Peloton Bike Review | How good is it really? (From an Ironman triathlete.)

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

*Some quick thoughts on Powerzone rides:* I already know my FTP (and actually, even to that point, I think TR does a better job of testing it, especially for beginners.) At the point when we start looking at PZ rides, then my only real metric is “How effective is this as a training tool,” and I will confidently say that TrainerRoad with their base/build/specialty programs are in another class altogether. Once we take away the Peloton community aspect and strip it down to “Now we’re doing power-based training,” then I’ve got to judge it as a holistic training program, and TR is just so much better. Also, on the hardware side of things, the estimated power needs much better smoothing, imo. You can see it at like 7:29 in the video. They need a 3s smoothed average or something. I routinely get 50W swings just between pedal strokes; terrible. Compared to an erg mode trainer which locks you down or even a dumb trainer with Z-power or Virtual Power, just a much better experience. That’s all aside to my long rant about how I don’t even think Peloton understands it’s own leaderboards; it makes no sense to me to have a leaderboard based on total output while giving instructions that specifically delineate where everyone should be. By definition, to win you have to ignore their ranges (or at most, there would be a clump of leaders who all were at the top of the range.) Compared to TR again, for instance, where all the workouts are just functions of your FTP. With Peloton, especially beginners, you’re all over the board. My suspicion is that the vast majority or riders just spend all their workouts in Z4 or 5 trying to hold the upper end of the ranges. So like I said in the video, good for cardio and “getting your 20 min of fitness / day,” less ideal for long term progressive growth.

[@LoanShoppingExpert]

I have no idea what your acronyms stand for.

[@richardstoffel6585]

Catherine Coy ftp = functional threshold power, TR = trainer road

[@Swishormiss]

JustinDoesTriathlon I think this is a pretty good review but you completely dropped the ball on talking about Power Zone training. You said active athlete or tri athletes.. this isn’t a review for basic people. The Power Zone training classes are insane and great for fitness.

[@DaemonGeek]

Thanks for the review. I bought my Peloton around 6 months ago and have only recently started using it. I am a rec-level cyclist but I do train for serious events (Gran Fondo's and Lotoja) and as the weather in Utah can be suspect at times (and given that I am a wimpy fair weather rider), I am using Peloton as an adjunct to my road training. That being said, I have found it useful on off-days to do a little endurance PZ riding. Personally, I find the regular "spin" classes to be annoying, as I hate the up-down-bump-bend routines. However, I have also found the on-demand classes to be annoying with respect to repetition (obviously, the instructors say the same things every time). It would be nice to have an option on the PZ classes to have on-screen instructions and listen to my own music. I know that I can just do my own workout and adjust things on my own, but there is some motivation that I get from the "competition" in the PZ classes. Anyway, thanks again for your review!

[@tatiana.mp3]

@@DaemonGeek Peloton has feature Fridays on their official group. Not sure if you're on there or not but many of us have asked for a similar feature.

[@pefrat]

Thanks for the good unbiased review. I recently got a Peloton for my home (like many people now) and wanted to add a couple of key points: 1. Regarding price: you mentioned that the Peloton is competitively priced compared to other monthly services (spinning studios, OrangeTheory Fitness, etc...). Note that those are all priced per person, but Peloton bikes/subscriptions cover multiple profiles. So if you have multiple people in your household who can use the bike, it becomes a significantly better deal versus just one person. 2. The Peloton subscription comes with the Peloton App included, so my family and I we can use it for a bunch of other workouts (HIIT, Strength, Yoga, Meditation, Stretching, etc...) at home or when traveling. This is added value as well. 3. Just a note on the hardware: the bike is super quiet when riding. So I can be working from home on a call right next to the bike when my wife is doing a class and as long as she is using headphone for audio - and assuming she does not start singing or laughing out loud - it's totally quiet. Hope this helps.

[@ao2092015]

Excellent points. I prefer to lift weights in the garage but will admit this has become the most consistently used piece of exercise equipment at home. Several people can use it, it’s extremely convenient, and I’ve never finished a workout without getting a nice sweat. I’m not a fan of the live classes but it’s mostly because I don’t need a lively environment to enjoy working out. Initially hated our Peloton but really like it now.

[@msJmarcus1]

wow this is new information that no one else has really addressed: such as the class availability! Also it makes a huge difference that the advice is coming from an Ironman triathlete....can't get better than that!!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Happy to help!

[@harrybradford8910]

Thank you for your review. It helped us make our decision! I am 51 years old and not in the best shape. Your review really hit home with the statement that the best workout is the one you will do. I will try to touch base next month with some results! Thanks again!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Hell yeah man! Wish you both some great rides! 🎉🚀

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Oh, also: 51 is plenty fine. Best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. Second best time is today.

[@rubenregal4849]

Thank you for the review. I learned a few things from you. I purchased a peloton last month for my wife. I use to own a giant and canondale for the outdoors but was riding less because of working more hours. You mentioned "mandatory accessories", this is not true. None of peloton accessories are mandatory. You can purchase shoes, heart monitor, headphones, mat from anywhere else. In my experience it's the music that gets my motivation going. I have a speaker system with a subwoofer setup its awesome! You are forgetting one thing...riding on a peloton with their classes is fun! Instructors making you laugh, other members high fiving you during a class. When you reach certain goals. Peloton will send out for free a t shirt, flowers on your birthday. Nothing comes close to the peloton community, everyone motivating one another. Take a look on facebook peloton group. I originally purchased this for my wife. When i seen her keep getting off the bike smiling. I said i gotta try this. Now i use the bike more than her. The bike is super quiet. You can do a class at 3 am with headphones with people sleeping in the other room. Again thanks for taking your personal time to make this video. I enjoyed it

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

All true! Only bit I'd say is that I don't think I forgot the Peloton classes are fun; they really are! As an actual motivation tool, I get it, even as someone who normally doesn't feel motivated by that. I was really impressed! If you can find an instructor you click with (for me, Ben A and Matt W,) very good interaction. 👍Happy you've got something working for you. I hear a lot of people saying the "We bought it for the other spouse, now I use it all the time." That's awesome lol

[@rubenregal4849]

@@JustinDoesTriathlon looking at your body and the metrics you were putting out during the class tells me this is a 3 wheel training bike to you. I think you are to advanced for the peloton.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

@@rubenregal4849 I'd love to get one of those Wahoo Kickr bikes or Tacx bikes if they weren't like $4k. 😳

[@beachrunner428]

I been using my bike since November. I love running (see the channel) but getting the bike has just brought everything cardio for me together. I love the classes and also love how I can use the app for outdoor runs. Intervals and strength rides are my favorite. Ya I can't pause the classes but so be it not a breaking point for me. I'm not worried about leader boards especially when you have 5k plus people in a class. If you want to feel to be a part of a class, and need that motivation, its not for you. If you love working out and want to kick it up a notch in your home this is for you. My workouts have been fantastic.

[@wesmckean1443]

As an Ironman triathlete and Peloton owner, I would say that the Peloton will never replace the bike, and as you mentioned, its not really geared for someone that's following a plan. When I was using Trainer Road, I had to be creative as to how I mixed the Trainer Road workouts into my training plan. With that said, you CAN follow a plan. I like to do one tabata/HIIT workout, then a regular hard 30 minute workout, and a 45 minute HRZ or PZ workout a week. (I don't race anymore) The Peloton is primarily geared for people who want to work out in the comfort of their home, possibly at moments notice, and there is a huge Peloton community built up to support that.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Spot on

[@merylvogel2702]

Good review! I’ve been spinning for 15 years, and I bought one this week! I can’t wait!

[@chezchezchezchez]

How is it?

[@courtneybeachner4296]

I've been enjoying the Peloton with Scenic & Just Ride modes only and it's nice to be able to listen to my own music. Just not interested in taking a class (it's not my bike). I find that I am far more motivated by the Challenge badges for each month. And honestly, it's been fantastic to have since we all got stuck in stay-home/quarantine. I'm riding it nearly every day.

[@jsasa5668]

Me too! I have a TV about 8 ft away from the bike (I used to have a Zwift set up with my smart trainer) so I like to watch TV shows while I do Just Ride. I usually start around 25 resistance for about 10 minutes and then I incrementally move it up 3 at a time every 5 minutes (more or less) until I get around 40. I just did 80 minutes and burnet over 1000 calories while watching almost 2 episodes of Westworld. I do enjoy the classes as well if I want to train with higher intensity and intervals. Love this bike.

[@markpayne5451]

Time to update this. PZ training gives you structure, class, motivation. you can jump on any of the 2000+ 45 minute rides and find one with several hundred to over 1k people currently on the ride and compete with them- leaderboard is updated every day. you can now pause the rides. Maybe some of the issues you found was it appears that you may have been using a bike in a gym rather than a personal one and their subscription may have been differemt. Overall a pretty good review.

