Peloton FTW

Photo via Instagram @onepeloton

I will be the first to admit that I didn’t understand the hype surrounding the Peloton commercial that aired during the 2019 holiday season. The ad was under scrutiny because the actress looked scared and worried as if she were pressured to workout. Additionally, a lot of people found it disrespectful to gift an exercise bike. I wish someone gifted me a Peloton.

The ad was targeting the wrong audience. For people who do not understand the community aspect of Peloton or what it means to hit milestones live with an instructor who calls your name while the entire studio claps, they are going to miss the point. Peloton didn’t change my life because it made me more fit. Peloton changed my life because it gave me another purpose. It helped me set long term goals and introduced me to thousands of people from various states, countries, ages, and ethnicities. It’s a strong community.

A message that could have better served the audience is one of convenience, simplicity, and escape. There is nothing like hoping on the bike, tired and weak, to find yourself halfway through a class clapping, smiling, panting, and dancing. It motivates.

I bought a Peloton bike 3 years ago after calculating the cost-benefit analysis. After work I stopped at the studio in NYC and paid at least $38 a class, 3 times a week. The bike has paid for itself and my husband gets to ride with only one membership fee per household a month at around $42. You can take unlimited classes spanning yoga, cycling, running, stretching, and the list goes on.

This is one of the best investments I have made in my life so far. I highly recommend going to the studio if you’re local and taking a class. I tried SoulCycle and Flywheel and didn’t like spinning. I left those classes thinking it wasn’t for me. When I changed jobs and moved out of Manhattan the only place I could workout was Peloton. It was right in the middle of my commute. That’s why I tried spinning again and I’m so glad I did.

That actress from the Peloton commercial represents someone who has experienced the high, received badges, virtual high fives, and has been called out for hitting numerous milestones. She has a list of go-to instructors and can’t wait for the next Home Invasion. She isn’t someone who has never heard of or tried Peloton.

Photo via Instagram @onepeloton