Recently, I’ve decided to pick up fitness. My current obsession you ask? Peloton. We just got ours a few weeks ago, and I love it. While it took a while to convince my dad to get over the price, my whole family is left satisfied with the purchase. Stationary bikes are a great way to get a good workout without the hassle of the outdoors. Biking around the neighborhood sounds okay in theory yet difficult in action; working out knowing everyone in my neighborhood can and probably will see me is nerve-wracking, especially as someone who is rather uncoordinated. I tried a few SoulCycle and Cyclebar classes, which usually provide an over-energized instructor and funky music that matches the intensity of the workout. Who wouldn’t enjoy that? While I certainly loved the classes, it’s difficult to fit in a workout with my busy schedule, let alone have to work with their scheduled class times- this all led to my Peloton journey.

I first tried the Peloton in a hotel on vacation and I was amazed. The entire idea of the satisfaction of a spin class, minus the hassle of driving to and from a studio at a specific time; The Peloton Bike provides a perfect alternative not only for exercising outdoors, but also allows the experience of a class in the comfort of your home. While some people prefer working out alone, I think an instructor or trainer works best for me. It’s much easier to give up on yourself and go easy when no one is watching or verbally instructing on how to proceed, hence the large appeal of cycling classes. While the Peloton instructors won’t actually see you during your ride, they are still instructing every move and providing encouragement throughout the ride. If this alone doesn’t motivate you, there is a leaderboard on the side of the screen for all riders – both “alltime” and current – which displays your rank in the race, and who doesn’t love a little competition?

The mechanics of the bike are a bit different than your average neighborhood bike or even a regular stationary bike. You must wear specific cleats that are compatible with the notch built into the pedals. Once you align the indention in the shoe with the notch, they snap into place and you’re ready to go. I’m not sure if this is just me, but it’s a lot harder than it sounds.

There truly is a workout for everyone with a Peloton membership. However, with the price of a Peloton ($1,495), one might assume it comes with all the features with that one purchase, right? Wrong! The membership is where you get the fun instructed rides, while the bike alone just offers scenic rides and plain old rides that simply time you. This shouldn’t serve as a huge disappointment though, because most people who are willing to spend this much on a bike have the means to pay for a $39/month membership. If you still aren’t tempted, I assure the purchase will only maximize usage of the bike and overall satisfaction with your purchase. And if you STILL aren’t sold, one membership can be shared amongst multiple people, similar to a tv subscription so you could always share with a friend.

In conclusion, you do not have to over justify every purchase, especially not this one. If you seriously are left unsatisfied, Peloton offers a free 30-day trial, which I recommend only if you’ve never tried it. But if you’re like me and you know a place to try it out before committing to the purchase, do that for sure. But I promise you will not be left disappointed by this bike. Try something new, get that credit card, go to the website right now. If you’re looking to start your fitness journey, Peloton is your new best friend.