Peloton Exercise Bike Detailed Review – Pros & Cons (2024)

*TreadmillReviewGuru helps consumers find the best home fitness products. When you buy a product we recommend, we may earn a commission.

Last Updated: May 11, 2023

Is Peloton worth it?

Peloton burst into the home-fitness market in 2014 when it officially released its $2,245 exercise bike with an attached Android screen and $39/month subscription content. Since then, Peloton has stoked sales with an almost cult-like following of rich, sweaty subscribers. The question today is, how much of that market domination is due to a fad and how much is due to actual superiority of both the bike and its content?

We review Peloton hardware, including bike design, comfort and functionality as well as assess its software: subscription content, layout, instructors and subscriber devotion (because that too, is worth something).

The Peloton Bike has a sleek design to fit well in any home.

Check Best Price

Why Trust Our Review Of The Peloton Bike

Our team consists of fitness enthusiasts, professionals, and indoor cycling instructors who spend a lot of time testing and using exercise bikes. We know what to look for in an exercise bike and what goes into creating and teaching an exercise class. Peloton models its subscription classes after indoor cycling classes are taught in person. When reviewing the Peloton Bike know that we did our due diligence in providing you with a thorough review that assesses all aspects of this bike.

When testing the Peloton Bike, we compared it to other models like the NordicTrack S22i, S15i, and Bowflex Velocore, to name a few.

Our Video Review Of The Peloton Bike

In-depth review of the Peloton Bike

Construction

Frame

• Solid Steel Frame
  • This bike is sturdy and stable. It sits snugly on the floor and doesn’t rock, even when you stand out of the saddle. Sturdy stabilizers under the front and rear of the bike hold it securely. We are impressed with overall construction and bike geometry.
• Points of Adjustment
  • There are three points of adjustment, which should work for most riders. You can move the seat up and down, forward and aft; you can also move the handlebars up and down.
  • However, the lack of a fore/aft adjustment on the handlebar stem means taller riders cannot move the screen back away from their knees. While you can raise the screen, it may not be enough to reduce knee encroachment with the handlebars.
• Pedals

Delta Look pedals come standard on all Peloton bikes.

• • You will need a cycling shoe with the attached Look cleats installed. These are not hybrid pedals, so there is no option for an athletic shoe.
• Plug

• • The power cord plugs into the rear stabilizer and then into any standard wall outlet. You have to have both a wall outlet and WiFi to run the Peloton app.

FlyWheel

The 30lb Peloton flywheel is very smooth.

• Flywheel weight & functionality
  • At 19” in diameter, it gains and maintains speed nicely to keep a fluid rotation and a comfortable pedal stroke. There is no jerkiness when pulling the pedals upward and no heaviness in the backend of the rotation like we see with lighter-weight wheels. The flywheel is housed in a protective casing to protect it from rust, dust, or other debris.

Saddle

• Comfort and Design
  • As mentioned above, the Peloton does have a narrow, racing-style saddle similar to those found on road bikes. This reduces friction on the rider’s undercarriage. While spin bike saddles are notoriously uncomfortable, the Peloton actually gets high marks for having a remarkably comfortable saddle. I sat side-by-side on the Peloton and the NordicTrack s22i and the Peloton saddle is substantially softer. Kudos to Peloton for making what is typically the most uncomfortable feature tolerable for those long rides!
• Two Seat Adjustments
  • You can raise and lower the saddle as well as move it forward and aft. Ideal positioning keeps a gentle 25-35 degree bend in the knee with the foot flat in the pedal. Seat adjustment on the Peloton is adequate. There are measurements on both the seat tube and saddle carriage so you can find the right setting each time. This is especially helpful for households with multiple riders.
  • I am 5’5” and finding the right fit was easy. Another reviewer is 6’4” and he had a much harder time finding enough room for proper leg extension. Tall riders may want to verify sizing before purchasing a Peloton.

Console/Controls

Screen

• 22″ Android Touchscreen
  • This is a nice sized screen; if anything it feels too large sometimes, especially when you stand up out of the saddle and hinge over the handlebars. In this position, it feels like screen encroaches a little in the rider’s head space. However, the screen is easy to both see and reach when sitting in the saddle.
• Screen Attachment

• • There are external wires extending from the back of the screen that are tethered to the mounting post with a velcro strap and then dangle loosely down the front of the bike before connecting under the driveshield. This external wiring is not our favorite. It’s not clean and could be dangerous.
• Screen Movement

The screen is slim and has minimal cords peeking out of the back.

