You've got to set up your bike, pair your Bluetooth accessories and get the app running. Something that often takes a few tries on my setup.
Additionally, now that it's summer and my bike lives in the garage, there are times when I would have gotten in a workout on Zwift, but I didn't want to deal with the hassle of bringing my bike in and setting it up again.
Nevermind the cost. By the time you've got a wheel-off smart trainer, HR sensor and cadence meter, plus some kind of stand for your iPad or laptop, you're probably pretty close to the price of a Peloton.
Right now, the market seems to be pretty divided, where cyclists looking to train indoors are gravitating towards Zwift/Smart Trainers, while people looking for spin classes at home, or just an easy at home cardio workout are gravitating towards Peloton.
I'm not likely to switch platforms, but I definitely understand the unique appeal of the Peloton.
The website, Slipstream https://slpstream.com is a human-curated (high quality only) aggregator/reviewer of the best content for treadmill/indoor bike workouts.
Inspiring documentaries, guided workouts (I've used the GCN ones for several years and love them), podcasts...
There's a filter so you can find what you need fast and if you register (free, username + password) you can bookmark your favorites and save them to a playlist.
My goal is to reduce the friction between wanting to workout and getting it done. To flip the switch from a chore to something you are excited to get to.
I'm trying to prove product market fit right now so would love any feedback :)
This is the reason I don't see this as a good long term investment. The market seems to be people who are already really into spin classes and pay the premiums they demand. To them, having their own equipment and a lower monthly fee will seem like a good deal. But your average gym-goer won't be willing to drop thousands upfront and more per month just on a nice exercise bike.
But I can't help but think a lot of people would be better off with a real bike, a smart turbo trainer and an iPad to access a variety of training programs (i.e. Zwift TrainerRoad). Less lock in, the ability to ride outside, and all possible for a similar price to Peloton bike.
As a cyclist I've also heard the power-meter readings from Peloton aren't as accurate as those from a Wahoo or Tacx turbo trainer.
Still congratulations to Peloton on the success and getting so many people exercising at home.