[@craigmcallahan]

I have had my peloton bike for 3 years now. I rarely take live classes....you made a big deal of not having live classes when you want them. Why? I am a cyclist and fitness junkie and LOVE taking the different classes your called replay classes. They have so many different classes for different fitness levels. I love the instructor options, music options, length of class options etc.....I think you should have done a FTP test and activated the wattage meter on the screen and taken the power zone program of classes for some serious power zone training classes if you wanted to have a program to follow. They also offer climbing group of classes and others. Personally I love low impact rides for recovery days, love warm up rides prior to lifting weights and the cool down rides after doing an HIIT, Power Zone or Tabata rides. Riding this over the winter months has allowed me to hit the road in the spring in top shape and ready for any outdoor riding challenges. I would also recommend you use a HR monitor, link up to STRAVA to have your ride metrics uploaded automatically, use clipless pedals for crying out load and if you want to take any of the many, many other fitness offerings do not try to use the screen on the bike but rather use your ipad, phone or cast to a nearby TV. Not sure you have full grasp yet of how to use this as a training and fitness tool. Not a bad review, you gave your honest opinions but a little more exploration of the offerings and mastery of the options and you will find it to be a GREAT training aid for your fitness goals.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

That’s a great question, let’s dive in. First off, and I tried to convey this throughout, but maybe should have done better: We all get motivated by different things. I know that Peloton motivates a lot of people VERY well; typically, I don’t get motivated by (let’s call them workout classes.) Dancy instructors, techno music, and affirmations aren’t really what gets me going, but that’s fine, we’re all different. I was quite surprised to find that actually, I LIKED the mental aspect of knowing it was a real instructor, and that I was riding with real people, and I could race them or chase them in real time, and see how people responded. I could find people who were at my fitness level, and if I was struggling, I could try to match them and try to catch them. It was pretty motivating. I also felt the ‘pull’ of the class; I disliked going at 10pm, but I would find myself thinking, “Well, gotta go get the class” and I’d make it happen, even if otherwise I might have just skipped it. Good job, Peloton. For me, once that ‘live’ aspect was removed, it all disconnected in my head. At that point, it was just a ‘workout dvd,’ which I don’t engage with. Listening to instructor of which I don’t really enjoy/like/agree with their pedagogy anyway, not that much draw. In short, the community and interaction clicked with me enough that I felt myself drawn, even if I didn’t love the actual workouts. Regarding the PZ rides, again, now we move this in my mind. I already know my FTP (and actually, even to that point, I think TR does a better job of testing it, especially for beginners.) At the point when we start looking at PZ rides, then my only real metric is “How effective is this as a training tool,” and I will confidently say that TrainerRoad with their base/build/specialty programs are in another class altogether. Once we take away the Peloton community aspect and strip it down to “Now we’re doing power-based training,” then I’ve got to judge it as a holistic training program, and TR is just so much better. Also, on the hardware side of things, the estimated power needs much better smoothing, imo. You can see it at like 7:29 in the video. They need a 3s smoothed average or something. I routinely get 50W swings just between pedal strokes; terrible. Compared to an erg mode trainer which locks you down or even a dumb trainer with Z-power or Virtual Power, just a much better experience. That’s all aside to my long rant about how I don’t even think Peloton understands it’s own leaderboards; it makes no sense to me to have a leaderboard based on total output while giving instructions that specifically delineate where everyone should be. By definition, to win you have to ignore their ranges (or at most, there would be a clump of leaders who all were at the top of the range.) Compared to TR again, for instance, where all the workouts are just functions of your FTP. With Peloton, especially beginners, you’re all over the board. My *suspicion* is that the vast majority or riders just spend all their workouts in Z4 or 5 trying to hold the upper end of the ranges. So like I said in the video, good for cardio and “getting your 20 min of fitness / day,” less ideal for long term progressive growth. Ultimately, I stand by my conclusion. You work out a lot, you get fitter, we all understand that. As a motivation tool that actually makes you work out, Peloton is amazing if it clicks for you. As an objective way to get fitter, other options can get you fitter in the same amount of time, if you can endure how unfun they are to use. Cheers for sharing though; Peloton is a tough one to ‘review,’ because we all have different goals and things that work for us. If you’re loving it, I’d certainly never tell you you’re wrong. I was pleasantly surprised by it overall (if not for my damn long legs.)

[@Mechanic618]

@@JustinDoesTriathlon >" I don’t get motivated by (let’s call them workout classes.) Dancy instructors, techno music, and affirmations aren’t really what gets me going" Same here. :)

[@borderwave2]

Have you tried Zwift?

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

@@borderwave2 Craig or I? I have. I like it a little bit, but I've come to prefer TrainerRoad. To each their own, but I've zeroed in on that I don't necessarily need to 'love' indoor training. It's a tool to an ends for me, which is being faster outdoors. And to that end, I want to choose the tool that does the best job for my goal; to me, that's TrainerRoad. Zwift is pretty cool though, and a lot of people love it! The racing is a really cool aspect.

[@lisaa9346]

JustinDoesTriathlon one thing to try is to pick more recent on demand classes and filter to those people that are there live currently. There always seems to be a lot of people to help motivate me. 😊especially the hyped up classes. And do live on your days off if possible.

[@jrewing5886]

I'm new to Peloton. I just received mine the other day. The initial experience was incredible. Both delivery guys were super nice, responsive and professional. The bike itself is incredible and I can see why they're so expensive. Clean, functional and very very easy to understand. The screen is just the right size. I've ridden it three times thus far. All scenic rides just to get used to the bike and find my groove. Thus far, it's working out just fine. The bike is well made, heavy and very 21st century looking. I added the floor mat and it came with free clip in shoes. A nice touch. I added several hand weights and the bike looks and feels amazing. Okay now let's get down to the nitty gritty. I ride road bikes allot. I used to mountain bike and trail bike. I love being outdoors. Rain, sleet, snow, cold, heat, wind don't phase me. I couldn't care less about the weather, but infrastructure is my vice. As a road biker, I detest bad drivers and awful roads. I can handle most anything, but bad drivers with unsafe manners piss me off no end and I get very hot about it. I've been struck by everything from a skateboarder to a city bus. Slightly injured, but kept going. My bike suffered some minor damage and I repaired it each time. When I ride, I am very competitive and very aggressive, but also respectful of others. Especially other cyclist. Its a brutal world out there. So, I take it has it comes, but dish it out if someone ticks me off. I hate unsafe cyclist and drivers. I love cycling allot, but now I'm older and I don't have as much time. I own a ranch in West Lubbock TX. I love riding here. Though hot and windy, I love riding regardless, but time is very much against me now. So, a year ago, I looked into purchasing a Peloton. I researched it front and back, up and down. I decided it was time to get into really great shape. This particular bike does that and more, but one must be prepared to give their very best when riding the Peloton. Allot of differences vs a real road bike. For one, you're inside. Unless you live in the Hollywood Hills like a close friend of mine and she keeps her Peloton out on her patio with a view most would die for. The other difference is senses. Like feeling the wind in your face. Hearing the wind, traffic or nature. Then there is the fact that on a real bike, one can coast, take it easy for a few seconds or minutes. Long enough to catch your breath. On a Peloton, you cannot coast. You must keep peddling. Whether it's ten minutes or 60 minutes or greater, you have to keep peddling. You cannot lay back on this bike. This is precisely why people swear by it. You have to really work at it. Looking at this another way. What would normally take me any where from one and half hours or greater now only takes me any where from one half hour to forty five minutes in actual workout time. Plus I cannot lay back. One must keep peddling. Often hard and fast in order to achieve certain workout goals on the Peloton. Which in theory, makes the Peloton much harder to ride vs a real road bike in my opinion. Of course results vary with different people, age, gender, general health, but clearly the Peloton bike forces one to put it all in or your not going to benefit from this amazing technology. Of course being at home lends itself to laziness. Eating, laying around watching TV etc. Such habits are why this bike is perfect for those of us who want that 21st century body. I know I do. I love my Peloton. Is it worth $2000.00 plus dollars? You bet it is. My road bike is 5 grand, but pales by comparison in terms of the actual energy required. Every gadget has its pros and cons. Each person must decide for themselves, if a Peloton is worth the expense. All that's required is be in reasonably good health and have room in your home. You must understand how the screen works and how too connect to others. Its really not at all that difficult once you get the hang of it. Women vs men. I believe women love the Peloton because it allows them certain freedom, they otherwise wouldn't have because of life. Kids, stay at home Moms, working women can all benefit from this technology. Exercise is the single greatest way to improve one's overall health, welfare and wellbeing. For women the Peloton is awesome. I strongly recommend it. For men, it's simular, but guys tend to have a more practical approach to riding a Peloton. For them, it's straight up exercise. Though stay at home Dad's need not get fat or out of shape. The Peloton can help keep weight down and energy levels up. Of course, both men and women from all walks of life can benefit from a Peloton. The only thing required is motivation. Personally, I find the Peloton to be refreshing. In just a few basic rides, already I feel motivated and charged up. I cannot speak for anyone else of course, but I'm happy I purchased mine. Just the experience alone was worth it. Talk to others. Read as much as you can. Watch videos. Learn all you can. Try one out. I strongly recommend this product........🚲⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@richardevans9465]

Well said, my thoughts exactly. Good luck

[@Canoneosmiami]

Excellent review the most professional I seen so far .

