Does Oppo Peloton?

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
04/16/2019 at 12:13 • Filed to: None

Cover image b ecause my truck is much more interesting to look at than a glorified stationary bike with a tablet on the front. It’s the Tesla Model 3 of Bikes.

What is it?

For the uninitiated, it’s a fancy exercise bike. A “spin” bike. Have you ever been to a spin class? Me either. Basically you ride a stationary bike in a room with lots of other people while an instructor yells at you to change the resistance as you go; stand up, sit down, etc. , simulating “hills” or whatever. There’s more to it than that, but what the Peloton cult did was to bring these classes to YOU . Sure, you can go on Youtube and watch a class while riding any old bike. But the Peloton shows you real-time stats like cadence, resistance (as a percentage of total), and total output in kilo-joules. Why do you care about total output in kilo-joules? Because you can see in real time how you compare to everyone else who did the same “class” as you. You can watch your name go up and down the “leaderboard” and if you’re at all competitive (I am), this is great motivation, and good fun. There are also lots of other workouts, core, abs, arms, yoga, stretch routines, rehab stuff, and on and on. This is all visible on the tablet mounted in front of the bike, and also on an app, of course. So that’s that.

My wife has been itching to get one of these things and I’ve been hesitant. I am very self-motivated to get outside and do things in all kinds of weather. In February I went skiing out on a huge open lake on a zero-degree (F) night with a steady 5mph wind, and again on a night that was about 8 degrees with 15-25mph winds and gusts to 40. It was great. However, there are times of year where the skiing is crap (or impossible) and the mountain biking is crap (or impossible) and I just don’t have the time to put the bike on the car, drive an hour south, ride for an hour or two, and drive home. And I don’t like to run. Beyond all that, my wife is much less interested in testing her physical limits in extreme weather, to say the least. So here we are.

For me, I thought, well, I’ll ride this thing in the off-season to keep in shape between actual activities that I enjoy on their own. But honestly, I’ve been really surprised how enjoyable it is on its own. My wife is loving it because it’s so easy to fit in with her schedule, which is admittedly muc h tighter than mine. Sure I’ll ride Peloton less in the summer when I can get on my mountain bike or go wakeboarding , but at the same time, I’ll be able to get in exercise when life gets in the way of planned activities . The key for me has been the music - you can pick rides based on the music genre and the whole thing is paced around the music, the beat and energy of each song, and personally, I really identify with that. I always have music in my head, and when slogging up a long climb, I often repeat lyrics in my head.

One thing I’ve found since having kids is that (obviously) I have less time to do things like mountain biking. I thought I’d be fine with that, I’m not at all overweight and I’m pretty active anyway. But I have found I get very grumpy when I haven’t had a chance to challenge myself physically in several days. I didn’t realize how important that was to me, but it really is. This is a pretty good way to satisfy that urge without requiring 3 hours of my time or really any planning at all.

And I can’t wait to get out on the trails, my legs will be stronger than ever for this time of year. That will go a long way toward making the most of the limited times I DO have to get out in the mountains properly. I can’t wait.

Anyone else ride a Peloton?

DISCUSSION (52)

HammerheadFistpunch > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:17

I used to do indoor training. I hated it. the reason mountain biking works for me is because its more of a mental challenge than a purely physical one.

For Sweden > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:17

I hate myself, so I use one of these

Kinja'd!!!

arl > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:20

I don’t have one, I put my road bike on a stationary trainer and watch Spinervals videos.

I assume the Peloton would be a lot of fun with all the different music and classes that are available . The built-in data from the Peloton is cool too (power, etc). I mean, if I bought a power meter and all that jazz, I could get that from my road bike. But I don’t race so it’s kind of wasted on me. I just like to ride hard and get a good workout in.

facw > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:22

I have a bicycle trainer (with power meter, but not variable resistance) and use https://zwift.com/ . Better than nothing over the winter, but I’m eager to get outside again. Finally nice enough that that’s appealing.

Zwift has leaderboards and of course shows the stats. It’s main appeal is virtual environments to ride through. Rouvy does something similar, but using HD video footage, but its maps are much more sparsely populated which isn’t as fun. Riding with virtual others is fun, since you can try to keep up with other people’s pace, and do that sort of thing.

Still boring compared to actual riding though, and I miss the wind (someone does make a $200 or $300 smart fan that can tie in, but that seems a bit excessive).

