So you’ve just taken the plunge and purchased the trendy and glorious Peloton, otherwise known as the beautiful bike that goes nowhere. Whether your intention is radiant health, a stronger body or the preservation of your sanity… Congratulations! You won’t be disappointed. You’ve just joined a wonderful, supportive community full of amazing people who are committed to becoming a better version of themselves.
But let’s be honest, do you really want to spend long, boring hours researching your shiny new exercise equipment? Heck no! So I’ve spared you the hassle and rounded up all the answers to your burning bike-related questions. In this post I deep dive into all things Peloton and address everything that you might be wondering about as a bright-eyed newbie. What are you waiting for? Let’s jump right in!
1. Do I need special cycling clothes? How long will my ass hurt?
First off, if you’re writhing in agony every time your butt hits the saddle (aka seat), welcome to the party! Wondrous, isn’t it? I remember those painful days all too well… But wait! Don’t head over to your local sporting goods store just yet. I have good news- the end is nigh. Most Peloton users report that the bum discomfort subsides in about 1-1.5 weeks.
So listen to the sage wisdom of your high school’s motivational poster and “just hang in there.” I believe in you! Meanwhile, make sure you’re scooting your booty back to the widest part of the saddle. And take heart in the knowledge that your wounded glutes will get acclimated in no time.
For that reason I recommend wearing ‘regular’ athletic gear. ‘Cause let’s get real- you don’t really need to worry about aerodynamics whilst cycling in your living room (unless you have seriously fierce air conditioning). And I don’t know about you, but I feel infinitely more amped to work out when I’m wearing a cute and flattering fitness outfit. But hey, if those sexy padded biking shorts get your motor running, this is a judgment-free zone. As Coach Cody would say, “You do you, Boo!”
2. What equipment or gear do I need?
I would recommend the following:
- Shoes- These are fairly non-negotiable if you want the full experience. I went with the Peloton brand shoes that were part of the family package, but you can always go rogue and get a different brand such as Pearl Izumi, Shimano, Louis Garneau, Giro, etc. From what I hear they’re equally great and get the job done. Just make sure you do your homework and get shoes that have Look Delta or SPD-SL cleats (3 hole cleat system) to ensure they’re compatible with the Peloton bike pedals. Supposedly you can even use your regular old running shoes as long as you get toe cages.
- Heart Rate Monitor- A good heart rate monitor is a must if you want to get an accurate picture of your metrics- calorie burn, bpm and overall performance. Before transitioning to Peloton, my husband and I were Orangetheory enthusiasts so we use the monitors we bought there. Most riders swear by the Scosche Rhythm+ and wahoo TICKR heart rate monitors which are consistently reliable and hold up over time. Unfortunately, the Peloton brand ones are described as ‘spotty’ and ‘replete with performance issues.’
- Weights- Make sure to have a pair of 3 pound hand weights within easy reach of your bike in case you do an arms and intervals ride or in the event that there’s a ‘surprise’ arms section during your cycling class (the description of each ride lists the equipment you’ll need so it shouldn’t come as a total shock). The convenient cage below your saddle is the intended place to store your weights.
- Towels- The Peloton is a fantastic cardio workout, so be prepared to get super sweaty. I’ll be honest, prior to spinning I didn’t really sweat so much as sparkle. But now? The sweat pours out of my body in rivulets. The towel is not an accessory, it’s a necessity that you will likely use several times over the course of a single ride. If you’re a little boujee like me, consider investing in these plush towels- I like to keep them in a chic basket next to my bike.
- Water bottle- You’ll often hear the coaches singing the praises of proper hydration and it’s no joke. I go through about 20 oz of water or gatorade per 30 minutes class with a fervor that would suggest I’d been wandering the arid desert for days. Make sure to have an adequate supply of fluids on hand. You don’t want to unclip from your bike mid-workout desperately seeking water. Take a leaf from my book and sweet talk your unsuspecting family member or roommate into serving as your personal water boy 😉
Optional:
- Yoga mat + blocks- Whether or not you need these depends entirely on you. If you plan on incorporating non-cycling classes into your routine such as pilates, HIIT, yoga, etc. then I would strongly suggest investing in a good mat. The Peloton brand is solid and I’m also a big fan of Manuka mats. Blocks are completely optional and are only really used for yoga, foam rolling and meditation. And even then, they certainly aren’t a must. Not to mention, there’s a good chance you already have one or both of these items on hand.
- Fan- A fan is an indispensable part of our home gym setup. I have a tendency to run warm and you better believe this fan is firing on all cylinders as soon as the 5 minute warm up is over. If you enjoy activities such as hot yoga or you’re constantly complaining that your office is too cold, you might be one of the lucky few who would benefit from skipping the fan altogether. Otherwise, you might find that a fan is a valuable addition to your Peloton routine. I have this one and it’s truly spectacular.
3. How long will it take me to transition from beginner rides to ‘regular’ rides?
This is a tricky question because it depends entirely on you and your current fitness level. Before getting a Peloton, I exercised regularly, but rarely did much cardio because #apartmentlife. Once my bike arrived I committed to doing 1 month of beginner rides only so that I could build up my endurance (and confidence!) before graduating to regular rides.
To be honest, I didn’t notice a huge difference between beginner and regular rides once I made the switch. Some people jump right in, beginner rides be damned. I’ve been on the back of a tandem bike in Sicily, riding switchbacks down a mountain, but I’d never attended a spin class or even tried a Peloton prior to buying one. I’d say use your intuition as a guide and no matter your fitness level, consider doing at least a couple of beginner rides to familiarize yourself with the various features, proper form and format of the classes.