[@tempaccount2585]

Maro Vok Agreed. It also helps that he is an actual cyclist. I lot of other reviews come from people without that background.

[@AmazingDogShorts]

I would agree! I have just uploaded my own review of the Peloton bike if you want to check it out :)

[@BonanzaPilot]

I have been riding one of these at least once a week for the last 30 weeks or so. Your review is really accurate.

[@richardthackeray6150]

I think you should also mention the capability to mirror screen the other online classes onto other monitors/TV's within the household. It makes it far easier, and no need to have to move the bike screen.. mobile app is also very good.

[@lkeyt5845]

The best workout is the one you do - epic statement! Excellent review. Thank you

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

My pleasure!

[@davidsayner9300]

I love my Peloton Bike (I have the tread as well) and have had it for over 3 years, no let downs, no failings. Your review is bang on the money on both the positives and the drawbacks, being on the West Coast I totally agree on class timings. I never really thought about this aspect though until you said 'it just felt like a workout dvd from 1980'. I typically get totally immersed in the class, now I cant unsee that sentence, and its going to be the devil of a job getting that out of my mind next time - thanks!!!! :-) The one thing I haven't seen mentioned is bandwidth and streaming, if you cannot hard wire this in via ethernet, make sure you home wireless network is up to snuff as there is nothing worse than a break in connectivity in the middle of an intense session.

[@Jessecr6]

As an ironman triathlete myself I think it's a great product. If you want it to train you for an ironman or century ride it's not designed for those athletes. If you want it to compliment your training it's great, if you are just wanting to exercise, get fit and stay healthy it's once again a great product for that. If you want a better experience for a triathlete or avid cyclist I would recommend Matt Wilpers or one of the pro cyclists as they will design their rides for those types of athletes. I've found the power to be consistent enough and with any bike or power meter you need to test your FTP individually as every power meter and bike (road bike vs tri bike) will produce a different result.

[@SheFlungDung]

Just great thoughts and critics I haven't heard in other places. Thanks for the video.

[@AmazingDogShorts]

I would agree! I have just uploaded my own review of the Peloton bike if you want to check it out :)

[@SkydivingSquid]

I also am enjoying an All Access membership through my apartment's community Peloton bike. As a previous Spinning Instruction, the only issue I have with it is that you're spending between $2,500 and $3,000 for a stationary bike and then being charged $39 a month (almost $500 a year) for a membership, which is basically a gym membership, but none of the overhead and a far greater out reach. I honestly don't understand why this price is where it is, but is definitely the biggest "con" in my opinion. I get that it's basically just over $1 a day, but at the same time if you're paying 8-12x the amount of an average stationary bike, the $500 "fee" to ride it really stings. I have looked into getting one of these for a few years, but likely wouldn't have gotten it. Very happy to get to enjoy this for free while I am at this apartment. Getting into a road bike soon. Should be here in a few weeks. I enjoy MOST the cycling classes and instructors, there are a couple "pros" who forget they are teaching to a wide range audience or forgot to mark their class as a "pro ride". Ended up not being able to keep up even in the minimum resistance/cadence zones of Olivia's class yesterday and still ended up in the top 4%... Think about that. I digress. I've enjoyed it and with the Wahoo Tickr HR band I can keep my HR in the 95% zone for peak performance. The Bike+ offers an adjustable rotating screen, but for a few dollars you can get an adapter that fits any Peloton bike and will allow it to do the same thing for about $200-$300 cheaper. I noticed that most live classes if not all are early morning EST from the NY Studio. I really thought they would have a studio in California to availability. I live in the CST zone and still struggle to make live classes.. I also agree. The people you can ride with in actual live classes or in the "Beta" classes that allow replays with live members together have made me far more competitive. There have been a couple rides where another ride and I (or a few) have gone back and forth and put twice the effort into our ride. Felt like I was going to pass out at the end of my ride yesterday because 4 of us were so neck and neck! *I keep editing this post, sorry* There is a known and chronic issue with some Peloton bikes and the bluetooth chip. Some bikes lose internet connectivity if you connect wireless headphones.. which really sucks. The timer still counts down and your output is saved, but the class is frozen and no sound comes out - no changes are shown until is syncs back up.

[@benwoodman6280]

Great review! I was initially unsure but now I live my Peloton so much that I don't know what I would do without it.

[@chandlerredding45]

Do you still use it?

[@sfd125]

New to all of this....Power zones with the FTP complete is what I have fell in love with. Your review was fair on all aspects that I can think of. I enjoy an honest experience.

[@pooky2626]

Thumbs up on the review. Pros and Cons are correct. I had my Cannondale Supersix evo on a trainer, but was never motivated to ride in my basement. I bought the Peloton for my wife Christmas 2018 (just like the commercial everyone makes fun of). Then I started using it and was hooked on the classes just like you said. Correct again on the set up for a triathlete. I'm 6'3", and occasionally hit my knees on the handle so I raised them which defeats the aero position. In the end. I've done over 300 rides in my first year on Peloton and at 51 set a personal best Olympic triathlon time of 2h 17m 00s with a personal best 57m57s 40k/25mile bike split. The key IS the leaderboard and the fact you DO get hooked on streaks...eg....daily streak or weekly streaks. Then there are the badges. The stretching classes have helped me immensely as well. I've done over 200 stretching classes. They have added a strength program since your review and I have been doing it and am on week 3 currently. Again, this has helped me stay on a workout routine for 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a week. And to think, I bought this for my wife. Our daughter uses the yoga while away in University. An amazing product.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

2:17 is a DAMN solid oly time. Well done! Funny coincidence, I wanted a Supersix Evo so bad for the longest time in college. They're great looking bikes.

[@pooky2626]

@@JustinDoesTriathlon Interesting story on how I got my Supersix. In 2014 I was at the ITU World Championships in Edmonton, Canada. First time ever representing my country. My bike was a 2002 LeMond Beunos Airies carbon butted steel bike. It was probably the oldest bike at the worlds. Over the winter I decided I wanted a new/used bike, just newer than what I had. My wife was not on board. As our daughter had just started University. Anyway I'm looking on kijiji for a used bike when I see an ad for a brand new 1 year old Cannondale Supersix evo. 63cm. Ad says must 6'3" or taller. So I call. The guy answers "Oxygen bikes" I think awesome a real bike store. I say. "HI! I'm 6'3". There is a pause. Then he says it's still here. I get in the car and drive to look at it. There are asking $2800 (I live in Canada) for a $4500 bike. SRam red components. I ride it. Love it. Buy it. But have to ask. How come so cheap? He told me he was at the Cannondale warehouse and the bike had been sitting there. He said to them. Give me a good deal and he would take it. That deal was passed onto me. I absolutely love thos bike. It responds so well. I'm too tall for a triathlon/TT bike. So I ride road bikes with aerobars. When I upgraded the components in 2018. The PR's I set were incredible. IM70.3 best time was 5:28. I did a 5:07 in Muskoka a very hilly bike course. Then 3 weeks later in Flat/fast Calgary broke 5hrs for the first time ever with a 4:45. Ironman Cozumel was 11:12 and only 7 minutes off my IM time set 16 years prior. Broke 2:20 oly first time also in 2018 all at 50 years old. 51 and the times are still dropping.

[@oscarorozco6305]

Great video - I purchased the bike about two months ago and I absolutely love it. I’m a regular cyclist and this bike is great and more so are the classes and the instructors. They have classes that you can build up your endurance (power zone) the program last four weeks and then your work your way up to eight or 12 weeks. Thay have classes for all kind of riding Go buy the bike this thing is awesome. Cheers!!

[@gordonsprenger2778]

Hello, if you're interested in several Routs around the Globe...dont hesitate to checkout my Channel :)

[@jessierichardson7551]

Excellent video. Thank you for this. Peloton, for me, is my no excuse exercise equipment. If my day falls apart and I can’t get to any other exercise, by the time I’ve deliberated about whether I should work out or not, I know I could be finishing a Peloton ride.

