In just a few days, in Chaumont, the world of gyms was dealt a blow with Fitness Fun closing its doors without warning and the Good Bike 52 association having to leave the site within an hour. The leaders of the latter did not take off.
The end of the year is particularly eventful for the Good Bike 52 association which brings together 215 members and which allows Chaumontais to keep in shape. Sébastien Billard, its president, Emmanuelle Cornivet, the secretary, and Charlotte Touati, the employee, recount their mishap which they could have done without.
The association is quite recent. It was created in April 2023 and very quickly achieved some success in the field of “health sport”. Muscle strengthening and cycling are the basis of the offer thanks to the employee who is recruited and seven volunteer coaches including a physiotherapist. Very quickly, again, Good Bike 52 offered 30 hours of lessons per week and diversified its activities with, for example, trampoline or rebound basketball.
“Our goal is to be able to continue classes elsewhere”
All these actions started at the Agora, in Chaumont. In February 2024, for a rental, the association joined Fitness Fun which no longer had group classes with the immediate effect of recovering members, doubling the classes and gaining momentum with new yoga, Pilates or zumba coaches. . Good Bike 52 then offers a varied and solid offer.
Last July, the Fitness Fun room was sold at auction by its owner. While the association has not been warned, Sébastien Billard is not really worried knowing that the SCI which is selling the business is renting to an Sarl which remains in place. Good Bike 52 therefore continues to pay its rent to Sarl. Problem: this Sarl does not pay its rent to the new owner even though it collects rent from the association.
An announcement Monday December 16
In October 2024, the new owner, a Swiss investor in the field of sports halls, logically launched legal action for eviction. The judgment was rendered on Tuesday December 17 but the main tenant is taking the lead. Monday 16, at 5 p.m., he informed Good Bike 52 that the room will close this evening at 7 p.m. because “we are in liquidation of the Sarl”. Note that daily jhm tried to contact the main tenant but never succeeded.
After the shock of the announcement, the members of the association chose to take out all their belongings with one objective stated by the president: “to be able to continue classes elsewhere”. In an hour and 15 minutes, everything is empty. Solidarity works with the mobilization of 30 people and the arrival of three trucks but the fact remains that they find themselves on the street.
The equipment is then placed in a warehouse and Sébastien Billard asks the Chaumont Agglomeration to find a new room. Emmanuelle Cornivet highlights the mobilization and efficiency of services. A property was offered to them in mid-December and the lease will be signed on the 1stis January. The association will join the former Corroy establishments, in the Faubourg de Reclancourt, where some adjustments will be made to open “as quickly as possible and resume activities”.
Between two feelings
From this experience, the managers and the employee of Good Bike 52 are torn between two feelings: the disappointment of having been fooled and the happiness of witnessing a surge of solidarity for the move and the procedures. An online prize pool has even been launched on “HelloAsso”. In addition, they retain the right to go to court for unduly paid rent and damages.
Beyond the shock of the closure, Sébastien Billard wants to reaffirm the social aspect of the association. She reaches out to vulnerable populations, in nursing homes, at the reception center for asylum seekers, at the Handisport association or at the Passerelle. Rather than getting stuck on the worst, Charlotte Touati prefers to focus on the best and the beautiful actions that Good Bike 52 carries out.
Frédéric Thévenin
