All photos: Peloton
Peloton, the fitness company best-known for its interactive exercise bikes, launched it’s long-anticipated rowing machine, named the Peloton Row. It’s now up for pre-sale, with orders expected to begin shipping in December, for the steep price of $3195. That includes shipping and setup but not the $44 per month (per household) all-access interactive membership. By comparison, the Peloton Bike goes for $1194, not including delivery or setup (or membership). And the similar Hydrow Rower goes for $2495, including shipping, plus $38 monthly for an interactive membership.
The Peloton Row is around 8 feet long and weighs 156 pounds, but it flips up to easily be stored vertically.
PELOTON ROW KEY FEATURES
◾️ Real-time form assist: Using sensors built into the hub of the machine, the Peloton Row can track the position of the seat and handle to determine whether you’re rowing correctly. Individually calibrated on-screen feedback highlights areas for improvement in real time, so members can adjust their form and strengthen their stroke as they row.
◾️ Form rating and insights: Post-row analytics and insights measure performance and progress over time. Members receive a detailed breakdown and rating of form and metrics after each row to help them optimize their technique.
◾️ Group classes: Upon release there will be on-demand, studio-based, instructor-led rowing classes as well as unguided scenic tours and classes which alternate rowing intervals with floor-based strength training. Next year, Peloton plans to launch live rowing classes as well as guided scenic rows.
◾️ Personal pace targets: Customizable pace targets help members gauge how much intensity is needed at every interval to stay on track.
◾️ Competition: A leaderboard on the screen ranks class participants based on output. To climb the leaderboard, you’ll need to row faster, push harder with your legs, or both.
◾️ Electronically controlled resistance so each stroke is frictionless and near-silent.
◾️ Extra soft seat so your glutes don’t get sore before your legs and arms do.
◾️ HD touchscreen: a 24-inch monitor on a swivel mount.
PELOTON & ROW
Peloton flourished during the Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020 when gyms were closed and home workouts were the new normal. The company’s stock skyrocketed from under $20 that March to over $160 that December, but it’s nosedived since then. It finished today at $8-something, 95% below its pandemic high. Where to from here for Peloton? A $3200 rowing machine with a $528 annual subscription seems like a tough sell in today’s economy. Still, we salute fitness companies that push innovations. And Peloton still has a loyal customer base which likes to train at home but not necessarily alone. We’ll see how Row fares in these rough seas.
