Follow me on Peloton at: MrsMacnaughty
For the last year, I have been secretly coveting a Peloton bike. However, in the midst of a global pandemic it did seem like an extravagance. During the months of lockdown I took full advantage of the freedom to exercise, and felt very lucky to live on the doorstep of the Wiltshire cycleways. I was able to clock up the miles, sometimes reaching 60 plus miles a week. It was invigorating. Often blessed with sunshine and always blessed with the beauty of the Wiltshire countryside.
As a family we were lucky to be able to escape to France for a holiday; but not lucky enough to avoid the imposed quarantine restrictions of 2 weeks staying at home. During the quarantine I became concerned with the inevitable impending 2nd wave of Covid19, and potential lockdowns, during the inclement, dark winter months, the likelihood of me turning into Jabba the Hut was nigh on inevitable.
With this in mind, I bit the bullet and applied for interest free Klarna credit so that I could purchase a Peloton bike. I was successful in my application and so was able to order my bike. I ordered the Bike Works package at £52 per month, with a 30 day free trial. This included; Peloton All-Access Membership, gaining unlimited access to a growing library of live streaming and on-demand Peloton classes (cycling, running, bootcamp, floor, yoga and more), as well as performance tracking and unlimited profiles for family and friends.
Membership includes full access on a single Peloton Bike in one household, plus on-the-go access to the Peloton App. You may pause or cancel your Membership at any time. This is an additional cost of £35 per month. It’s a monthly cost of £87 per month.
For me, this represents excellent value for money as all of my family can benefit from the fitness classes and meditation sessions available. I live in the country, and my nearest gym is a 20 minute drive away. The convenience of having professional classes in my home 24/7 is truly a gift. The time saving factor of just being able to jump onto the bike at anytime and take any class of my choosing is invaluable. I have no excuses not to exercise. Not to mention the privacy of my chubby, scantily clad peri-menopausal body not being visible to the leaner, lycra clad gym bunnies with indomitable energy that can be intimidating to the more Rubenesque spinners like myself.
I am now 6 weeks into bike ownership and I love it. Obviously, I was bike ready due to the miles that I had put in the saddle during lockdown so that transition was not too painful. However, what I hadn’t anticipated is how hot I would become working out. I started with a beginner class to ease me into the bike functions, and also to get used to the terminology. I have previously done spin classes, so I am not unfamiliar with the techniques. I was happy to move onto advanced beginners. Even at this level steam was coming out my ears. It was a whole new ball game compared to my leisurely preambles through the Wiltshire countryside. As I experimented with classes and instructors I discovered two things – music is everything for me. I love dance music and in my opinion it’s a fantastic motivator. Accent is the other thing – it must be a British thing but the dulcet tones of British instructor, Ben Aldiss, who is a dance music aficionado is the perfect accoutrement to any ride. Whereas some of the American instructors tones can be less palatable to my Anglo-Saxon ears.
In fact, it was taking part in Ben’s classes that led me to brave a 45 minute class outside of the advanced beginners group. It was an absolute game changer participating in a 45 minute class. I loved it and was surprised that I was able to make it to the end. I have discovered that I take about 15 minutes to become comfortably warmed up and so the following 30 minute ride feels very do-able. In addition, the way the class is broken up into sprints and climbs, as you focus on the metrics, trying to keep up, means the minutes simply evaporate. At the end of each class I am dripping with sweat, purple as a berry and brimming with a huge sense of achievement.
Your Peloton account tracks your progress which enables you to monitor your progress. There are lots of achievement goals to keep you motivated and if you are an avid badge collector like myself this is a really good draw to keep bringing you back to the saddle.
As I use the bike more frequently I have also felt brave enough to join some of the Peloton Facebook communities. I have found that each group is loaded with enthusiasm and support, which adds to the motivation required to get on the bike as frequently as possible.
I have also dabbled with yoga, full body stretching and meditation. It was fantastic to have access to a professional class in the sanctuary of my living room. It has really demonstrated to me the true value for money is to be achieved by using all the classes with brilliant professional instructors. If you consider that you can pay between £5-£20 for additional classes at a gym, and the time spent getting to and from the premises, there is a smorgasbord of exercise available 24/7 at your fingers tips in any space in your home.
I have absolutely no regrets; and now look forward to getting on my bike and letting off some steam. Quite literally.
The Peloton Bike has transformed how I work out, and I’d love to share it with you. With the Peloton Bike, you can join live and on-demand studio cycling classes all from the convenience of home. There are thousands of classes to choose from, they fit into my schedule and challenge me daily. I absolutely love it, and it would be even more fun if we could ride together!
Enter my referral code: JSDADU during Bike purchase, and get £100* towards bike accessories.
See you on the Bike!
*View full terms here: https://support.onepeloton.com/hc/en-gb/articles/204445185-Refer-a-friend Valid for Bikes purchased in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom. Currency of reward is contingent upon country of residence. Exchange rates and limitations may apply. Valid while supplies last.
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