Losing weight, or maintaining a healthy weight, requires a combination of regular exercise and a good diet. If cardio exercises like running and spin class are among your go-to’s for weight loss or weight management, the newly announced (opens in new tab) Peloton Tread and Peloton Bike+ cardio machines could help you achieve your health and fitness goals more easily. Peloton already makes some of the world’s best treadmills (opens in new tab) and Wi-Fi connected exercise bikes (opens in new tab) with beautiful touchscreen displays that stream live and on-demand spin classes 24-7. And now its new smart fitness bike and treadmill look set to elevate the brand’s reputation for seriously good home gym (opens in new tab) equipment. The new exercise bike, the Peloton Bike+, costs $2,495 (£2,295) and is available to buy as of today in the US, Canada, UK and Germany. The new treadmill, the Peloton Tread, will launch in early 2021 for $2,495 (£2,295). Highlights of the new Peloton Bike+ include:
Rotating 23.8-inch HD touchscreen displayHigh-fidelity four-speaker sound systemOne-tap integration with AppleKit for easy health trackingAuto-Follow digital resistance system for a better workoutAble to stream thousands of live and on-demand Peloton fitness classes
Peloton Bike+: Price, release date, features
The Bike+ is Peloton’s first hardware upgrade since the company first launched, and while there are plenty of aesthetic updates, the Peloton Bike+ features a big upgrade over the original Peloton Bike. We’re talking about a bigger, rotating 23.8-inch HD touchscreen and high-fidelity four-speaker sound system. Both of those should help you feel more immersed in your spin class. That large rotating display also means you can more easily follow along with Peloton exercise classes such as yoga and strength training when you’re off the bike. So no need for a separate display. The Peloton Bike+ now offers Apple GymKit integration too, so you can log each of your workouts by simply tapping your Apple Watch onto the bike’s frame. That’s slick. Like other exercise bikes, the Bike+ will track your heart rate and calories burned, but we’d still recommend using one of the best fitness trackers (opens in new tab) for clarity. Elsewhere on the Bike+ you’ll find Peloton’s Auto-Follow digital resistance system. This scales the bike’s resistance levels (how hard it is to cycle) up and down automatically based on the guidance of the fitness instructor leading the class. So all you need to do is keep working out, and leave any fiddling of resistance levels to the bike itself. Because of the Bike+, the original Peloton Bike has now dropped in price to $1,895. If you recently bought the original bike and are still within the 30-day trial period (applicable to all Peloton machines), Peloton will refund you $350 so that you get the bike for the new lower price.
Peloton Tread: Price, release date, features
In addition to its new exercise bike, Peloton has also revealed details of a new ‘cheaper’ treadmill called the Peloton Tread. It’s slated for an early 2021 release, and will cost $2,495 compared to the eye-watering $4,295 price tag of the existing Tread+. The new Peloton treadmill has fewer upgrades than the Bike+, but still has a huge 23.8-inch HD touchscreen (same size as the Bike+ display) with built-in speakers, but this display doesn’t rotate. To improve visibility, it tilts up and down 50 degrees instead. Peloton says the Tread is ideal for smaller homes as it measures 68(L) x 33(W) x 62(H) inches (roughly the size of a small couch). Peloton has also switched out the slatted belt design of its original treadmill for a continuous belt loop. The Tread has no front shroud (found in traditional belt treadmills) either, so it should give you a more natural road feel when you run.
How do cardio machines help you lose weight?
Cardiovascular exercise, also known as aerobic exercise, simply means that you’re doing a physical activity ‘with oxygen.’ Cardio exercises include walking, running, swimming, cycling and fitness classes, while common cardio machines include elliptical machines (opens in new tab), treadmills, exercise bikes, rowers and bike trainers (opens in new tab). Cardio based workouts are fun and make you feel good, pumping you full of endorphins and helping you to burn calories. So yes, regularly using either the Peloton Bike+ or Peloton Tread will help you lose weight or maintain your current weight loss. That said, all-round health and fitness, including weight loss, needs a mix of physical activities. Combining cardio with two to three days of strength training workouts a week can increase the rate at which you lose weight. According to World Health Organization guidelines (opens in new tab), adults aged 18-74 should aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise (think running and High Intensity Interval Training).
Using Peloton to maintain or lose weight
Both of Peloton’s newcomers are cardio machines, with a heavy focus on spin (the bike) and interval training. But via the Peloton Digital app (subscription costs apply) you can also access a wide range of weights and strength training workouts including yoga and body strength training. This complete mix of cardio and strength-based workouts are ideally designed for weight loss and maintenance. It’s no coincidence then that Peloton is also selling a range of weight training accessories, including dumbbells and a yoga mat. Peloton will also be launching a new Bike Bootcamp class (from September 15) to focus on a range of health and fitness needs including healthy weight loss and endurance training. The full Peloton home fitness equipment range is now as follows:
Original Peloton Bike – $1,895Peloton Bike+ – $2,495Peloton Tread+ – $4,295Peloton Tread (early 2021 release) – $2,495
Today’s top deals on our favorite exercise bikes and treadmills:
