Exploring Life & Business with Carli Haney & Cara Chambrello of BACE: THE FITNESS TAILGATE

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carli Haney & Cara Chambrello.

Hi Carli Haney & Cara Chambrello, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
BACE really came out of the intersection of our different strengths and passions. Both of us have been indoor cycling instructors for over a decade, and we’ve seen the industry from every angle: teaching, managing studios, training other instructors, and even opening new locations.

Cara started her fitness career in Boston, where she worked her way up from instructor to Director of Fitness Training, helping to expand a growing studio brand. When she moved to Los Angeles, she became a leader at EvolvCycle and was recognized as one of the top instructors in the city. Her background in psychology, yoga, and education gave her a unique ability to connect with riders and build strong, lasting communities.

Carli, meanwhile, brought not just cycling experience, but also a deep background in entertainment and corporate leadership. While teaching at multiple LA studios, she was also a senior development executive for companies like Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions and Kevin Hart’s HartBeat, where she honed her skills in storytelling, marketing, and building brands. In 2022, she combined those talents to open and manage CYCLEBAR Sherman Oaks, gaining firsthand experience running a large-scale fitness business.

Together, we realized there was a gap in the market. Fitness in LA often felt intimidating, exclusive, or transactional and we wanted to create something more fun, affordable, approachable, and community-driven.

During the pandemic, that vision became even clearer: people were craving connection, fresh air, and movement. That’s when we came up with BACE: The Fitness Tailgate.

BACE blends everything we love about boutique fitness: the energy, the coaching, the community – with the social, celebratory vibe of a tailgate. It’s about making fitness feel less like an obligation and more like something you can look forward to, a place where people feel they belong. Our complementary backgrounds – Cara in education, leadership, and training, and Carli in brand-building, operations, and marketing – gave us the perfect foundation to bring that vision to life.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Opening BACE: The Fitness Tailgate has been one of the most rewarding but also most challenging journeys we’ve ever taken on. The ups have been incredible – seeing strangers turn into friends, watching our community grow, and knowing we’ve built something that makes people feel good about fitness, their bank accounts and about themselves. At the same time, the road hasn’t been without its downs. Launching an entirely new concept meant educating people on what we were doing, navigating logistics like permits, equipment, and outdoor venues, and learning how to operate a small business while still teaching classes ourselves. There were moments of doubt and times we had to get scrappy to make things work, but those challenges ultimately made us stronger as founders and more committed to the vision. Every setback has taught us something, and every win has reminded us why we started BACE in the first place. The biggest lesson we’ve learned on this road has been to simply believe in yourself enough to take the next step.

We’ve been impressed with BACE: THE FITNESS TAILGATE, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
BACE: The Fitness Tailgate is where boutique fitness meets the energy of a tailgate. BACE is a mobile fitness studio built on the interior of a 26 ft box truck. We specialize in indoor cycling (in the truck) and sculpt classes (outside on the turf) that bring people together in a fun, approachable, and high-energy environment. What sets us apart is our focus on community. We’re not just about workouts, we’re about connection. BACE isn’t a trend, it’s a lifestyle. We’re most proud of creating a brand that makes fitness feel less intimidating and more like a celebration. BACE exists for its membership base out of the parking lot at the Westfield Fashion Square Mall in Sherman Oaks. The truck goes mobile for private events and popups in and around the LA area.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
We wouldn’t be here without the incredible community that surrounds us. We built this for THEM. From the amazing athletes who have followed us to BACE and continue to show up with energy and dedication, to the friends and family who believed in our vision from the very beginning and helped us raise the funds to make it possible. Every step of this journey has been fueled by their support. Our riders, our loved ones, and our extended community aren’t just part of BACE, they are BACE, and we’re endlessly grateful for the way they’ve lifted us up and made this dream a reality.

Pricing:

• Unlimited Monthly Membership – $150
• 5 Class Pack – $99
• Discounted Student Pricing
• Discounted Couples Pricing
• Single Class – $25

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Thisisbace.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisbace
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574766333343
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/I1Ly6dbYHR
• Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/touching-bace/id1808547172

Image Credits
Danny Moulton
Laura Allemon