A few years ago, Peloton’s stationary bikes entered the public arena quickly, with demand growing far beyond the company’s capacity. But that success was immediately followed by a spike in sales, declining interest, and hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue as the world began to recover from the global pandemic and people returned to the gym.
Despite the suspension of the production of exercise bikes and treadmills due to unsold stock, the company is still working on new devices. Peloton released its Guide device with a weight training camera and the long -rumored Peloton Row rowing machine in 2022, but the Peloton Bike+, which starts at a hefty $1,995, still provides the most versatile experience available on the platform..
Its large swivel touchscreen display has been designed to provide easy access to Peloton’s diverse workout library. And Bike+ epitomizes the Peloton mission and its dilemma. Can the company continue to expand its hardware offerings while proving that it is a decent fitness platform without expensive hardware? And will it be able to maintain top-notch quality and selection of equipment and content?
We’ve spent some time on Peloton Bike+ to make sure it’s the best machine in Peloton’s arsenal, and we’ve also taken a look at Peloton’s offline fitness streaming platform.
First-class design, but it’s not perfect
The Peloton Bike+ is widely regarded as the ultimate exercise bike, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s heavy, durable, and quiet in operation, and has a pleasing aesthetic that can blend in with a living room setting, mostly thanks to its sleek, matte finish.
I only have two nitpicks about this. First, Peloton bikes require you to fasten your shoes to the pedals using a special type of bike cleat called “Look Delta”. This is not a Peloton exclusive standard so if you already have a compatible pair they should work just fine. If you don’t have them, you will need to buy them as they don’t come with the bike. Peloton has options starting at $125, and while the price is on par with other cycling shoe brands, I can’t help but feel they should be included with the bike. There are third-party conversion kits that allow you to use regular shoes, but these are not approved by Peloton and may not be the safest option.
Since Peloton bikes have a fixed gear, they are not “loose”and allow rearward pedaling without resistance. As a stationary bike newbie, I learned this the hard way. When I tried to reverse while cycling, I encountered the full weight of the flywheel’s inertia fighting against me, forcing my pinched legs forward. As shocking as it was, it’s a good thing that my legs were locked up during this mess, otherwise it could lead to injury.
A future design that allows for buckleless riding (such as with a toe hook) and freewheeling that many people are accustomed to from traditional geared bikes would be appreciated. Freewheel e-bikes are not very common, but some manufacturers offer bikes with both a clamp and a toe cage for normal running shoes on the other side of the pedal. This will certainly help lower the already high barrier to entry, especially when multiple people want to use a bike.
All in all, however, getting used to the lockout procedure and pushing the big red brake handle to stop was a simple adjustment. What remains is my discomfort with opening my shoes. You must hold the brake and turn your foot away from the bike by partially rotating your ankle. It’s embarrassing and unpleasant (although not exactly painful) every time.
My second niggle is related to the seat. An all-purpose bike seat or Peloton saddle may not fit your body. The company’s bikes are designed for people between 4’11″and 6’4″tall and weighing up to 297 pounds. Naturally, there are many differences between these body shapes. It took my bony butts a few rides to get used to the slight discomfort, but if it’s still unbearable after about 10 rides, you might want to consider padded bike shorts or even a change of saddle. Unfortunately, Peloton doesn’t stock these, so you’ll need to size up and find it yourself.