Peloton: First Impressions
How It Started.
A couple of years ago, even a year ago, I would have never thought I would own a Peloton. To start, I've always disliked cycling as a form of cardio. Secondly, the idea of dropping such a large sum of money on an exercise bike blew my mind. Cue the pandemic, exercising at home and uncertainty about returning to the gym. Now I am all in, loving everything about it; I am sure I joined a cult and don't even care.
My husband and I purchased a relatively cheap exercise bike nearly six years ago. We wanted to have a piece of cardio equipment, but the bike was our only choice, given our limited space. So, I've used it, in a lacklustre, "sure I exercised" kind of way, which was working because I was regularly going to the gym and this was "bonus" exercise.
However, when COVID shut down the gyms, I had to re-assess my home exercise routine. By the time we were considering the Peloton, gyms were re-opened. However, I was not feeling ready to return. One day, we decided to book an appointment to go to the Peloton showroom and test it out. And let me tell you, I was sold almost immediately upon sitting on the bike. A part of it could be that our old bike was showing it's age, often making a loud, grinding sound that didn't allow you to hear your own thoughts, and it was starting to feel stiff. But, when I got on the Peloton, it was buttery smooth and completely silent. Then the sales associate hooked me up with a 90s music class to check out the screen and sound, Backstreet Boys came blaring out of the speakers, and I fell deeper in love.
Okay, okay. Those are some of the more trivial reasons for how I got hooked in. As we sat and thought about it, though, I started to look at this as an investment. Exercise and health are very important to me, and I knew I was losing motivation and focus while working out at home. I felt more and more like I wanted to stick to a mini home gym, but I knew I needed to make it more deliberate and effective. The cost was a big pill to swallow, but I reasoned that this was a long term investment, I was no longer going to be paying gym fees, and I am lucky enough to have some flex spending through my work to contribute toward the purchase. So, we bit the bullet and ordered the Peloton Bike+.
How It's Going.
I regret nothing about this decision. Just over a month of ownership and nearing 50 rides, and I am incredibly pleased with this purchase. Here's what I love!
Time Efficient. Switching to exercising at home has really opened my eyes to the convenience of slipping in a workout throughout my day. When I was in university, I had always preferred to exercise in the morning but found it impossible once I started a job that required an early morning commute. With the Peloton, I can get in a 20-minute ride whenever I like, and it always feels like time well spent. Additionally, because I am using classes and real-time data, my time on the bike consistently feels efficient and as though I got a successful workout completed. I have not yet regretted the decision to get on the bike.
Classes & Instructors. The variety of classes and the instructors is phenomenal. I can choose based on themes such as time, level of intensity, music and instructor. I've certainly found some favourites but also continue to explore the seemingly limitless options. All of the instructors I have experienced so far have been supportive and encouraging while pushing me to be my best and challenge my comfort zone.
Challenge. Not only do the instructors challenge me out of my comfort zone, but the bike tracks all of my classes and progress. This data allows me to assess improvements, personal bests and new achievements. I find this information hugely motivating, and I love seeing how I am growing, especially being so new to spin. Challenging myself neatly slips into my competitive side, and the Leaderboard option supports this. The Leaderboard allows me to see how my output compares to others who have completed the ride and/or are currently completing the ride. It also allows me to connect with other members through "high fives" and various hashtags (such as #Pelo4Wine.)
Tracking. As I mentioned, all of my progress and stats are tracked on the Peloton. It keeps you updated on various streaks, recent achievements and your class history. You can view your data in various graphs and metrics, allowing you to see your progress and set clear goals.
In Summary
I will briefly add that our delivery experience was less than appealing. The delivery company rescheduled our delivery less than 24 hours before the scheduled date. This delivery adjustment was after an 8-week wait, and we were delayed by another 4-weeks. While I am still quite disappointed in the missed error in scheduling (the date we chose was on a day of the week that the company is not in our area,) the person delivering our bike shed some light on the minimal options for dates. He shared that before the pandemic, he was delivering approximately 300-400 bikes in a year to now delivering 300-500 in a month. While I would still say that the system needs improvement, I have moved on and focused on enjoying the Peloton.
It's been fun to try new classes and make additions (lights and shelving) to our space. I am beyond happy with our decision to purchase the Peloton Bike+. I have been feeling infinitely better about my exercise routines and am experiencing a return of motivation and excitement for fitness.
January 28, 2020