I think for a spin class, in person is more fun, though I’d imagine rural New Hampshire isn’t littered with studios.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > For Sweden
04/16/2019 at 12:22

I hate myself more, and do *nothing*

gettingoldercarguy > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:25

Kinja'd!!!

WiscoProud > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:26

I have no riden a peloton, but I’ve looked into bikes like it before. I like to run and what not outdoors, but as i age, my joints hurt more and more if I push it, so I figured biking would help that as its less impactful. For now I have a decent treadmill in my basement

I completely agree with the time cons traints and kids. I used to head to the gym right after work for an hour or two, but now I need to wait until after bedtime. I used to go to a small 24hr gym by my house, but would sometimes get deterred by weather or what not. That’s when having a home gym really comes in handy. Even if i need to watch the kids, i can do it from my home gym with a monitor.

Ash78, voting early and often > For Sweden
04/16/2019 at 12:27

Concept 2 rules. I wish I had the spare cash and that I had never bought a nice treadmill 12 years ago.

benjrblant > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:27

I love cycling because of the outdoors, the terrain, the bikes, etc. I understand the importance of training year-round, but it feels like spin bikes omit everything I find fun about the sport.

During the winter, I’ll ride rollers. It’s also not fun, but at least this still requires very good balance and lots of concentration.

atfsgeoff > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:28

This is a peloton (group of cyclists engaged in a race ) :

Kinja'd!!!

As for stationary bikes, I dislike them because to me, the draw of cycling is in its mechanical efficiency of travel. Going nowhere on a stationary bike is the opposite of efficiency.

Ash78, voting early and often > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:28

Apparently some lady’s dad recently went viral for his rant against the Peloton:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-dad-rant-compares-ridiculous-peloton-bikes-to-cocaine-2019-04-11

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

We can joke about Jazzercise all we want, but TODAY is “peak fitness stupidity.” I should have seen this coming when Crossfit went from a hardcore, DIY, minimalist fitness ethos that was performed in carports and basements to ... whatever it is now.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:29

Ive done a few spin classes but absolutely despise the idea of the peloton. I just don't think it would be worth the markup but that's just me

Tripper > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:30

I’ve been to spin class, and we have a peloton in the gym at work. I hate both, but I do both occasionally to be in shape for mountain biking. I don’t get out on my mountain bike enough to stay in what I would consider “riding shape” but spin/peloton help with that.

I just don’t like the group exercise thing. Like “yeah!, cmon!, push it!” I t’s corny and made extra corny when you’re riding a bike to nowhere. My wife loves it, and get’s a lot out of it so to each their own.

Also, I’m a runner and it’s tough for me to get the high doing any other kind of exercise. Running and surfing are pretty much it. Mountain biking if I go for a really long/challenging ride. I like to be in an exercised induced trance when I’m done. The stationary bikes don’t do it for me.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > HammerheadFistpunch
04/16/2019 at 12:40

This. I can only spend 15-30 minutes or so on a piece of exercise equipment, but I can hike for days at a time and run, bike, row, etc for miles outdoors without feeling fatigued. Which reminds me, my August to October hike across Montana and Idaho is coming up. Can’t wait.

Thomas Donohue > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:43

I have a stationary bike, but I watch recorded/streaming shows on a 50" television instead of an instructor. Kills two birds with one stone, assuming I keep pedaling.

I also have a rowing machine (though not as fancy as 4Swedens) , unfortunately I don’t use that much since it’s not facing a TV.

functionoverfashion > HammerheadFistpunch
04/16/2019 at 12:45

If I could only exercise outdoors that would be my clear preference. For the moment, it has become a battle of this or nothing most days.

KnowsAboutCars > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:50

Not at all relating to the subject but as a (maybe) interesting sidenote peloton means fearless in Finnish.

BTW nice photo.

HammerheadFistpunch > GoodIdeaAtTheTime
04/16/2019 at 12:50

thats a helluva hike you got planned there.

functionoverfashion > facw
04/16/2019 at 12:50

It’s totally boring compared to outdoor riding, but the music, especially the ones where they have a live DJ, makes it a lot better. I can live with it, and the leaderboards help. Again, it would be this or nothing a lot of days.

