Nope. No fancy pic of me and my Peloton. This is a fashion blog. The best you’ll get is my street style fitness shoot with Photography Yours and Mine
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. This is a fashion blog. Why in the world am I talking about fitness?
At the beginning of the year I shared my 2020 goals with you. One of them was to wake up early to exercise.
I started the BBG program twice in 2020 and after 3 months of actually staying consistent, it became too repetitive and too difficult for me. It was also competing with our newest purchase, a Peloton. The Peloton clearly won and while there are tons of reviews out there, I want to share my thoughts with you.
First, my backstory
I loathe working out. I’m not good at it, I run out of steam VERY quickly and I’m simply just not that motivated. My dream is to have a dancer’s body (so strong!) but I will never, ever, ever have one. I eat carbs. And chocolate. And drink wine. And not just as “special occasion treats.”
So I want you to understand that this review is coming from a woman who is not very fit, not very motivated and extremely mediocre when it comes to athletic ability.
When I started using the Peloton it was HARD. And it’s still hard.
But I’ve used it every single day since it was delivered. And I’m HOOKED.
Pros
Convenience
No more commuting in traffic, parking, signing-in, waiting for class to start. I was never huge on in-person classes anyway. The best part of doing an in-person workout, for me, was getting to have coffee with my friends afterwards.
Variety
There are TONS of classes in the Peloton app. It’s not just cycling. They have yoga, meditation, dance, etc. Plus, you can select workouts as short as 5min all the way up to 90min. There are tons of musical genres too. When I work out, it’s ALL about the music so this is key for me.
Camaraderie and Motivation
Peloton is truly one of the most supportive communities I’ve experienced. You can “high five” people and see the leaderboard of where you stand in the pack. I find this to be incredibly motivating.
During an in-person class when I would see people killing it on the bike next to me while I huffed and puffed like I was dying, it made me feel like crap. Now when I see names on the leaderboard in my same rank, I high five them and really strive to keep up with them. It’s enjoyable, not de-motivating.
Your calories, miles ridden and consistency are tracked and you earn badges for accomplishments. This isn’t something I’ve found in any other workout class. It really pushes me to the next level to see my progress.
Cons
The cost.
A $2500 bike plus $40/month for the app is a significant investment. But we’ve already broken even based on how much we’ve used it. (Comparing the cost of a cycling class in San Diego to the number of rides we’ve done on the Peloton)
Favorite Instructors
Robyn Arzon and Cody Rigsby.
Robyn spontaneously laughs throughout rides and it’s lovely and genuine and just endears you to her. Plus she has a knack for motivating you in a really friendly, “I believe in you!” way. Absolutely no pushy, tough-love here. Robyn is all love.
I wish Cody were my real life BFF. I just did an 80s ride with him and he gave the entire ride a plot – shopping at the mall with your girlfriends. There were so many spot-on references I was not only cracking up laughing but I was SO sad when it was over. I truly felt transported to another time.
What about the people who have a Peloton and dislike it?
Besides knowing we were not going to step foot in a gym again in 2020 (coronavirus), we pulled the trigger on the Peloton because of the many friends who gave us rave reviews.
I do, however, have one friend who dislikes it.
She said the number one reason for her not liking it is because she thrives on the energy and camaraderie from an in-person class. She wants to feel the energy from the person cycling next to her. That was not replicated for her in the Peloton and she told me she is going to return hers.
Final Thoughts if You’re Still on the Fence
I’ll be honest. Had we purchased the Peloton when life was normal I don’t know if I’d be this dedicated. Because of the coronavirus, it has become my savior. The Peloton has truly changed my life.
Since the gym is closed (and I’m not personally comfortable going back until our world has stabilized), I need to have an exercise outlet at home. This is not just about physical health, but mental health as well.
When I started, I did 20-minute rides for the first 2.5 weeks. But starting in week 3, I felt my endurance go up a notch and now do 30min rides. I know I could easily do a 45-minute ride now, but 30 minutes is my preferred workout.
The quality of the bike is superb. It’s very substantial and the video screen is high definition giving you a “I feel like I’m there” vibe.
If you have any questions about the Peloton, please comment or email me! This is honestly the best purchased we’ve made all year and probably EVER!