You did choose a sharp bike to buy (I have a Synapse also) and getting on rollers is serious training. Peloton, smart trainers and rollers are all devices for fitness and/or serious training for sports. Each have pro and cons like any other tools one uses.
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Apple Floated as Potential Buyer of Peloton
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Indoor vs outdoor? That’s largely a function of the season and where you live. It’s simply too hot here in Vegas at least half of the year to go outside to run or bike. I know a lot of people do it but it’s not for me.
Now, I can’t speak for bikes because I’m not into cycling. However, I can speak to treadmills. I used to absolutely hate them. All of that changed when I signed up for a free trial of Peloton‘s digital service via their app. I’ve used it for 2+ years now and haven’t looked back. I’m no longer bored on the tread and really enjoy the workouts. The time simply flies by.
I really hope Peloton survives. Their $13 monthly subscription is a bargain and the product is far superior to Apple Fitness IMO. The variety of programs, workouts, and instructors is second to none. For the record, I don’t own their equipment. I travel frequently and feel I wouldn’t get my money‘s worth on such a large investment. However, if I was home more often, I wouldn’t hesitate to upgrade and purchase their tread.
Yeah, but they were failing themselves and it was to get Steve back in the company
I like the idea of Apple acquiring Peloton, not for the hardware or the content or even the team. Peloton’s value is almost entirely in its community, most of which belong to its wildly popular spin classes. Acquiring Peloton only to absorb it into Apple Fitness and give up the name would just incinerate money.
Apple needs to diversify in order to continue growing. The best way to do that is to acquire smaller companies and allow them to remain their own entities, but with the benefit of cross pollination and close partnerships.
Apple should buy Peloton, let it continue to be Peloton, but narrowly focused on the spin bike and its community. Then give it Apple Watch and Apple Health integration and allow Apple Fitness to complement the bike exercises, driving users from the Peloton community into Apple Fitness classes and growing both.
Apple needs to diversify in order to continue growing. The best way to do that is to acquire smaller companies and allow them to remain their own entities, but with the benefit of cross pollination and close partnerships.
Apple should buy Peloton, let it continue to be Peloton, but narrowly focused on the spin bike and its community. Then give it Apple Watch and Apple Health integration and allow Apple Fitness to complement the bike exercises, driving users from the Peloton community into Apple Fitness classes and growing both.
Y'all are making some bold predictions about this company's future. I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes another infamous MacRumors forum that doesn't age well!
I don't have a Peloton bike, but I know a lot of people that do and they're all obsessed with them. I've tried it a few times and I have to admit it's a better experience (for the most part) than Apple Fitness+ which is what I use with my cheap stationary bike. Having the bike auto adjust the resistance, the live classes, the social features, the Apple Watch integration, etc...it's really well done.
My main complaint (other than the price) is that the resolution on the screen is pretty low for how close it is to your face. A $2500 bike in 2022 should probably have a 4K screen.
Having said all that, I think Google is more likely to buy them than Apple since the tablets on the bikes, treadmills, etc. are all Android based. Amazon is obviously a contender too since they buy everything, but either way, I don't think this company is going to disappear. It seems more likely to me that big tech will buy them out. I guess we'll see!
I don't have a Peloton bike, but I know a lot of people that do and they're all obsessed with them. I've tried it a few times and I have to admit it's a better experience (for the most part) than Apple Fitness+ which is what I use with my cheap stationary bike. Having the bike auto adjust the resistance, the live classes, the social features, the Apple Watch integration, etc...it's really well done.
My main complaint (other than the price) is that the resolution on the screen is pretty low for how close it is to your face. A $2500 bike in 2022 should probably have a 4K screen.
Having said all that, I think Google is more likely to buy them than Apple since the tablets on the bikes, treadmills, etc. are all Android based. Amazon is obviously a contender too since they buy everything, but either way, I don't think this company is going to disappear. It seems more likely to me that big tech will buy them out. I guess we'll see!
HealthKit integrations is not possible on the Tread or regular bike, both of which I have. Like you I was sceptical of the value but am now all-in. They still have a huge subscriber base so I’m not worried., Like you I don’t think Apple would buy an Android-powered fitness company, though I guess anything is possible.
$9B + at least 20% to get the board to agree for 5.9 million users?! That’s an insane $/user premium. I recognize valuations are out of control but Peloton really miss-timed this if they’re wanting a buy-out. Not only have they individually crashed hard recent due to self-inflicted wounds, but the market as a whole is having at least a moderate correction. Apple holds all the chips here. Either they get Peloton at a more reasonable price or they force the hand of a competitor (Amazon?) to buy them overpriced just to keep them away from Apple.
