There are lots of exercise bicycles out there for you to choose from, and some are more expensive than others. Peloton exercise bikes sit at the top of the line and come with a hefty price tag, but what are these bicycles like? Are they a scam, or do you truly get your money's worth when you buy one?
What Is Peloton?
In 2012, the company Peloton Interactive, Inc., was founded. Its headquarters is based in New York City, and creating high-end luxury bicycle machines is its main focus. The company gets its name from a cycling term that refers to the main “ball” of riders in a race.
The cycling machines the business creates carry the company’s name, thus creating the Peloton bike range. The company has also spread into other areas, such as treadmills and sneakers.
While Peloton’s customers have been satisfied with its products, the company hasn’t been without its issues. In 2021, Peloton issued a safety notice after a child died while using a Peloton treadmill.
What Features Does a Peloton Bike Have?
Peloton bikes are known as a luxury brand for a good reason. A Peloton goes beyond being simply an exercise bike, which makes them an attractive model for cycling enthusiasts.
To start, Peloton bikes have built-in screens and speakers. These features allow you to virtually mimic the experience of cycling through various environments. Each lesson has an instructor who guides you through the session and helps you cycle virtual miles in the comfort of your own home.
If you own a big-screen television, Peloton lets you make the most of it by supporting casting services like Chromecast. That means you can view your lessons onto the big screen for a more enjoyable cycling experience.
If you want to connect with other people during your ride, the Peloton features a microphone that lets you chat with other members. And if you’re more of a competitive person, there are leader boards where you can show off your cycling prowess to your friends and family.
If you like checking out post-exercise metrics to see your progress, Peloton has these in spades. It will check your heart rate as you pedal and show you a chart at the end, so you can see how hard you pushed your body. It’ll also show you the distance you cycled and the calories you burned.
You’ll also find that Peloton as a company is also big on exercise off the bike. The Peloton app comes with cardio and yoga workouts that you can use to supplement your cycling routine.
Peloton machines can connect to the internet, which means they can receive new features over time. For example, a software update gave Peloton owners a pause button for their videos. Another update added a News Feed link to the What’s New page, where users can see posts from members they follow.
What Is the Peloton Range of Exercise Bikes?
At the time of writing, the Peloton range features two machines: the Bike, and the Bike+. The Bike costs $1,495, while the Bike+ costs $2,495. The Bike+ isn’t too different from the Bike, but it does have some nice features that power users will want.
For instance, the Bike+ has a bigger screen that rotates, allowing you to use it for cycling as well as yoga. The Bike+ model also has the following additional features:
- More powerful speakers
- An auto-resistance knob to change your resistance to match the instructors' cues
- Syncing with Apple GymKit
- Better microphone
- Higher-resolution camera
- Bluetooth 5.0 (instead of Bluetooth 4.0 on the base model)
- USB-C charging port to power your phone while you exercise
Whichever model you pick, you can then choose from one of four Peloton packages. At the base price, you get just the bike, and each package adds more and more accessories to suit different people. At the top of the range—the Bike Ultimate package—you also get some accessories, including a bike mat, workout mat, heart rate monitor, and cycling shoes.
Why Should You Buy a Peloton Exercise Bike?
As you can see, the Peloton range is very much a luxury purchase for an enthusiastic biker. As such, when asking yourself if a Peloton bike is good for you, you need to assess your current situation as a cyclist and what you want from your new machine.
The first sticking point is the price. Yes, you can get other exercise bikes for a lot cheaper than a Peloton. Even if you can afford a Peloton bike, you may find that less expensive models will do everything you want for less. As such, it’s worth exploring Peloton alternatives for stationary cyclists to see what else your money can get you.
You should also consider your current status as a cyclist. If you’re just beginning with cycling exercise and you want a machine to get started with, a Peloton may be overkill.
Peloton does offer a free trial of its machines, so you can test a Peloton at home and return it if you decide that it’s not for you. However, if you’re worried that you’ll lose interest in cycling and be left with the world’s most expensive paperweight, it’s better to start with a cheaper model.
If you’re already a dedicated cyclist and you want the best of the best, then Peloton is a fantastic choice. It contains everything you’ll ever want from a cycling machine, plus some added extras. From built-in cycling courses to progress tracking, there’s a lot to love.
It’s also worth taking a look at Peloton if you plan to purchase a bike for your family. A Peloton All-Access Membership membership lets you create profiles for everyone within your household.
Peloton Exercise Bikes: An Excellent Choice for Avid Cyclists
While Peloton bikes certainly aren't for everyone, they definitely hit the spot for their target audience. With all its features, it's hard to find something a Peloton bike can't do, making it the ideal all-in-one package for people who love cycling.
If you're still on the fence about getting a Peloton bike, why not read our review? We gave the bike an impressive 9 out of 10 and our special Premium Pick award for its excellent craftsmanship.