Unfortunately there are not good alternatives. I have a fairly nice bike at home and a standing desk that I can fit it under comfortably. I told my partner we don't need a Peloton because I could find spin class videos online. Nope. There really isnt any quality content out there. I guess I could just sign up for the Peloton platform with my own bike but I was surprised there wasnt at least a handful of Youtube videos of spin class instructors.

It seems similar to Yoga where you can find incredible quality online but its really not.

I don't get why you need a class or video at all

Spin classes are just HIIT over a 30-60 minute window.

Throw on some tunes and move your ass. If you're not sweaty or tired by the time you're done you did it wrong

Tada.

You don't understand why fitness classes exist? I'm not sure if you are being purposefully obtuse or not.

You do not need spin class videos. There is nothing technical about stationary biking. Yoga ? Sure, poses might be tricky to understand. Calisthenics ? Same thing. But a stationary bike ? Pump the difficulty on a timer and play some loud music on your own. Congratulations on your very own spin class.

These are people who need to consume and "belong" their way to fitness.

These people always burn out once the gimmick wears off. Then they go searching for the next thing and the next.

Throwing money hand over fist bc they cant figure out to eat better and put the proverbial foot to the concrete.

I'm sure they were all convinced their apple watch was going to keep them on track. These are the people who ran out and bought those stupid finger-toe running "shoes". They thought the Wii Fit Board was going to revolutionize things.

These are people who have perfectly matching and stylish gym outfits. they buy endless supplements to enhance performance or weight loss.

Just go do some hiit. Lift some weights. Take a yoga class. Quit eating like a jackass.

Nutrition and fitness can be complicated but beginner to intermediate changes aren't. 90% of people have an effort and habit problem.

And the western world thinks in consumerism terms. That fitness is something you buy at the store and name drop the brand to your friends.

And it's why they'll yo-yo their efforts all their lives before just giving up entirely

In all fairness, the wii fit board is fun. In the same way as ring fit is. I absolutely understand wanting to gamify your exercise: it's fun and always nice to see that you've put in 2500 planks since you've started. But even these are a one time payment. As you said, paying 40 dollars for HIIT is unbelievably either uninformed or lazy.

Any able-bodied person can get fitter than most people who aren't very into fitness for (damn near) free, without even that much time investment.

Trainers and peloton classes and such give people the option to rent someone else's willpower, though. (plus leverage sunk-cost sentiments and other tricks)

It's probably part of why fitness levels go up and waistlines down as one's gaze travels up the SES ladder. Someone with money who kinda wants to get fit can pay someone else to do their giving-a-shit for them, and might get fit. Someone without money who kinda wants to get fit—won't. That's what you'd expect to see even with all else, including the distribution of willpower (however we measure that) among various social classes and income levels, being equal.

Yup. This is a great way of putting it. Seth Rogan once said that if Hollywood wants you to get in shape they will basically do it for you and they would send a robot to move your arms and legs for you. He was joking but if you have a personal trainer to motivate you and make working out, "fun" and a personal chef to make your meals getting into great shape if much easier than if you are dragging yourself to an anytime fitness after working and taking care of kids.

What an odd take. It's a service. Paying $95 for an oil change is lazy or uninformed. Anyone can change their own oil.

If you have even the tiniest bit of curiosity, there are users, on this very page, describing how it’s much much more than a “YouTube video”.

Of course, It is more than a "Youtube video" who are part of Peloton cult.

It would be rather normal if cult members never describe cult as "Oh it is just a typical cult with some suspicious ideology, providing dubious benefits and led by a charismatic charlatan"

Yeah, and a geo metro is basically a Ferrari

You're right, you can actually own a Geo Metro and drive it and fix it on your own, as opposed to the Ferrari which is nothing more than an expensive toy you cannot take out for anything useful. At least the Ferrari doesn't have a subscription (aside from the one you'll take at your gas station to make up for the 30L/100km that it gets)

exactly, basically the same thing