Peloton Bike+ review: Encapsulating Peloton's mission and dilemma

Enlarge Corey Gaskin

A few years ago, Peloton's stationary exercise bikes enjoyed a meteoric rise in public conversation, with demand growing far beyond the company's ability to deliver. But that success was directly followed by plummeting sales, stalled interest and hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue as the world began to recover from the global pandemic and people returned to the gyms.

Despite suspending production of its stationary bikes and treadmills due to unsold inventory, the company is still working on new devices. Peloton launched its camera-based Guide device for strength training and the Peloton Row rowing machine in 2022, but the Peloton Bike+, which starts at $1,995, still offers the most versatile experience available on the platform. form.

Its large, pivoting touchscreen was designed for easy access to Peloton's diverse library of workouts. And the Bike+ embodies Peloton's mission and its dilemma. Can the company continue to expand its hardware offerings while proving itself a worthy fitness platform without its expensive equipment? And can it maintain high quality and selection for its gear and content?

We spent a lot of time with the Peloton Bike+ to see if it's the best machine in Peloton's arsenal, and we also reviewed Peloton's standalone streaming fitness platform.< /p> Top-notch design, but it's not perfect

Enlarge / The Peloton Bike+ is a cool looking machine with a matte black finish and red accents. It is exceptionally well built. Corey Gaskin

The Peloton Bike+ is widely regarded as a premium exercise bike, and it's not hard to see why. It's heavy, sturdy, and quiet when in operation, and it sports a pleasing aesthetic that can fit into a living room environment thanks in large part to its sleek, matte look.

I have only two comments to make on this subject. First of all, Peloton bikes require you to attach your shoes to the pedals using a specific type of bike cleat called "Look Delta". It's not a Peloton-exclusive standard, so if you already have a compatible pair, it should work fine. If you don't, you'll have to buy some, as they don't come with the bike. Peloton has options starting at $125, and while the price is comparable to other brands of cycling shoes, I can't help but think they should be included with the bike. There are third-party conversion kits that allow you to use regular shoes, but they are not authorized by Peloton and may not be the safest option.

Because Peloton bikes are fixed gear, they don't "wheel" and allow you to pedal backwards without resistance. As a newbie to a stationary bike, I learned this the hard way. When I attempted to backpedal while riding the bike, I was faced with the full weight of the flywheel inertia battering against me, forcing my severed feet to pedal forward. Shocking as it was, it was for the best that my feet were locked in during this snafu, as it could have otherwise resulted in injury.