Peloton Guide doesnt reinvent the training wheel but that's OK

Date:
Tue, 05 Apr 2022 15:32:39 +0000

Description:
We share our early impressions of Peloton's new strength training package, Peloton Guide.

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When Peloton announced its new strength-training tool, Peloton Guide, in November last year , skeptics were quick to criticize its surprising lack of innovation and (unsurprisingly) high price.

A motion-tracking camera that costs more than a PS5 ? From the company whose bikes and treadmills have revolutionized the way we think about home fitness, the negative reception was understandable.

But the brands first foray into dedicated strength training employs this admittedly simple technology to genuinely useful effect, whereas similar AI-enabled workouts have not. That refreshing competence, coupled with a dramatic (and welcome) price cut, means Peloton Guide could become the
gateway product the company clearly hopes it will, after all.

So, what does Peloton Guide actually do? Well, for $295 / 275 / AU$445 plus a monthly subscription fee (which well detail below), users get a webcam-sized unit that, after being hooked up to a TV via HDMI, provides interactive on-screen workouts dedicated to non-cardio activity.

A movement tracker adds some much-needed self-discipline to the Guides
library of strength-based activities, a body activity monitor recommends the best route to a well-rounded routine schedule, and Pelotons near-celebrity-level trainers make the whole experience extremely, well, Peloton.

As with every Peloton product, youll need to fork over a monthly fee $13 /
12 / AU$19 for the standalone strength package, or $24 / 24 / AU$35 for the brands All-Access Membership (an introductory offer running until the end of the year) but these figures have become much more digestible (even if not quite affordable) after the brand slashed $200 / 175 / AU$305 off the price
of the main camera unit just days before release.

Peloton Guide ships with a remote control to navigate its menus, though the company is currently beta testing voice-activated commands for selecting, skipping, and pausing mid-workout. The camera also has both a physical mute switch and a lens cover to ensure privacy when not in use. The Peloton Guide camera set-up (Image credit: Peloton)

Thats the basic information out of the way but is Pelotons latest invention any good? In our short time spent with the device, we can confidently say that, yes, Peloton Guide offers users a well-rounded and genuinely enjoyable workout experience, even if it isnt anywhere near as revolutionary as the brands existing hardware-software combinations. All things to all people

For starters, Peloton Guide is suitable for all experience levels. There are no parameters built into its strength workouts regarding specific dumbbell weights (beyond small, medium, and large), so users are encouraged to self-select weights as part of universal workout plans.

That, in itself, is a virtue given how difficult it can be to wade into strength training for the first time. Those unfamiliar with the correct technique for lunges, squats, bicep curls, and the like will find plenty of guidance here from Pelotons award-winning instructors who also drop regular nuggets of wisdom for more advanced users and as that familiarity grows, you're free to adjust the weights youre using to make progress at your own pace.

What's more, those imagining Peloton Guides movement tracker to be a
glorified Xbox Kinect sensor or Wii Fit remote should rest assured: this is a camera that works consistently. During our brief time spent testing the small TV unit, the camera (a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens streaming 4K video at up to 60fps) never once lost track of our movements nor reacted angrily to our deliberate attempts to disorientate it. Again, this is a supposedly simple technology, but its one Peloton has fine-tuned to work effectively as the centerpiece of its latest offering. (Image credit: Peloton) Find your own
form

There is room for improvement. As effective as self-correction can be when
you see yourself performing a move differently from the on-screen instructor, Peloton Guide doesnt offer specific form feedback it really is up to the individual to better their own technique.You'll get calorie and heart rate metrics in real-time (if you opt to use the brand's associated heart rate monitor ), but nothing to tell you whether you're actually stretching in the right places (beyond coincidental trainer remarks).

That being said, as with every other Peloton product out there, theres
already a lot of data on-screen at any given time. Sure, youre entirely at liberty to ignore the myriad stats and partially-colored illustrations of
your anatomy theres even an optional HUD-free mode to exercise in peace but having all this information at your disposal can be overwhelming. We can imagine it being hard for the uninitiated user, for instance, to know where
to look and what data to consider important before, during, and after a workout. (Image credit: Peloton)

But such is the nature of fitness technology in 2022. Its not really fair to criticize Pelotons latest offering for giving its users too much information. Everything is, as always, presented smartly though theres a learning curve
to be experienced here for anyone new to the service, even if the process of performing the workouts themselves is a simple one.

All in all, then, Peloton Guide does what it says on the box and thats a
good thing. Before testing the device and software, we expected the brands newest product to be a largely inessential entry into the established Peloton canon. But, to our surprise, it provided a challenging, enjoyable, and ultimately seamless workout experience.

Peloton Guides still-expensive price tag will, of course, be a determining factor in whether new and existing customers flock to yet another fitness-based subscription service. Even so, we think its a great option for those keen to integrate quick and engaging at-home strength workouts into their lifestyle routine. Are you a keen runner? We've tested and ranked thebest fitness trackers



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/peloton-guide-doesnt-reinvent-the-training-whee l-but-thats-ok/


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