The stationary bike workout services have taken the US by storm and are a hot workout format. Originally, only offered in gyms, the industrial marketing approach got the attention of personal trainers. Many of these companies now offer an at-home option with livestream classes, recorded classes, and other workout formats as part of a monthly membership. This enables users to access yoga, strength training, pilates workouts and stretches as well as their biking workouts. The power of working out live with others while at home has been addictive for many. Below we cover the best options for at-home cycling workout services. Keep reading to find out the differences between Peloton vs. SoulCycle vs. Aarmy.
At-home cycling classes are actually pretty affordable, with monthly memberships around the price of a single in-person class. However, you do need to purchase the bike, and cycling shoes before you can get started. Aarmy workouts can be done on any indoor bike. However, it is recommended that you can easily adjust speed and resistance such as Stages. Peloton and SoulCycle require their bikes to be purchased for the best workout experience. These come with a 30 trial and most sellers offer payment plans if you have a healthy credit score.
All of these at-home workouts also require a monthly subscription to access recorded classes and join live ones. Pricing below;
Peloton, Stages, and Equinox bikes all vary slightly in size. Peloton offers the smallest size range, suitable for riders 4’”11 to 6’4” and under 290lbs. Equinox + and Stages bikes both accommodate riders 4’10” to 6’10” and up to 350lbs. These are important details to note when choosing your preferred bike. Riders can adjust the seat height, seat depth and handle height for all of the bikes above. However, Equinox also allows you to move the handlebar depth as well.
This is possibly the most important feature to consider in the battle of Peloton vs. SoulCycle vs. Aarmy. After all, that is what you are paying for monthly. Below is a quick rundown of what each company offers for class options.
Created at an all-in-one home workout system, Peloton membership includes a variety of classes. You can join live classes or simply use an on-demand workout. With the live classes, you are able to compete against others in the class, making it perfect for competitive people. However, Peloton also records all your cycle data and will rank you against previous rides when completing an on-demand class. Other than cycling workouts, Peloton offers these class types;
Every class type has a range of skill levels, and lengths allowing you to choose a class that works for your fitness level and lifestyle.
With SoulCycle, you have an Equinox + membership. This means you don’t just have access to SoulCycle classes, you also access to Rumble, SolidCore, Pure Yoga, Precision Run, and Headstrong. These classes give you a huge range of workouts to choose from, all featuring specialized trainers and varying skill levels. SoulCycle offer both live and on-demand classes, mostly based around the unique SoulCycle choreography. These workouts are fun and upbeat, and you receive a ranking based on your Beatmatch (how often you were riding in rhythm). SoulCycle instructors also share encouraging motivation through the workouts, helping you to feel like part of the community.
Originally in-person classes were only available in NYC and LA. However, Aarmy has expanded to offer Train Now and Aarmy Live. Train Now enables subscribers to access prerecorded classes with their world-renowned trainers. Over 20 new training sessions are added every week, at various skill levels. Along with cycling training, they offer bootcamp workouts, consisting of HITT exercises and stretch training. Aarmy Live allows users in the US, Canada, and UK to book Live Sessions with a trainer. These live classes are limited in numbers, just like in-person classes. This is because there will be a 2-way camera feed, allowing the trainer to correct your form, or offer encouragement. Sessions cost $20 or one Live Credit, and booking goes live every Monday at 11 am EST.
In the battle of Peloton vs. SoulCycle vs. Aarmy there is no clear winner. Instead, you must consider your budget, height, and other specs before jumping into a purchase. Consider the details we mentioned above to decide on which of these memberships is best for you. If possible, consider taking a local class to try the workouts before committing. You may also want to consider investing in additional workout equipment to get the most out of all workout classes.
