Echelon / Peloton
Discussion
Depends on what you really want? If you want a road bike feeling, or use different systems such as zwift etc then you need to look at those systems smart bikes. I'm not familiar with the echelon stuff, but I have a peloton.
If you want a gym bike, spin type bike and don't mind being tied to the peloton system then get one of those, i'm sure there's a load of them available for sale second hand.
I bought my Peloton brand new. There's always deals this time of year, I think they're currently £450 off, there's interest free credit on them as well. The first year it seems quite expensive as you're paying off the bike, think i paid around £100-£120 a month for that, and then it's £39 a month for the membership and access to the classes etc. Once I'd paid the year, it's now just £39 and the bike is mine. Hopefully I don't curse myself, but mine has been very reliable with minimal (virtually no) upkeep so a second hand one would probably be fine as long as it's on reasonable condition etc. Normal buyer beware rules I guess.
You don't have to do the classes, you can do blank screen rides by time, output, distance for example. I watched a film on my ipad the other day and ended up on there for a couple of hours. You can do scenic rides in different places around the world, those rely on you to set goals and ride to how you want too. There's also meditation, yoga, weights etc that you'll have access to if you wanted it?
Is it worth it? I think so, I'm currently 102 weeks with having completed at least one ride/ work out every week, I'd say I'm averaging two rides a week of varying lengths/ output. That's just because with my schedule, I struggle to get more than two rides in, I was off work a couple of weeks ago, and managed to get 4 rides in for example.
It keeps me ticking over and I know that i wouldn't go to a gym. I've recently done a couple of mountain bikes rides, and I know that my fitness levels are a hell of a lot better than if I didn't use the Peloton.
People will tell you that it's not a bike, it's not like riding a bike on the road etc etc as the 'hardcore' riders generally hate the idea of these fitness bikes. They're right, if you want to ride a bike, get a bike, but if you don't want to ride on the road, then it may work for you.
If you want a gym bike, spin type bike and don't mind being tied to the peloton system then get one of those, i'm sure there's a load of them available for sale second hand.
I bought my Peloton brand new. There's always deals this time of year, I think they're currently £450 off, there's interest free credit on them as well. The first year it seems quite expensive as you're paying off the bike, think i paid around £100-£120 a month for that, and then it's £39 a month for the membership and access to the classes etc. Once I'd paid the year, it's now just £39 and the bike is mine. Hopefully I don't curse myself, but mine has been very reliable with minimal (virtually no) upkeep so a second hand one would probably be fine as long as it's on reasonable condition etc. Normal buyer beware rules I guess.
You don't have to do the classes, you can do blank screen rides by time, output, distance for example. I watched a film on my ipad the other day and ended up on there for a couple of hours. You can do scenic rides in different places around the world, those rely on you to set goals and ride to how you want too. There's also meditation, yoga, weights etc that you'll have access to if you wanted it?
Is it worth it? I think so, I'm currently 102 weeks with having completed at least one ride/ work out every week, I'd say I'm averaging two rides a week of varying lengths/ output. That's just because with my schedule, I struggle to get more than two rides in, I was off work a couple of weeks ago, and managed to get 4 rides in for example.
It keeps me ticking over and I know that i wouldn't go to a gym. I've recently done a couple of mountain bikes rides, and I know that my fitness levels are a hell of a lot better than if I didn't use the Peloton.
People will tell you that it's not a bike, it's not like riding a bike on the road etc etc as the 'hardcore' riders generally hate the idea of these fitness bikes. They're right, if you want to ride a bike, get a bike, but if you don't want to ride on the road, then it may work for you.
I can't look past the £40 a month subscription for Peleton. You really are tied into their ecosystem with one of their bikes.
As poster above says, it really comes down to how you want to use the bike. Personally I use a Nordictrack bike and the Zwift set up.
For me I find the Zwift rides a bit more enjoyable as there is a race element involved and feels more like a video game, trying to better yourself.
If you go the Zwift route you can start pretty cheaply (any Bluetooth enabled bike) or get expensive ( Watt bike Atom for example).
As poster above says, it really comes down to how you want to use the bike. Personally I use a Nordictrack bike and the Zwift set up.
For me I find the Zwift rides a bit more enjoyable as there is a race element involved and feels more like a video game, trying to better yourself.
If you go the Zwift route you can start pretty cheaply (any Bluetooth enabled bike) or get expensive ( Watt bike Atom for example).
Yup as said above, for your budget, a s/h basic road bike from the free-ads, a smart trainer and a Zwift sub. Or even a MyWoosh sub which is currently free. you could even ride the bike in better weather if you take to it!
I think Peloton now charge buyers of second-hand bikes an 'activation fee' to register on the platform so can eff off.
I think Peloton now charge buyers of second-hand bikes an 'activation fee' to register on the platform so can eff off.
https://www.boots.com/echelon-connect-sport-s-exer...gg_shopping__hc_fitness_and_sport_pmedia&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImaiEwKD9igMV249QBh2CwjChEAQYAyABEgKcp_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Went for a refurbed Echelon Sport S Connect.
Will let you know how i get on!
Went for a refurbed Echelon Sport S Connect.
Will let you know how i get on!
clarkmagpie said:
https://www.boots.com/echelon-connect-sport-s-exer...gg_shopping__hc_fitness_and_sport_pmedia&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImaiEwKD9igMV249QBh2CwjChEAQYAyABEgKcp_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Went for a refurbed Echelon Sport S Connect.
Will let you know how i get on!
That screen is tiny. Surely you'd be better off with a 'normal' spin bike and an ipad or similar.Went for a refurbed Echelon Sport S Connect.
Will let you know how i get on!
