Saw It On Social: Peloton, The Bike + The App

I hate exercising.  I wish that I was one of those people who find it refreshing and motivating, but I find working out tedious and sometimes demoralizing.  I’m not a particularly athletic person, and exercise feels like a series of small failures.  When a friend, who is equally dreadful at exercise, told me that she’d recently bought a Peloton and loved it, I Googled ‘Peloton’ to learn more.

From there, the social media ads came in like a rush.  Facebook.  Pinterest.  Instagram.  Youtube.  They were everywhere.  But given that a Peloton is a bit more expensive than my usual Saw It on Social purchases, I decided to do a lot more research first.

Everyone I know who owns a Peloton got a text, a call or an email about it.  Most common question: You bought it, but do you use it?

The last thing I needed was a $2,300 clothing rack, which is how most exercise equipment is eventually re-appropriated.  And to my surprise, of the 11 people I asked for their opinion, nine were still using the bike 2-3 times per week.  Only two had given up on it, one returning it before the trial period ended.

The second question I asked was: Okay, what keeps you using it?  The most common answer was that ‘it’s fun.’  Other answers include how motivating the instructors are, how they like being able to compete against other riders, and how energized they felt after a ride.

Given that I had been going to the gym more regularly, I decided to try a spin class with a friend.  I liked it enough to think I could  do it every day, though I found it incredibly difficult, I kind of liked that.  And since one of my 2020 goals is to get into shape, or at least as good of shape as my Mom is in (and she is), it felt like Peloton was worth a 30-day trial.

For an introvert who hates exercising in front of others, being able to get a good workout at home with the supportive feeling of a workout class is great.  During the first week, I was obsessed.  I biked every day.  And ladies, I am terrible at it.  But for the first time in my life, I felt very energized and invigorated by the exercise.   I could only do 10-minutes, but I enjoyed it, and that motivated me to keep going.

The second week, I biked three times, which is the pace I aspire to keep.  It’s realistic.  During week two, I improved, moving up to the 15-minute rides.  I also started chatting with friends who own the bike about their favorite instructors and favorite rides.  It gave the entire experience a community feel.  And as strange as it sounds, when I hit my 10th ride, and strangers in my class started sending me high-fives, it felt pretty great.

Since then, my workouts have kept up.  I’ve been under the weather for the past week, so I haven’t been on the bike to give my lungs a rest.  My Mom, The Beast, actually encouraged me to get back on, just for 20-minutes, just for a light ride.  But she’s one of those people who enjoys exercise, so until I can walk briskly without coughing, I’m staying on the couch. It kills me though that she thinks 20-minutes is a light ride.  Like I said, #goals.

If a Peloton is simply out of your reach financially or you find the idea of spending a month’s pay on exercise equipment ridiculous, the $30 per month Peloton app is still a great investment.  And like the bike, you can try it for 30-days for free.

When I started using the strength-training workouts, I was shocked by how a five-minute workout could help build muscle in my arms or how 10-minutes of core work could make it impossible to bend over the next day.  There are also guided runs, walks, yoga, meditation and more.

I look forward to the early summer when some friends and I are going to do a bootcamp through the app together, both as exercise and a bi-coastal bonding experience.  It should be challenging, and having friends doing it too should be really motivating.

The app is enjoyable and as motivating as the cycling classes.  My workout motto is ‘just do something.’  Even on days when doing nothing sounds exactly right, even a short beginner yoga class or some leg lifts is something.  The app and the bike give me the ability to keep that motto even when I don’t really feel like it.

Bottom line: Being able to work out at home and have a classroom feel is great for someone like myself who lacks motivation.  Last week, I biked in my pajamas because the workout was doable, but digging around for workout clothes felt like one thing too much.  (You can’t do that a the gym.)  The app is a great way to add variety to your workouts.  Being able to connect with people I know in the Peloton community has helped keep me on track, and I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment.

A Peloton is a big investment, so let me offer one word of caution: It’s an exercise bike, not a magic wand.  It can help you change your workout regimen, but if you’re not ready or motivated to develop a regular exercise routine, the bike is going to become a very expensive coat rack.  So my advice would be to develop a workout routine, even just a couple of times per week, and when you feel like you can stick to it, look into buying a Peloton.   Until then, give the app a go.  You get a lot of the benefits (fun, motivation, education) without the big expense.

All items for Saw It on Social are purchases by me directly, no sponsorships, no gifts.   If you’re interested in buying a bike, using my referral code (CRD984) sends me $100 to buy Peloton gear with.  But given the expense of this item, I would rather you consider making the purchase diligently by adding the app to your current workout routine first.  Because this thing isn’t cheap, and it’s only worth it if you use it.