Peloton Bike Bootcamp Review

When my Orangetheory gym closed back in March for the stay at home order I quickly started to look for a similar workout to help me stay on track. Thankfully my Facebook feed started being flooded with ads for a free trial of the Peloton app so I decided to give that a shot. I had always thought you needed a Peloton Bike or Tread to do Peloton workouts but I was wrong – you just need a phone or something similar that can stream the workouts.

I browsed through the workouts and came across Bootcamps and was intrigued. The workouts were extremely similar to the Orangetheory workouts where you would split your time between doing cardio on the treadmill and strength training. Orangetheory places more of a focus on heart rate zone training and getting into certain pre-determined zones, but I was able to duplicate that using my garmin watch.

After taking a few of the bootcamp classes I was HOOKED! I loved the workouts, the community and the instructors. I wanted to buy a tread to replace my old Proform but they ended up stopping those sales briefly – which actually worked out to my advantage as I injured my foot and needed to do more low impact workouts.

I ended up ordering the bike instead and quickly became hooked on cycling classes. I did secretly wish that they had a dedicated Bike Bootcamp class -and last month Peloton delivered and started offering Bike Bootcamps!

What is a Peloton Bootcamp?

A Peloton Bootcamp is a class that combines a cardio activity with strength training. Peloton first came out with Tread bootcamps a few years ago and they were a huge hit! Last month Peloton started teaching Bike Bootcamps and they’ve also been highly successful.

A bootcamp class is structured in a way that it combines a cardio activity with strength training. In a typical class you’ll go from a cardio workout, to strength, than back to cardio. Before you start a class you can see the format of the class and see how many transitions there are, and see how much time is spent at each section.

How is the Bike Bootcamp different than the Tread Bootcamp?

The Bike bootcamps and tread bootcamps are really similar in class structure, but the only difference is the bike bootcamp focuses on using the bike for cardio and gives you a little extra recovery time during transitions to swap out your shoes.

How long are the classes?

The classes range in length from:

• 30 minutes
• 45 minutes
• 60 minutes

What is the format of the classes?

The classes are usually split evenly between floor and bike. You’ll start with a 4-5 minute warm up on the bike, and then move into a short ride. After that you’ll transition to the floor for a circuit, and then back on the bike.

I’ve noticed on the shorter workouts they’re split evenly 15 minutes on bike, 15 minutes on the floor. For longer workouts like the 60, you’ll generally be swapping between the 2 every 10 minutes. I prefer this structure because it helps me mentally break up my workouts into smaller sections (and it reminds me of Orangetheory!).

How much transition time is there between sections?

The instructors are generous with the amount of time they give for transitioning from the bike to the floor. I think on average you have a little over a minute to transition which I’ve found to be more than enough time. If you need more time, you could also pause the workout and resume when you’re ready.

Who are the Bootcamp Instructors?

Right now the bootcamp instructors are Cody Rigsby, Robin Arzon and my personal favorite Jess Sims. There are rumors some of the other instructors might begin teaching classes but nothing has been confirmed yet!

Update December 2020: Tunde is now a bike bootcamp instructor!

What equipment do I need?

I recommend having:

• A bike or treadmill
• Yoga Mat
• Set of Light Weights
• Set of Heavy Weights (I like these adjustable dumbbells)
• Running shoes (or you could go barefoot for the bodyweight classes)
• Towel
• Airpods Pro – the bike has a built in speaker, but I’ve found I prefer to still use my headphones because it makes me feel more like I’m in the studio working out with the instructor.

If you don’t have access to a bike or treadmill, you could swap out the cycling portion for another cardio activity like running outside or doing HIIT cardio. Peloton has an awesome article on their blog on how to customize the bootcamps for no equipment you can read here.

Related Post: Peloton Sat 60 Tread Bootcamp Guide

Do I need a Peloton Bike to do the Bootcamps?

I like to use my Peloton because it shows my metrics on the touchscreen and I’m a little too competitive and like to use the leaderboard, but it’s not necessary to have the Peloton Bike to do the workouts. Peloton also has a blog post on how to do the bootcamps without a bike or tread (you can check it out here) .

Do I need to upgrade to a Peleton Bike+ to do Bootcamps?

You can use any Peloton bike model to do bootcamps. The benefit to having the new Peloton Bike+ to do bootcamps is that the screen swivels so you can move it when you do the strength portion. I like this feature, but I’ve been able to get by with my old bike and casting the workout to my basement tv for the strength section.

What should I wear?

For bike bootcamps, I like to wear a pair of leggings and a tank top. I usually prefer wearing shorts for working out but I’ve found leggings are more comfortable when I’m on the bike. I recently found these leggings on Amazon and have been obsessed with them (and they hold up really well!)

Are Bike Bootcamps Hard?

The bootcamps range in difficulty from beginner to advance. I’ve found the classes are pretty accurate to the level Peloton sets, and the instructors do give you options on how to scale down (or up) the movements to your fitness level. Before you take a class the app will tell you the level they rate the class, and you can see how difficult others that have taken the class rate it.

How Much are the Classes?

Bootcamp classes are included in your monthly Peloton subscription. Peloton subscriptions start at about $13/month for digital only users (users without a Peloton Bike or Tread), and go up to about $40/month for Bike and Tread users.

Do Bike Bootcamps count as a Cycling Class or Bootcamp?

The bike bootcamp classes currently count towards your cycling totals, but there have been talks this might be changing soon! I would love to see it fall under the bootcamp counts.

Is the Peloton Bootcamp a Good Workout?

Yes! You will definitely get a good sweat taking one of these classes. I love these classes because they’re the best bang for your buck and give you the best combination of cardio and strength training. Before doing Peloton I was obsessed with Orangetheory (and actually quit my Orangetheory membership for Peloton…read more here!) and I’ve found the workouts are extremely similar.

Conclusion

I absolutely love the Peloton Bike Bootcamps! They’re a perfect workout for me because I tend to gravitate towards high intensity cardio workouts and don’t always mix in the proper strength training. Peloton Bike Bootcamps are the best of both worlds and a great all-in-one workout that’s fun!