[@davidsaxe7077]

I have been using the one at work, I have to admit it really motives me. I have also been there other workouts yoga, strength, etc and love them all. I have started a peloton saving account so I can buy one for my house 😂👍🏽

[@davidross4931]

One of the best reviews I’ve seen of any product! Thank you!

[@skiggs20]

Probably one of the best reviews of Peloton that I've found. Especially since I've used TrainerRoad and Zwift, so I knew exactly what you were comparing to. I recently fell in love with mountain biking, but it's hard to get out there and ride more than once a week (dad life calls). I ordered one of these today. I think and hope this will help motivate me to increase my fitness and shed some pounds in an effort to shred my local trails.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Nice, happy to help! Yeah, I feel like I'll eventually get into the MTB side of things myself, but I have enough bikes for now. 😅Curious, what made you not enjoy TR/Zwift? I'm guessing compliance/motivation? I could totally see that. TR doesn't really even try to be motivating, and Zwift doesn't really motivate ME very much (thouhg I know a lot of people love it.)

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

@@lrogers25 No, and I've since bought a house! Doesn't matter anyway with everything closed, ha! Though I've heard the YMCA pools are open? But not the actual gyms.

[@elcontrastador]

This was the exact review I needed to see. Very well done. Cheers!

[@gordonsprenger2778]

Hello, if you're interested in several Routs around the Globe...dont hesitate to checkout my Channel :)

[@Theonlymayz]

"for those who want to workout fast n hard but not actually go anywhere, and the sexy instructor helps you forget about your abandonment issues" -jp

[@matthewdparkhill]

Never leave comment and I am embarrassed to admit how much Ytube I watch, but I have to complement you on this review. Very insightful and balanced. Have owned a Peloton for 2+ years and you pointed out some ideas I have never thought of, but would be very helpful (ex. The monitor turning for the other classes). Thank you.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Happy to hear that! I know what it's like watching 'reviews' that just gush about how perfect everything is, and that's no use to anyone. Thanks!

[@jonathansgilman]

Good review overall. I'm looking for winter indoor riding options and many relevant points to consider.

[@joshualambert135]

You should check out power zone rides. You take a 20 minute fitness test which then calculates your 100% max output for an hour. So then classes are geared toward zones 1-7 of your output and not a certain resistance and cadence. They have powerzone endurance, max, and regular powerzone classes. Its very nice for training.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Yeah, I talked about PZ classes in some of the comments. Probably should have called them out specifically in the video. I wrote this to someone else: "Regarding the PZ rides, again, now we move this in my mind. I already know my FTP (and actually, even to that point, I think TR does a better job of testing it, especially for beginners.) At the point when we start looking at PZ rides, then my only real metric is “How effective is this as a training tool,” and I will confidently say that TrainerRoad with their base/build/specialty programs are in another class altogether. Once we take away the Peloton community aspect and strip it down to “Now we’re doing power-based training,” then I’ve got to judge it as a holistic training program, and TR is just so much better. Also, on the hardware side of things, the estimated power needs much better smoothing, imo. You can see it at like 7:29 in the video. They need a 3s smoothed average or something. I routinely get 50W swings just between pedal strokes; terrible. Compared to an erg mode trainer which locks you down or even a dumb trainer with Z-power or Virtual Power, just a much better experience. That’s all aside to my long rant about how I don’t even think Peloton understands it’s own leaderboards; it makes no sense to me to have a leaderboard based on total output while giving instructions that specifically delineate where everyone should be. By definition, to win you have to ignore their ranges (or at most, there would be a clump of leaders who all were at the top of the range.) Compared to TR again, for instance, where all the workouts are just functions of your FTP. With Peloton, especially beginners, you’re all over the board. My suspicion is that the vast majority or riders just spend all their workouts in Z4 or 5 trying to hold the upper end of the ranges. So like I said in the video, good for cardio and “getting your 20 min of fitness / day,” less ideal for long term progressive growth. "

[@stefanwagner1841]

Great review. As an avid marathon runner, I thought the workout schedule would be a problem. I’m doing speed workouts twice a week and a long run. Here it seems to be the same workout over and over, which can lead to lack of fitness vs. how much you’re putting in. Worst of all leaves you susceptible to injury, great video!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Yep! There's a few things about the company that surprise me. On one hand, I get it, spin classes don't really have progressive growth easier. And there's a difference between working out for fitness and constantly trying to improve performance. But.... When they've got tens of thousands or whatever people going full gas level 5 every time they get on the bike, I feel like they should address that. AND the marketer in me says, "If people are on a committed plan, it might make them have more affinity and dedication to the machine." Win for everyone. Peloton makes some choices here and there that make me wonder how well they rally understand their users.

[@pinkydime289]

I am thinking about a cardio machine but wasn't sure about a bike or eliptical but this type of bike seems like it would motivate me more to work out! Thanks for your awesome review! Happy holidays!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

And to you!

[@stacywalker3139]

Thanks for this. I didn't know about the availability of after work classes on the west coast being a bit of an issue. So this will definitely help me make a decision to buy or not.

[@Emskee_]

I love my Peloton. However you are missing a few key things. If you are wanting to train like an endurance athlete Peloton has scenic rides and self guided rides, so you can listen to your own music to train for distance. There is programs they've been putting in place that build on each class, and measure metrics at weekly or monthly targets. I can't relate to the handle bars not adjusting because I'm shorter than you but your position 3 / upright technique is too bouncy and you need to shift your hips back to get in the correct position. I agree with the screen needing to be moved to do the other types of workouts!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

The position is very much a difference between road/triathlon and spin bikes. Tri bikes are actually quite a lot more forward than peloton even allows. Unfortunate that they don't enable more adjustment, especially since I'm not even THAT tall (6 even.) Oh well lol

[@Emskee_]

lol! very true. Peloton focuses on isolation stance and taking out the bounce effect. But I agree with you people ignore the instructors in class so its not a fair competition. I went to the studio in NYC and they guy next to me was even ignoring the class!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

@@Emskee_ Ha, that's crazy! Especially going to the class and then STILL not listening, lol. I bet that was fun, though!

[@AaronEckenthal]

I think if you try power zone training on Peloton you might feel differently. It is hands down one of the best ways to train. There is a whole program for it on the bike and resources through powerzone pack that put together a whole training regiment. There are also other trading programs on the bike instead of taking random classes that are not necessarily tied to one another. Seems like you need to become more familiar with the offerings on Peloton as you missed that aspect.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

No, I touched on PZ briefly; I wasn't that impressed. PZ on Peloton is *fine,* but it absolutely pales compared to the progressive base/build/specialty of TrainerRoad. PZ is, you know, fine, and it's definitely a lot better in terms of progressive build, but if you're going to be on an FTP-based plan, it makes way more sense to be on a bike that actually measures power and can actually be setup in a fit that's comparable. As is, my power on Peloton would be artificially high compared to my tri bike because I can't match positions. I think it's a bit of a moot point anyway, because I don't see (and I could be wrong) many people buying PT *for* the PZ rides. If that's your long term goal, there's much better options. Even Zwift is more progressive. TrainerRoad is another league altogether. Basically to me, peloton is best as a motivational tool. If you don't need the interactivity, and you care more about real power results, I think time is best served on another platform

[@tatiana.mp3]

@@JustinDoesTriathlon All I do are PZ rides on my peloton... at least 90% of the rides I do are PZ and there are 4 instructors now dedicated to PZ, including CDE, who is a competitive track cyclist herself. Perhaps for you.... but PZ is wildly popular on Peloton. I know this is an old comment I'm responding to, but your general tone is to knock down the Peloton, while giving it kudos at the same time. We get it, it's not for you, but you're also not the intended target market. I just did their first live class from home on Monday with Robin, and there were 26K riders online taking the class... live. As for fitness, my run times have improved dramatically just with PZ training. I'm a regular person but have to to a fitness test for work every year and the Peloton and PZ training (particular the PowerZone Pack) has helped immensely.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

@@tatiana.mp3 I read your comments. I respect your points, but I still don't really agree with them. PZ is good, and much better than just hopping into random classes, but it's still missing massive elements of training if you're looking for progressive growth. There's no periodization, there are not really any schedules within PZ itself, there are no different types of PZ courses depending on your goals (short power bursts, steady sustained power,) there aren't any courses for people who want to have endurance sessions in the couple hour range, etc. PZ is better than random classes if your goal is a bit of progression, but it really misses a lot in comparison to TrainerRoad, Zwift training plans, The Sufferfest, etc. My main point is: If someone really wants power-based training plans and that's the reason you're getting into it (progressive growth posed on power,) you can do better. TrainerRoad has a world tour pro as well ;)

[@tatiana.mp3]

@@JustinDoesTriathlon I use PowerZone pack training plans, and they work quite well and are not randomly thrown together. The point IM trying to make is that the Peloton is made for randoms, like me, not serious athletes like you. So I don't understand why you keep comparing it to TR or Zwift. I'm sorry, but knocking down 2 minutes of my 1.5 mile run without even setting a foot on pavement in a month is not growth, IDK what to tell you.