Again you'll be locked in a subscription model with the Echelon.
Richtea1970 said:
I can't look past the £40 a month subscription for Peleton. You really are tied into their ecosystem with one of their bikes.
Peloton has changed the way we excercise in our house, we have two linked accounts, and between us someone does a Peloton class every day. However it isn't just the bike, their strength program is actually very good, and the Guide is useful to check your form.We are coming up to years 4 of been signed up with Peloton, it's now literally part of daily life. £40/month for both of us to stay in good cardiovascular health and develop our body strength I would say is very compared to gym membership.
End of last year I started to try the row classes with a cheap rower and really enjoyed them, work than picked up so time became squeezed. Starting next week I'll get more time back, so will see if rowing now becomes part of routine, if so, once Peloton releases their rower in the UK it'll be very tempting.
I know a few people who love the Tread, I hate running so have no interest in it. But essentially for us Peloton is a whole fitness program and not just about the bike.
I decided to join the indoor trainer herd, last year.
My set up is one of my old road bikes, a Van Rysel smart turbo, linked to my telly, via an Android Tablet, running a wireless HDMI mode, and a Zwift subscription. The turbo was about 500 quid, I already had the bike, the telly and the tablet. It works really well for me.
My set up is one of my old road bikes, a Van Rysel smart turbo, linked to my telly, via an Android Tablet, running a wireless HDMI mode, and a Zwift subscription. The turbo was about 500 quid, I already had the bike, the telly and the tablet. It works really well for me.
Edited by Dbag101 on Saturday 18th January 08:43
Dracoro said:
With Echelon/Peloton, can they work with Zwift/Rouvy/etc.?
Not really, they're tied to their own infrastructure system. There are ways to 'jailbreak' them as they're only Android based software. Guess it depends exactly what you want. Certainly for the peloton, which i have, there's a load of stuff available, not just the classes. You can just ride, I do that occasionally and watch something on my ipad, there's scenic rides at locations all over the world, just not the cartoon/ game type stuff that you ride with other riders.
I never really enjoyed that side of the zwift thing but I know others don't mind it.
It's just different, horses for courses and all that.
nordboy said:
I never really enjoyed that side of the zwift thing but I know others don't mind it.
It's just different, horses for courses and all that.
Yeah and that's the key, really depends what you want from it.It's just different, horses for courses and all that.
Personally I find the spin classes boring but enjoy the racing aspect of Zwift. Whereas my wife is the other way round.
Peloton's main attraction I don't is the bike, it's the classes. 18months ago I'm sure it was only one instructor doing 1hr sessions. I noticed recently 2hrs ones started to appear, it now appears there is plenty of choice if you want to really sweat it out.
I'm done my the first 75min session of the year. With headphones in, the bike is so quiet the rest of the house is just getting on with stuff with me sweating away quietly in the corner
......there are some utter nutters on Peloton (or badly setup bikes), I averaged 150watts for the ride (Zone 2/3), to hit 1,386kj on the same ride will need 300watts for 75 minutes......
I'm done my the first 75min session of the year. With headphones in, the bike is so quiet the rest of the house is just getting on with stuff with me sweating away quietly in the corner
......there are some utter nutters on Peloton (or badly setup bikes), I averaged 150watts for the ride (Zone 2/3), to hit 1,386kj on the same ride will need 300watts for 75 minutes......Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 18th January 16:32
If you have a Peloton bike but want to get away from their systems, a guy I used to work with told me about SmartSpin2K mod that he purchased for his, its a modification kit that adds auto adjustment to the resistance and integrates with Zwift. My inlaws recently bought a used Peloton bike so I might look into it from them if they get fed up with the subscription fees.
gangzoom said:
Peloton's main attraction I don't is the bike, it's the classes. 18months ago I'm sure it was only one instructor doing 1hr sessions. I noticed recently 2hrs ones started to appear, it now appears there is plenty of choice if you want to really sweat it out.
It's very much a case of accessibility and it just works. Plenty of programs to help boost your training, some focusing on endurance, others on VO2Max. Agree that there's much more to it than just the actual cycle classes. The strength classes are decent (+ stretching and yoga if that's your thing).Best £40/month I spend.
gangzoom said:
End of last year I started to try the row classes with a cheap rower and really enjoyed them, work than picked up so time became squeezed. Starting next week I'll get more time back, so will see if rowing now becomes part of routine, if so, once Peloton releases their rower in the UK it'll be very tempting.
I assume like the bike there are resistance call outs? How did you manage that with a 'normal' rowing machine, just guesstimate? ^Rowing based on Reps per minute target, which even my cheapo machine shows, you don't really touch the resistance. 500m time is not realistic for the machine I'm using as it's about as well calibrated as a badly done bike .
I think with a Concept 2 you can probably get close to/par with the 500m time Peloton give as an guide for effort, but rowing is proper hard work compared to the bike. I can push my self to nearly the point of puking far easier than on the bike, it's the total lactic acid build up versus cardio fatigue on the bike.
Need to get a routine for this year, but work is eatting into time at home, aiming to keep resting heart rate below 50 versus trying to hit a new FTP target. Given I'm not close to mid 40s than early 40s, I've accepted I'm never going to be 'proper' roadie.
.I think with a Concept 2 you can probably get close to/par with the 500m time Peloton give as an guide for effort, but rowing is proper hard work compared to the bike. I can push my self to nearly the point of puking far easier than on the bike, it's the total lactic acid build up versus cardio fatigue on the bike.
Need to get a routine for this year, but work is eatting into time at home, aiming to keep resting heart rate below 50 versus trying to hit a new FTP target. Given I'm not close to mid 40s than early 40s, I've accepted I'm never going to be 'proper' roadie
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