Wall Street could do the simple math to see the price vs revenue increase is a net negative.
It’s mind-boggling to me that a product as expensive as Peloton with incredible brand recognition can be doing so poorly.
There’s consumer demand, it’s just ridiculously expensive. The products are already at the high end of the market then they require a $50/month subscription.
There’s consumer demand, it’s just ridiculously expensive. The products are already at the high end of the market then they require a $50/month subscription.
No offense but I don’t think you know how Venn diagrams work. The Peloton circle may very well be overwhelmed by the iPhone circle but the Peloton circle overlapping the Apple circle is seriously a fraction of a percent. Peloton has 5.9 million users. iPhone is conservatively 113 million.
they made like what? 2 billion last year? They over made and had a series of bad luck when it came to scandals. Their instructors are the best I've seen, and the actual programs (meditation, bike, yoga) are fantastic. A good buy if they do it.
Also, I use the app with a off brand bike, pay $13 a month, and it's great. I don't use a real bike (which I own) because have you seen drivers lately? And it's not like hospitals have a lot of space for broken bones. Indoor bikes if you have room (and or have a bad winter) are very, very good cardio, and aside from swimming, is one of the best forms of cardio that's low impact. Way better for you long term over say running.
Also, I use the app with a off brand bike, pay $13 a month, and it's great. I don't use a real bike (which I own) because have you seen drivers lately? And it's not like hospitals have a lot of space for broken bones. Indoor bikes if you have room (and or have a bad winter) are very, very good cardio, and aside from swimming, is one of the best forms of cardio that's low impact. Way better for you long term over say running.
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Paleo Ton? Does it include a paleo diet? Do I have to lift a ton? What a goofy name.
Apple doesn’t buy a company for its subscriber base. Cheaper to just buy the individual parts you need (eg: hire talent away from Peloton, which should be easier now if news of it doing poorly is true), build up a competing service and compete for those same users.
It makes more sense to simply let users recreate the same experience with Apple fitness, the Apple Watch and an iPad mounted on a third party exercise bike. Than roll out a line of exercise equipment which has little synergy with their core competency.
It might make more sense for Apple to partner with Peloton, instead of buying them.
Apple would be wise to give a lifeline to Peleton staff members that could better Apples offerings rather than buy a sinking ship. Apple don’t want to get involved with selling bikes and treadmills just like they don’t make TV sets.
I don't get that impression from Peloton ads however, there have been plenty of articles, comments, opinions, etc. about Apple fans being a cult so perhaps Peloton would be a good fit!
Apple could purchase the company, repaint their bikes white, have mountings on the front so it can hold Apples range of ipads, design road surface software so it looks like the rider is cycling on a road but have the software built with keep fit ideas in mind then put Apple's logo on the frame and call it the 'iBike'. The frames could come in different colours, just like Apple did with their macbooks. They could also add an addition to the bike that has a thunderbolt connection which would connect to an Apple monitor which would allow the user to see what they are doing on the big screen rather than an ipad.
Apple could make it an app store app and have in app purchases of other road and terrains from around the world. If Apple marketed it right, the 'iBike' as I like to call it could be a big hit with those who like to keep fit. People need to think bigger instead of thinking 'it's not going to work' or 'it would be a big looser for Apple'. It has the potential be a big hit for Apple.
Apple could make it an app store app and have in app purchases of other road and terrains from around the world. If Apple marketed it right, the 'iBike' as I like to call it could be a big hit with those who like to keep fit. People need to think bigger instead of thinking 'it's not going to work' or 'it would be a big looser for Apple'. It has the potential be a big hit for Apple.
Peloton has 5.9 million users in 4 countries. Apple’s Fitness+ is available in 21 countries. I would be shocked if there were not more regular Fitness+ users than Peloton users.
I have Fitness+ and am very impressed by it, and have done two or more workouts every day for over a year. Not sure when you tried it, nor when you looked at it last, but the production quality is substantially better than any of the Peloton Digital videos. Fitness+’s integration with HealthKit and my Apple Watch are great, showing my rings is really motivating for me (clearly not something that matters to everyone). I really like the three trainer model that Fitness+ uses. It means that I can easily switch to the version of a particular exercise that is appropriate for me (it has been very valuable over the last few months as I have been recovering from a back injury). So far I have tried all the workout types except the newly added Pilates and the three than need special equipment (Cycling, Rowing and Treadmill).
