It has been almost 2 years since David and I purchased our Peloton Bike+ for our home. And I am fully ready to talk about how much I have enjoyed having one in our home. Consistent physical activity is incredibly important for me for my mental health. And having access to workouts 24/7 makes me less likely to avoid working out. Physical activity also helps improve brain functions, strengthens bones and muscles, reduces the risk of chronic diseases, and can help manage weight. Working from home now, I have found it even more important to have the Peloton Bike+ so that I can stick to a more consistent exercise routine.
My sister-in-law and a friend have loved Peloton for years, so we were intrigued. We decided to purchase a Peloton Bike+ because I enjoy barre, pilates, and strength training classes off the bike. So I wanted a screen that rotated. I have been incredibly pleased with our experience. So today, I am sharing our thoughts to help you decide if buying a Peloton is worth it or not.
Is Buying a Peloton Bike Worth It
With the holidays right around the corner, we all know we will start being served even more ads and seeing promotions available for big purchases. Frankly, that is a big part of why we made our decision to purchase one. We have had no regrets in purchasing. And it has actually saved us some money in both gas and gym memberships by having easy access. Below, I will highlight some of the additional benefits and considerations to hopefully help you make an informed decision about whether you get your own Peloton Bike+.
What is Peloton
The Peloton Bike is an indoor stationary bike that has a touchscreen tablet, the Bike+ screen rotates making it great for strength classes. The bike connects to WiFi allowing users to stream both live and on-demand classes. Whether you opt for the Bike or Bike+, each comes with a resistance knob for manual control during classes. Classes are challenging and rewarding. And the Bike+ provides great strength class options. David and I did the Bike+ Starter Kit. Which included a pair of Peloton shoes, a set of light weights, and a bike mat. I highly recommend getting the cycling shoes that clip into the bike because it makes the experience even better!
When you get a Peloton Bike, you will also sign up for the All-Access Membership, which is roughly $44 a month. This provides your entire household access to the Peloton library of live and on-demand classes. Being able to sign up for live classes in advance gives a boutique fitness feel to Peloton, all from the comfort and flexibility at home.
Peloton Pros and Cons
I mentioned above that not only is movement good for us physically, it is also incredibly important for mental health, too. Here are some of the pros to using Peloton for that, plus a con
Pros of Peloton
Community
Admittedly, I did not consider myself big into group fitness classes. I knew what I liked in yoga instructors and barre. And I really wanted to get in and out since that time was usually the best quiet time I could find in the day. I have loved building community through Peloton while still maintaining some peace and quiet. Being able to follow friends on the app has made it fun to be able to cheer each other on and find some new workouts to try as well!
Competition
It may come as a surprise to you, but I am wildly competitive. So I love being able to access the leaderboard during class if I’m in the mood. It is also a fun way to track progress and compete against yourself as well! Another great feature is that it is compatible with my Apple Watch, which works well for me because one of my monthly goals is to always get my monthly Apple watch badge.
Convenience
I cannot stress enough how convenient it is to have the bike at home. In recent years, I have looked for ways to be more productive in the mornings. And getting up early to get a ride in makes a huge impact on the rest of my day. Having the Peloton right in the house makes sure I have a more productive routine. And I am grateful for the opportunity to move before I get started on the day’s work, which I feel sometimes keeps me sitting more than I would like.
Motivation
Since I am a child of the 90s after all, I am easily motivated by stickers and buttons, which is part of the Peloton class structure. Badges are given for a variety of rides. Including artist series, riding with friends, monthly challenges, and more. I also enjoy being able to see how I am progressing from month to month. You can see the leaderboard to see how you are tracking against others that are in the class or just see if you are on track to beat a personal record.
Variety of Class Offerings
To be honest, I was not a huge fan of spin classes prior to getting a Peloton. But I was interested in upping my cardio and continuing to build on strength training. I enjoy the traditional spin classes and even will incorporate just a low-impact ride into my days. Recently I have been really into the bike bootcamp classes. I also follow Hardcore on the Floor on Instagram which gives great stack ideas for the week. Since the All Access Membership gives you full access to all classes, I sometimes use the walks outside if I want a change in scenery.
Con of Peloton
Making Room
There are minimal cons I have found with our almost two years of owning a Peloton Bike+. I think the biggest thing has been making room and figuring out a way to make the space work for us since we have added the Peloton to one of our guest rooms.
Is Peloton Worth It
I try to work out at least 3 times a week and I pick my classes in advance on Sunday evenings to schedule them throughout my day. While we live right outside of Raleigh, it was taking me anywhere from 30-40 minutes to get to group fitness classes. If I hit a smidge of traffic out of the ordinary, it could prevent me from making it to my class. I also found it to be more convenient if I ended up having meetings thrown on or taken off my classes quickly. Those reasons alone made it worth the investment for us.
The exercise bike alone is a great piece of fitness equipment to have easily accessible. The Peloton workouts are available whether you are interested in real-time cycling classes, scenic rides, yoga, or strength classes, there seems to be something for everyone on the Peloton app.
One thing to note is that Peloton does offer affordable payment plans and offers.
David and I bought our Peloton Bike+ on a 12-month payment plan that had 0% interest which worked really well for our budget. I also highly recommend checking out the various packages that they may be offering, because that could give better deals on buying the fitness equipment you may wish to supplement your cycling workouts.
Another consideration is to consider how many classes you may take a month.
I average 18 classes a month, which brings the cost of my app down to less than $2.50 a month. Compared to driving to and from a class and paying that monthly membership, that alone has made it more than worth it over the last several months.
Ultimately, if you are looking for a way to up your cardio and have options for other types of classes, Peloton may be right for you! Their instructors are encouraging and upbeat, plus I cannot recommend the bike boot camp and strength class options enough! If you already have a Peloton, let’s be friends! My handle is @imfixintoride.
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