The unofficial onboarding guide for new Peloton owners
By: Joanna Sim
Tags: Guide, Cycling, Peloton

The unofficial onboarding guide for new Peloton owners

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I’m not kidding about the sub-title. Even though peloton does have a 96% retention rate, it’s not uncommon that the bike doesn’t get as much mileage as it should. This guide will cover recommendations from the gear perspective (the easy part) to all the tricks stuff you need to know to keep riding consistently (the hard part).

Not ready to take the plunge? Read my experience about why I love peloton even though it has very little to do with the bike.

What to spend your $100 referral credit on

Shoes ($125): The peloton cycling shoes are actually a decent deal because it comes with LOOK delta cleats. If you look hard enough you can find even better deals. I got my shoes on closeout at REI for $56. Buying it at REI also gives me the confidence that I can exchange it easily if it’s not working out for me. Shoes are a very personal thing, so if you have finicky feet, buy it elsewhere. Peloton uses LOOK delta cleats, not SPD. Already have SPDs? Not a big deal, just buy new pedals to switch them out with.

Delta shoe cages ($50): An unadvertised accessory is the delta shoe cages. This allows anyone with sneakers to get on the bike. Yes, even kids as long as they’re 4’11”. This will also help you buy some time if you’re still trying to hunt for the perfect shoes. I highly recommend this accessory because it is actually worth its value. This item is only available for other on the phone or in-store.

Mat: If you have an old yoga or exercise mat lying around, that would work just fine. Here’s a comparable one from amazon. For those who have carpet, you’re going to need a piece of plywood under your mat to stabilize your bike.

Weights: These are MUCH cheaper at target or an entire set of three weights at amazon.

Heart rate monitor : You’ll need this especially if you‘re a quantified-self geek like me. However, there has been mixed reviews on its quality. We ended up purchasing the wahoo heart monitor and even though it is an annoying chest strap, it has a battery and doesn’t need to be charged for a long time. Many on OPP (official peloton page) also recommend the Sorsche Rhythm+ arm band and the Wahoo Tickr Fit armband which has a better battery life.

Wireless earbuds: If you don’t have to be sensitive about noise in your home, this purchase can wait. The bike’s monitor do have built-in external speakers, but… they suck. The speakers face out, away from the bike. I have little kids I can’t wake up at 5am, so headphones are a must for me. If you like in-ear headphones, their headphones are probably decent. For me, earphones do not stay in my ears so there are only a handful that work for me. As a earphone snob, my personal favorite is the AfterShokz bone conduction earphones.

Other gear to consider buying

You don’t have to buy these right away but once you get into the groove, you’ll need them.

Pre-delivery check list

You have about a week before your bike arrives. There’s plenty of stuff you can do in preparation for a big day.

Join the Official Peloton Facebook group: This group is a great place to get started and get tips. Many of them I have already summarized in this article for you. Use this group to help you find the right tribes or get ideas for when you get stuck. I will warn you that this group is very large, which lends itself to more trolls like most any community out there. Other incredibly supportive places to start are The Official Peloton Moms Facebook group and subreddit r/pelotoncycle. Make space for it: You’ll need a relative large 3’x5’ spot in your house somewhere. I reconfigured the guest room so I could place it by a window. The room will stink up so make sure you’re going to get great ventilation. Tape out various spots with some painters tape so you can visualize how it’s going to look. If you have little kids, the bike is virtually silent but clipping in/out is loud. I recommend leaving your shoes clipped-in if you plan to ride at zero dark.