[@andreawhite9326]

Extremely helpful! Very thoughtful regarding skill levels, usage, and possible cons. Thank you!

[@virtualfitnesstv]

Wow! This is awesome, it makes my indoor biking at home more fun and enjoyable. I find this sort of virtual exploration invaluable. Thank you!😄

[@toneman335]

Please provide a listing and contact information on other similar exercise bikes.

[@johnwesley2943]

It seems very expensive especially in light of all the cons. For over $2000, you can get a decent road bike, power meter, heart rate monitor and subscription to Strava. In summation, I'm struggling to see how people have been taken in by Peloton.

[@stevenbeardsworth8389]

Because winter exists.

[@johnwesley2943]

@@stevenbeardsworth8389 Fairpoint. You could get a turbo trainer though for a fraction of the price of a Peloton set up.

[@itslavonne2929]

Great review! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾 I always find a great class whenever I want, although most are on demand and not live. But that’s ok with me! I’m so focused on trying to breathe and get through my own workout that I can’t really tell the difference. Lol

[@gordonsprenger2778]

Hello, if you're interested in several Routs around the Globe...dont hesitate to checkout my Channel :)

[@angelaappel6369]

This is by far the best review I have found! Thank you! Thank you!!!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Awesome, happy you found it useful 🙂🚀

[@downnp76]

Peloton is planning on adding a live studio out of Los Angeles, so there will be more "live" classes available which is great since I live on the West Coast.

[@theCowboyGeek]

Really useful and comprehensive. Thanks!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Oh hey 👋👋

[@browney1983]

A really good review that has pushed me over the edge to make the purchase. Many thanks.

[@trikywu]

Thanks for your insightful review, Justin. I have found my Peloton to be a game changer for me - since I just wanted to get a great workout at home - as opposed to training for something. Although some of your critiques don't apply to me - I do agree that Peloton needs to do something with the monitor. I can beam the app through my Apple TV to watch it on my main television - but it would be nice to have it in the same room as the bike. I can't see the monitor from the floor. And to be honest - If i have to get one my hands and knees for something - I can't crane my neck up to my TV either. This is the reason why I have over 260 spin classes logged over the past several months, but only 36 floor workouts.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Happy you're loving it so much! Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised at all if they change that for v2. I know the ProForm bike lets you turn and tilt the screen (though probably not as much as I'd still want.) Like you said, sure, you can always stream it though, which is good. But yeah, good on ya for 260; that's awesome!

[@heatherkandrick1191]

LOVE my Peloton, so worth the price! Birthday present from my hubby last August. On my way to 200 rides and now my husband and 15 yr old daughter use it as well. I even enjoy on demand classes. Best addiction to have ❤️Just started trying to do Tabata rides...Holy workout Batman 🤣🤣🤣

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

That's awesome! I wish my family had encouraged me to be fit from a young age. I spent a lot of time getting back from a Body By Xbox, so to speak. enjoy!

[@Dr.Schlitz]

$2K for a bike with a knob rather than with automatic resistance control like a Kickr or other smart trainer doesn't make sense to me. I would consider signing up for Peloton for some additional variety in my training, but only if I could get full functionality with my Kickr and Windows PC. There's no way I'm paying $2K for that bike.

[@gordonsprenger2778]

Hello, if you're interested in several Routs around the Globe...dont hesitate to checkout my Channel :)

[@JACKSONLEWISOFCANADA]

Thank you for the review, one of the things I always worry about with stuff like this is buyers defense..... lots of people just defend their purchase even if they themselves know it was not great... I have one question, compared to other bikes (classes aside) Do you think the bike holds up to something like a Keiser m3/m3i or a lifecycle IC5?

[@vandall1981]

Love the review. What camera do you use?

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Thanks! This was all A7iii with a Tamron 17-28.

[@jbratt]

Thanks for the review. I'm a long time road racer and I ride Zwift but I did order a peloton for my daughter. I'm thinking it may appeal to her more because she did like the Spin classes until Covid shut those down.

[@BNCA70]

Might be a good product - the tv ads drive me mental though. I almost have to change channel.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Hahah I feel that. I'm probably not their 'target' audience either, and the ads are just so over the top corny to me. I guess it works for the right audience, though.

[@michaelbrathwaite7019]

Haha. That guys voice on the UK ads motivates me - to kick his head in 😂😂

[@Inviktus804]

Nice AbEx jersey! I did JoH North in '14...Enjoyed the review!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Awesome man! I'm a bit of an imposter because I haven't done JoH or GUF, but rather worked for AbEx on the Comm side of things. Have gone on some team rides and spent a few nights on the road though, love it. Was bummed Trans got nixxed this year, wanted to see them off from Seattle, but Covid. I think I've got a GUF in my future at some time though. JOH is pretty impossible for me as an 'adult' but 2-4 weeks would be fantastic.

[@Jose_Ole_Posole]

So working 10hr night shifts for 5 days a week and then looking after my son once I get off I really don't have the time or motivation to work out. So sneaking a 45min work out AT HOME before my kid wakes up is a huuuuge plus. That's the main reason im looking into getting this bike. I'm looking for something that is gonna help me get fit and loose some weight but also keep it off. I think ima go ahead and get this.

[@kimberley8902]

The screen can be casted on a tv if you were interested in doing floor exercises without interference. Eventually as Peloton becomes a larger company, I suspect they will open studios in various parts of the country. I still haven’t caught a live class. Beyond the possibility of getting an instructor shoutout, I don’t think there is much of a difference. The letter board in archive classes give you access to both past people and current people taking class.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Definitely correct at casting. Regarding the archive leaderboard, it doesn't do it the same way for me. I'm not super interested in seeing where I come on the overall leaderboard. Having 4k above me and 16k below me doesn't necessarily motivate me. For me, I find it super fun when, in a live or encore class, there's a person right NEAR me in real time, and I can 'race' them. It's subtle, but it feels different to me. I like seeing them work harder and then having to work harder myself. It's good motivation similar to real racign.

[@richardstoffel6585]

I’m really trying to debate something like this or just get a good trainer for the bike and use swift. the adjustment of handle bar as you mentioned could be a factor, as at least on a trainer i can use which ever bike i want to train on. the decisions ... thanks for the review

[@ErinFromSydney]

I live in Australia and the live classes are really awkwardly timed for us (which, to be fair, we are used to, everything is always awkwardly timed for us). Most classes are 10pm - 5am, unless we do the German classes, which sit around dinner time. I generally exercise at 5am, so it’s not such a problem for me, but I’m sure it is for some Aussie Peloton users.

[@nelsonwalker7105]

very good review thanks for getting all of these points into a video

[@gordonsprenger2778]

Hello, if you're interested in several Routs around the Globe...dont hesitate to checkout my Channel :)

[@lisaa9346]

Such a great review. I love my Peloton. Agree wish handle bars would adjust back and forth. Agree that the screen should pivot. Although I paid 5 bucks for a mirroring app on my phone and now I can do the floor classes on my tv. Agree that there’s not enough west coast times. But they’re trying . And I do find the instructors to be so motivating and still enjoy on demand classes. There are so so many . I tend to just try to do my best despite the leaderboard. I gave up my beloved Orange Theory because it winds up being cheaper. I work as a night shift RN in a stressful department and I absolutely love the convenience! My non spinning husband loves it too! We don’t do triathlons though!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Great idea about the mirroring app! Definitely would not have thought of that. I have a couple friends who do OTF and they seem to like it. I just can't bring myself to pay quite that much for it. Just seems like so much. D: Can't blame you at all for wanting max convenience; a good friend's wife is an ER nurse and I've heard some of the stories... I could never do what you all do. Just happy that you can!

[@gomezbr1]

I live in the pnw as well. The live classes are based in NYC, 3 hours ahead.

