Is it just me or is $40 a month too much for the content they provide? I would spend a couple thousand on fancy exercise equipment, or maybe get one as a gift for my parents but the required subscription gives me rent seeking vibes.
£40/month is worth it. The quality of the classes is impeccable. It's like they've been produced with TV budgets! This price does also include the digital membership which has yoga, boxing and loads of other type of workouts.
The bike (Bike+) is expensive but it's a solid piece of kit and does come with a 24 inch (Android) tablet.
Edit: Forgot to say, the £40/month is per bike, not per member. So you can have your entire family using the bike for the £40/month.
I don't need or want any interactive features that the bike provides, especially at a $25 premium to what I pay now.
does come with a 24 inch (Android) tablet.
When I bought my bike, I saw that 24 inch screen built-in to the Peloton as a drawback, my bike has a simple 4 line LCD bike computer, which I expect to run indefinitely, but it never needs software updates and if it breaks, it costs $200 to replace. And I don't have to plug it into the wall, it runs for a year on AA batteries.
I link my bike to my watch so have all of my workouts in once place -- spinning bike, running, outdoor biking, etc.
Not sure how recent those instructions are.
commercially available single purpose computers are such a scam
25-50/mo. Tops.
20-40 per class is robbery.
That being said, she argues she’s never felt healthier in her entire life and so I can’t complain if she’s happy!
She is focused on the Peloton power zone classes. For power zone, you take an FTP test every 6 weeks which measures your ability to produce power output over 20 minutes. The bike then knows your 7 power output zones, from easy effort to max output. Based on that, Peloton instructors design classes which are zone based, and drive improvement at whatever your level is.
I tried powerzone after seeing my wife do it, and although it’s only a part of my exercise, I really like it. You can really see the improvement. I’ve never liked exercise classes in the past, but I like the powerzone classes and instructors.
My wife also signed up for some third party website (I forget what) that is essentially like a team based and powerzone based training plan. It motivates her over longer periods.
Having tried it, I think the peloton bike product is really good. It may have pulled forward a lot of demand and grown too much, but it offers a lot of real value.
The tech is also pretty well rounded. You can get pretty much all info that the bike has at any time on the app. During a workout, the Apple Watch communicates back biometrics.
I'm a pretty cynical and skeptical person, but after just getting one, I can definitely see the appeal.
I reiterate though, it's working well for her health journey, so I'm all for it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Acquisition_University
It seems similar to Yoga where you can find incredible quality online but its really not.
Spin classes are just HIIT over a 30-60 minute window.
Throw on some tunes and move your ass. If you're not sweaty or tired by the time you're done you did it wrong
Tada.
These people always burn out once the gimmick wears off. Then they go searching for the next thing and the next.
Throwing money hand over fist bc they cant figure out to eat better and put the proverbial foot to the concrete.
I'm sure they were all convinced their apple watch was going to keep them on track. These are the people who ran out and bought those stupid finger-toe running "shoes". They thought the Wii Fit Board was going to revolutionize things.
These are people who have perfectly matching and stylish gym outfits. they buy endless supplements to enhance performance or weight loss.
Just go do some hiit. Lift some weights. Take a yoga class. Quit eating like a jackass.
Nutrition and fitness can be complicated but beginner to intermediate changes aren't. 90% of people have an effort and habit problem.
And the western world thinks in consumerism terms. That fitness is something you buy at the store and name drop the brand to your friends.
And it's why they'll yo-yo their efforts all their lives before just giving up entirely
Trainers and peloton classes and such give people the option to rent someone else's willpower, though. (plus leverage sunk-cost sentiments and other tricks)
It's probably part of why fitness levels go up and waistlines down as one's gaze travels up the SES ladder. Someone with money who kinda wants to get fit can pay someone else to do their giving-a-shit for them, and might get fit. Someone without money who kinda wants to get fit—won't. That's what you'd expect to see even with all else, including the distribution of willpower (however we measure that) among various social classes and income levels, being equal.
It would be rather normal if cult members never describe cult as "Oh it is just a typical cult with some suspicious ideology, providing dubious benefits and led by a charismatic charlatan"
Its just where fitness and trendy luxury brand peacocking intersect.
It's like asking whether any other digital media subscription is worth it - my wife follows certain instructors and says she really enjoys the rides/classes - there is a certain element of "star power" in this space; the production values are excellent; the integration with the bike is top-notch.
Its kind of like saying "Quake is cool, but I don't know why I would ever want to play multiplayer..."
If you have the motivation to keep yourself on a bike with just some headphones or a video on a tablet, more power to you, but there are many of us who can't do that. Add in that this has replaced my wife's multiple times a week soul cycle habit, with each class being $40, and Peloton is actually a significant cost savings in my home.
+1 for the IC4, it seems like a much better piece of kit than it had a right to be at the (pre/early pandemic) price point - like $800 IIRC.
And I definitely wouldn't say I'm a member of the "culture", I get on, do a class, get off, that's it. The price is worth it for two people in the house I think.
It's disappointing to have such nice hardware that's so limited--can't watch youtube or listen to music directly on the device, no built in interval training, no way to pause a run... Now that I think about it, it's one of the least-capable treadmills I've ever owned.
That is in fact as bonkers as it sounds - my wife has a $700 spin bike and just puts an iPad on the front of it. Because she didn't spend $2000 or whatever on the Peloton bike, she says a third of the price for the content.
EDIT: apparently some of you disagree. Change my mind.
