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No disrespect to Peloton users, but are they still going strong like 3 or 4 years ago?
Peloton has a very committed fan base since before the pandemic. It's the group aspect that helps so many people keep working out. This rabid fan base is one of the reasons why Apple is often floated as a possible acquirer.

I just don't think I could ever justify spending a monthly fee on a piece of workout equipment that lives in my house. I'm so sick of subscriptions....
You're not paying a subscription for the HW, it's the content. No different than Netflix or whatever else. IME, Peloton has far and away the best instructors and class content. Not everyone cares about that, and in that case the Peloton isn't for them.

It's an industry leading product from a poorly run company. Software and UI is excellent. Hardware is adequate for home use. They need to slash overhead to survive. Cutting promised services is not the way.
Yep. Peloton is easily the best home spin class experience with the best instructors. They completely mismanaged the pandemic and are stuck with those terrible financial decisions.
 
i use zwift - doesn't support gym kit. gym kit is useless to us.

it's like real athletes use garmin devices. they get it.

but good for peloton
"Real" athletes. The gatekeeping in these threads...


It’s nonsensical, I can’t believe people actually pay for that. Well, not that many people it seems, but still…

There are countless alternatives to be active just as easy but completely free or considerably cheaper. Peloton doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.

What's funny is seeing comments like this on an Apple oriented site. There are so many cheaper to options that deliver the core experience that Apple delivers, yet people pay for Apple every day. The Peloton hardware is nice, the classes are best in class, and the experience is great if a person likes classes. People are willing to pay for that premium, easy to use experience, much like that other company most of us are here to read about and discuss.
 
Shades of GM dropping support for CarPlay. At least Peloton saw the error of its ways. And to think there was rumor going around that Apple was going to buy Peloton.
 
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The Peloton hardware is nice, the classes are best in class, and the experience is great if a person likes classes. People are willing to pay for that premium, easy to use experience, much like that other company most of us are here to read about and discuss.

Yep. My job has me in hotel gyms all over the world, so I use a lot of stationary bikes from a variety of vendors. Most of the time it's not a Peloton bike, and in that case I pair it with Fitness+. But when I'm lucky enough to have gym with Peloton, the experience is substantially better than anything else I've used. And I just use the free Peloton account - I'm sure the real deal is substantially better.
 
"Real" athletes. The gatekeeping in these threads...






What's funny is seeing comments like this on an Apple oriented site. There are so many cheaper to options that deliver the core experience that Apple delivers, yet people pay for Apple every day. The Peloton hardware is nice, the classes are best in class, and the experience is great if a person likes classes. People are willing to pay for that premium, easy to use experience, much like that other company most of us are here to read about and discuss.
I always remember quotes by English writer and philosopher John Ruskin

"There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey."

“It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When
you pay too much, you lose a little money - that's all."


Temu sells watches for $29.95 that claim to have blood glucose monitoring. Think about that for a minute.
 
it's like real athletes use garmin devices. they get it.
No true Scotsman, eh?

If we define “real” athletes as those who perform as a profession, Garmin definitely has dominance in that market niche, but as Apple improves its software, hardware, and API’s that will diminish. Competitive cyclists really don't have an alternative to Garmin for the time being though with sensor integration and industry-leading accessories that I don't see Apple competing with.

But Apple is probably pretty pleased with its first place marketshare at 30% compared to Garmin’s tie at 5th 4.1% market share.
 
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Perhaps Peloton realized that if they stop supporting GymKit a lot of people would stop subscribing to their $24/mo Peloton App+ service which they cannot afford to lose [their Average Monthly Paid App Subscription Churn last quarter (2nd quarter of fiscal year 2024) was at 7.2% while total members fell 4% vs a year ago]
I don't get who pays for all of this.

So I buy a Peloton for 2,5k+, okay, expensive but I get it.

But now I pay another 300 a year for a membership? For a home trainer? That I already paid 2,5k for? What?
 
Boy is this an opinionated bunch - I really don't get all the hate for Peloton, is anyone forcing you to have one? Is anyone forcing you to use one? Have you actually used one? Everyone is motivated differently - Peloton really has top tier instructors with a wide variety of music, maybe you like Hip-Hop, maybe Rock, maybe Pop - again depends on what motivates you.

Every time I take a class I'm reminded how "Apple" like the whole Peloton experience is - software (classes) that work in sync with the hardware - and as someone else pointed out, the hardware is one of the best I've ever used, you can't even get out of the saddle and stand on most "gym" bikes - let alone all the janky controls. With Peloton, "It Just Works" comes to mind.