[@CoreyGriffinisAwesome]

The floor workouts (guided meditation, yoga, stretching, etc.) are made to round out what has traditionally been strictly a cycling offering. Since Peloton is as much a content creation company as it is a cycle manufacturer. The non-cycling/treadmill videos I suspect are meant to be streamed to the app, which can be streamed like any other video service to a tablet, phone, or TV. www.onepeloton.com/app. I personally don't think the lack of a pivoting screen is a drawback here since it would most likely detract from the build quality of the cycle. If you look at the hinge that allows the screen to tilt, it's pretty heavy duty. Allowing for some type of ball socket or dual hinge is just asking for it to break. As far as the recorded classes, it's a bit untruthful saying there's no interactivity. There is a historical leaderboard for when the class was recorded. This pits you versus a ranking of everyone who has completed the class. That of course is not live. There is however a "Here Now" tab on the leaderboard that shows other people doing the same class as you are at the same time. It's rare for me to find a class that doesn't have a handful of people riding at the same time as me, despite it being prerecorded.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

The Nordictrack S22 has a pivoting screen; works perfectly fine. The Peloton screen is connected with a separate cable and is already on a single mount; a swivel would have been very easy to add. I fully expect the next iteration of the bike to have it built in, but this hardware was final before they launched all the floor stuff. The fact it's all accessable from the bike means, IMO, it should be visible from an area you'd actually do it. It would be different if the content wasn't watchable from the bike, but it is, so there we go. There's interactivity against the historical leaderboard sure, but trying to climb up against everyone who's ever run the classes is still a bit moot (to me, evne as someone who typically finished top 10-15% all time.) The live aspect means you're competing against real people who can respond to your kicks and vice versa. Ultimately it's just a mental trick, of course, but it's super fun trying to chase someone who's just a little bit ahead and seeing who cracks first. In the alltimes, it's like, okay, there's always someone 1W higher, what's the point. And again then we get into the aspect that the classes aren't really setup to handle leaderboards well at all, imo. At that point, it seems like every class just becomes a TT effort. Ultimately, it just comes down to what you value and how you use the bike. The biggest redeeming factor (and thing that would keep me coming back) is competing against others in real time and seeing who can handle the efforts. If I'm just basically going to do what's (effectively) a workout dvd (with the goal of improving my fitness), then something like trainerroad or zwift that's a more holistic training structure is more effective to me. Less exciting, but I'm trading away excitement for fitness. To each their own, and people have very different goals. At the *very* least, I think there should be more encore classes. I'm guessing it's artificial scarcity that stops them (so there's more users per class,) but that 10 or 11pm (and none after work on Friday) thing is super frustrating. You hooked me with the interaction, Peloton; let me interact.

[@shaneaffleck4235]

@@JustinDoesTriathlon So if I am buying an at-home workout machine like the Peloton, why wouldn't I use the app and use my television to do some of their classes? The notion I want to use that small screen to do yoga, for instance, is a joke and really nitpicky in my opinion.

[@craigirving9948]

Great review, thanks. Subscribed.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Happy to help!

[@michaelsnook1130]

Great review, as always. Perhaps a better comparison for value the new Wahoo KICKR bike or the new Tacx Neo bike with Zwift versus Peloton.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

That would be really interesting for sure. I'm curious what the overlap is; I know I follow a few 'serious' cyclists on Insta who use Peloton, but going back to the class quality, I just don't really see it. I don't know enough specifically about the Kickr bike vs the Neo bike vs Peloton, but broadly speaking, for me, I'd say: If you take cycling seriously enough to even know about the Neo and the Kickr, AND you're already willing to spend the money, I can't see a scenario in which I'd chose Peloton first unless you literally just *cannot* motivate yourself to be on Zwift or TR but would use Peloton. Hell even the ability to match your exact fit is pretty huge. I just don't see a value prop for Peloton if the goal is long term, progressive growth.

[@giovannif110]

Thank you for the great review on the Peloton. I am in the process of looking for a good spin bike ( i have no experience with spin bikes) because i need to get a cardiac workout. I am ok with not having the live classes. I am just looking for a good spin bike that will allow me to get a good workout as a beginner and as i advance hopefully. The Peloton is very expensive so my question to you is do you know of another spin bike that compares with the Peloton that you would recommend for a beginner that might be a little less expensive?

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

The Schwinn IC3 is a great bike if 'the bike' is your primary focus. :)

[@shaamya]

Excellent EXCELLENT review! Thank you!

[@abehahn5631]

thank you for this awesome review! did you mention which stationary bike you would recommend, besides peloton?

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Happy you liked it! I didn't get too deep into that, because I think it's so dependent on so many factors. I'll try to keep this short: I’d ask you what factors of Peloton really resonate with you. Is it the live classes and instructors? Is it racing other people in real time? Is it having a spin bike with screen attached to watch video? The instructors and vibe of Peloton are pretty unique; the nordictrak seems like a not-as-good copy to me. If that’s what you care about, Peloton is pretty much the top pick. If you care most about the leaderboard and chasing other people, something like a regular spin bike with Favero Assioma pedals, or full on smart trainer + attached bike, and Zwift on your computer would be amazing. If it’s a spin bike + video you want, I’ve heard good things about the Sunny spin bike; you could pair that with an iPad for Netflix or whatever and spin away. Overall, I think Peloton fills a pretty good niche. Even for me, someone who has a pretty strong basis of training knowledge and doesn’t hate indoor training: just sitting on a regular spin bike without some mental stimulation is pretty unfun. I stand by that Peloton isn’t as good as I want it to be for longer term progressive improvement, but for something that gets you exercising effectively a few times a week in a pretty enjoyable way, it does a good job.

[@hardtailparty]

fantastic review. Thank you for your candid feedback.

[@AmazingDogShorts]

I would agree! I have just uploaded my own review of the Peloton bike if you want to check it out :)

[@crazywisdom2]

I work alot. Sometimes 50, 60 + hours a week. So having the ability to workout 24/7 especially during the winter months is huge. I am considering buying a spin bike like this. Can anyone speak to Peloton VS keiser m3i ? I need a trainer that is WHISPER QUIET. thanks !!

[@premiomayor1247]

I knew a guy who used the Peloton app with a Keiser. He liked the combination and the Keiser seems more adjustable than the Peloton. There is a FB page that equates Peloton and Keiser resistance levels, which is nice.

[@gman4674]

Is it possible to do a virtual road bike race.?

[@AS-pj2be]

This was such a good review! thank you so much!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Happy to help!

[@PeterSdrolias]

Hmmm, I am in favour for whatever gets you going. But, I would get the Wahoo smart bike and subscribe to Zwift and/or TrainerRoad.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Replying to you from my tri bike on my indoor right now haha. That's a dream setup right there 🚀

[@mariconor242]

+1 but I prefer a real bike on the wahoo kikr as it only takes a minute to put the wheel back on and head outside with an identical setup. Peloton doesn’t have ERG and it’s not accurately getting your FTP, no racing etc

[@anunnakimenagerie]

I want a stationary bike that is a generator

[@DogFacePuffa]

The Jet Black Whisper Drive Smart trainer is cordless and has a USB port that charges your phone.

[@7heRedBaron]

You would at most generate 1000 watts. 1000 watts for an hour is the equivalent of one kilowatt hour which would save you 10 cents off your electric bill. If you charge a battery with that savings because you aren’t using that electricity in real time, you are going to lose an hour of every 10 workout hours to electrical resistance. We are all really lucky that high voltage electricity is so cheap.

[@tarfpir]

@@7heRedBaron Simple perspective that many of us, as you said, take for granted: electricity is cheap!

[@mashanikit12]

Where do you get the brackets to use regular shoes? I thought you could only use the peloton/cycling shoes that actually have the cleats attached to them?

[@NHill8025]

Solid professional review!

[@runhowierun]

A little disappointed with your review... Owned a Peloton for almost three years now. Also, did my first Ironman 70.6 last year, and training for my first 140.6 in 2020. Much of what you said was very valid about the training aspect, probably the reason I am waiting for my Wahoo Kickr to be delivered. For clarification - The Peloton does have programs and instructors where classes are relevant from one to the next. Also, their is very minimal interaction with the instructors during live classes. 403 of my 834 classes have been on-demand and I get the same workout benefit and excitement as a live class.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

The PZ / HR classes havea . bit of flow just by the nature of power training, but I haven't seen any proper progressive training plans anywhere. I could certainly be wrong, but I looked. I think the PZ classes are more the exception than the rule though; the average person who just loads up a live class every day or every couple of days isn't going to have any sort of progression; they're probably going to peg their efforts at the max and just ride as hard as possible. To steal a GREAT line that someone else wrote in the comments, it's the difference between training at fitness. If you just want to do some exercise, the bike is great for that, and it serves as a good motivation tool for many. In terms of progressive training, I think even their PZ classes need a lot more development. In terms of time spent in certain zones, plans over weeks or months, it's pretty weak. They have the capability of developing something similar to TrainerRoad if they wanted to: Users can pick the number / duration of classes they want to do per week, and the bike could build out a schedule of rides that integrate various power levels for various amounts of time, with a recovery week every 3 or 4 and an FTP test every 6-8. That would be getting into some more proper training. Re: on demand: Of course you get the same training benefit either way, but it's a mental difference for some, myself included. I *liked* the live or Encore experience; without that interactivity against others in real time, it just felt like a workout dvd from 1980 with a 2019 bow on it. Spin bikes exist in every gym on earth, practically; the Peloton difference is the motivation tool. For some, like me, it really does work. Strip that away and it feels like a plain spin bike, which a lot of people have no interest in. To each their own. I get why people like the live classes, and I wish there were more of them.

