My wife has a NordicTrack bike, it auto adjusts resistance and incline. Insane people would pay more and not even get that.
conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
For the privilege of paying $45/month for video classes?
Pheonixdown@lemm.ee 1 month ago
Vanth@reddthat.com 1 month ago
The few people I know who are into the Pelaton community do it for the competition/gamification element. They watch their status against global leaderboards and are highly motivated by it.
For those that it works for, great. I am highly motivated by competition, but those prices are too rich for my blood.
Maybe there are also people into Pelaton who are like those who pay a monthly gym subscription even if they have space at home? And could buy a home setup that saves them money. The monthly pay makes them commit financially and motivates them to go to the gym consistently.
Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Espresso makes more gamified bikes but also have very expensive subscription packages. These are way more fun imo than what peleton offers. Nonetheless they still feel very primitive to anyone familiar with modern gaming. It’s a markets pace that I’m surprised isn’t better tapped, but the subscription stuff is nonsense. Just give me a pack of virtual tours and the option to buy some additional ones. Offering peer to peer racing etc should be a very minimal cost. What I’d really like is a Sim that taps into Google street view for riding where I want virtually
Boozilla@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I’ve never understood the appeal. Seems much cheaper, easier, and more fun to find a video you like online and just use that. Could be racing down a mountain road. Or a spin class. Or that scene from Monty Python where the topless women chase the guy off a cliff.
conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
I had assumed that they used the smart shit to adjust resistance automatically and whatever, but I googled out of curiosity on hacking one, and apparently, you still have to reach down and use a knob.
Boozilla@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I bet some maker space genius has done a DIY version.
conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
I’m sure you can do it. The resistance knob is basically just pulling a wire a little bit usually.
But bringing that mainstream in a complete package would be something that I could see the justification for an expensive exercise bike for.
credo@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Not advocating for peloton, but it’s not really that much work to dial up/down a spin bike. The point of letting the rider do it “manually” is because they may not be where the rest of the class is. They very likely need to customize the resistance.
The only real benefit here is in the real time feedback on the screen (calories, distance, etc) which also assist with resistance.
conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
I’m aware of what adjusting an exercise bike entails.
It is completely trivial to have a class that easily adapts to user difficulty while still automatically adjusting that difficulty to simulate a varied environment, which you cannot do manually and is the entire reason a smart bike makes any sense at all over just putting it in front of a TV.
LOLjoeWTF@lemmy.world 1 month ago
The more expensive Bike+ does it, but not the regular one. It’s a hard sell given the price difference.
PlaidBaron@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I bought a simple spin bike thirdhand. Guy who owned it before me got it from a gym. You twist a knob and it increases pressure on a leather brake. Its built like a tank.
Its great and like you say, if I wanted I could just look up spin videos on youtube for free.
Why would I bother with a Peloton?
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Yup, just get some rollers and use your regular bike.