Peloton Review: Everything You Need to Know

LIFESTYLE

Jan 5

New Year, New You, New Peloton Bike?

Maybe or maybe not, but I am here to share my honest opinion of the Peloton experience, and this is NOT a sponsored post.

I was one of those who caved in during the pandemic and ordered a Peloton, but I am also the type of person who can NEVER stick with ANY workout routine. Sadly enough, I was also one of those people who referred to Peloton users as a cult😂, and I take it back now. Today I stand before you as a person who has committed to working out a full two months, and I will tell you this is the FIRST time in my 36 years on this Earth of being this consistent in working out.

This review will discuss purchasing the Peloton Bike pricing, preparing for delivery, my favorite Peloton instructor, and more.

Price & Purchasing

The Peloton Bike was a purchase I pondered about for eight months. During those eight months, I reviewed every blog posts, Youtube videos, and every inch of the Peloton website before making this investment. At the time of purchase, the new Bike + had hit the market, and I chose to go with the 1st generation bike mainly because the swivel screen did not interest me as I live in New York City and have limited space. Typically people utilize the swivel screen function when participating in cardio, yoga, barre, or strength classes.

The Bike's current price $1,895, and the Bike + is $2,495, and with a $600 difference, I feel like it is worth it IF:

Have the space to work out with the screen swiveled out.
Plan on doing a large number of other classes outside of cycling.
You want a 24" screen compared to the 22" on the first generation.
Apple GymKit™ Integration
Prefer the Auto-Follow feature. This feature changes the resistance based upon the instructor's request, and the downside to this is ONLY available during On-Demand classes.

If you have the space to work in your living room and cast your Peloton app to your TV, I see no need to spend the extra $600 for a swivel screen.

When purchasing the Peloton Bike, you can buy or finance through Affirm for 0% interest and monthly payments starting around $49 a month for 39 months. 39 months is a long time, but the Affirm app makes it easy to make additional payments to pay off the balance beforehand. There is an additional cost for the digital membership and this $39/month in addition to the bike's price. There is no way to avoid this monthly cost if you purchase a Peleton because you WILL NOT have access to the classes.

I know what you are thinking - Dom, we are almost at $90 a month for a bike that goes nowhere! In comparison, New York Sports Club membership prices range from $39 - $89 to workout in a public space and let us not forget we are STILL in the middle of a pandemic.

I understand that price is relative to a person, their priority of health, and wellness. I am not here to count anyone's coin, but I enjoy being able to ride when I want to and have access to core training, yoga, meditation, and running programs. At this time, I do not feel comfortable utilizing public spaces to work out.

Bike (1st Gen)

Bike+ (2nd Gen)

Accessories

There is a slew of accessories that Peloton allows you to purchase in packages but also individually as of recently! I bought the Bike Works, which includes cycling shoes, bike mat, heart monitor, shoes, weights, and headphones (which I never use -_- ).

You can purchase many of these items elsewhere if you would like to save money, but I opted to purchase directly from Peloton for convenience. If you buy cycle shoes from elsewhere, but they must have Delta-compatible cleats.

Delivery

Peloton's online shopping process is seamless, but then again, if you are making an almost $2,000 purchase, they need to make it easy. Towards the end of checking out, you will select your delivery date and time, a two-hour window.

The Peloton team will send you an email closer to the date of delivery and a phone call on the day of. Couple of things to remember to prepare for this long-awaited day:

You must be wearing a mask the entire time the Peloton reps are setting up your bike. #IssaPandemic
Have the designated area for the bike setup ready to go. The dimensions of the bike are 4' L x 2'. For more info on the dimensions, click here.
It takes the Peloton team about 30 minutes to set up the bike.

The wait for my new exercise experience to be delivered was a month and a half, and I will tell you it felt like FOREVER. Peloton is currently estimating up to 8 weeks for arrival due to high demand, but I have had friends tell me they waited less than a month.

Initial thoughts the first week?

My butt hurts (it gets better, so keep riding).
I died in every class for the first week, and keep pushing. I recommend you take the beginner’s classes before you hop on the Beyonce rides - TRUST ME!
It is a little harder to give up when you are clipped in on a 135-pound bike.

My Favorite Peloton Related Purchases

Gym Wrap - A scientifically designed headwrap created to keep moisture away from your hair and allow heat to escape freely. These headwraps were created by Nicole Ari Parker, and I previously remember seeing commercials and being very skeptical. As someone who sweats in their head ALOT, I can vouch for them, and own two of them.
Fan- Great Amazon buy and has allowed me to make it through those 45-minute rides.
Peloton City Tights - These are available only in the showroom store and available in almost every major city.

Favorite Peloton Instructors

Final Thoughts

Peloton has been one of the most worthwhile purchases I made in 2020. In two months have lost a total of 9 pounds, 2 inches in my waist, and I have one less jump to make when I put my jeans on. These changes may not seem drastic enough to some people, but I am proud of myself for sticking to a routine and overall in better shape. When I go up several flights of stairs, I am not getting as winded, and when I have to lift myself off the floor, I am quicker, and it is easier.

I also want to shoutout the Black Girl Magic: The Peloton Edition FB Group for the community and the encouragement they give. I never met a more supportive group of strangers in my life! I joined the group two weeks before my bike arrived, and they share great tips and products to purchase from fans to sports bras.

If you want to get $100 off your purchase, feel free to use my referral code: BGZ5PA

If you have further questions, feel free to comment on this post or send me an email.

Dom N' The City