it comes to teaching, everyone is there to do the work. Our classes are very intense and we aren’t shy about being vulnerable – it’s what gives us a strong presence on stage.”
In other words: the laughs help ease the nerves; the “intense, intimate” training turns the studio into a tiny stage where everyone shines.
3⃣ How It Works for Entrepreneurs, Creatives & Athletes
It’s a win‑win: the studio isn’t just for body building; it doubles as a community for people who hustle hard in any field.
- Entrepreneurs: Go through obstacle‑building workouts to practice resilience needed for the 9‑to‑5 grind.
- Creative Minds: Get mental breaks and then re‑enter the creative vortex with higher focus.
- Athletes: Build real‑world stamina, learn to keep composure under pressure.
4⃣ A Quick Peek Inside One Session
Warm‑up (10 min): high‑energy cardio with an occasional meme‑share.
Strength block (20 min): each instructor drills the same moves with an emphasis on core alignment.
Cool‑down & storytelling (5 min): participants share a lesson learned from a workout, creating “vulnerability shaped moments.”
5⃣ Final Takeaway
It is the blend of humour, hard work, and candidness that keeps the squad coming back. If you’re looking for a workout that feels more like a weekly team meeting than a solo gym run, this is the place. The next time you step into the studio, remember: you’re about to witness a session where sweat, smiles, and seriousness all get packed into one unforgettable hour.