I’ve never been one for group exercise. I know they can be fun and a great way to connect with others, but I’d rather put on a set of headphones, crank up my music, and go through a high-intensity resistance workout.
But I don’t want to be locked up for it either, so I started looking for ways to join a private session. Luckily, that’s when I heard about Peloton’s partnership with Defected Records to bring DJ-curated dance music to Peloton’s famous motivational classes.
However, as I don’t have a Peloton Bike or any ergometer at home, I thought it was worth making the trip to the Peloton Studio in London to run the first Defected class with Peloton instructor Leanne Hainsby.
I packed my training kit in a bag and went there for the live session. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but after taking my first Peloton class, I think I understand why so many people love them.
Instructors make the class
(Image: Peloton)
If you talk to people about Peloton, there’s a good chance they know two things about the brand; makes home workout equipment, and the in-class instructors are a big part of the experience. I have always assumed that this is true of instructors, but that perhaps their influence is overstated.
But luckily I was wrong about that. Leanne arrived at the studio when we were ready to go and although she had to address two crowds – us in the studio and the Peloton App members at home – she balanced the two well and kept us motivated throughout the 30 minute high intensity class.
It was also really impressive how she was able to simultaneously present live in front of hundreds of people, make sure she was engaged with the virtual audience, give all the right instructions so we could get the most out of the class, and actually make practice myself.
I wasn’t a big fan of the Peloton leaderboard (more on that later), but I really got into the swing of the spinning class because Leanne’s energy was infectious. I had fun (which was unlike me), found a good rhythm during the off-seat sections and worked hard thanks to Leanne’s approach.
Wish I could try it at home first
(Image credit: James Frew / Tom’s Guide)
Peloton’s studio spans several floors on a street just off Covent Garden Market in central London. I showed up in my battered HOKA Transport walking shoes and dog walking jeans, so I felt a little out of place. I felt better after changing, but then I had to put on the cycling shoes.
I got the size wrong – as an American brand, Peloton use US sizes, even in the UK – and then I hadn’t used cleat shoes before so had to ask how to attach them to the pedals and fumbled around trying to unclip at the end (obviously the trick is to push your heel to the side).
I also had to deal with being in a studio with lots of Peloton enthusiasts (some were on their 2000th session) while never having taken a class before. And studio classes are streamed live and recorded for Peloton members who train at home. It was a little scary.
Despite all this I had a good time and decided not to worry about what others were doing and focus on Leanne’s instructions and energy. But if I had at least taken a Peloton class before, I think the rest of my worries would have been a temporary footnote.
Group exercises are actually really fun
(Image credit: James Frew / Tom’s Guide)
Each of Peloton’s studio classes is streamed live and filmed for the Peloton app, so you should be ready 30 minutes before the start time. As we lined up outside the studio door, I realized that coming together as a group to share an experience was exactly what I loved about doing yoga.
Unfortunately, my local studio closed a few years ago and I haven’t done group exercise since. But when we walked into the room, got in, and got on the bike, it didn’t feel like it mattered that I was a complete newcomer, as the point was to train and have fun together.
It helped that the dark room made me feel less in the spotlight even though I was right in front of the instructor, and that everyone was there for the same reason. After all, classes cost £25 ($35 at the New York studio), so you want to get the most out of the session.
My colleague Kate Kozuch felt the same way when she tried a Peloton class at the brand’s New York studio with celebrity instructor Cody Rigsby. Also, we both appreciated that you don’t need to be a member of the Peloton app to join the class — just pay your fee and you’re good to go.
I enjoyed the atmosphere and even stayed afterwards to meet Leanne who was really nice and encouraging. These classes won’t replace home workouts for me, but they’ve got me interested in exploring other group sessions, especially now that Zumba has an app so I can practice the moves before I go.
The ranking pressed me hard One of Peloton’s best-known features is its leaderboard. Your efforts on a bike are converted into a performance metric and used to rank against all other spinners. I had to log into the Peloton Bike display to join, so I could opt out, but I wanted the full experience.
The number on the screen made me work the hardest as I was determined to keep my place in the top 50% of the studio participants. I trained harder than I probably would at home, so in that sense it did exactly what it was designed to do.
Although I can’t honestly say I liked the feel of it. I got a cramp in my right calf and pressed it because I didn’t want to fall out of my seat. I ditched the gym for home workouts to avoid this exact type of stress, so I don’t think it’s a good fit for the way I train.
But we’re all different, and this might be just the type of drive you need. I ended up finding that Leanne’s energy had a much more positive impact on my motivation. Using her cues on when to pick up the intensity or load the resistance helped me get the most out of the class.
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