Zwift vs Peloton for the large and out of shape

Banzai5150

Zwift is a turbo trainer game that enables you to link you turbo trainer up your computer, iPad, iPhone or Apple TV, letting you ride with other cyclists in a virtual environment, therefore helping to alleviate some of the boredom associated with indoor riding.

Peloton is a all in one solution that does roughly the same. I’m only looking at this as I can get it for about $110/mo s as a rental.



With my current work schedule I have no free time during daylight hours. So I’m thinking of either a peloton or putting my bike on a zwift trainer. Has anyone used either that can give me first hand advice on what would be better for me to just hop on when I have time and pedal till I’m out of time? Between work, kids, the wife going to college I don’t have much free “me” time to grab my bike and go for a ride. I’m overweight and really need to start doing some kinda cardio to lose the excess weight. I’ve adjusted my food and now need to add more exercise. The reason for bike oriented is my knees need a more low impact exercise till I drop weight as they are starting to complain.

I’m 5’11 and about 280 right now.

MegaMan001

I'd get a basic exercise bike with a dial for resistance (most models already have this) and then use the Peloton app instead of buying the whole bike. Assuming you already have a tablet you can use, you'll save thousands of dollars.

Or, if you want to give the whole experience a test spin (ha!) check out Kayleigh Cohen on YouTube. She's a very nice lady who has hundreds of exercise bike routines very similar to Peloton - up and down resistance, different positions, etc.

Powerpuppies

I had great results with my existing bike and a magnetic resistance trainer, though it wasn't a brand name i remember.

Banzai5150

Powerpuppies wrote: »

I had great results with my existing bike and a magnetic resistance trainer, though it wasn't a brand name i remember.

This is basically a Zwyft build.

Banzai5150

MegaMan001 wrote: »

I'd get a basic exercise bike with a dial for resistance (most models already have this) and then use the Peloton app instead of buying the whole bike. Assuming you already have a tablet you can use, you'll save thousands of dollars.

Or, if you want to give the whole experience a test spin (ha!) check out Kayleigh Cohen on YouTube. She's a very nice lady who has hundreds of exercise bike routines very similar to Peloton - up and down resistance, different positions, etc.

I’ve had exercise bikes in the past that I eventually gave up on as they were to singular in their purpose. Also I really like the gamification of the Peleton and Zwyft setups.

Naphtali

Banzai5150 wrote: »

MegaMan001 wrote: »

I'd get a basic exercise bike with a dial for resistance (most models already have this) and then use the Peloton app instead of buying the whole bike. Assuming you already have a tablet you can use, you'll save thousands of dollars.

Or, if you want to give the whole experience a test spin (ha!) check out Kayleigh Cohen on YouTube. She's a very nice lady who has hundreds of exercise bike routines very similar to Peloton - up and down resistance, different positions, etc.

I’ve had exercise bikes in the past that I eventually gave up on as they were to singular in their purpose. Also I really like the gamification of the Peleton and Zwyft setups.

You can just use peleton or zwift apps with any exercise bike along with a bluetooth dongle attached to the bike to track cadence and/or a heart rate monitor. cheaper by far than buying/renting a peleton if the goal is simply to burn calories.

Banzai5150

True. I all last have a bike so I’ve been leaning towards a Zwift setup.

Cantido

I implore you to talk to a physician, submit bloodwork for cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid, iron etc, and talk to them about your weight loss goals.

Then you can discuss the bike.

SatanIsMyMotor

How much is group motivation a factor for you? I don't own a Peloton but I do own an Echelon bike which is essentially the same thing.
My wife has absolutely fallen in love with the Echelon Bike because of the community around it. Without the shoutouts she gets from instructors in the live sessions I don't think she'd be anywhere near as engaged as she is. I believe she has upwards of 1000 rides at this point, is on the bike daily, and frequently biking a couple of hundred KMs a week. She's lost a bunch of weight, has more energy than I've seen her have in the 20+ years we've been together and is just generally happier as a person. She's also recently started to go to in-person spin classes - which is something she never would've had the confidence for in the past.

I don't ride as much as her but 100% can see how the added motivation is a factor for someone out of shape like myself.

edit: I'll add too that if you're new to biking, instructed classes are a great way to get going while learning how to do things safely and for your fitness level.

Cello

Consider swimming as an alternative if it would be possible with your scheduling, it's basically the safest way to get cardio without fucking up your joints

Otherwise I've got a Bowflex I use with the Peloton app - the bike was half the price of the Peloton and works just as well. But the Zwift makeup sounds better fit for you potentially if it means you can take the bike outside later.

Though if you're planning on "renting" then you may consider one of the financing programs for those Peloton knockoff kinds of bikes since they'd be a similar rate and let you keep the bike at the end

Naphtali

A full on cheaper exercise bike will probably be about the cost of a bike trainer (and you'll probably need extra tires for the trainer, etc), so ymmv there

Banzai5150

Cantido wrote: »

I implore you to talk to a physician, submit bloodwork for cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid, iron etc, and talk to them about your weight loss goals.

Then you can discuss the bike.

My cholesterol is super low, I'm type 2 diabetic and my blood sugar is high even with me trying to manage my food, hence why I need more exercise. Thyroid is fine, iron, etc is fine. My doctor is aware of my goals. I understand the importance of all this, and I appreciate you bringing it up.

SatanIsMyMotor wrote: »

How much is group motivation a factor for you? I don't own a Peloton but I do own an Echelon bike which is essentially the same thing.
My wife has absolutely fallen in love with the Echelon Bike because of the community around it. Without the shoutouts she gets from instructors in the live sessions I don't think she'd be anywhere near as engaged as she is. I believe she has upwards of 1000 rides at this point, is on the bike daily, and frequently biking a couple of hundred KMs a week. She's lost a bunch of weight, has more energy than I've seen her have in the 20+ years we've been together and is just generally happier as a person. She's also recently started to go to in-person spin classes - which is something she never would've had the confidence for in the past.

I don't ride as much as her but 100% can see how the added motivation is a factor for someone out of shape like myself.

edit: I'll add too that if you're new to biking, instructed classes are a great way to get going while learning how to do things safely and for your fitness level.

Group Motivation and Gamification are major factors in this decision. I am not new to riding and have my own bicycle. I even trained for a 100mile ride about ten years ago, but it fell through do to my inability to fund raise.

Cello wrote: »

Consider swimming as an alternative if it would be possible with your scheduling, it's basically the safest way to get cardio without fucking up your joints

Otherwise I've got a Bowflex I use with the Peloton app - the bike was half the price of the Peloton and works just as well. But the Zwift makeup sounds better fit for you potentially if it means you can take the bike outside later.

Though if you're planning on "renting" then you may consider one of the financing programs for those Peloton knockoff kinds of bikes since they'd be a similar rate and let you keep the bike at the end

Though I do live in Florida and there are plenty of bodies of water, I do not have access to a pool. I wish I did as I do enjoy swimming laps.

I am heavily now leaning towards Zwift. I have a bike and now need a direct drive trainer! I am currently trying to find out which one I should start with and have already put some money aside for it. I'm hoping that there will be a big sale on Black Friday.

I have also cross posted this to the Bike thread and got some great feedback on Zwift stuff.


p.s. This was all typed while my "k" just stopped working. Copy/Paste "k" for the win!