Peloton bike experiences: 20 weeks with the spinning wheel-and that's my conclusion

Peloton bike experience: This is my conclusion after 20 weeks with the spinning wheel

From “Emily in Paris” to “And Just Like That…”-whether in TV series or the Stories of Favorite Influencer: AnnPeloton BikeYou haven't passed in recent years. The chic home trainer should do thatNot only make it child's play, but also ensure an absolute team feeling and lots of fun with your own workouts. But is the peloton really worth it? And where are the costs? I tested it.

Peloton Bike: All facts

What is Peloton?

In short onefor at home. So a kind of home trainer 2.0. Because the indoor cycling bike comes with digital trainers: inside via the app. This offers spinning courses live and on demand in English and German via a screen directly on the bike-as well as strength training,andon the mat or via the smartphone app audio-led running training. It is possible to connect with other bikers worldwide, share progress or simply send a high five for motivation.

We work Peloton?

Since primarily English-language courses are still available in the app, but the German fan community is growing continuously, it is also expanded here. There are now eleven German -language coaches: inside. Bike courses give: Erik Jäger, Mila Lazar, Charlotte Wiedemann, Benny Adami, Cliff Dwenger, Mayla Wedekind and Irène Kaymer. There are also three treadmill trainers. The workout portfolio was also increased meditation courses, trendy barre courses and HIIT courses and expanded to include the so-called bike boot camp, in which during a workout between cardio training on the bike and strength training on the matt. Via the new feature "teams" you can compete together with friends and families Challenges and motivate each other. By the way, if you like, you can also browse the bike in the integrated Amazon Kindle.

What does Peloton cost per month?

It's no secret of what thePricesconcerns, you have to get deep into your pocket. Since September 2024, Peloton has only been selling its products in Germany and Austria via Fitshop and Amazon. Next to theOriginal Peloton Bike(for 1,899 euros or from around 40 euros per month via Fitshop) there is also the more expensive version:Bike+(for 2,699 euros or about 60 euros per month). Accessories such as a bike mat as a base cost 55 euros or a set of shoes and dumbbells from 150 euros.

There are also two different subscription models for app membership. The Peloton App One includes access to the course library with strength, Pilates, yoga, outdoor running and other courses, 3 courses with cardio devices per month and costs around 13 euros per month. The unlimited course access via the app+ has a price of 24 euros per month.Peloton bike without membership?Sure, it works too. However, you only have access to two courses stored in advance. You have to do without the live workouts and digital course library.

My experiences with Peloton: test report

1st to 4th week: Peloton Bike

According to the motto “A lot helps a lot”, I exaggerated it hard in the first week and sat down on the spinning bike every day. But because I had planned to train my condition and my legs right from the start, I combined my twenty-minute beginner courses with ten minutes of arm toning (mini dumbbells can be bought in the set) and then stretching-everything About the Peloton app. So that my body also gets time to take a deep breath, I exchanged the spinning bike for the yoga mat in week three every other day.

Although I had a long - very long - sporty dry spell, the almost daily units were absolutely feasible. But much more important - everything was so easy. I got up in the morning, threw myself directly into thatAnd could get started. No supposedly insurmountable path to the studio was between me and my sports program - and the time is: The coaches: In also after me and my routine. Regardless of whether I wanted to pedal in the morning at 5:30 a.m. or during the lunch break (thank you, home office!). The app is also quite self -explanatory in the application. In the courses category, everything from on-demand units can be found on the spinning bike to strength training, yoga and stretching on the mat-and audio-charged runs. The schedule shows all live courses in which you can register in the coming weeks. I see my own successes in my profile, such as that I drove almost 50 kilometers in the first week, which courses I have completed so far and what military destinations I have achieved.

On the Peloton bike, as I said, you can also do live courses (up to 48 a day in different disciplines, i.e. spinning, strength, yoga etc.) with trainers. But that felt in the first few weeks after unnecessary pressure, which I very deliberately did not want to expose. The coach can do: In a list in a list and, if necessary, address me directly via the screen, but he: she cannot look at my sweating I, how it is with high -red head on the indoor cycling bike sits. And although it all sounds half as wild, I couldn't overcome myself.

5th to 8th week: Peloton bike in the test

So far I have spent almost 20 hours on my peloton and have now worked my way up from beginners to Advanced beginner courses. The difference? Instead of 20 minutes, I now train for 30 minutes on the spinning bike. With the beginners courses you also get to know the bike. The: The bicycle trainers: In explains the interface and the two most important values ​​before each trip: resistance and frequency. The latter describes the speed at which you step into the pedals. And the resistance is, so to speak, the height of the effort, which you have to apply. Both are varied within a ride, depending on whether you go downhill, uphill or at ground level. The: The coaches: In both values, I then set the resistance with the help of the red knob between my knees. I achieve the frequency by stepping into the pedals accordingly. Maybe sounds a bit complicated, but it works quite organically. Within a rides, resistance and frequency change naturally so that it does not get bored on the spinning bike. Another difference is that the butt of the butt remains on the saddle. But it is also due to the fact that the resistance is not set excessively high and the necessary strength can be generated while sitting. In the case of Advanced beginners, however, it is also cycled-which releases extra energy for me again and my enthusiasm increases.

I continue to train every day. Every other day 30 minutes of spinning, ten minutes of arm toning and ten minutes full body stretching. On the other days: 30 minutes of beginner yoga and then another ten minutes stretching. And I gradually notice that I build up strength in my legs and also make my upper arms easier and more easily with the exercises, which plays a lot into my motivation in the cards. And even though the effort increases, I do not get to the point of overwhelming.

