Like many, I decided to take my health more seriously and started hitting the gym regularly. Then, the pandemic changed everything, and staying away from crowded spaces became a priority. While I appreciated Planet Fitness closing temporarily for safety, I really missed my workout routine once things started reopening but I didn’t feel comfortable going back. My home elliptical and neighborhood walks weren’t cutting it. That’s when I decided to invest in a Peloton Bike in July 2020. Turns out, I wasn’t the only one with this idea, and there was a bit of a wait. By the end of July, my Peloton Bike arrived, and honestly, I was instantly hooked on the experience that the Peloton Bike Membership offered.
What Makes a Peloton Bike Membership Different?
Alt text: Peloton Bike screen displaying instructor Hannah Corbin leading a cycling class, showcasing the interactive fitness experience.
First impressions matter, and the Peloton Bike’s design is undeniably impressive. It’s sleek, modern, and high-tech – exactly what you’d expect from a company focused on premium experiences. However, the real game-changer isn’t just the bike itself; it’s the large, vibrant display and, most importantly, the incredible content and classes that come with the Peloton bike membership.
With other exercise equipment I’ve owned, including my trusty elliptical, workouts often felt solitary. While the machines might adjust resistance, that’s usually the extent of the engagement. You’re left to stare at stats or distract yourself with your phone or tablet. Sure, you can play your own music or stream shows to pass the time, but it’s a far cry from the immersive experience of a Peloton class, which is a core component of the Peloton bike membership.
Peloton classes are in a different league altogether. You have a diverse roster of instructors – men and women, young and experienced, representing various backgrounds. They are all engaging to watch and motivating to workout with. Each class features curated music playlists designed to enhance the workout intensity and enjoyment. Speaking of music, which is crucial for my workouts, the Peloton bike membership allows you to connect your Spotify or Apple Music accounts. This is a fantastic feature – if you hear a song you love during a class, a simple tap favorites it and adds it to a dedicated Peloton playlist on your preferred music service.
The instructors are experts at pushing you to challenge yourself, guiding you to work harder, and, importantly, incorporating recovery periods to catch your breath. This balance of intensity and rest is key to effective workouts, and it’s expertly managed within the Peloton class structure that’s central to the Peloton bike membership.
Alt text: Animated GIF showcasing the immersive Peloton Bike class experience with dynamic instructor and on-screen metrics, highlighting the engaging workout.
Upgrading to Bike+ to Enhance the Peloton Membership Experience
As a tech enthusiast, I usually stay informed about new releases, but the announcement of the Peloton Bike+ caught me completely by surprise, just 40 days after I got my original Bike. Being outside the 30-day return window was a bit disappointing. Peloton offers a trade-in program, but the $700 value for my almost-new Bike felt low. After eight months of contemplation, I decided the Bike+ and its enhanced integration with the Peloton bike membership was worth the upgrade.
Here are five key reasons why I upgraded to the Bike+ and why it further elevates the Peloton membership:
The Peloton Membership Fosters a Sense of Community
One of the most motivating aspects of the Peloton bike membership is the feeling that you’re never truly working out alone, unless you choose to be. The Leaderboard displays a list of users who have previously taken the class, ranked by output, as well as those joining the class in real-time. This subtle competition and camaraderie is surprisingly motivating. You can even send and receive virtual high-fives to fellow riders, fostering a sense of connection.
Peloton also facilitates group rides with friends or users sharing common hashtags, creating smaller communities within the larger platform. While most of my classes are on-demand, Peloton also offers live classes throughout the day and night. During live classes, instructors often give shout-outs to participants, creating a direct interaction and recognition. Although instructors can’t see you, they can see your Leaderboard stats, adding a layer of accountability.
Alt text: Peloton Bike Leaderboard displaying user rankings and metrics during a class, illustrating the social and competitive elements of the Peloton membership workouts.
The Bike also includes a camera and microphone, enabling video chats with friends in the same class, provided you mutually follow each other. Having owned treadmills and ellipticals in the past, I can confidently say that nothing has motivated me to exercise consistently like the Peloton experience, driven by the engaging Peloton bike membership.
A Peloton Membership Offers Fitness Beyond Cycling
The Peloton bike membership isn’t limited to just cycling classes. It’s a comprehensive fitness platform offering a wide variety of class types. Beyond cycling, you have access to strength training, yoga, cardio, meditation, running, outdoor workouts, stretching, and walking classes. While bike and treadmill classes are available if you own the equipment, you can participate in all other categories even without them. The versatility of class types is a huge benefit of the Peloton bike membership, allowing for well-rounded fitness routines. Furthermore, these classes are accessible not only on the Bike screen but also on your mobile devices and Apple TV, providing workout flexibility wherever you are.
The Bottom Line: Is a Peloton Bike Membership Worth It?
Alt text: Peloton Century Club badge displayed on a Peloton Bike screen, signifying completion of 100 rides and membership milestone achievement.
I recently celebrated my 100th ride and officially joined the Century Club! I’m eagerly anticipating my free Century Club T-shirt! In short, I love my Peloton and the Peloton bike membership. It’s undoubtedly the best piece of exercise equipment I’ve ever owned. When you see commercials for other smart bikes, it’s clear they are all trying to catch up to Peloton. Like the best tech gadgets, the value isn’t just in individual features; it’s the entire, seamless experience that makes the Peloton bike membership so worthwhile. Interestingly, the monthly Peloton membership fee is comparable to what I was paying for my previous gym membership, making it a financially sound switch for me.
If you’re considering joining the Peloton community, use my referral code: RTRK6S to get $100 off accessories (like shoes or weights) when you purchase your equipment. You can explore and order here.
I hope to see you on the Leaderboard soon! Find me under the username: TerryLeeWhite.
Since I mentioned Apple’s GymKit in my video above, it’s worth highlighting that Peloton was among the first to integrate GymKit into relatively affordable home fitness equipment. This GymKit compatibility was a significant factor in my decision to upgrade to the Bike+. Other GymKit-enabled equipment I had seen was significantly more expensive, often designed for commercial gyms and hotels.