• • The screen is securely attached to the bike so it doesn’t rock or wobble while you ride. It also gently pivots up and down. However, it doesn’t swivel. So when doing classes off the bike, you cannot move the screen to see it better. It would be really nice if the screen could swivel from side to side.
• Resolution
  • As we mentioned above, this is the clearest screen on any spin bike. People love Peloton for the content, so it makes sense that the screen would crisply portray leaders and classes. It is easy to see your metrics, the Leaderboard, the trainer, and other riders in the studio. This screen is impressive.

Everything on the screen is well within view when riding.

• Touchscreen
  • Almost all navigation is built into the screen. Touchscreen capability keeps the console very simple and sleek. The screen is responsive when touched; we found it to work well even with sweaty hands. We love the touchscreen functionality here, although it wouldn’t hurt to have a few quick touch buttons for resistance and speed levels. The resistance knob is not super precise so finding the right level takes a bit of adjusting.
• Functionality
  • Functionality is streamlined between the bike, the app, and the screen. It feels intuitive to just tap the screen while riding to change metrics or adjust resistance. Leveled resistance buttons on the console (or handlebars) would enhance functionality, however, in all, the touchscreen is impressive.

Geometry

• Aero-Style Frame Design
  • The Peloton bike is designed like a road bike with the saddle roughly in line with the handlebars so riders hinge at the hips and lean forward. This design may feel uncomfortable at first for riders who like to sit upright, with the saddle set lower than the handlebars. This body position engages the glutes and hamstrings more while riding and feels like you are riding fast and hard outside. Since Peloton typically attracts competitive, athletic riders, this position fits the overall nature of the bike.
• Bike Geometry:
  • 24” from handlebar post to seat post
  • 18” Handlebar width
  • 12” Handlebar depth
  • 12” From Front Horizontal Handlebar to Screen
  • 20” Pedal axle to center of flywheel
  • 13” Pedal axle to floor

Accessories

• No Fans
• Two Weight Cages behind saddle
  • This is preferable position for the weights. The two cages behind the saddle aren’t hard to reach and it makes sense to keep the weights back here since they won’t be used on every ride. Other bike brands store the weights on a tray on the handlebars which can be intrusive when riding in a forward position.
  • Weights are not included and must be purchased separately in the basic package (which also includes shoes). Weights come in 1lb, 2lb, or 3lb options.
• Tablet/Phone holder
  • There is no phone or tablet holder. The only place you could really set a phone would be in the water bottle holders, but we wouldn’t recommend this. These are angled and shallow.

Functionality

Performance

• The Peloton offers a nice ride. Saddle is comfortable and bike geometry should enable a good fit for most sized riders. Functionality is streamlined between screen and app so you can navigate through the touchscreen for almost all functionality. Resistance and braking are both quiet and the bike is stable when seated or standing.

Incline / Decline range

• There is no incline or decline built into the Peloton bike. The NordicTrack s22i and some ProForm bikes offer incline and decline, but the Peloton bike sits firmly on the ground. It will not create any incline while riding.

Resistance Levels

• Magnetic resistance creates frictionless resistance against the flywheel. This type of resistance is found on high-end bikes because it is quiet, there are no friction points and therefore less wear and tear on the flywheel and brake pads.
• Resistance Knob
  

  The resistance knob is located just below the handlebars.
  

  • There are no buttons on the console or bike. Instead, Peloton uses a resistance knob to increase and decrease tension. This is our least favorite type of resistance control for a few reasons:
    • You cannot instantly jump from one level to another. You have to turn the knob the corresponding number of times to find the right level.
    • There are no measurements on the knob; the only resistance readout is on the screen. When turning the knob, you kind of have to guess how much to turn it.
    • There is no automated resistance that corresponds to what the trainer instructs. You have to listen and manually turn it up or down every time the trainer instructs you.
• Digital Resistance Levels 1-100
  • Magnetic resistance can be digitally calibrated to achieve measurable and consistent levels. This way you don’t have to guess at how hard you are working or how much resistance you have on the flywheel. This is the ideal method for measuring resistance.
  • However, 100 levels is a bit much. We find about 25 or 30 levels to be ideal when riding. At 100 levels you have to increase by 10 just to feel a difference. While this does give more incremental resistance options, most people don’t need this many small levels.
• No Automated Resistance
  • This is one big drawback on the Peloton. Content on the app is impressive, however, there is no automated resistance or incline. With app automation, the bike will automatically adjust resistance and incline to match the trainer’s instructions (or the terrain of an outdoor ride). This way, you can ride hands-free and just focus on form and strength. Bikes from NordicTrack or ProForm do feature automation. When riding the Peloton, you must listen for trainer cues to know what to do and when. It is unfortunate Peloton does not have this integration.
• Resistance Noise
  • Magnetic resistance is quiet and the Peloton is nearly silent when pedaling. Feel free to ride anytime day or night — you will not generate any pedaling noise while riding or braking.

