What Is a Peloton Bike and Why Would You Want One?

People rave about Peloton bikes, but what are they and are they worth your money?

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 HQ 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 when referring 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 its net 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. A while ago, Peloton came under fire after a child was killed using its treadmills.

Related: After the Death of a Child, Peloton Issues a New Safety Notice

What Features Does a Peloton Bike Have?

Peloton bikes are known as a luxury model for a good reason. It goes beyond being simply an exercise bike, which makes them an attractive model for enthusiasts.

To start, the Peloton has a screen and speakers on it. This allows you to pull up cycling lessons on the screen to cycle along to. Each lesson has an instructor which guides you through the session and help you cycle miles in the comfort of your own home.

If you own a big screen and want to make the most of it, Peloton lets you do that, too. The bicycle supports casting services like Chromecast, which means you can put your lessons onto the big screen for a more enjoyable cycling experience.

If you want to cycle with others, the Peloton features a microphone that lets you exercise with other members. And if you’re more of a competitive person, there are leaderboards 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 give 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 for and the calorie burn.

You’ll also find that Peloton as a company is also big on exercise off of the bike. The Peloton app comes with a lot of cardio and yoga reps that you can do alongside your cycling routine.

Peloton machines can connect to the internet, which means they can receive new features over time. For example, Peloton owners received a pause button for their videos a new quality-of-life update.

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 weighs in at $1,495, while the Bike+ is at $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, better speakers, and even a USB-C charging port to power your phone while you exercise.

Whichever model you pick, you can then choose from one of four 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 at the “Family” pack, you also get some yoga accessories, resistance bands, and water bottles alongside the bike.

Why Should You Get 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 from an exercise machine for less. As such, it’s worth exploring Peloton alternatives to see what you can get for your buck.

Related: The Best Peloton Alternatives for Stationary Cyclists

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 a bit overkill.

Peloton does offer a 30-day trial of their machines, so technically you can use a machine under the trial and give it back if 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 go for a cheaper model.

However, if you’re already an established 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 on top of that. 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. One membership covers everyone within your household, and the Peloton Bike Family package ensures nobody is left out.

Peloton Exercise Bikes: An Excellent Choice for the Avid Cyclist

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 recently gave the bike an impressive 9 out of 10 and our special Premium Pick award for its excellent craftsmanship.

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