I have done several of the Time to Walk outdoor walks (my favorite so far is Dolly Parton’s). My BF and I have done shared HIIT and Core workouts and really like it. As for adding content more quickly, outside of their recordings of their live cycling and tread classes that get added as they happen, I am not sure if they are adding content at a much greater pace. Peloton certainly has more (they have a 3 year head start) videos, but fewer workout types.
I started using Daily Yoga before Fitness+ started, and I still like it, but will often do an additional yoga workout on Fitness+, they are different enough to make it is so I like both. In contrast, I had a one month trial of Peloton Digital and used it every day (along with my Fitness+ workouts) for the month (usually at least two workouts for each service a day), and I did not like it as much (so I did not keep it).
In what way do you find Fitness+ inferior? The production quality for Fitness+ is much higher (having all be produced in 4K and streamed at a higher bitrate). Fitness+ is much more integrated with the ecosystem (particularly Apple Watch integration). They have more actual distinct workout types that are more clearly defined, having added outdoor walks and runs, as well as Pilates and Meditations in the year since the platform launched. I do not own an exercise bike, a rower or a treadmill, so I cannot compare their bike or treadmill workouts, but for those I did compare, I preferred the instructors on Fitness+ - they seem friendlier and more excited to be there. People will have their own opinions, but your blanket dismissal without any explanation makes it hard to evaluate your comment.
Certainly true that not every product Apple has released has been a success, however in this case, it seems to be going well for them. Apple continues to invest in Fitness+ (adding workout types, improving sorting and filtering, adding sharing, etc.), and has done a lot over the the first year, especially given that it launched during the pandemic.
Just let Microsoft buy it they'll run it into the ground like everything else they've tried to "innovate"
I don't think it has a potential to be a big hit for Apple. There are rumors that Fitness+ isn't doing as well as Apple had hoped, so I would imagine Apple would approach this with a lot of skepticism.
The problem with the Peloton and things like it is that it has a short term audience engagement. Many that use it have already moved on from it to the next fad. It was a trendy thing during the pandemic, but now that people can go outside and with other competitors (e.g. Mirror from Lululemon), it makes this space very crowded with long term retention problems. Cyclists that likely care about roads/terrains from around the world will probably be on their road bikes with actual trainers. The fact that they have an overabundance of inventory is really foretelling of the problems it's facing.
You think this will not age well because you think Peloton will recover and get back on a growth path, they will get acquired by someone else, or because you expect Fitness+ to fail and Peloton/Peloton Digital to succeed?
I would certainly hope that it is a better experience for a starting price of around $2,500 and $40 a month (the less expensive Bike and Tread do not have the same level of integration as the more expensive Bike+ and Tread+).
On the other hand, I just do not think that Peloton Digital is a better experience than Fitness+ (comparing like to like). It is 30% more expensive at a minimum (and about 260% more if you have two uses in a family plan), and not as well integrated into the ecosystem. Their Apple Watch support is not as good as what Apple has done with Fitness+ (again, that better be the case as it is a core feature of Fitness+)I will be curious if Apple adds bike/treadmill control for one or more bikes, rowers and treadmills. It was clearly not important enough to include for 1.0 of the Fitness+ launch, but I would not be surprised if it gets added this year or next.
Still not having GymKit integration on the Bike and Tread (only on the more expensive Bike+ and Tread+) seems like a bad decision.
I agree with you. It seems unlikely that Apple would sell a product with an Android tablet, and if they were to consider using an iPad, they would have other issues.
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Your forgetting the fact that not everyone that likes to cycle has the opportunity to do so. Many people who used to love to cycle now live in urbanised areas that do not cater for cyclists or their bikes. Many people live in flats that do have not storage facility for bikes. Also for those who enjoy cycling, living in an urban area means it can be unsafe for them to cycle. It is very obvious to me you are too closed minded as to who you think the product would be aimed at and thus think it would fail. You've also got fitness people who use indoor bikes to enable them to keep fit. Do not discount them.
The biggest marketing strategy of the ibike is the potential to link up with friends and family that are around the world and enjoy a virtual bike ride with them or for if they are into fitness, they could link up with the same for fitness challenges, how fast can they pedal, how fast can they go over a certain distance.
The possibilities are there, you just need to have the imagination to think of the possibilities this could create for Apple. Marketing and promotion is the key. I have no doubt there have been products over the years that would have been a smash hit but were so badly marketed that it flopped within a few months to a year but yet there are other products that have been utterly terrible that have been marketed so well, people have wondered how on earth did such a product ever get made. Marketing is the key here for Apple.