Back in 2021, before I reviewed the Bike+, I was a Peloton sceptic. It all seemed entirely unnecessary, from the huge screen and expensive monthly subscription to the over-the-top instructors and pricey hardware. Why not just buy a cheap exercise bike and use an app on your phone? But then I tried it, and like everyone else, I got hooked.
Every week, I chased a higher output score, took part in the leaderboard nonsense, and very quickly learned to appreciate the quality of the instructors (even if some are still a bit much for me). Five years later, my Bike+ still gets used (good thing too, given I took out a loan to buy it at the end of my review period), but it’s improved considerably in that time thanks to good old-fashioned software updates.
For starters, I can now watch Netflix on it (along with Disney+, HBO Max, and YouTube), but better than that (I know, who’d have thought it), Peloton IQ launched. That fixed my biggest issue with Peloton. This is what it is and what it does.
What is Peloton IQ?
Peloton was always fantastic at delivering one great workout (or a few, depending on what you chose to do and how often). What it wasn’t especially good at was telling you what to do the next day, or the day after that. If you wanted an actual training plan rather than forty minutes of positive vibes, you were building your own spreadsheet.
That’s what Peloton IQ sorts out, and I’d argue it’s the biggest change to the Peloton platform in years, if not ever. It’s effectively the brain of the Peloton, but rather than a single big feature, it’s a collection of smaller AI features threaded throughout the app and platform. Some appear before your workout, some during, and some after. The idea is that the Peloton platform feels less like a video library and more personal to you and your goals.
A few elements of Peloton IQ work on any Peloton kit, including the original Bike launched in 2014. Before you start a ride or run, Peloton IQ reviews your recent history and gives you a difficulty estimate and target numbers — pace, output, and similar metrics — to help you gauge what to aim for.
There’s also a plan builder, where you pick a goal (strength, weight, cardio, general longevity), tell it how many days a week you’ve got in you, and it presents a schedule that mixes disciplines rather than leaving you to figure that out yourself. Your profile also gets a weekly rundown of how you’ve done, and the home screen recommendations are considerably less random than they were before Peloton IQ arrived.
Meanwhile, Strength Benchmarking tracks how you’re doing in the classes you keep coming back to. This is probably my favourite as there are a couple of Leanne Hainsby’s rides I’ve done more times than I care to admit, and I never remember how well I did the previous time.
There’s also a weight rack feature that lets you input which dumbbells you own, and it will suggest which ones to grab for each exercise, adjusting up or down depending on how the last set went.
A workout generator also lets you build a self-paced strength session from scratch — pick the muscles you want to target, how much time you’ve got, and whether you fancy a warm-up or cooldown. You don’t have to start from a blank page, either: any on-demand, instructor-led strength class can be converted into a self-paced version, complete with move demos and rest timers, so you get the guidance of a class you already rate without being locked into the instructor’s exact tempo. Fancy their playlist instead of their coaching? There are built-in radio stations for that.
You’ll need newer kit for some of the smarter stuff
Where Peloton IQ gets even more interesting is on Peloton’s newer Cross Training machines – the Bike+, Tread+, and Row+ – which feature a new front-facing camera at the top of the huge screens.
Using that camera, Peloton IQ counts your reps during strength classes so you don’t have to keep count in your head, tracks the total volume you’ve lifted, and gives you form feedback mid-set. Squatting a bit shallow? It’ll tell you so you can correct it and save yourself from walking like your grandma for the rest of the week.
There’s also hands-free voice control on this new hardware for when your hands are occupied with all those weights you’re pumping, and you just need to turn the volume up. Say “OK Peloton”, and you’ll get a list of commands, including logging your weights, so you don’t have to break your set.
Even the lighter version of Peloton IQ addresses the guidance gap that irritated me when I first started using Peloton, though. It’s a significant update, and it’s an excellent example of AI being used in a very helpful way.
How to access Peloton IQ
To access Peloton IQ, you’ll need to make sure the “Personalised Experience” toggle is on in the settings of the Peloton App or on your Peloton device. You’ll need to be an All-Access member, after which you will get access to personalised plans, weekly insights, and personalised recommendations I mentioned above.
You need at least three recent same-discipline workouts for Cardio Performance Estimates, three non-meditation workouts for Weekly Insights, and five non-meditation workouts plus a selected goal for Personalised Recommendations.
If you want extra features, such as camera-based tracking, you’ll need a piece of equipment from the Peloton Cross Training Series. You can also connect Apple Health, Garmin, or Fitbit to your Peloton account so Peloton IQ can use your non-Peloton workout data to provide more personalised recommendations.
Read more: I spoke to Peloton about its all-new Bike and Tread – and ever more personal workouts
