PSA: You don’t need the peloton bike to have a peloton subscription, and if im not wrong, it’s actually cheaper if you don’t have the other frou frou.
Schwinn IC4 i think it’s called or the alternate bowflex c6 are a bunch cheaper and get the job done as well.
If you like it and use it, then maybe upgrading to the peloton official bike might be worth it.
The OP was looking at something his wife could also use. So now you probably need 2x bicycles plus the hassle of swapping them over on the trainer. The real alternative to Peloton is a Smart Bike and there are pros and cons of both.
Most people, even non-cyclists tend to own a bicycle. Craigs list if full of sub $500 bikes. A perfectly serviceable, wheel on, smart trainer costs less than $500.
You can swap bikes with ease.
A Peloton is a status symbol, and very expensive for what it is, even at a reduced cost.
Well, you have certainly changed your criteria…you previously talked about a “top ranked turbo”…and that is not a sub $500 wheel-on unit.
Define “you”…a hardcore cyclist? Sure. A exercise enthusiast who is using indoor riding as their mode of exercise? Not as much…and the hassle factor would lead to them rarely doing it.
So what? Are S-Works frames, Pinarellos and Colnagos also not equally viewed as “status symbols” within our little slice of the world? Why do you care if someone decides they want to be part of the Peloton experience, even if it is a “status symbol” and overpriced?
The value of Peloton is in the instructor-led classes. If you find an instructor or a few you like, it’s fun AND you get stronger. You can even do proper training by joining one of the https://www.pzpack.com/ challenges, for example. The bike itself is a decent spin bike, but it’s a spin bike. You can’t use it with TrainerRoad or anything else, really, besides your Peloton subscription. But it’s a really good spin bike and, like I said, if you can find an instructor you like, it’s a lot of fun.
I’m hearing that peloton+ bike hardware is pretty good now from an accuracy standpoint.
I think the biggest difference between Peloton and Trainerroad is that Trainerroad has the aim to make you a faster cyclist while Peloton is using cycling to make to healthier - there is some overlap obviously but they are different aims.
Have you tried it? It’s very good for a non cyclist and if it gets people exercising three or four times a week it’s great value (most of these individuals won’t do that on a wheel on trainer staring at a number)
Surprised no one mentions the geometry of this thing. A spin bike definitely has a different fit than an outdoor bike. I’m sure it will work different muscle groups and you’ll put out different power. Doesn’t mean it’s bad, but it seems like a different sport to me. Kind of like an elliptical machine rather than a bike.
So a Tacx bike is “like an elliptical machine”? This is a real stretch. It doesn’t have drop bars. That’s the biggest difference. You can very much adjust it to fit like an endurance geometry bike where you’re riding the hoods. Nothing like an elliptical.
You should be able to setup a spin bike pretty close to your normal bike position. The only real difference I’ve found is the handlebars
It’s pretty clear to me that guy is much more upright than someone on a road bike. Most spin bikes are. I think your aero position would be blocked by the screen.
Come on. This is nothing like an elliptical using different muscles. There are TONS of people in the C group riding with this geometry. And if he lowered the bars and raised the saddle?
I think it’s a fair point to highlight that they obviously haven’t tried to simulate a real outdoor cycling position… but it’s not an elliptical trainer.
So you’re saying I should do my FTP tests on a Peloton? 
I was exaggerating a bit 
I think it’s fair to say a spin bike does not have the same set up as a proper road bike fit. The peloton may have some additional adjustability on your typical gym bike, but plenty of people stating that they can’t get the peloton to match their road bike geometry. My exaggeration aside, I think it’s fair to point this out as something to know before buying a peloton.
Your body is not the specific….you can get just as much of a training benefit from being on a spin bike as your regular bike on a trainer.
As for fit, I have a pretty long and low position and I can come pretty close to replicating it on most spin bikes.
However, as noted by others, we are not the primary target for Peloton. Their main demographic are exercise enthusiasts who will use a spin bike as their tool of choice. They are not targeting cycling enthusiasts. There is not a lot of overlap in that Venn diagram.
That’s the point I’m trying to make though. I don’t know why people are so passionate in their dislike of Peloton, but it always ends up in hyperbole. Rather than “if you’re a race oriented cyclist who prefers to be deep in the drops you should test one to ensure you can get in your preferred position”, we get “it exercises totally different muscle groups and it’s more like an elliptical machine than a bicycle”.
This.
I don’t see a thing preventing seat and bar placement to the same positions on a spin, Peloton or whatever other bike vs your road bike. Seat up-down-fore-aft, bars up-down-fore-aft.
Cyclist are not the target market? Its called a PELOTON.
Although we can admit, cycling has started to attract even more of the mainstream fitness crowd including runners, gym and cross-fit athletes. And that name PELOTON is the perfect title to bring in anyone to the cycling world.
Lets pair the name with the standard spin class, gym style vibe. That will sell.
Rather than calling the bike WORLDS, and only using real life POV video of you the cyclist hanging on for life while trying to stay on the wheel of your monster Masters Tuesday night local athletes. There’s another virtual platform for that.
I think many if not all of you are correct when it comes to your opinions about the Peloton business. It sure caters to exercise enthusiasts and roadies alike. I have done a handful of spinning classes (work had a comprehensive gym), and while not “cycling specific”, I was still pedaling, the sessions were hard, and I got what I wanted: sweat and fitness. And if I choose to do an interval-specific workout, i can always do a session on my Insideride. The Peloton dynamic of mixing stiff workouts with a pedaling motion is appealing as i get out of the drudgery of cycling-based workouts. Thanks for all your points of view, I have all the intel needed to go forward with the purchase. Happy Thanksgiving folks!
