Peloton Seemingly Rolling Back GymKit Support [Updated]

[jmgregory1]

I looked at the Peleton a while ago, and decided not to get it because at its price point, I wanted something that would have Apple Watch and HealthKit integration. Bike+ came at the time where I would have considered it, but I had heard rumors of Fitness+ and I wanted to see how well it would work with Bike+. Peleton’ s actions have convinced me not to buy into their ecosystem. I have more than 5 years of data in HealthKit, and I like having it as my hub.

I like the Wahoo Fitness gear as they are happy to integrate with everyone.

This is the risk they take. There are definitely Peleton fans, but there are way more Apple Watch users and even more HealthKit users. Not integrating with GymKit, Apple Watch, HealthKit and Fitness does not make their environment more compelling, it makes it less so.

Fitness+ is only starting out. I expect that we will see a leader board (using the Game Center tech), more workout types, direct control of devices, shared workouts, and many more things over the next year or two. I am less sure they will add live classes, but I think it is certainly possible.

If I can get this with a $900 bike and $10 (or less a month), it is not a hard choice for me.

Keep in mind that what Peloton appears to be doing is affecting GymKit specifically, which may be an inconvenience but it isn’t locking you out from having your Apple Watch track at least the basic spin or run exercises. I have been using the BlueHeart app to allow my Watch to be the heart rate monitor for my Peloton bike (non + model), and it integrates the two systems well. It’s not seamless, like how GymKit can be, but I get all my data shared between the Peloton and Health and Fitness apps.

As you note, it’s not going to be a great move for Peloton to try to get consumers who already wear an Apple Watch to have to add another wearable to track data. That will only incentivize developers to create workaround apps, like BlueHeart did.

 

[MrMoonUK]

Like I said the first time this isn’t peloton it’s apple saying bootcamp isn’t one of their workout categories so they have asked them to stop, new statement from peloton on this today to that very same effect.

apple likely going to squeeze out Apple Watch to pump their crappy fitness+

 

[Alan Wynn]

Keep in mind that what Peloton appears to be doing is affecting GymKit specifically, which may be an inconvenience but it isn’t locking you out from having your Apple Watch track at least the basic spin or run exercises.

Technically correct, but if I am paying the kind of money for Peleton suggesting that I should figure out how to build it myself seems like an unreasonable answer.

I have been using the BlueHeart app to allow my Watch to be the heart rate monitor for my Peloton bike (non + model), and it integrates the two systems well. It’s not seamless, like how GymKit can be, but I get all my data shared between the Peloton and Health and Fitness apps.

That is the point. The reason to would pay the premium for Peleton is to get a seamless experience.

As you note, it’s not going to be a great move for Peloton to try to get consumers who already wear an Apple Watch to have to add another wearable to track data. That will only incentivize developers to create workaround apps, like BlueHeart did.

Actually, it creates an incentive to just go to a different system.

 

[jmgregory1]

Technically correct, but if I am paying the kind of money for Peleton suggesting that I should figure out how to build it myself seems like an unreasonable answer.

That is the point. The reason to would pay the premium for Peleton is to get a seamless experience.

Actually, it creates an incentive to just go to a different system.

Peloton was around before Fitness+ or GymKit and plenty of Apple Watch wearers made do, much like I did. I chose not to buy the Bike+ because I figured I could get what I wanted done as far as heart rate monitoring without needing GymKit integration. It does sound like GymKit is only going to work for on-bike integration, but that’s what GymKit was designed for anyway - once you get off the bike to do yoga or stretching or weights work, what is there to integrate?

People will always have the choice to go a different route than Peloton, or Apple for that matter. I’m more than happy with the solution I’m using on my original Peloton bike, but recognize that ymmv.

 

[Flight Plan]

I do not think that it will be Apple designed gym equipment, but more likely, Apple Co-Branded gear from third parties. I expect that all the gear listed on the Fitness+ gear page will be the first to get full integration with other gear coming later. This will make it possible for the Fitness+ workout to control the resistance, and display the bike/treadmill/rower data on the iPhone/iPad/AppleTV screen like the Peleton workouts do.

Given the addition of new workout types on the 19th, I wonder if they are going to have more Fitness+ related announcements on the 20th.

I can't fathom spending twice as much money as a very nice actual bicycle costs for this. What's the angle?

I'd rather be out in the fresh air seeing the outdoors any day.

It's a choice. Some might agree with you. Others maybe can't be outdoors due to traffic, allergies, or dangerous predators where they live. Yeah, predators can range from dogs to hogs to humans. Might not be able to exercise outside as safely as you're assuming.

LOL! Yep, Peloton is the king of late night infomercials on TV. I've never seen the appeal myself, and I suspect most Peloton equipment probably gets used for a week or two then collects dust in the corner of a room. I wish I had a dollar for every time over the past 40 years I’ve gone to a friend or relative's home and seen a workout device sitting in the corner with all kinds of junk piled on top of it.

I hate late night infomercials. They are a major reason why I canceled satellite TV, and why I limit my IMDB and Pluto intake.

I just prefer the inside. Don’t see the draw of being outside. It’s cold it’s hot. It’s wet.
it’s always perfect inside.

It may or may not be perfect inside. Again, it's a choice.

We Americans fall for a lot of overpriced detritus, but at least it doesn't involve rugby, cricket, or shawarma. 😝

Okay, now that was funny!

But wait, what's wrong with Shawarma? Why are we picking on Shawarma all of a sudden?

 

[Flight Plan]

So I hate subscriptions.

Forevermore and period.

I get it; sometimes, if you use them properly, subscriptions can be an effective tool.

But I still hate them. I have a financial aversion to them. They require periodic review, they require periodic cancellation.

Anything that is a monthly or yearly cost might be a subscription. My health club memberships were subscriptions. My memberships in shopping clubs, for certain software, and even for insurance or family plans...those all act like subscriptions.

Subscriptions may very well be preventing some of us from achieving true financial independence. I avoid them like the plague or the devil, and when I finally have to get one, I seriously look for an old subscription that I can cancel, so that I can remain on parity with my financial plan.

But "free" is better. I recently canceled my Arlo and Ring security subscriptions. I switched to Eufy cameras, so I no longer need to pay $150 per year for Arlo, and don't need to pay $30 per year for Ring. Yeah, those were cheap. But free is better; way better. Free allows me to do more things on the same salary.

About 7 or 8 years ago, I canceled DirecTV (saving $150 per month) and Land Line phone/DSL, (saving another $50 per month).

So then I got a Fiber connection at $60 per month and a separate VOIP phone service for $5. Worth every penny, and I don't really need a "teevee" service because well, Hollywood ruins everything anyway. So I'm still saving over $130 per month (almost $1600 yearly!), more if you figure on price increases that I would have had over the years had I not cut the cord.

I hate subscriptions. Almost as much as I hate bundles. Bundles are the "big lie". A rant for another day.