As far as in-person spin classes, there’s actually a decent studio at the university where I work - in fact, the resources of this place are a big draw to here vs. any other rural small town. But it would be on their schedule, not mine. And I’d have to drive there, which, again, is sometimes a limitation.

HammerheadFistpunch > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 12:50

I hear you, my early morning excercise has been backcountry, but thats been spotty. In summer I do most of my rides early AM

functionoverfashion > Tripper
04/16/2019 at 12:55

If I was into running, it would be simpler to get a decent workout in less than an hour, and in a wider variety of weather conditions. There will never be a substitute for ripping through the woods on my bike, but this will help get me to the top of the mountain faster or just with less pain.

I really thought I’d have the same opinion of the corniness of instructor-led group exercise, but at least with the music, I can get into that. Better than nothing, I say. AND, to the extent that I show enthusiasm for it, my wife will be more motivated to chase after me, too. She’s already excited to go actual mountain biking with me, and the kids are getting better on their bikes every day.

As soon as the snow melts I’m building a little pump-track-type thing in the woods by my house.

functionoverfashion > WiscoProud
04/16/2019 at 12:57

My right knee is kinda borked from years of really aggressive skiing and jumping... so this is definitely good for low-impact exercise. That’s the second reason I don’t like to run. The first is that I just don’t find it exciting, compared to mountain biking.

functionoverfashion > benjrblant
04/16/2019 at 12:59

They do omit *almost* everything I like about biking. This is where I had to realize the importance, to me, of just challenging myself. Staying/getting in better shape is a good reason to do it, too, and a nice outcome, if not the primary reason.

What kind of roller do you have?

functionoverfashion > GoodIdeaAtTheTime
04/16/2019 at 13:01

Also, yeah tell me more about this hike. That kind of thing is so far out of the realm of possibilities at this time I can’t even ... but tell me more.

functionoverfashion > Ash78, voting early and often
04/16/2019 at 13:02

hahaha, yeah I can’t disagree with that.

I wanted to try a simpler approach first. Did I mention my wife wanted one?

functionoverfashion > gettingoldercarguy
04/16/2019 at 13:04

lol you’re not wrong, our kids will one day be like “you guys had a Peloton? Didn’t that guy end up in jail over those...”

functionoverfashion > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
04/16/2019 at 13:05

not just you. I still don’t think it’s worth the price. I guess my conclusion is “more fun than I thought” but not “worth every penny”

I searched Craigslist for these for a while, actually. I think if we lived in a city I could have scored one.

functionoverfashion > Thomas Donohue
04/16/2019 at 13:06

See, this is what I wanted to do. Did I mention how much my wife likes it?

Tristan > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 13:07

I haven’t ridden one. My brother-in-law bought one around 6 months ago, though, and he’s been using it like crazy- and it shows. He’s about half the size he used to be. They look like a very quality piece of equipment, too .

WiscoProud > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 13:08

its not at all. its just effective for me. I put on HBO Go or Netflix and zone out.

benjrblant > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 13:09

I’ve got a used set of Kreitler rollers and a headwind fan. They’re affordable on craigslist here and Kreitler is local to Grand Junction, CO and that’s a plus in my mind!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 13:11

I know people that do, but it’s not for me. I’ve had stationary trainers and “rollers” and I despise anything stationary. Options include but are not limited to:

1. nordic skiing ie skate or classic skiing

2. running

3. P90x

4. Old tai bo videos

5. other old 1980's work out videos

6. just get fat in winter

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Ash78, voting early and often
04/16/2019 at 13:12

Haha -

Crossfit went from a hardcore, DIY, minimalist fitness ethos that was performed in carports and basements to ... whatever it is now.

I can only imagine there are Crossfit supply stores now where you can go buy a few cinder blocks, used tire, and a dirty old (“pre-seasoned”?) rope for the low, low introductory price of $500?

functionoverfashion > benjrblant
04/16/2019 at 13:12

Yeaah, I’d have loved that. I could just put on videos of people doing crazy shit on mountain bikes and go for it.

By the way, I only just discovered on youtube, “Fabiolous Escape 2" check it out if you haven’t seen it. (yes, it’s spelled right)

TheRealBicycleBuck > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 13:37

I have an exercise bike at home, but I got bored with it, so I bought a trainer which paired with a laptop so I could watch ride videos as I rode. The software changed the resistance with the road slope and the video speed changed with my pace , so it was a lot more realistic. I got bored with that too, so I just started riding no matter the weather.