As to just going outside - yep, sure could and I do that too on an outdoor bike, but I live in Chicago and for at least a few months out of the year that's not always an option - with this I roll out of bed and literally have no excuse.

Someone said you could also run outside, but it's just not my thing - really bad knees. If you like running, great for you, I'm happy you like it and would never bash what motivates you or tell you it's dumb and you should ride a bike because it's better.

Guided training possibilities (plans for everything) and fun with real world coarses (sufferland, taxx, trainerroad, etc) or group riding (zwift).
peleton is proprietary, expensive and restricted.
Mmmm - same could be said about Apple? Why not use Android? And to be honest, most of those options also require equipment that quickly adds up to the same price as a Peloton and Zwift (and others) also require a monthly subscription - so not sure there's a huge difference. And like Android, most require you to piece together a lot of different stuff vs. a one piece option with Peloton. Don't get me wrong, I'd probably enjoy them also - but it's not as simple for most as just using the Peloton with a screen and thousands of classes ready to go - just different.

What's funny is seeing comments like this on an Apple oriented site. There are so many cheaper to options that deliver the core experience that Apple delivers, yet people pay for Apple every day. The Peloton hardware is nice, the classes are best in class, and the experience is great if a person likes classes. People are willing to pay for that premium, easy to use experience, much like that other company most of us are here to read about and discuss.
Love this - again Peloton is actually very Apple.

This was actually a really positive article about a company listening to their customers - for whatever reason - and making a change, which I appreciate. Would it have stopped me from using the bike, no, but I'm happy they listened and changed course.
 
I don't get who pays for all of this.

So I buy a Peloton for 2,5k+, okay, expensive but I get it.

But now I pay another 300 a year for a membership? For a home trainer? That I already paid 2,5k for? What?
Crazy, right? I read that some people pay for a television and then pay for services like cable, netflix, apple tv+. Where do people get off deciding how they want to spend their own money?
 
Peloton has a very committed fan base since before the pandemic. It's the group aspect that helps so many people keep working out. This rabid fan base is one of the reasons why Apple is often floated as a possible acquirer.


You're not paying a subscription for the HW, it's the content. No different than Netflix or whatever else. IME, Peloton has far and away the best instructors and class content. Not everyone cares about that, and in that case the Peloton isn't for them.


Yep. Peloton is easily the best home spin class experience with the best instructors. They completely mismanaged the pandemic and are stuck with those terrible financial decisions.
Actually use Peloton and Echelon, the latter is better (and the hardware cheaper).

Peloton really needs to make deals with gyms and lower their costs, maybe even consider creating gyms themselves.
So many misinformed opinions about Peloton. Yes, it is expensive compared to -- doing nothing. But compared to the medical cost of metabolic syndrome and all of its manifestations, any subscription fitness device that gets the subscriber moving, is a freaking bargain. A real fitness program is hard work. A tool like Peloton, Tonal, or hydrow can make that work much easier. They are not free, but they are absolute bargains compared to the medical costs of a sedentary lifestyle. Choose wisely.

Compared to their competitors, whom are profitable, cheaper and better. Also, while all that equipment is better than nothing, it does not replace a full gym. As you age, strength training is more important than biking.
Could not agree more - I bought the Bike in April 2020 realizing I needed something at home for stress relief since gyms were no longer an option. Previously I thought it was nuts to buy the equipment and then pay a monthly fee - wow was I wrong. I'm 61 now and in better shape than ever, I got in to outdoor biking and last summer rode across Michigan (165 miles one day), Indiana (160 miles one day) and Wisconsin (235, ok, two days) - I now have the tread as well as the bike and use them every day - all for the same subscription price - AND my other half (66 years old) uses the bike and lost 50 lbs over the past year - again same subscription. It's so much more than the bike or tread or rower - they also have strength and yoga and stretching - all included. As to the bike and tread - probably some of the best equipment in the market, just look at the specs - the tread with knobs to control speed and incline, just brilliant - so in my mind, it's a very wise investment in my health - as the previous poster said - Choose wisely!
Congrats! Next step, weightlifting!
 
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I just don't think I could ever justify spending a monthly fee on a piece of workout equipment that lives in my house. I'm so sick of subscriptions....
I dislike subscriptions as well, but this combined with a set of kettlebells has unchained my wife and I from our local gym.

I’ve used it almost every day over the last 2-3 years and I’m saving money and time by not driving to the nearest gym.
 
