SoulCycle at-home bike, yay or nay?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| I’m not a fan of Peloton’s cycling classes and am interested in the SoulCycle bike. The class selection seems extremely limited, though, and apparently people are having issues with the bike itself and with software updates. It doesn’t seem worth it for $2,500 + a $40/month contract to watch their limited classes. Does anyone have the Soul bike and would you recommend buying it, or not, based on your experience? |
Anonymous
| I don't have it (and do have the Peloton) but if you like SoulCycle, are you sure there aren't peleton classes that you like? There are tons of different varieties and instructors, some of whom were former SoulCycle instructors. I still get the SC emails so I've seen their bike promos - I'm sure they will get more classes eventually but I'd also be unwilling to pay the subscription for the limited range they have right now. |
Anonymous
|
I have the app with a different bike and I’ve enjoyed the soul cycle rides. I’m in need of a new bike and am going to get the soul bike because as long as they keep going with it and expanding the library I think I would enjoy it more than peleton or any other rpm based ride. I never thought I’d enjoy an on demand class and only got the app to try once there were live rides available, but I’m finding the flexibility of on demand is nice.
I have also done some of the outdoor precision run classes and equinox classes and they are good. They just added TB12 (Tom Brady’s thing) and I like the idea of multiple boutique brands under one roof. I’m nervous about jumping in at the early stages of the bike because there will be bugs, but outdoor cycle classes do not appeal to me and this may be what I need to get through this long winter. Will report back! |
Anonymous
| I don't trust the company. They are in complete disarray. Peloton has so many types of instructors that I find it hard to believe that you can't find one you like. |
Anonymous
|
I have not taken any Soul Cycle classes but I have read that they involve more tap backs and bike dance moves, very few Peloton instructors use those type of moves. Alex, Tunde, and maybe Cody do some of that? I don't ride their rides regularly because that is not my style, I just want to spin.
I know you can stream the Peloton app without having the Peloton bike, can you stream the Soul Cycle classes on a different bike? That is assuming that you are not interested in the Soul Cycle bike. |
Anonymous
|
OP here. I'll check out Alex, Tunde, and Cody! I had a free trial of the Peloton app for a bit and the classes I saw (randomly selected) were all RPM/Flywheel-like; perhaps I needed to take a closer look. I do like the choreo/ride-to-the-beat focus at Soul.
PP who does SoulCycle classes on a separate bike, do you feel like you're missing out on anything? 14:32, that's the impression I got as well! Love the rides and instructors, but Soul as a corporation seems to be making comically bad decisions. |
Anonymous
|
If you are a class at-home person I would absolutely recommend getting the Peloton over the Soulcycle bike. The S at-home bike has frequent technical problems, the user interface sucks, the lag is higher, and the class variety plus offerings are like 20% of Peloton's.
Soulcycle has no intention of being a major force in at-home studio workouts. They're treading water until the vaccine is live and they can get back to charging $30 per a class of 30 individuals. |
Anonymous
| I would be nervous about buying the soul cycle bike. The company isn’t doing well and if the bike doesn’t take off I wouldn’t be surprised if they shutter it. |
Anonymous
| If you like SC classes then check out the Groove ride class on Peloton. Emma and Cody do them. Riding to the beat, choreography on the bike, etc. I personally don’t love them bc I don’t like doing tapbacks and other stuff you’d never do on a real bike, but those classes will be closest to a SC experience. |
Anonymous
This is an important thing to consider. Will the company still be in business in a year, 2 years, etc. FYI some of the Peloton instructors CAME from Soul Cycle. If you're looking for a class like those, with a lot of choreography, those are Groove rides at Peloton. Cody is the one with the most choreography. |
Anonymous
| I have the SC home bike and really like it. I loved going to SC studio classes and didn't immediately get the home bike. I thought I wouldn't like exercising and home, that it wouldn't be as good as in-person, that SC as a company could go out of business any day. Eventually I just decided to get the bike, and I'm so happy I did. It is not the same as in studio, obviously. But, if you can find a good spot in your home for it, turn down the lights and blast the music and you get the feeling. It is very convenient to work out at home. I'm not into all the stats and the competitive nature of Peleton. And the thing with SC as a company - - they are owned by Equinox. Equinox (and Equinox's owners) recognize that SC is an incredible brand and they're not about to just let it die. Yes, the company will have to change and evolve. There may be fewer studios and they may start incorporating SC into Equinox gyms. But the at home bike is lucrative for them and I expect they'll invest more and more in that business line. And at the end of the day, the bike itself is amazing. So if SC were to fold, you would have an awesome stationary bike and can do other classes on it. |
Anonymous
This is not true. If the company folds you’re stuck with a $3,000 - 175-pound paperweight. That goes for Peloton as well. The at-home bikes are dependent on continuous software upgrades from the parent company that include tech parameters as well as class content. If the company folds not only does the licensing for ALL the class content disappear but the proprietary software will degrade as well. If you want a taste of that - try using the bike without a monthly subscription membership. It doesn’t work. |
Anonymous
|
The bikes will work as bikes and can be used with an app for any other company. You will have a harder time getting things fixed if something breaks on the bike and the Tablet on the Peloton would have to be jailbroken if you wanted to. I know that the Peloton can use different pedals and other parts from different companies, I have seen people post their more customized setups. The Peloton doesn't become a brick if you stop with the Peloton subscription or if Peloton goes under. I would suspect the same is true for the Soul Cycle bike.
We are coming upon our first anniversary of having a Peloton. I have ridden completed 413 rides, 127 strength workouts, meditation, yoga and used the outdoor walks a lot. I would have more then gotten my money out of my bike if Peloton where to go out of business in the next year or two. The cost of the bike and subscription is less than what our family gym membership was. We choose to finance the bike, if we are still using it then, and I would be surprised if we were not using it, then we will start to save money by just paying the subscription fee. Soul Cycle is in a different place in the market then Peloton is so I would look at the long term feasibility of the program. There are a bunch of different spin bikes that are out there that people like that would work for Soul Cycle class or Peloton classes if someone wanted to go that route and then just bought the subscription to their favorite classes. |
Anonymous
|
45 minute intervals and arms from Emma or Alex are close ish. I turn off a lot of stats and switch to music louder than instructor. Results body wide are on par, I’m pleased.
How is the music on Soul Cycle? It’s lacking on Peloton IMO. Thought they all had licensing hurdles a few years ago so music stopped being cool. |
Anonymous
The Soul pre-recorded music selection is really limited (if you don’t like Peloton’s selection, you’ll suffer here). Lots of Sia and Calvin Harris. There’s more leeway during live rides, but you won’t hear dope SoundCloud remixes/mashups like you would in class |