Hello, Peloton!
Let me be clear for a moment. This is no ad. I didn’t get paid to write this story. I’m writing it from my heart because I love Peloton that much.
Just a few weeks ago, the world of Peloton was unfamiliar to me. Juggling the work of starting a new magazine with my personal life had taken a toll on my workouts. My schedule just wasn’t allowing me to get the quality of workouts that I wanted on a regular basis.
Then everything changed when I was scrolling Facebook and saw a post about my friend Kelly visiting a Peloton store in Tennessee. She was so excited and I didn’t understand why; how could it be that exciting to visit a store that sells bikes?
Of course, I reached out and asked her about it. I didn’t understand it. Why in the world would it be exciting to ride a bike by yourself in your house? I mean, come on now.
As I researched the concept, I found that Peloton people are kind of like fanatics. I didn’t understand that either, but I knew I had to try this experience.
One night I took that leap and ordered a Peloton. I was banking on the guarantee that I could return it in 30 days. What I didn’t know was that it would be the answer that I have been searching for, and that I would quickly become one of those fanatics.
What is Peloton?
Peloton is a company that produces bikes and treadmills equipped with monitors that livestream classes into your home. In short, it takes some of the world’s top fitness instructors and brings them to your home. Nice, right?
Its most popular product is its spinning bike, though it also sells treadmills. The thing is, it’s not cheap. A Peloton retails for a hefty $2,245 for just the bike and up to $2,694 with the bells and whistles. That’s why I was hesitant to try it at all.
Depending on the package, this can include shoes (a must, as shoes clip onto the pedals), a heart rate monitor, weights that sit on the back of the bike, headphones, a bike mat and water bottles. Delivery and setup is included, and bikes come with a one-year limited warranty. You can also finance equipment through a third-party company called Affirm.
The subscription for your bike costs $39 a month. Along with a Peloton bike comes access to an app. You can choose from running, walking, cardio and bootcamp classes both live and on-demand. I often use it at the gym for a treadmill run with an instructor (sounds strange, I know). I love the ‘80s runs. The music blasts and the instructor tells you what speed to go and runs with you. By doing this, I’ve increased my mileage.
The app also includes yoga and meditation classes. They’re great for stress relief.
Why Peloton?
Obviously I didn’t understand why Peloton was so popular. You have to try it to understand. It’s a vibe that is nearly impossible to find in an at-home workout. I’ve never seen anything like it and I’ve tried just about every at-home workout I can find.
The positivity that comes from Peloton classes is addictive. You feel like a million bucks. It’s 100 percent soul satisfying at the deepest level. And with every class, you learn more and more about what your body can do.
Because the bike is computerized, you can see exactly what you’re doing. It gives you three important metrics: cadence, output and resistance. Cadence is your speed, output is the power you’re putting in, and resistance is just that. The computer shows you these numbers in real time, and the instructor gives direction as to what your goal numbers should be.
You start to follow your numbers and realize that you can do more than you ever thought. Plus, you can join a “tribe” and meet other riders with whom you have things in common. In a very short period of time, you become a part of a community you never even knew existed. You cheer each other on and follow your new friends.
You can do one of up to 14 daily live rides or choose from a large on-demand library of past rides, of which there are thousands. You can sort by instructor, music type, length or class type.
Retention and Price
According to The Verge, Peloton boasts a 96 percent retention rate, with the average user finishing somewhere between nine and 10 classes per month. This doesn’t surprise me. The instructors are the world’s best. You don’t feel like you’re riding a bike by yourself in your bedroom. You feel like you’re right there with them.
Obviously, buying a Peloton is more expensive than joining a gym with spinning classes. For example, if you consider an all-inclusive gym membership of $58 per month, that would be $696 per year. So yes, you’re paying a lot more when you consider that the subscription price to livestream classes to your bike or treadmill is $39/month. (The basic app price is less, at $19.49 per month, but this won’t stream directly to your equipment. However, the app is included with your purchase.)
You can also look at it like this: If you did a drop-in spin class for $10, and you did this four times a week, you’d be paying $160 per month as opposed to the $39 per month you’re paying to livestream.
My Story
Maybe this will give you a snapshot of what the Peloton world is like.
It’s 6:40 p.m. on a Friday. Normally I would be obsessing about what articles needed to be done the next day while trying to get in some kind of socialization. Instead, I am literally counting the hours until my live 9 a.m. ride with Alex.
Who is Alex, you ask? Alex Toussaint is my friendly neighborhood Peloton instructor. Well, he doesn’t exactly live in my neighborhood. He lives in New York. I don’t. But he visits my bedroom on a regular basis. (That sounded pretty funny. But hey, my bike is in my bedroom.)
The moment finally comes. It’s Alex’s 45-minute Club Bangers ride set to dance music. I’m in class with almost 1,500 other riders. I forget I’m in my bedroom. Alex is staring at me on a monitor that sits on top of my bike, telling me to work my ass off. “This isn’t daycare,” he says in a familiar tone. He tells me to count my blessings. I scream back “yesssss.”
Anyone looking on would think I’m nuts. I look at the leaderboard, intent on finishing with good numbers. You see, everyone in the class has a number and a rank that is listed on the leaderboard. I’m ranking at just about 704 of 1,453 riders. I pedal faster to make sure I don’t lose my place.
The class finally comes to an end. I’m covered in sweat. I smile as I look at the numbers. I’ve ridden 13.07 miles, burned off 538 calories, had an average resistance of 42 percent and kept an average speed of 17.5 mph. The thing is, it didn’t feel like 45 minutes. It felt like a blink of an eye.
The Big Yes
I never thought I’d say this, but I think Peloton is 100 percent worth the price. The experience you get is unparalleled. Not only are my workouts back on track, they’re better. I never planned to keep the bike. Not only will I keep it, it’s my new favorite thing. And with that, I’m out of here. I’ve got a seven o’clock class with Alex! Seriously.
About the Author: Mary Beth Cooper is the founder and CEO of Curvicality. After getting an MBA, she dedicated her life to creating media that celebrates bodies of all sizes. In her spare time, she can be found hanging out with her fur kids (Gabbana and Taber), taking a Peloton ride or run (her favorite hobby), catching up with friends and spending time with family. She’s a lover of all things sparkle and lace. She can be reached at: Marybeth@curvicality.com