[@violent_bebop9687]

It's a spot on review, and Justin's reply even further elaborates what to consider. Isn't youtube great?

[@monicawojcik1752]

Great and super helpful review! I also watched your other video on smart trainers vs “dumb trainers”. I’m currently between a Wattbike Atom and a Schwinn IC4, and would like to use whichever bike I get with both Peloton and Zwift to vary up my training. Any tips on choosing between those? My greatest concern is 1) whether the smart training available on the Wattbike Atom is worth the extra cost and 2) whether the power readings on the Schwinn are accurate. Thanks again!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

That’s a fun question. I like these because you kinda get to play ‘what-if’ and you have so many options! So trying to use both Peloton and Zwift presents a few limitations one way or another. The ‘base rules’ are basically that Peloton doesn’t transmit power data outside of itself, nor can you bring in power data anywhere other than the Peloton bike (That’s true when using the app for streaming, etc.) If you’re looking to compete/register on the Peloton leaderboards, you need to be on a Peloton bike, full stop. I think there’s a lot of factors at play, and it really comes down to: what do you value and what are you looking to get out of it, as well as how much money you want to spend. As I see it, here’s a few scenarios: 1) You buy a Peloton, and then add power pedals (like the Favero Assiomas (single or dual)) to it. You would have the full Peloton experience, but then also have an accurate power meter that’s transmitting power data to Zwift, TrainerRoad, or whatever else. Since you saw the trainer video too, this is basically akin to the non-interactive trainer + power pedals, which I actually quite like. The con here is cost: You’re essentially paying ~2200 just for the Peloton class experience. That said, if you like that, then great, nothing wrong with that. 2) If you have (or bought) a road bike, non interactive trainer (Road Machine is my vote,) and power pedals, you could then do TR/Zwift in non-interactive mode, and then pay for the Peloton subscription and stream the classes. You won’t be on the leaderboard, but you could somewhat quickly figure out cues from the instructors and sort of ‘adapt’ your gearing/riding on the bike to match what they’re asking of you. You won’t be able to do specific resistance numbers, but obviously 65 means shift to a harder gear, etc. 3) The Atom is a really strong contender if you’re looking to go full smart training, as it has an accurate power meter and erg mode; if you see yourself wanting to get into TrainerRoad / Zwift really heavily, this is a great option. The Atom has both ANT+fec and Bluetooth, which is really important when you’re trying to connect to multiple apps/devices. Bluetooth is a one-and-done connection; once Zwift connects via Bluetooth, TrainerRoad can’t, for instance; not the case with ANT+. If you streamed Peloton while Zwifting around, that would work. You could also Zwift around while letting ERG from TR control your trainer, for instance. Training wise, I think TrainerRoad is pretty much the peak of long term, progressive growth, but it’s not necessarily ‘fun.’ It’s mostly staring at a line. Some people pair it with Zwift to make it more fun. I don’t know if I’d try pairing TR and Peloton though; I think that would be a little confusing more than anything. 4) The IC4 has mixed power accuracy reports. That said, to be fair, accuracy and consistency are different. If you’re not planning on racing in Zwift, power *accuracy* doesn’t really matter. I have a friend who uses a wildly inaccurate trainer in TrainerRoad, but it’s consistent. Yes, she’s reportedly putting out world-record breaking numbers, but it doesn’t really matter, because he zones are still correct. The IC4 seems decently accurate, just not great (much like Peloton.) Of note, the IC4 has a different resistance scale than the Peloton, even though they’re both 0-100. The resistance comes in at different times. I found a chart that says the equivalencies are roughly: (Peloton/IC4) 30/9, 35/17, 40/25, 45/33, 50/49. That could get a little annoying. Of course, like the Peloton, you could put some power pedals on this and transmit that to TR/Zwift and or follow along with Peloton while riding in Zwift. I think those are most of the big options. To try to put a little bow on it, broadly I’d say a few things: Primarily, try to identify your goals and what you think you resonate with. I enjoy TR a lot, but many people would hate it. If you want the full peloton experience, the bike is really good. If you want full on smart training with TR+Zwift, the Atom is your pick of this group (unless you have/would buy a road bike, at which point consider a smart trainer too.) Next, I wouldn’t personally put TOO much stock into always getting extreme accuracy in power data. Accuracy is nice, but even if you’re off a little bit, you can still get good structured training in Zwift Workouts or Peloton Power Zone classes as long as it’s consistent. If you want to get into Zwift racing or you already have a powermeter on your outdoor bike, then indoor power accuracy is a little more important (especially so you can transfer that knowledge to outdoor riding.) Anyway, that was a lot, and I hope somewhere in that you found something useful. Feel free if you want me to clarify anything. Super short version: you’ll get fitter by any of them. 😊

[@paolakowalke9449]

Great info. As a novice this information was fantastic! Thanks so much for your professionalism and information.

[@alanmahler277]

Any thoughts on the Nordic Track bike that is very similar to this? I’ve seen some decent reviews and the screen can flip for floor exercises. Thank you

[@gordonsprenger2778]

Hello, if you're interested in several Routs around the Globe...dont hesitate to checkout my Channel :)

[@MeaganHesham]

Great video! Just subbed! I recently got one and love it!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Happy to help!

[@aceboogie8986]

How is it ??

[@westcoastgirl93]

I have a membership at Lifetime Athletic gym and take the Amp cycling classes . How many of these classes are off the saddle for most of the class?

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Most of the time? Not many.

[@1984kylea]

Reply classes vs. live classes is essentially no difference. Sure you may not get a "congrats on your 100 rides" shout out. But other than that there is no difference. Especially if you do a replay class that took place that day, there will be 100's there doing it with you so the leader board will be live.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Yeah I was good with the encore rides (though the ones I was doing were more like 25-50 people, so really only 2-3 that I was ‘competing’ against.) I just think there should be more of them in general (but then there would be fewer people per class, so obviously the artificial scarcity is helping them here.) Mainly, I just don’t care about the fully replay, non live or encore, ‘workout dvd’ style classes. For me, the engagement is competing against other people and seeing how they respond.

[@kaylakayla5326]

i’m a cycle newbie and just bought a peloton, but i am having a big issue with knee pain. i’ve googled how to correctly set up my bike and still have issues, any advice?

[@drschultz]

If you take the Peloton FTP test the power zone program classes DO cater to individual fitness levels.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

See my pinned comment. It's definitely better than their regular classes, but I don't think it compares to TR at that point still. Plus then the poor estimated power smoothing gets a little frustrating to me. But yes, much better than their standard classes

[@clarkjansen2048]

The handle bars do not move forward and back ... but ... the seat does. Can you move the seat so you don't hit your knees on the bars?

[@kimohawaiian2154]

Clark Jansen yes, the seat can move back to accommodate the knee issue. If you can get to a showroom to test this out, prior to purchasing that might help take out any surprises!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

You can move the seat fore and aft, but that's not really the same thing. Doing so changes the relationship of your hips to the axis of rotation of the pedals, which can ultimately lead to discomfort. The 'order' of fitting is seat height and FWD/read, then handlebars. So basically, while you can move the seat back to clear the legs, it would really be fixing one problem by making another. For most people who are looking for an upright position, it's not really a problem. If you're trying to replicate a road bike it might be a problem and a tri bike, likely a problem. For reference, this is my triathlon position, which can't be replicated on the Peloton: imgur.com/a/Ovxm0n8

[@bobaisbomb3818]

Ooof the timezone problem is a deal breaker for me as I'll be moving to seattle soon. Does anyone know if this has changed since COVID?

[@albetteridge5553]

Thanks for the review very helpful. My dilemma is buying a Peloton bike that could be enjoyed by me and my 3 other family members, (at a premium price I know), or purchase a Wahoo Kickr core smart Turbo trainer + Zwift (which only I would use), but much cheaper outlay and lower monthly cost.

[@chrisdavis8399]

Hey Justin. Incredibly balanced review. My question is how loud is the Peloton? I’m in an apartment where you can hear your neighbours. Cheers!

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Happy to help. It's *very* quiet. I'd go so far as to say that if it's at the point where it's too loud, you probably can't ever use any sort of trainer. A thick mat beneath it would help reduce vibrations. The new direct drive trainers (like Wahoo Kickr) have gotten a lot more quiet, but to my ear, the Peloton is still probably quieter. For effectively silent, look at the Stac Zero (and or the new 4iiii Fliiiiight trainer; Stac got bought.) It uses magnetic resistance against your metal bike wheel, so basically the only sound is your actual drive train noise. I've ridden the Zero on a demo; road feel isn't as good as something like a Kickr, but in terms of 'giving you resistance', yeah, works just fine. The Fliiiight is looking great in the previews [comes out very soon]

[@chrisdavis8399]

JustinDoesTriathlon....Thanks do much for your reply Justin! Very helpful!

