The Peloton Bike is one of those pieces of fitness equipment everyone has an opinion about, even if they have never clipped into one. Some people think it changed home workouts. Some people think it is an overpriced spin bike with a screen. Both groups are partially right, which is why a Peloton Bike review needs more than “I love it” or “save your money.”
The current Peloton Bike is now sold as the Peloton Cross Training Bike. It still has the bike at the center, although Peloton has clearly moved toward full-body training. The big update is the 21.5-inch swivel screen, which makes it much easier to transition from cycling to strength, yoga, Pilates, stretching, or mobility. As a runner, that is the feature I care about most.
Now, before I begin just keep in mind. I bought this bike. I bought the Peloton app membership. I’m just a regular person and don’t have a fancy bike setup or anything like that. In fact, if you have read my Peloton Tread+ review, you know I’m not a super fan of the treadmill.
Let’s get into an honest Peloton Bike review.
Is the Peloton Bike good for runners?
Yes, the Peloton Bike can be a good cross-training tool for runners. It gives you low-impact cardio, structured workouts, and an easy way to get aerobic work without pounding your legs. It is not a replacement for running, although it can fill a useful role when you are injured, tired, building mileage, or trying to add fitness without adding more running.
Is the Peloton Bike expensive?
Yes. The Peloton Bike is expensive up front, and the monthly membership is where the cost keeps going. The bike itself is $1,695 before accessories, taxes, delivery considerations, and membership. The All-Access Membership is separate, so you need to think about the total yearly cost, not just the bike price. I also learned since I’m a paying member member I can give you a code that is up to $600 off using this link.
Are there good sales on the Peloton Bike?
There can be. But I highly suggest you check out your local facebook marketplace or craigslists because you can get some really good Peloton Bike Deals. I purchased my Peloton Bike for $500 used.
Let’s get into an honest Peloton Bike review.
Quick Facts
- Price: $1,695
- Membership: Peloton All-Access Membership separate
- Screen: 21.5-inch Full HD swivel touchscreen
- Resistance: Manual resistance knob
- Footprint: 4′ x 2′
- Dimensions: 54″ L x 23″ W x 61″ H
- Bike Weight: 129 lbs
- Pedals: Delta-compatible cycling shoes required
Peloton Bike Setup and Space
The Peloton Bike does not take up as much room as a treadmill, which is one of its biggest advantages. The footprint is about 4′ x 2′, so it can fit in a bedroom, garage, office, or corner of a home gym. That said, once you add space for off-bike workouts, shoes, weights, and a mat, it needs more room than the bike footprint suggests. I set mine up in the corner of my family room so I can also do some easy biking after work. I feel somewhat better if I sit on the bike next to the couch and watch TV versus on the coach LOL.
The bike itself feels sturdy. At 129 pounds, it is not something you casually move around every day, although the front wheels help if you need to shift it. To be honest if the only place to store it was in a closet and you needed to roll it in/out every day, it would be doable…just annoying. I would not buy it expecting to roll it in and out of a closet after every ride. Theoretically you could move the Peloton Bike around, but I am lazy so it is better as a permanent setup.
The new swivel screen is a big upgrade. Older Peloton Bikes made off-bike strength annoying because the screen did not rotate well. Now, you can turn the screen toward your mat and actually use the platform the way Peloton wants you to use it. To be honest, I think the strength peice is the best part of the Peloton App and I just do mine on my TV. I really like the strength piece of the Peloton bike.
For runners, that makes the Peloton Bike more useful. It becomes cycling, strength, stretching, mobility, and Pilates in one setup. I have talked before about why Pilates helps running, and the swivel screen makes that kind of work much easier to add.
Peloton Bike Ride Feel
The Peloton Bike ride is smooth and controlled. It uses a manual resistance knob, so you adjust resistance yourself based on instructor cues. The Bike+ has auto-resistance, which is the major hardware difference if you are comparing models.
I do not think manual resistance is a dealbreaker. In some ways, I like having control. During recovery days, you can ignore the leaderboard and keep the effort honest. During harder rides, the resistance knob gives enough range to make the workout as hard as you want. I’m not a strong cyclist, in fact, I’m usually on the lower end of the leaderboard so I can’t always do the resistance they want you at!
The bike is best for spin-style training, not outdoor bike simulation. If you are a serious cyclist looking for outdoor bike fit, power accuracy, and race-style training, a smart trainer with Zwift or TrainerRoad may fit better. If you are a runner who wants low-impact cardio without needing to learn an outdoor cycling setup, Peloton is much easier.
