App to Bike: Why I Took The Plunge With Peloton

“We need to get a Peloton.” 

For the past several winters I’ve been repeating that phrase ad-nauseam to my husband, most frequently in January when the weather where we live is anything but inviting. We live in Maine, where winter can be… challenging. It’s a dark, cold, LONG season that brings with it many ups and downs (spring doesn’t usually arrive until late April and I once went snowboarding in May – the cold weather lasts). And even if you consider yourself outdoorsy, like I do, keeping up a regular fitness routine between November and April can be difficult in the best of times – add the pandemic to the mix, and it might feel downright impossible.

See, before COVID hit, I was a regular gym-goer. I loved the ritual of it – carving out time for myself to run, lift, row, and stretch no matter the weather. It was the perfect counterbalance to the other sports I enjoy, like running, hiking, and surfing – you can read more about what I’m up to in my Cairn reviews – and I loved that I had a place to work out when the weather was bad. I just wasn’t a “workout at home” person. And then the pandemic came along. While the gyms were closed in 2020, I managed to create a pretty solid home workout routine that involved a set of weights I found in my dad’s basement and keeping up with my running, but as soon as winter rolled around, that routine fell apart and despair set in and, you guessed it, that oft-repeated phrase became a near-daily refrain.

“We need to get a Peloton.”

Why was I so stuck on the at-home spin bike? “There are free workouts online!” you might be thinking to yourself, or "just go to the gym!" Self-directed workouts just don’t work for me at home, and I was intrigued by the community aspect that Peloton offered, especially as the pandemic proved that my gym-going would be on pause much longer than expected (I’ve been back a handful of times and just don’t feel comfortable working out maskless or in a mask, for that matter). But instead of taking the plunge with the bike, I decided to sign up for the Peloton app first, which is $12.99 per month. I figured I could test the waters and see how it worked for me before investing in the bike. Would I like the instructors? Would the workouts feel challenging enough?

For those unfamiliar with the Peloton app, you can subscribe to the app without actually owning the Bike or the Tread (the Peloton treadmill). By subscribing through the app, users gain access to all of Peloton’s programming – you can take strength training classes, yoga, HIIT, guided outdoor workouts like running, and even take the spin and treadmill classes and more – just without the live leaderboard and other community aspects that owning the Bike or Tread afford. The benefit, besides gaining access to a great fitness app, is being able to get a feel for the instructors and the overall vibe before investing in any expensive equipment. No one wants to shell out their hard-earned money for a glorified laundry rack and something they just won’t use, right? So I dove into the app. I loved the guided outdoor runs and the strength workouts, and the yoga classes filled at least part of the void left when my local studio closed due to the pandemic.

Still, purchasing the Bike would be a big investment, but what finally pushed me over the edge was… winter. Maine has a funny way of erasing any memory of what winter here is really like – and it’s called Maine summer. But winter had arrived once again, and with it, two inches of ice on the sidewalks, negative degree temps, and very little sunlight. My strength workouts were going fine, but the short, cold days coupled with working from home and having a desk-bound job had left me feeling restless and too sedentary. It was time.

It. Was. Time.

Also, my 38th birthday was coming up so happy birthday to me: After three years of waffling, I finally invested in the Peloton Bike.

And I’m thrilled.

While there are other at-hole spin bike options out there, what convinced me to purchase the Peloton - specifically - was the following:

• The number of coworkers and friends who also own the bike and with whom I could work out virtually.
• The option to finance with 0% APR (pending approval).
• The small footprint (the bike is approx. 4’ x 2’ - although you’ll need a little more space for freedom of movement).
• The overall vibe of the classes – there’s no “body talk” (I.E. no mention of firming, toning, weight loss, etc), the instructors are positive and fun, and the music library is great.
• You can have multiple profiles on the same account, so my husband could use the bike as well, and have his own profile.

I ordered my bike mid-January and after initially being quoted a delivery window of 1-week, my bike arrived exactly two weeks later – I’m not complaining, this is a vast improvement from the 6+ month delivery times earlier in the pandemic. For another friend and coworker, she ordered her bike at the same time I did and waited three weeks – the main issue seems to be space on the delivery trucks (it seems I’m not the only one taking the plunge). Delivery was seamless and fast and took less than 20 minutes for the delivery drivers to arrive and assemble the bike.

From there, setting up your bike is simply a matter of signing in and running through the programmed set-up instructions. Peloton will walk you through adjusting the bike so it fits perfectly (if you’ll be using your bike along with anyone else, I suggest writing down your numbers for quick and easy set-up between users). Once you’re set up, you’re ready to roll! As long as you use the same log-in information as the app (if you used it previously), your subscription will be automatically converted from app-only to full membership.

New members will have the option to join the “You Can Ride” challenge, which offers three weeks of structured programming for those who are new to Peloton. Even if you’ve dabbled in spin classes before and/or consider yourself in great shape and ready to go, I highly recommend taking advantage of this program. Not only will you learn proper form and the different functions of the bike, but you’ll also get to know the different instructors and their styles of teaching, along with the function of each type of class. I chose to go through the challenge while also taking other classes (there’s a lot of rest time built into the initial “You Can Ride” challenge, which may be perfect for you or may leave you craving more movement).

It’s now been one week, and while it’s still early, I can tell you that I’ve worked out far more than I would have without the Bike. I’ve been enjoying having a ritual again, and by removing the barrier of coming up with my own programming, I’m finding that I’m feeling far more motivated and excited to get my workout in. The thing that has most surprised me is that I'm suddenly an evening workout person! Instead of working out first thing in the morning, I love closing my laptop and heading for the bike. Immersing myself in a class is the perfect way to wash away the day and make the transition from work-at-home to just being at home.

A Peloton app membership will run you $12.99 per month and grants users access to nearly the full roster of classes. The Peloton Bike packages start at $1,495 plus delivery and set up– this does not include any accessories or shoes. You'll also need the $39 per month all-access membership to create different profiles, access Peloton's full library of on-demand classes, compete with Leaderboard, and more. I chose to purchase my shoes and accessories separately – if you chose to do the same, just be sure that the shoes you purchase have Delta-compatible clips. I purchased this bike mat and these shoes, and I use my Garmin Venu to track my heart rate. While I already owned a set of lightweight dumbells, these coated dumbells are an affordable option.

How about you? Have you thought about getting a Peloton? Do you own one? Let me know your questions below, I'm happy to answer them!