No disrespect to Peloton users, but are they still going strong like 3 or 4 years ago?
Yep. I was skeptical but gave it a try early during the Covid era. Based on my initial experience with their Bike+, I also purchased Tread and Guide. I continue using their services and/or products every day. Quite happy with the experience and the health benefits.
 
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No disrespect to Peloton users, but are they still going strong like 3 or 4 years ago?
It depends how you define "going strong." In 2023, 637,000,000 workouts were done on Peloton. That's up from 52,000,000 in 2019. Huge growth. But stock price has cratered and management is not moving quickly enough to lower overhead and expand globally (currently projecting 20% international Y/Y growth). Company guidance forecasts positive adjusted EBITDA and substantial positive free cash flow in the second half of this fiscal year, with a goal of achieving near breakeven free cash flow on a full year basis. For the first time, Y/Y members have declined 4% from 6.7 million while subscription revenue is up 1%. Time will tell if they can right the ship.

But despite these strong headwinds, what they offer remains best in industry.
 
Perhaps Peloton realized that if they stop supporting GymKit a lot of people would stop subscribing to their $24/mo Peloton App+ service which they cannot afford to lose [their Average Monthly Paid App Subscription Churn last quarter (2nd quarter of fiscal year 2024) was at 7.2% while total members fell 4% vs a year ago]
People at risk of losing GymKit are actually spending $44 a month because Peloton charges customers who own their equipment more than people who don’t own their equipment. Seems backwards to me.
 
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I don't get who pays for all of this.

So I buy a Peloton for 2,5k+, okay, expensive but I get it.

But now I pay another 300 a year for a membership? For a home trainer? That I already paid 2,5k for? What?

Peloton hardware is massively marked up for the quality it actually is.

In some ways, it really would be a perfect fit for Apple (if they bought them*).



*no idea why Apple would buy Peloton - they could do the hardware much better and already have stepped into the Fitness class stuff on their own -- easy to copy everything here -- no need to buy
 
People at risk of losing GymKit are actually spending $44 a month because Peloton charges customers who own their equipment more than people who don’t own their equipment. Seems backwards to me.
It is one of the things I dislike the most about current management. They calculate that equipment owners are more
"sticky" and then charge them more than app only users who are less "sticky" and can more easily migrate to another platform. Current management burns a tremendous amount of goodwill with their most loyal customers with this pricing structure. I predict it will bite Peloton in the ass if they don't correct it in this fiscal year. This is no way to treat your best customers.
 
I just don't think I could ever justify spending a monthly fee on a piece of workout equipment that lives in my house. I'm so sick of subscriptions....
My ProForm treadmill came with iFit...I don't use that either, for the same reasons.
 
People at risk of losing GymKit are actually spending $44 a month because Peloton charges customers who own their equipment more than people who don’t own their equipment. Seems backwards to me.
It’s a little more nuanced than that. Equipment owners pay for All Access membership, but it’s allows five (maybe six) profiles. The cheaper app-only memberships are individual accounts. So my spouse and I pay $22 each for our All Access memberships but would pay $24 each for their best app-only membership.

Of course, owning their equipment locks us into their subscription but $50/mo seems more than fair given our use.
 
As a Member-First company, next time try opening this conversation with your members BEFORE announcing a drastic change to your services. Nice backpedal there.
 
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OTOH, I just put on my running shoes (or get on my bike) and get outside while breathing relatively fresh air. 🙂
No monthly subscription needed.

I don't think we need to have a piece of technology parked somewhere in the house to avoid the things you mentioned.
Unless you live in a positively Arctic environment where you can never get outside, then yeah…
Which I do. The frozen tundra of the lovely great plains here in America. If it isn't -20 F, it's 60 MPH wind gusts. And don't get me started on the snow. We once had a blizzard with feet of snow in early fall. :eek: I wouldn't buy a Peleton, but I bought a used treadmill several years ago and it really has paid for itself over-and-over again.

Bottom line, most of us basically have to trick ourselves into exercise, however we are able to do that (I use a game or watch movies on the treadmill--but Peleton works too) is a small price to pay to get/stay in shape.
 
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I always remember quotes by English writer and philosopher John Ruskin

"There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey."

“It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When
you pay too much, you lose a little money - that's all."


Temu sells watches for $29.95 that claim to have blood glucose monitoring. Think about that for a minute.
This is a great point. There are many times that I try to save a few cents and end up having to pay more than the higher quality thing cost in the first place. I mean, we are on an Apple site, we are all used to paying more to get more, aren't we?
 
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