Since I started traveling, I don’t ride much. The hotels have exercise bikes, but most of them are crap compared to a spin bike.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 13:55

I took 2 months off of work. Flying into Spokane, WA. Staying with a friend in Coe ur d’Alene for a spell . At a breif visit, I grab my gear and essentials and start walking east . I have a basic route planned out, and my flight out is booked in Billings . This “ short” of hike is n ot a big deal for me. I prefer a bit longer, but adulting now. I t is only about 600 miles, so about 20 miles a day, a nice relaxing pace, I end to do 35ish miles a day . I’ve done the Appalachian Trail (there and back) twice. And spent a year, yup, a whole year hiking through the Rockies. I hunt, fish, camp, hotel/motel, stay with family/friends, etc . It is my version of therapy/decompress/getting away from it all . I missed most of my hike last year due to a cancer scare with my wife, so gonna repeat it this year, hopefully . Fortunately s he is staying with her mom , c ity folk. Next year I plan to do southern Cali, northern Arizona and northern New Mexico, that sounds like fun, a brisk walk through the desert. A lot of family down there so my wife might actually want to come.

Tripper > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 14:13

“If I was into running, it would be simpler to get a decent workout in less than an hour, and in a wider variety of weather conditions. “

I still hate running, but this and the feeling afterward is why I do it, haha.

The pump track sounds like an awesome idea.

Ash78, voting early and often > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 14:24

Well then you’re buying one, obviously.

/looks at $1,300 treadmill from 2004

//last got used in 2005

functionoverfashion > Tripper
04/16/2019 at 15:20

To be fair, I don’t totally hate running. It’s a great minimalist way to explore an area. When I travel it’s a nice way to get to know the area around wherever we’re staying, depending on the location. Like, when we went to Nantucket last fall. If I hadn’t been hide ously hungover, I could have explored a lot on foot, running. I wanted to bring my bike there, actually.

functionoverfashion > GoodIdeaAtTheTime
04/16/2019 at 15:22

That is awesome, I’d love to do more of that. I have a friend who just started the PCT so I’m living vicariously through his updates.

My kids are getting to be old enough to get more into hiking. Last fall I did the first overnight hike with my son, he’s 6. It was up to an AMC hut in the White Mountains, which is about as cushy an overnight as it gets, but it was still great. He LOVED it, so I’m hoping to do a lot more this year.

Darkbrador > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 15:34

One does not “ peloton”. Un p eloton is a group of racers in french , it’s not a verb and certainly not a gaddam training bicycle ... another neologism made up by some a-holic marketing guru ... Why not Derailleur or Massive Crash On the Descent of the Tourmalet or Pot Belge while we’re at it ?

Plus it really l ooks a lot like overpriced exercise for candid trophy wife. Or trophy husband. Not insulting your wife by any means, here.

But the real question here ... are you a dog ?!?

Kinja'd!!!

OPPOsaurus WRX > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 16:00

i stick to the t rai ls

Kinja'd!!!

His Stigness > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 16:39

https://twitter.com/ClueHeywood/status/1089737571733712896?s=19

CompactLuxuryFan > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 16:43

It’s the Porsche of stationary bike experiences. Really nice hardware and experience, but you pay dearly. I would love for my c ompany to get one and put it in the office gym, but I would not get one for myself unless money was no object. Not only is the hardware mighty expensive, you have to pay a monthly subscription on top. You could do years of SoulCycle (which I also don’t do) and Barry’s Bootcamp (ok this one I do a handful of times a year) before you break even . Plus you end up kinda limited to the same workout you invested so much money in. They also have a treadmill now, I believe, but on the whole it’s just not worth it unless you’re swimming in cash. If you just need an occasional fix, either go the “ Turo” route (pay for Classpass/ occasional classes at a spin studio), or buy a much cheaper bike along with cheapo apps or videos to go with it.

As a company, they’re absolutely blowing up and I kinda regret not going to work for them when I could have like 4 years ago. Classic Silicon Valley problem (they’re based in NYC, though).

Tripper > functionoverfashion
04/16/2019 at 16:47

Yea if it’s in a nice place I like it, at/on the beach etc... I work right near Valley Forge park so I run there a lot which is nice. However I only run the treadmill and the office park to “get it done”.