Peloton super bike is best fitness machine I’ve used with big perk over any gym

I CANNOT overstate how good I think Peloton indoor bikes are.

Barring the price barrier to entry, I think it might just be the best way to get fit on the planet. The original Peloton Bike helped me lose four stone – and now I’ve been trying out the even better Peloton Bike+ for a few months. It’s phenomenal, and I’ll gladly tell you why.

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If you’re new to the concept of Peloton, it’s basically a hi-tech indoor bike.

You hop on the seat, turn on the giant screen, and then pedal along to music and instructions from a trainer.

They’ll give cadence (leg speed) and resistance (controlled by the red knob) recommendations, and it’s genuinely brilliant fun.

The Bike+ is the advanced version of the regular Peloton Bike, and comes with some brilliant bonus features. I’ve been testing it out since May and I use it almost every day.

Peloton Bike+, £2,199

A regular Peloton Bike will set you back £1,599 or £133.25 a month for a year (or £1,299 / £109 a month for a refurbished unit).

The Bike+ is pricier still at £2,199 or £184 a month for a year. That drops to £1,899/£159 a month if you get a refurbished unit.

Or you can rent one with a membership included (normally £39 a month) for £129 monthly.

PELOTON BIKE VS BIKE+ DIFFERENCES

So what’s the difference?

For a start, the screen on this “super bike” is massively upgraded.

You move from a 21.5-inch HD touchscreen to a more premium 23.8-inch anti-reflective HD panel.

And it has 360-degree movement, so you can spin it to the side and follow along with strength or yoga classes. So if you’re interested in more than just cycling, it makes a huge difference.

On top of that, there’s an auto-resistance option.

Normally you’d have to turn the red knob to change the resistance of the pedals, but the Bike+ lets you set it to just follow along with instructor callouts automatically.

Of course you can still just stick to manual controls for any given ride if you prefer.

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The speaker system is upgraded from two rear speakers to a four-speaker setup with a front-facing stereo configuration plus rear woofers. You get 26W of power versus the Bike’s 16W.

There’s a built-in USB-C port for charging devices. The Bike has the older and less versatile Micro USB port.

PELOTON BIKE+ PERFORMANCE & FEATURES

So why do I think Peloton is so good?

One of the big problems with getting fit is the pure barrier to entry of time and energy.

A gym membership means physically leaving your home and travelling to somewhere.

Even running involves going out of your door – not always a treat in the rain.

But having a Peloton bike at home means fitness is always accessible, no matter the time or weather.

You can fit in fitness around your lifestyle, and that makes it extremely valuable.

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I’ve done classes in the early morning, lunchtime, evening, and even late at night. For many of those, I simply wouldn’t have been able to get to the gym and back in time.

There’s also no barrier to entry in terms of difficulty. You can make it as easy as you like.

There are beginner rides, and you have total control over cadence and resistance anyway.

And you can even do non-instructor rides that are just scenic trips around beautiful destinations.

GOING LIVE!

I tried out a real-life Peloton class too…

Peloton instructors film many of their classes at physical studios with a live audience.

You can pedal along live at home – but you can also pop along to a real class.

I went to one in London’s Covent Garden with iconic Brit instructor Hannah Frankson and it was brilliant.

The studio space is slick and well-equipped, and you feel like you’re part of a TV show. I suppose you sort of are.

It’s a great way to exercise as a group – and then you can go home and do the ride again to see yourself on camera.

Even better, you can try to beat your own output score. Nothing like racing against a video of yourself.

Picture Credit: Sean Keach

It’s also fairly low-impact as a way to exercise. Going for a run can be quite intense, but pedalling on an indoor bike is smooth and gentle on the joints.

On top of all that, it’s just good fun.

If I’m ever feeling a bit down, a quick ride on the Peloton immediately lifts my spirits. It’s as close to a mental health life hack as it gets.

PELOTON BIKE+ VALUE – SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

The real question is: is the Bike+ worth the money?

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For some, the Bike+ will simply be too expensive – regardless of how good it is. It’s a decent chunk of change for many Brits.

The real benefits of the Bike+ are the boosted speakers, the bigger display, and the ability to tilt the screen.

The auto-resistance is a nice perk, but it’s not a game-changer.

Similarly, the bigger screen is very nice and the speakers definitely sound much better (so that’s important if you’re not regularly wearing headphones).

But the biggest perk is the swivel display, allowing you to do non-cycling classes off to the side.

This is a brilliant perk, as it means you can get much more use out of the Bike+ beyond just cycling classes.

If you’re looking for more all-round fitness, or you’re a die-hard Peloton cyclist, the Bike+ feels like a great buy.

I’d also say it generally looks better. The design feels more premium, and so that’s something to bear in mind given you’re plonking it in your home.

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Not that the original Bike looks bad, but the Bike+ certainly looks incredible.

That said, I think the regular Bike is comparatively brilliant value for money, especially if you pick up one of the cheaper refurbished models.

I think Peloton can genuinely transform your fitness.

There’s a seemingly endless (and constantly growing) library of classes. Some are Climb rides or High Intensity Interval Training. Or it might be themed around Disney music, heavy metal, ‘80s music, or a specific DJ.

There are loads of instructors too, so you’re almost guaranteed to find a few that you like.

The only real drawback with Peloton is that they’re expensive machines.

You probably need to weigh up whether you’d be spending more on a gym – and if you’d get as much use out of a gym versus having this machine at home.

Two of my friends are fairly new parents, and they get good use out of a Peloton because it’s much easier to fit an at-home bike ride into the busy life of caring for a newborn.

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My wife and I like Peloton because we can fit it around busy work.

And my brother-in-law is a personal trainer who has a Peloton as a way to supplement his own workouts.

I think above all else, the value of Peloton is in convenience.

And if you want a more whole-body-fitness experience, the Bike+ is the better buy.

This is easily the best fitness machine I’ve ever used.

Peloton’s original Bike helped me shed a few stone, and the Bike+ is how I’m keeping it off.

But if you just want to get fit through indoor cycling, the regular Bike is a no-brainer.

The Sun says: The Peloton Bike+ is as good as indoor cycling gets. It’s convenient, works flawlessly, and can turn fitness into a daily joy. But you might get better value from the regular Bike if you just want to cycle. 5/5

Peloton Bike+, £2,199

All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed.

Always do your own research before making any purchase.