Pre-programmed workouts

• There are no pre-programmed workouts on the Peloton. When you turn on the screen you are immediately prompted to log in. Unless you have a Peloton account, the screen will not display any info nor provide ride metrics. You pretty much have to subscribe to Peloton to get any content. The pedals and resistance work, so you can still ride, but there’s no accompanying display content.
• If you do not plan to use the Peloton app, do not buy this bike. There are other, much less expensive, well-built spin bikes for those who don’t want to pay for content.

Subscription Options

The library of classes is easy to navigate.

• Peloton Digital app costs $44/month for unlimited user profiles. This is nice because you only need one subscription per household, and if you own a Peloton Tread you can use the same subscription.
  • There is also a cheaper non-equipment-based subscription so you can use the app without owning Peloton equipment. If you already have a good bike, this may be an option. However, community functionality is reduced in this version. You won’t show up on the Leaderboard or get Shout Outs if you are not on a Peloton bike.
• The digital content is where Peloton really shines.
  The Peloton app has created a virtual world of spinning enthusiasts who love to ride together, scale the Leaderboard, get and give “high fives,” and be a part of a community. While it is expensive, Peloton does offer great workouts by fit, engaging trainers who make the time fly by.
• A navigation bar on the main screen allows you to choose:
  • Home
  • Programs
    • Total Strength
    • Tabata
    • Core
    • Power Zones (Heart Rate training)
    • Cycling
  • Classes
    • Instructor
    • Length
    • Class Type
    • Music Genre
  • Schedule
    • Upcoming classes
    • Weekly schedule of classes
  • Challenges
    • Monthly total ride challenges
    • Monthly total Kj challenges
  • More
    • Scenic Rides (no sound, just outdoor landscapes)
    • Just Ride (no program, just metrics)
• Community building features make Peloton stand out:
  • The Leaderboard is one of Peloton’s most popular features.
    • – In a Live Class, riders are ranked by Kj output. The harder you work, the more you can climb the Leaderboard.
    • – In a recorded class, the Leaderboard displays all time leaders and a ranking of riders taking the class at the same time.
  • Shout-Outs: In Live classes, the instructor can see the Leaderboard and stats on who may be taking their 100th ride or something and give them a quick “shout-out” by recognizing their efforts.
  • High-Fives: Riders can select the profile of other riders to give them a virtual “High Five.”
  • Peloton bikes are marketed towards working professionals, who by nature tend to be highly competitive. The online feeling of both competition and community fuels the Peloton craze. It makes the rides interesting and addicting.
• Peloton only offers classes. There are no outdoor rides led by a trainer.
  You can select a Scenic Ride, but this is just a landscape video with no trainer or corresponding workout program and there are only a handful of these. Again, this is an unfortunate oversight. Outdoor rides can be really fun, especially for riders who want to feel like they are somewhere other than in a cycling class. Again, NordicTrack and ProForm have an advantage here as the iFit app offers extensive outdoor rides filmed all over the world that are led by a trainer with audio and music. iFit also has the automated feature so resistance (and incline) adjust according to the natural terrain. We would love to see Peloton include some outdoor videos as well.

Noise Level

• As mentioned above, riding the Peloton bike is silent. There is no noise while pedaling or braking.
• Speakers project from the back of the screen! This should be a consideration when positioning your bike. You may want to consider placing your bike facing a corner or wall to get rebound sound. If you place your bike facing into the room, volume will project out, away from you, which may be an issue for others in the room.
• Speakers project good volume which is clear and easy to hear, so that’s not an issue. Peloton also includes Closed Captioning (subtitles) in their programs which is a huge benefit. Kudos to Peloton for providing this service!

Storage / Folding

The Peloton bike does not fold up. There are wheels under the front stabilizer so you can tip the bike and gently roll it out of the way. REMOVE ANY WEIGHTS BEFORE DOING THIS! We made the mistake of rolling the bike without removing the weights first and they came tumbling down towards the screen and our toes.

Also, watch screen position when moving the bike. You really have to pivot the bike forward to connect with the wheels and this brings the screen low. Since the screen is heavy, you could accidentally dip or drop the screen if you’re not expecting the weight to shift forward.