9th to 22nd week: Peloton Bike

It was almost five months ago that I sat on the peloton for the first time, and a lot has changed compared to the first eight weeks. I don't train every day. Which does not mean that the motivation has been lost. But I learned to train a lot more focused and to treat my body resting phases in order to support it, build muscles and strength. For example, I pack a ten -minute power training for legs and buttocks in front of my rides, especially the latter and to prepare my muscles for efforts. That alone changed not only my strength, but also the intensity of my rides and brought a slow but constant increase. Arms toning have now become 20 of ten minutes, and my upper arms in particular have never been as strong and defined as now. I arrived at intermediate and advanced courses on the bike and on the yoga mat. Nevertheless, sometimes I just do an Advanced beginner course in between because I realize that there is simply no longer in it today or I just don't feel like excessive efforts.

The past few months have shown me that it is not about having to grow beyond yourself or being as far or fit as the others. For me personally, it was only important to train regularly and find a sport that I particularly enjoy. And even if that means "only" a unit of 20 minutes yoga, that's also completely okay. Because only that has led to results slowly but surely. And by results I mean that sport has now become my routine again, where I have great pleasure, I feel no pressure to perform and my body feels healthy and fit.

My balance after more than five months of peloton bike: almost 140 strength training, 60 rides, 60 stretching and over 50 yoga units. I drove over 600 kilometers and trained over 80 hours with the Peloton app. I haven't done a live course to my shame to date. What on the one hand is due to the times. Since I usually train around six o'clock right after getting up-and hardly take live courses at the time. In addition, I still have afraid that it will personally put me under more pressure. But maybe I should just try it out.

Peloton courses: my favorites

1. Spinning mit Hannah Corbin

On the bike I fan all the courses ofHannah Corbin, because like me, she has a soft spot for music from J.Lo and the 2000s for the workout. It is also a good mix of fun and motivation.

2. Yoga with Kristin McGee

Even if the positions on their Instagram look more than demanding-for young yoga like me I canKristin McGeeStill recommend. She explains super precisely and has an incredibly relaxed way. Which makes you almost forget how exhausting her courses are.

3. Arms Toning mit Leanne Hainsby oder Hannah Frankson

And I almost only train my upper armsLeanne HainsbyandHannah Frankson. Then they burn really well.

Online course process: a short explanation

The Peloton app is really well thought out and self-explanatory, but only after a few courses did I pick up the tip from Hannah Corbin that during his rides you have all the data such as duration, participants and its values ​​for this ride, etc. are visible on the screen. For me it was an absolute gamuchanger. Because I do not want to orientate myself to the numbers and successes of the others. And that works by briefly tapping your finger in the middle of the screen. I usually recover the display of resistance and frequency with another tipper on the bottom of the screen. So that I see what I actually make on the bike. But within this ad you can also see the information on burned calories and your own score, which calculates from several values. I then tap this two again so that I can only see resistance and frequency. For me, these are the most important parameters, I really don't need everything else to measure my own success.

Other functions and accessories: My recommendations

• Even if you don't sweat so much with the beginner courses, it is definitely worth buying a small microfiber retailer. Because although it took me a few weeks, I now sweat so much with my rides that I no longer climb the bike without my towel.
• The trouble, beautiful workout shirts for training on thePeloton BikeYou can actually save yourself. Because even during warming, it simply gets too warm. Instead, I have invested in well-seated sports bras in the past few weeks.
• If you run, you know how outstanding compression pants or leggings are sufficient. Of course, more support is required when jogging, but since the legs simply do the majority of the work on the bike and press blood and water into the lower body, compression can be relieving to legs and circulation.
• This may be a no-brainer for most, but in the first few weeks I always put a water bottle from the supermarket on the windows in the supermarket next to my bike. It was not only incredibly impractical because, to drink, I always had to lean over, but also because a screw lid and sweaty palms just don't go together. A sports bottle with a practical drinking opening is gold value, which can then be put in a very easy one in the bracket provided on the bike.
• And I would definitely recommend yoga blocks for the yoga courses, especially for beginners. The yoga corner used by some trainers is not essential.
• Mini dumbbells for the Arms Toning can be bought from Peloton in a set with your shoes (from 150 euros). Larger dumbbells that are used for many strength training should be obtained online or in a sports shop.

Peloton Bike +: What can the more expensive variant do?

The original bike costs 1,899 euros(or about 40 euros a month) via fitshop,The bike+ is 2,699 euros or about 60 euros per month. The monthly fees (by 24 euros) for membership with all app content are also added. In contrast to the original, the Peloton Bike+ has a rotating screen with which it is easier to switch from courses on the spinning bike to strength training, yoga and stretching on the mat.

Peloton alternatives: which one is there?

Some. It clearly depends on what you want and what expectations you have for the bike. Are you looking for a bike that motivated to variety and team feeling for training? Or is it purely about having a home trainer so that it no longer has to go to the gym? Depending on the requirements, you will find the right peloton alternative for yourself, or not.

Here we tested an alternative:

My conclusion: is a peloton bike worthwhile?

For me personally: absolutely. I am neither registered in a gym, nor do I have an annual ticket for yoga or pilates' hours. So far my expenses for sporting activities have been zero. Sure, the Peloton bikes are a real investment. But for me, the bike in combination with the other app content is the uncomplicated all-round sports program par excellence. And it was precisely this holistic approach that had an effect on my body and caused my motivation to rise: muscle building, mobility and endurance have become better since the beginning. The fact that I also have access to the content at any time and can train when I want just fit very well into my routine and make it very easy for me to do sports. Sure, I could also do that with other video workouts, but above all the bike offers a special kind of training that I would not get on YouTube and Co. In addition, I have a coach from the start: matters who deliver a lot of know-how, motivation and variety-but at the same time are not excessive or do workouts that only overwhelm and frustrate you.