My husband really loves to bike as his primary form of exercise. Biking is not typically my favorite. I definitely prefer group exercise classes, but have never done a spin class, as I prefer aerobics-based classes. So when we purchased the Peloton bike last year, an indoor exercise bike with online streaming classes, I thought to myself, I am likely never going to ride this! This was the case until we had several snow days in January, leaving me house-bound with cabin fever. 
I finally gave the Peloton bike a try and actually really loved it! Even the beginner rides were a great workout! The instructors were motivating and really pushed me to challenge myself. The classes are either live or recorded and are modeled as group-exercise classes, even though everyone else is participating on their own bikes in their own homes. You can see how much effort everyone else is putting forth, compare it to your own, and respond accordingly. There are also some in-person people riding along with the instructor in the studio where the classes are filmed in NYC. Being a beginning rider, I appreciate that these in-person people represent a diverse mix of experience levels.
The Peloton bike definitely checks a lot of my boxes for an effective and enjoyable workout! I have continued to ride even after the snow melted.
In summary, here are my pros and cons of the Peloton bike:
Pros
- I can use it in the comfort of my own home.
- The recorded rides allow me to ride on my own schedule.
- The instructor challenges and motivates me even during the recorded rides.
- The instructor sets the pace for the ride, taking the guesswork out of it for me.
- I can see how my level of effort compares to other riders.
- I can see other in-person riders, which represent a diverse mix of experience levels.
- The music playlists are provided on the class schedule so that I can select my preferred style.
Cons
- Some of the instructors use profanity. Warnings are provided, so that you can avoid these instructors.
- The pedal started clicking a while ago, for which we need to call tech support.
Have you tried a Peloton bike or other new high tech exercise equipment? What was your experience? What should we try next? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
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I have a prosthetic leg and I’m wondering if I can still use the peloton bike?
Hi Anthony, thank you for reading our blog! We would recommend contacting Peloton directly. Their support page and contact information can be found here: https://support.onepeloton.com/hc/en-us.
I am up to 78 weeks using my Peloton and find that I use the App on my phone or iPad almost as much as I use the bike. I do love the bike, the spin classes, certain instructors in particular, the scenic rides, the tracking and metrics, the “badges” recognizing various accomplishments and the challenges. I find it all very motivating and it has kept me active and working out regularly.
I use the App on my phone for all manner of classes – yoga, medication, stretching, strength, and in particular “outdoor” activity that includes guided walks and runs with playlists that help with interval workouts. I started using the App when I was traveling for work and found that I enjoyed the classes as much as the spin classes.
All in all I’m very pleased with the Peloton experience and look forward to continuing to reach milestones.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Anne! It is great to hear you have found options that work for you with and without the bike. Thank you again for sharing! 🙂
I suffered a stroke several years ago and I am currently confined to a wheelchair. Is the seat on the bike adjustable up and down so I can set it up to ride
Hi Kim, we would recommend contacting Peloton directly to ask about specific bike features. Their support page can be found here: https://support.onepeloton.com/hc/en-us. 🙂
Hello! I, and my Husband, brought this phenomenon into our home about a month ago and it has changed our lives! Getting older, we both have aches and pains (back, knees, hips) so our physical exercise routines had been slashed to next to nothing. This was a game changer. We are both riding every day and the best part is that we are excited to do it! We would recommend to anyone needing to step up their in home workout game
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This is very nice article. It’s also helpful for us. Thank you for sharing like this beneficial article.
I’ve seen commercials for this and really wish I could try it. I used to love spin classes–but now I have severe arthritis in both knees (they only bend to 90 degrees and do not straighten all the way) and I’m not sure how spinning would affect me now. 🙁
Hi Suzy, Thank you for reading our blogs and for your comment. I am sorry to hear about your knee arthritis. 🙁 Have you tried raising the bike seat up a bit so that you do not have to bend your legs beyond 90 degrees and would also not have to straighten them all the way? Please keep us posted.
I really enjoy spin classes and I recommend them for you. If you try them I would like to know what you think about them.