4. Who are the best instructors?
Ooowee! What a loaded and hotly debated question. And yet, this was on the forefront of my mind too when I was just starting out. You might not like my answer, but the truth is, it varies widely depending on who you ask. I think the beauty of the sheer variety of instructors is that there’s someone for everyone. I would recommend sampling a couple classes from each coach and seeing whose style and energy you resonate with the most. It can also depend on your mood. If you want to get your ass kicked, try one of Kendall or Olivia’s rides. If you want someone warm and motivational, Alex or Ally could be a good fit.
My two go-to instructors are…
Jess King– Jess is a bubbly redhead with major star power. It barely registers as a surprise that before becoming a Peloton coach, she was the lead in Cirque du Soleil and a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance. She is a born performer with a magnetic personality. I love her unapologetic quirkiness that makes me laugh out loud in the middle of a ride. No one can elicit consistently insane results from me like Jess can, all while putting a smile on my face. She’s my go to if I’m having a bad day and want to turn my mood around.
Hannah Corbin– I adore Hannah! She’s vivacious, genuine, upbeat and ‘spicy.’ I love spending time in her uplifting energy. The way she dances around on her bike is really charming (and I can’t help but notice she has quite the following amongst the #pelotondads… eek!). I’ve done more of Hannah’s rides than any other instructor because they’re a ton of fun, moderately challenging and feel more like play than work.
Amongst the Peloton community, the most popular coaches seem to be: Alex, Cody, Emma, Matt and Robin.
If you want the inside scoop about the fascinating backstories of the Peloton coaches, check out this mind-blowing article (spoiler alert: one of them was held hostage!).
5. How often should I ride? Will I get results?
There is no hard and fast rule or one-size-fits-all approach to fitness. I recommend riding as often as you’d like and listening to your body. Remember that your wellness journey is unique and you can only ever compare yourself to who you were yesterday. Keep that in mind when you’re on the bike, riding as hard as you can, only to watch someone on the leaderboard twice your age fly right past you.
I used to loathe cardio, especially running, but I love the Peloton. And if the thousands of comments on Reddit are any indicator, I’m not alone in this sentiment. Go figure! The Peloton is addictive in the best possible way- all those feel-good endorphins are like nature’s Zoloft. Many people report hopping on their bike anywhere from 4-6 times a week on average. According to Cycling Weekly three rides is the minimum you can get away with and still see results.
I personally cycle 3-4 times a week and focus on arms, glutes and abs on my alternate training days. After purchasing a Peloton, you’ll never need to fret about skipping leg day again! And if you’re looking for a heartwarming testimonial, my husband lost 15 pounds in the 5 months we’ve had the bike. Although like many a personal trainer or fitness guru will tell you, healthy eating is a bigger factor in weight loss than exercise. Whoever said “abs are made in the kitchen” wasn’t kidding.
I’ll leave you with this jaw-dropping fact: A 1 hour workout is only 4% of your day. So next time you’re feeling unmotivated or ready to make excuses, remember that little gem.
6. What are the non-cycling classes like?
I have limited experience in this area as I don’t have the tread and I haven’t tried running with the app. However, I have taken pilates, yoga, barre, arms, legs + glutes classes through Peloton. I would say that they are okay- there’s definitely some room for improvement. The arms workouts are pretty solid, but the other types of exercise were underwhelming. Most are too easy in my opinion.
Also, while Peloton recently rolled out barre and pilates, there are only a handful of classes in these two categories and many of them are on the short side. Apparently, more are scheduled to be released in 2021, but they are still forthcoming. Fingers crossed they make them more challenging.
While the non-cycling classes are a fun supplemental component, I still find myself gravitating towards my Youtube workout library on off-the-bike days. You can find a list of my favorite Youtube yogis here. It’s worth mentioning that Peloton meditation is great and easy to add to the end of your exercise routine, especially if you use the Stacks feature. Kristin McGee and Chelsea Jackson Roberts are especially spectacular.
7. I have an off-brand bike, is it still compatible with the Peloton app?
The short answer is: yes. Feast your eyes on this helpful article to help get you started.
8. Miscellaneous Notes, Tips & Tricks!
✧ There is no ‘pause’ button on the bike, so if you forgot your towel or water bottle you better hustle!
✧ Yes, clipping in takes a little while to get used to, but it will soon become second nature, I promise.
✧ If you want to track your fitness progress above and beyond what the app can tell you, consider the Strava app, perfect for people who enjoy geeking out on data. mPaceline and Training Peaks are also frequently cited software that will help you achieve your performance goals.
✧ If you want to get a shoutout from a Coach during a live ride, here’s how to increase your chances…
- Choose a simple, vowel heavy username. For example, bodybytacos is much more likely to get a shoutout than sphynxrhythm which is quite a mouthful and tougher to pronounce.
- Keep it clean! Coaches are not inclined to publicly announce a leaderboard name that’s rated R. Looking at you RidingfortheD…
- If it’s your first ride, your birthday or a milestone ride your chances are much higher.
- Choose a class that’s less popular (i.e. Broadway ride) or at an ‘inconvenient’ time (12 am)
✧ For an enlightening peek into the life of a Peloton coach, check out Ben Alldis’s Reddit AMA.
And if I didn’t answer your question, chances are that you can find it in this comprehensive master wiki
