Fitness startup that Peloton once tried to buy is growing as workout trends shift

Connected fitness company Hydrow, which Peloton once tried to buy, is growing sales and has acquired a majority stake in strength training company Speede Fitness as gymgoers move away from cardio exercises in favor of weights, the company told CNBC on Thursday. 

Hydrow also announced that its CEO and founder Bruce Smith will step back from day-to-day operations and hand the reins over to President and Chief Financial Officer John Stellato. Smith will take over as the chair of Hydrow's board. 

The company, most known for its pricey connected rowing machines that cost between $1,700 and $4,000, is backed by private equity bigwigs such as Constitution Capital and L Catterton. It counts several professional athletes and celebrities among its investors, including Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and singer Justin Timberlake.

Hydrow has raised more than $300 million in funding. It said it acquired Speede Fitness so it can expand into strength training, one of the fastest-growing segments in fitness today. 

The acquisition comes as gymgoers pull back on cardio exercises such as running and biking in favor of weight training. 

Planet Fitness said in November that it would replace its cardio equipment more slowly, in part to free up capital.

"Our members are consistently seeking more strength and less cardio," said Planet Fitness CFO Thomas Fitzgerald on the company's third-quarter earnings call, adding that strength equipment costs less than cardio equipment.

Life Time fitness highlighted a similar trend in its annual fitness survey. More than one-third of respondents said "building muscle" is their No. 1 goal for 2024, an increase of more than 3% from the prior year.

Speede Fitness makes a connected strength training machine