[@Darren_Kelly]

Hi Justin. You mentioned that being from Seattle there are very few live classes available to you when you want to work out. I am from the UK, so i'm guessing there will be ZERO live classes available to someone who lives over the pond? Thanks.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Looks like you're 8 hrs ahead of me. I just did some quick browsing, looks like there's stuff between (generally) about 11am and 11pm. You actually might be better positioned than I am even. That said, Peloton.com, setup a free account, then hit schedule. I can't seem to change my time zone so I'm not positive. That should do it for you though!

[@Darren_Kelly]

@@JustinDoesTriathlon Thanks Justin, i appreciate your reply. I may have to get one after all then.

[@hoakie]

There are now several UK instructors and I think I saw there is a German one now too

[@kimohawaiian2154]

Daz Kelly there is a newer London studio that will help with that time zone issue, for both the UK and the German market. Hopefully they will add more instructors and increase the number of live rides fir that region.

[@tatiana.mp3]

@Sean Dooley there are six, technically. Ben, Leanne, Sam, and Hannah. Also, Erik and Irene, although German, also teach from the london studio. Irene teaches in English sometimes.

[@robinpetersson3081]

Are there other activities than spin classes? Like virtual biking through an environment? I think I'd be motivated to bike if I got to see some beautiful scenery and compete against people that way.

[@gordonsprenger2778]

Hello, if you're interested in several Routs around the Globe...dont hesitate to checkout my Channel :)

[@alexandrasarantaki2610]

Hi- very good review! Most of your video talks about the pelaton app. I have seen that you can purchase this app without having to buy the pelaton bike. Is there a difference between bying the pelaton bike with its app and buying another bike using the pelaton app? I mean i can buy another bike and see the classes of the pelaton app on my ipad. What is the difference? Please reply, Thank you!

[@chezchezchezchez]

Did you ever find out?

[@osint6372]

Great video Justin. I have a quick question for you regarding training. I agree with the fact you can incorporate spinning as part of your TRI training especially when you cannot go outside. Many people follow specific training plans based on swim, bike, run and combinations thereof as well as rest days and strength sessions. Is it OK to incorporate other sports into training like racquetball, or or rowing or soccer for example during your training week? I used to play professional soccer in Europe when I was younger and it helps me stay competitive and break out of the monotony of TRI training. Also is training based on distance or time better ? Thoughts? Thank you in advance for your help.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

> I used to play professional soccer in Europe when Damn, good for you! That's a level I'll never get to at anything. I did watch the Seattle Sounders win the MLS cup yesterday, though. :D So broadly speaking, I'd say yes, you can incorperate other stuff, but within reason, and also depending on the intensity off your training plans. Look up TSS. It's essentially a number that quantifies the amount of training stress you've input to your body in a given week. If you have a week that has a TSS right at your upper limit, then you try to row hard the 'rest' day, you're not going to recover fully the way the plan wanted you to. So really, there's never a "yes" or "No" that you can or can't add in cross training, but broadly speaking, really listen to your body and judge based on how you're feeling. More isn't always better, and rest days are very important to actually absorb the fitness. That said, if triathlon is monotonous so you're skipping workouts because you're not having fun, then that's not good too. I like training by time on the bike, distance on the runs, and swim sets. Time on the bike is important because you need to be able to spend a good amount of hours in that position; run distance is important because 2hrs for different people might be very different.

[@osint6372]

@@JustinDoesTriathlon Thank You Justin. Makes sense. I tend to swim and bike more than running. I guess I am used to pace running and then accelerate really fast due to years of playing soccer (even now) but I dont neglect training. Thank You for the tips, I really appreciate it. As of soccer I had my share of injuries when I got a little older like a twice torn quad muscle. lol. It terms of running what do you believe a good ratio of treadmill VS outside running should be. Again, thank you for the great videos. Keep them coming. The peloton video is a gem.

[@bytesizeclu]

And today they showed off the Peloton Bike + which fixes a few of the issues you brought up, for example better speakers, the screen can be rotated to the side for floor workouts and even electronic adjustive resistance from the workouts themselves. about £300 more and honestly I dont think its worth it but its something to keep in mind

[@rcmag13]

Great review on the bike, was thinking about getting one but now having second thoughts about that. I have a nice road bike but my neck is sore after riding indoors on it in a static position, I was hoping an indoor bike would put me into more of an upright position while I'm indoors. I may just try to elevate the front wheel and continue using zwift.

[@benbenjamin2385]

Poleton are marketing masters ... this is a good product.

[@cbwagner7269]

What is the live aspect you appreciate? As far as I can tell, there is zero difference between a live and a pre-recorded class.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

It’s purely mental. In a live class, with the leaderboards, you can see people who are very near your power output. Typically after 10 or so min when people get in their grooves, you’ll have a few people near you that you’re sorta able to ‘race’ against. If the instructor gives the cue to turn to 60 resistance and 75 cadence, or whatever, you can see how individual people respond. Sometimes I might only want to go to 60, but the person near me goes 62, so I’ll bury myself a little deeper to catch them. Vice versa, if you’re ahead, you can sometimes see people ‘chasing’ you. In a replay class, you can see the all time leaderboard, but it’s a little less engaging to me, because it feels like just kinda climbing a ladder. It’s really subtle, and not everyone will probably share my feelings on it. Basically, in a live class, there’s more of a real competitive side that you can tap into, if that’s your thing. In a prerec class without other people, it’s still the same prescribed workout, but I don’t have that drive to go above what I otherwise would in the same way if I was chasing someone down. The mental aspect of a live class competing against real people DOES work on me. In the same way that Zwift made indoor training better by showing other real people you can race against, for me, Peloton’s big value is the interaction with other people. Take that away, and it feels like a pretty standard workout video, which doesn’t really engage for me.

[@cbwagner7269]

@@JustinDoesTriathlon Thanks for the reply. I guess I get that, but just haven't found the leaderboard to be overly useful in live classes. I actually find them more useful in pre-recorded classes as the leaderboard is more 'stable'. I get the race aspect, but when you have 700 live people it tends to jump around. In pre-recorded, you always have someone in front of you to overtake. As far as the interaction, I would like to try Zwift, or somehow have Peloton introduce actual racing. But the interaction on Peloton as is to me is distracting. Yes, the high fives were cool the first couple of rides. But it is forced now. Yeah, RIDERX is on her 10th ride. Great but I don't need that notification. I love my peloton, just never totally understood the live vs. pre-recorded debate unless you want your screen name called out for posterity on milestone rides.

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

@@cbwagner7269 ​ CB Wagner That's a great perspective, and it's funny how that works. I'm basically the opposite of you with regards to the overall leaderboard-- Having someone always above me makes it feel like I'm climbing an infinite ladder that I'll never reach the top of. Sort of like, "Well there's always someone faster," which doesn't click for me. But that's the fun part about everyone being different! Zwift is really fun for a lot of people. I think for me, I've gotten to the point where I'm like, "Well I don't love ANY indoor riding, so I'm going to prioritize what gets me the fittest." I think I actually *personally* might slot Peloton over Zwift. Zwift doesn't resonate quite right for me. Their workouts are decent, but the free ride is just kinda boring to me (same as it is on Peloton) and the races are just hammer fests. 😅

[@JayBigDadyCy]

I guess if you're a competitive cyclist the leaderboards will mean something. I'm in decent shape, but I'm in no way trying to compete. The instructors, I believe, are the real gem of Peloton. They are fantastic. They really motivate me in the right way to push harder and harder. Also I agree. I see no difference in live and recorded. There's always people even in recorded classes to compete with if that's your thing.

[@jamesdavenport4583]

Can the peloton be used with Zwift?

[@blastofo]

I assumed that with the price of the bike, it had a heartrate sensor and that the bikes resistance would automatically adjust to keep you in your target heartrate zone.

[@flamingchen]

You should try out the power zone rides with a FTP test for more scaled workouts

[@JustinDoesTriathlon]

Check out the pinned comment. I cut the PZ bit out of the video for time, but yeah, I used them. They're definitely a lot closer to what I'km looking for. I still think there's a pretty important missed element of a bit of scheduling, though. Power or HR training is great, but it really comes into its own when intended to keep you training in certain target metrics for x% per period. A person who is only hitting 3 rides per week might want one temp, one threshold, and one VO2max workout, but someone at 6 workouts per week each over an hour should be spending more time in endurance and tempo, proportionally. That's the element that I just don't think they've gotten to. I do see that the Tread is incorporating a lot of running training plans, so I'm hopeful!