But it would be easy to see peloton fitting in with gym classes for people that like to work out everyday but adding 1hr around a gym class to travel and get ready on days that time may not be available
I'll attempt to change your mind with a bit of math. And some context. I've used/use Peloton, Zwift, Future, and finally brick-and-mortar 24 Hour Fitness and Equinox.
My EQX membership is $240/month. My Peloton membership is $40/month.
You're saying that people are going back to the office and want their classes/gyms, but that's not exactly true. I'm going back to the office, at most 3x a week, typically 2x a week. Work in Manhattan, live in Westchester County (30 min commute).
$240 / 8 visits per month (2x per week) = $30 per visit. $240 / 12 visits per month (3x per week) = $20 per visit.
That $240 made sense when I could go to the gym 4x+ per week. And use multiple locations linked to the membership. It's now a very expensive line item on my credit card statement for doing something 8x per month.
Meanwhile, I can hit 2 or 3 Peloton classes per day, for $40 per month. Some of the most basic supplemental equipment (bands, dumbbells, etc.) can go a long way with some care after dealing with their upfront cost.
So, I agree with you that people want their gyms and classes but I don't agree that people are willing to pay for things they can't physically use as often. Meanwhile, anything you've built up at home is right there waiting to be used with almost no lost time.
To be fair Peloton was doing ok before pandemic I think. They got disproportionally hyped since pandemic and now returning back to what is realistic value. Myself, I would not touch it with a wooden pole but that's just personal preferences - I do not participate in organized activities. Do everything on my own.
But the narrative that they are essentially a failed company, when they are still growing their user base, and haven't even really done much of an international expansion, is so far off from the reality that their management just spent money like drunken sailors on new businesses that no one wanted.
Bike would've been cheaper if I had bought before the pandemic but home gym prices went up, unsurprisingly
Having not used their software or hardware, I'd assume that for people purchasing a really expensive bike, $40/mo isn't bad. Still...it feels steep.
Edit: Thanks everybody for the explanation. In my head, gym == myself + good ol' iron. It seems that that is cheap in the US as well as in Europe :)
If you (like my SO) is going to the gym and using multiple provided amenities and training programs, that price can get very pricy very fast because those amenities are usually upcharged.
So I can really see the appeal.
if you want classes led by an instructor, you're probably paying more than that -- e.g., the YMCA in my city starts at $50/month/person
The Peloton's value for many is that the workout in within few steps and 30 seconds from being in the home office chair.
Currently, I have one of my bikes mounted in the basement on a $1000 Wahoo Kickr smart trainer and use Zwift for $15/month (which I cancel over the summer).
When I do yoga, I want a live class because I want the instructor to adjust poses based on my skill/flexibility. Mindlessly cycling through sun salutations does nothing for me.
A few family members who aren't fitness buffs have Pelotons. They all slowly stopped using them over time. So the bike is basically a very expensive coat rack.
I would get a bike tomorrow if that cost was $15-$25 a month.
Has been working like a charm for years now. Feel fancy, just BT to connect the Peloton app to the bike if you want to attend an actual class.
Note, that's a nice bike, you can get no name bikes from Amazon for $150.
If you HAVE to stay inside for bad weather or something get a trainer for that bike. There are several youtube channels/patreon channels that film their mountain-biking/road biking and you can put those on and feel like you're riding along if you need that aspect.
I feel like the type of people that fall for these electronic gadgets typically don't like exercising and are hoping they'll somehow get more motivated with digital content. Invariably, after a few months they quit using it just like every other exercise program they've started.
Spin classes have their appeal and benefits that aren't the same as regular riding. A spin class is (typically) a high-intensity activity done for a fairly short period of time (say, an hour). An hour spent outside on your bike does not impart the same benefits, plus issues of weather and traffic detract (for some) from the overall appeal.
I'm a serious road cyclist, so I kinda dismissed Peloton initially, because I figured because it looked kinda like a bad deal for road-cyclist indoor workouts then it must be the same thing, but it's really not. I have a fancy indoor riding setup using a Wahoo trainer and one of my bikes and an iPad, and that's PERFECT for the kinds of FTP-boosting workouts my coach sets up for me, but Peloton isn't in my market AT ALL. Just because it'd pedaling indoors doesn't make it the same thing.
Spin has its own (typically well-heeled) devotees, and Peloton is pursuing that market. There is almost ZERO overlap between the sets of "my serious cycling pals who do indoor training" and "my friends who own Pelotons," which just highlights the difference.
I've lived in rural areas where biking outside was great and in cities where biking was prioritized but I've also lived in many places where biking outside put myself at a much higher risk of being injured than biking inside. Especially at night after work which is when many exercise.
When I am on vacation I do Peloton audio based outdoor runs to keep my Peloton workout streak alive.
"trainers don't work if you have 7+ bikes in a household with differing drivetrains, even the ones that attach at the wheel"
They absolutely DO work, even then. Wheel-off smart trainers (Wahoo KICKR Snap, e.g.) don't care what your drive train is. We can put every bike we own on ours, and that includes bikes with 9-speed, 10-speed, and 11-speed drivetrains.
If you opt for a wheel-off trainer, sure, you'd probably need to ensure chain/cassette compatibility, but then you're clearly making a tradeoff for a superior "feel" and better power calibration -- in other words, you're probably racing and have no interest in keeping your 9-speed bike on a trainer when you race on 11. ;)
Even in the middle of my small town, drop in classes at the gym at 8$ each, on top of your monthly membership.
Fwiw I dont own a Peloton, I prefer running, I just dont think its nearly as bad of a deal as people make it out to be
Just because something can be offered cheaper at scale, doesn’t mean it should or needs to be.