‘Peloton Just Released A New Bike—And I Got To Try It Before Anyone Else’
Peloton just announced its new Bike+, which will be available for sale Sept. 9 at onepeloton.com for $2,495.
The new bike has features that include: Auto-Follow, a function that automatically changes the resistance for you according to the instructor's recommendations; a 24-inch high-definition swivel screen for easier hybrid on-the-bike and off-the-bike workouts; and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera for video chats with friends.
The original Peloton Bike is now available at a lower base price of $1,895.
You probably know someone who made a pandemic-inspired fitness purchase sometime during the last six months. The constraints of COVID-19 have inspired (or forced, depending on your POV) people around the world to transition to at-home workout routines.
Personally, I’ve been filling my fitness gap since NYC gyms closed in March by eking out pull-ups, swinging kettlebells, jogging in the park, and sweating to my Mirror. But when Peloton offered me an opportunity to (secretly!) road test their new Bike+ at my Brooklyn apartment, of course I said yes.
For those catching up on the Peloton trajectory, the company was founded seven years ago on a hunch that indoor cycling fans would appreciate the convenience of an at-home, studio-level experience.
So much so that they would be willing to plunk down $2,245 for their very own bike, plus a $39/month subscription for unlimited live and on-demand classes. In 2018, the company announced the Peloton Tread—a $4,295 treadmill. Then in June of 2018, Peloton launched a standalone app, which doesn’t require a bike or tread, and costs $12.99/month.
I’ve ridden on a Peloton while taking classes live at their NYC studio, and also at the gym in my Manhattan office building, so I’m familiar with the bike, as well as its super-instructors.
My faves are Ally Love and Robin Arzon, who are equal parts fitness inspo and life coaches. (Robin's Tabata rides are famously sweaty.) Peloton now has 2.6 million members, including all-access members, who work out through the Peloton Bike or Tread, as well digital members, who use the standalone Peloton app.
The biggest upgrade on the Bike+ is the new swivel screen, which is 24 inches wide, and has a sweet speaker system discreetly built in. The screen is high-definition, and rotates 180 degrees left and right.
One of my biggest complaints with at-home workouts is the fact that my kiddos constantly interrupt my sweat.
(George, I know you're only 5 years old, but mid-workout is not a good time to ask me to join your Minecraft world. 😭) The new screen creates a more immersive experience that really helps you lose yourself in the workout. Think of it as the difference between an Omnimax theater and typical movie theater. (Er, remember those?!)
The screen cannot stop your kids from bugging you, but it definitely makes you harder to distract.
For tech geeks, your Apple Watch now syncs up with the bike with a quick tap, which means you don’t have to manually record an indoor cycling workout. Just like on the tread and original bike, it’s super-easy to sync up your bluetooth headphones, or to plug them in if you use something with a cord.
More new bells and whistles: The Bike+ includes an 8-megapixel front-facing camera—with a privacy slide—allowing for video chats with friends. The resistance knob is a bit sleeker. And the handlebars also received an update.
IMO, the raddest feature of all is the new Auto-Follow function. Like magic, when your instructor suggests a resistance range (how hard or easy it feels to pedal), the bike adjusts accordingly.
You can still manually control your resistance if you prefer, and of course you are in charge of your cadence (or how fast you pedal), but I am hooked on this feature. If there was anyyyy lingering doubt about whether I’d take my instructor’s suggestion to push it, auto-follow removes it.
Also, it means you have to think less, which is what I’m looking for in a cardio session. I want to unplug and escape.
And if you want to log some cross-training—weights, abs, yoga, etc.—post ride (or pre-ride, you do you!), the large, easy-to-rotate screen makes it a cinch.
Once you’ve unclipped from the bike, you dismount, turn the screen away from the bike, and choose your next workout.
During the confidential testing period, “bootcamp” workouts—one session where you are on and off the bike—were not yet available, but I created my own DIY bootcamp experience by loading up an arms and abs workout after a 20-minute ride.
The innovation isn’t just about all of the new features on the bike. It’s also about giving a more affordable bike option to would-be Peloton-ers.
The original Peloton Bike is now available at a lower price point of $1,895 ($350 less than it was sold for previously). The Bike+ is $2,495. Today, Peloton also announced a new treadmill will be available in early 2021 for $2,495. (I didn’t road test the new tread. Pacing myself!) The original treadmill, now called the Tread+, is $4,225.
Admittedly, some days finding the will to work out during a global health crisis feels…challenging. But I know that when I sweat, I am clearer, calmer, and stronger. It’s a big investment, but the Bike+ will serve up motivation…and help you keep your momentum, too.
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