The saddle is still a bike saddle but I do think the Peloton Bike saddle is one of the more comfortable bike saddles I’ve tried. Padded bike shorts can help, and the new saddle is supposed to be more comfortable than older models.
I do appreciate that the Peloton Bike has both flat pedals and clip in pedals. I haven’t decided which I prefer so that is a nice option that you have.
The Peloton Bike shoes are pretty comfortable and I was actually very surprised how comfortable with how biking shoes usually fit.
Peloton Classes and Instructors
I won’t do a huge Peloton Class review here but you can find more of that in my Peloton App review. The class library is the reason people buy Peloton and keep using it. The hardware is nice, although the content is the product. You get cycling, strength, yoga, Pilates, walking, running, stretching, meditation, bootcamp, and more.
The instructors are polarizing in the way all fitness instructors are polarizing. Some are motivating. Some are too much. Some make me want to work harder, and some make me want to exit the class in the first two minutes. The good news is there are enough instructors that most people can find a few they like. I’m a big Cody Rigsby fan for the Peloton Bike. He makes things fun…which as an comically bad cyclist…that is what I want.
As a runner, I think the best Peloton use is not crushing yourself on the bike every day. It is using the bike for aerobic work, recovery rides, and controlled intensity. There is no prize for turning every cross-training day into a race.
Peloton Bike Membership Cost
This is the biggest downside. You buy the bike, then you pay monthly to use the full Peloton platform. Without the membership, the bike loses a lot of what makes it Peloton.
That is why I would not buy the Peloton Bike unless you know you like Peloton classes. Try the app first. Take cycling, strength, Pilates, stretching, and running classes. See if you like the coaching style. See if you actually use it for more than a week.
The bike only becomes a good purchase if it becomes part of your routine. If it becomes a laundry rack, it is a very expensive laundry rack.
Peloton Bike vs Bike+
The Peloton Bike is the better choice for most people who want the Peloton experience for less money. You still get the swivel screen, manual resistance, front-facing speakers, and the main Peloton class library.
The Bike+ adds a larger 23.8-inch screen, auto-resistance, upgraded audio, a movement-tracking camera, a fan, and more advanced Peloton IQ features. Those are nice upgrades, especially for people who want strength feedback and a more premium setup.
I do not think the Bike+ is required unless you know you will use the strength feedback and auto-resistance often. The base Bike gives you the cross-training benefit without spending Bike+ money.
Peloton Bike vs Peloton Treadmill
For runners, the Peloton Bike and treadmill serve different roles. A treadmill lets you run when weather, safety, or schedule gets in the way. I wrote more about that in The Treadmill: A GOOD Tool for Running Faster and my Best Treadmills for Runners post.
The Peloton Bike gives you cardio without pounding. That can be helpful during injury, marathon training, or weeks where your body does not need more impact. I also reviewed the bigger Peloton running option in my Peloton Tread+ Review. Why did I even buy the Peloton? My spouse and I got a tandem bike to commute to work and I’ve been trying to at least get comfortable on the bike. It has been fun to add this into my routine.
Used Peloton Bike Note
If you buy used, check the model and recall status before handing over money. Older Peloton Bikes and older Bike+ models have had seat post recalls. It does mean you should verify the model number, serial number, replacement status, and whether Peloton support can help you if something goes wrong.
Who Should Buy the Peloton Bike
- Runners who want low-impact cross training.
- People who like instructor-led workouts.
- Anyone who wants cycling, strength, stretching, Pilates, and mobility in one platform.
- People who will use the bike several times per week.
Who Should Skip the Peloton Bike
- People who hate monthly subscriptions.
- Cyclists who want outdoor-bike-style training.
- Anyone who only wants a basic spin bike.
- People who are not sure they like Peloton classes yet.
Peloton Conclusion
The Peloton Bike is expensive, and the membership cost makes it even more of a commitment. Still, for the right person, it is a strong home fitness tool. The current Peloton Cross Training Bike is better than the older base bike because the swivel screen makes the non-cycling classes much easier to use.
For runners, I like the Peloton Bike most as a cross-training tool. It gives you low-impact cardio, controlled workouts, and access to strength and mobility without needing a full home gym. It will not replace running, and it should not. It can help fill the gaps that running alone does not always cover.
Would I buy it only for cycling? Maybe not. Would I buy it if I knew I would use the bike, strength, Pilates, stretching, and recovery classes? That is where Peloton starts to justify the cost.
You can purchase a Peloton Bike here. As mentioned, above I just learned that you can get up to $600 off with my code.
See all gear reviews here.
Questions for you:
Have you tried the Peloton Bike?
What is your favorite cycling app?