No tags yet.
I definitely remember my first ever spin class. I was in high school, it was at a Gold's Gym, in a dark studio lit with colored "club" lights, with a 60+ year old instructor named Rhonda, who was an icon at the gym. I was immediately hooked - there is just something about sweating in the dark, to loud, popular music, while pushing through the nitty-gritty of your pedal strokes.
Fast forward many (many) years - I had fallen out of any sort of routine with spinning. I probably only went to spin classes less than 5 times in Undergrad and zero in med school. But I did get a spin bike to use at home, originally to get some movement in while studying, because I could prop my laptop on the handlebars and still study. But I wasn't using it to its full in-home potential until I downloaded and started using the Peloton Digital App.
The Peloton Digital App was a game-changer for me. It brought my favorite style of spin class with great instructors - motivational but no nonsense (they will push you outside your comfort zone) - into my home, at my convenience.
I was interested in potentially getting the branded Peloton bike, but the cost ($2245, plus $39 per month) wasn't in my medical student budget or in my current resident salary budget. I think the main bonus of having a Peloton bike is that everything is integrated - you can see your resistance, cadence, output on the screen.
However, there are ways to use technology and a little resourcefulness to get *essentially* the same experience.
Here's what you need:
1. THE BIKE: there are a lot of different spin bikes on the market, in all different price ranges, with all different doodads and extras. I ended up with my bike because my parent's weren't using it at the time - and I requisitioned it (thanks mom and dad!). It is a pretty bare bones regular spin bike. It has a central knob to adjust resistance on the flywheel and that is about it. The one thing it doesn't have that I wish it did is a central monitor/computer sensor that displayed resistance and cadence. But most bikes in this lower tier price range do not have those. I have seen a lot of good options on Amazon - so I'd start your search there.
2. CADENCE SENSOR: this is the "add-on" that you purchase to make up for the fact that your spin bike doesn't have a central console. I bought mine on Amazon for ~$40 and it just attaches to your pedal crank shaft and works via Bluetooth to connect with the Peloton App. Once you connect the cadence sensor to the Peloton App, it will display your cadence on the screen during your ride.
3. PELOTON APP: The app costs $12.99/month for digital riders (meaning you don't have Peloton branded equipment). You have access to the whole app, including all cycling, running, yoga, bootcamp, cardio, strength, and meditation classes. In addition to the cycling classes, I used to enjoy using the app to take the Treadmill classes on my local gym's treadmills (prior to COVID). In the app you can filter classes based on instructor, time, type of class, and music genre. You can also bookmark classes (I do this for classes that I want to do at some point in time, but not right now) and filter based on bookmarks. They also have most classes with CC (closed captioning) for those hard of hearing, and I really appreciate the inclusivity of that.
During this tumultuous time of uncertainty facing our world, Peloton has extended its free app trial to 90 DAYS.
Per their website, "As daily routines continue to change, we want you to have access to our full library of classes from the comfort of home. Take a mix of yoga, meditation, strength, cycling, running and more. We'll remind you three days before your trial ends so you won't be accidentally billed, and you can cancel anytime."
Not necessary, but helpful extras:
Here are things that are not "necessary" to recreate the experience, but can help streamline the experience and make it more effective.
1. WEIGHT STAND: I like using this rolling cart from IKEA to store my weights and have them easily on hand and within reach during arm sections of rides. On the actual Peloton bike, they store in a special basket beneath the seat for easy access.
2. MONITOR (PHONE/TABLET) MOUNT: The app is available on both phone and tablet platforms (and a variety of other platforms). I use my large screen iPad Pro normally, but have used by phone before as well. Also, when I spin at home, my bike is close enough to my desk that I just put my tablet there, but a mount is always an option if you don't have any furniture near by.
3. HEADPHONES: If you are in a place were you can't have the music playing out loud, I have really enjoyed these wireless, bluetooth earbuds. They seem to stay in place better and be more adaptive to sweaty workouts than my Apple Airpods. Plus, they are only $39.
4. LIGHTS: I took some of my left over Christmas lights and strung them along my window. So now when I spin at night, I keep the room lights off and turn on my string lights, and it takes me right back to my first class with Rhonda! :)
Have fun! Get Sweaty! Produce some endorphins!
Stay safe, healthy and happy!
xoxo,
M
