The Peloton Bike+ screen rotates so that you can also use it for off-the-bike workouts. (The company spends a literal fortune in music rights.)Ī woman doing a strength workout on the floor while looking at her Peloton screen And speaking of music, there’s a Peloton class for most tastes: ’00s rock rides, Bon Jovi-themed rides, new music listening parties, etc.
Similar to Soulcycle, many Peloton instructors have attained celebrity status among loyal riders my personal favourite is Emma Lovewell, a crunchy granola earth goddess with intensely kind vibes and an obsession with ’90s music. There are usually around six live classes a day, but there are also dozens of pre-recorded classes to try. In my experience, hundreds of other people are usually riding in real time on recent pre-recorded rides, which is good if you can’t make a live class but want to compete with others on the leaderboard. I also couldn’t believe how many classes were available in the library–varying from 10-minute climbs to 45-minute intervals-and-arms classes to 60-minute long rides. My first impression: I’ve never ridden on a smoother spin bike. (These extras, if you’re so inclined, add another $200 to your bill, but if you already own spin shoes they should be compatible with the Peloton.) After the technicians left, I quickly created a profile and jumped on for my inaugural ride.
BIKE BOOTCAMP PELOTON FULL
The Peloton arrived at my house in a sleek, black, Peloton-branded van and was set up by two technicians within half an hour mine came with clip-in spin shoes, two sets of free weights and a yoga mat to try the full suite of Peloton classes. The $3,295 question: is the Peloton Bike+ actually worth it? I clipped in to find out. Despite the hefty price tag for its bikes, Peloton sales soared during the pandemic (but have since slowed). (There are also monthly payment plan options for both and you also also search out used options on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace.) In addition to the bike itself, you’ll also pay a monthly “all-access fee” of $49 for unlimited spin classes-as well as running, yoga and strength training workouts, which can also be accessed via the Peloton app, which is a mere $16.99 per month.
There’s no denying the Peloton Bike+ is fancy, and it comes with an equally fancy price tag: $3,295 for the Bike+ the original Peloton Bike-which has fewer bells and whistles, more on that later-was discounted to $1,895 from $2,495 in August 2021. The company bills itself as bringing “the community and excitement of boutique fitness into the home,” as riders can compete with one another on the digital leaderboard–or hide it altogether-join groups who share common interests through the use of tags (#WorkingMomsofPeloton, #TrueNorthStrong) and virtually high-five other riders (a little awkward, but then again, so is the real deal). Classes are filmed in studios in New York and London which are, in non-pandemic times, open for Peloton users to attend IRL on the row of bikes behind the instructor’s ride. The timing could not have been better.įor those not familiar with Peloton, here’s the lowdown: the company is best known for its wi-fi-enabled stationary bike, which lets you stream live and pre-recorded instructor-led classes that you watch from a HD touchscreen attached to the bike. I was offered a chance to try out the just-released Bike+ for a three-month period starting in September 2020. spin studio that, from all accounts, appeared to have done a good job of following what were then the public health protocols. I returned to the gym briefly in August 2020, before I got scared straight by the super-spreader event at the Hamilton, Ont. (I fully realize this is a highly trivial problem.) Pre-COVID, interval classes at Orangetheory were my preferred workout, but during Ontario’s first lockdown I reverted to running. The pandemic was tough for people who love group fitness, myself included. But I’ve now attained similar spin nirvana from the comfort of my home, thanks to the Peloton Bike+. I’ve experienced this to various degrees at dozens of studio classes I’ve attended over the years. I’ve taken enough spin classes in the past decade to know what makes for a stellar workout: dynamite music, a charismatic instructor and a sweat-drenched, climb-filled routine. The Peloton Bike+ for a review of the new bike and whether it's worth it