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Peloton Confidentially Files Statement for Proposed IPO

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Re: Peloton Confidentially Files Statement for Proposed IPO

#41

Post by entee »

spyspy wrote: post #6
codeulike wrote: post #2

When I see Peloton now, I always think of this twitter thread that critiques their adverts https://twitter.com/clueheywood/status/1089699762331217920

My sides. I have friends working there that have tried getting me to apply. Glassdoor reviews indicated their backend interview is unnecessarily difficult and I have little faith in their business model. How many people are willing to spend thousands on an exercise bike? Let alone one that requires a $40/month subscription? It feels the same as Blue Apron - the market is people rich and lazy enough that don't want do…

I am a fairly experienced road cyclist and even though I prefer to ride outside AND have a computer-controlled bike trainer, I would consider one if I had the space. I also have several friends who prefer this to all their other options.

1.) It's way easier to get started up without the faff of setting up your trainer. If you have a dedicated bike+trainer this is less of an issue, but that is going to cost a fair amount (something like $1-1.5K) and take up about as much space, and not be anywhere near as seamless.

2.) The coaching you get is extremely rich compared to TrainerRoad and Zwift, both costing $15/person/month. So if you have 2 people on the same account you pay a bit more per person and get better coaching. They are also branching out into strength and other types of video coaching as part of the package.

I initially thought it was useless if you had a trainer for the bike, but I see the appeal now. If the app worked with my wahoo trainer, then I'd very likely buy the service and have it work with my existing equipment.

Re: Peloton Confidentially Files Statement for Proposed IPO

#42

Post by shuckles »

bedhead wrote: post #11

Peloton has better legs than most, but the reality is that every fitness craze has eventually died whether it’s equipment (eg Bowflex) or method (eg Tae Bo). It’s just human nature, this and diet (eh Atkins) aren’t sustainable things with how most people are wired. Peloton will fade one day just like all the others before it as people inevitably get bored with it and doing it becomes a drag.

This one has a subscription business model which at least Bowflex and Tae Bo did not. Lots of the diet crazes did, though.

Re: Peloton Confidentially Files Statement for Proposed IPO

#43

Post by mrguyorama »

wlesieutre wrote: post #34
bstar77 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This bike is for people that don't want to go to a gym and/or don't have lots of time to leave the house on a daily basis. You can also finance the bike so the hit isn't so bad. Additionally, there's no extra charge for multiple accounts (up to 10), so if everyone in the house uses it, the cost makes more sense. I work out of home and this is the only way I get consistent exercise. My fitness has gone up tremendously…

Semi-related, I just got a $400 Oculus Quest and burned 1900 calories playing Beat Saber yesterday (as calculated by Apple Watch's "Other" workout type). Much cheaper purchase and fun enough that I can enjoy playing it for hours a day. I have an (admittedly shitty) exercise bike, and will probably be using that a lot less now. If anyone's looking for a home fitness gadget, give that a look. I'm told BoxVR is a better…

>I just got a $400 Oculus Quest and burned 1900 calories playing Beat Saber

That's an absurd claim by your apple watch. An hour of expert level beat saber is closer to 360 calories.

Re: Peloton Confidentially Files Statement for Proposed IPO

#44

Post by sojournerc »

wlesieutre wrote: post #38
sojournerc wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand how you save time not leaving the house... Doesn't it take just as much time to go on a ride outside?

Not a fun way to exercise if you live somewhere like NYC. Or weather wise, anywhere in the northern US where it's cold and snowy for from November to February.

Fair enough, but I'm not sure that NYC would keep me in the house for exercise.

I live in the mountains of Colorado, but will always prefer exercising outdoors, even in winter. I tend to modify my exercise for the time of year and weather. In winter it tends towards running and skiing. Summer is for biking (and more running). I like to have variety of activities (helps to build up a diverse set of strength) and the simplicity of walking out my front door. (Without a monthly fee)

Re: Peloton Confidentially Files Statement for Proposed IPO

#45

Post by dsfyu404ed »

codeulike wrote: post #2

When I see Peloton now, I always think of this twitter thread that critiques their adverts https://twitter.com/clueheywood/status/1089699762331217920

>Sometimes I’ll move the Peloton bike into our gallery so I can spend time with my half gay husband while he reads Architectural Digest wearing combat boots

I definitely lol'd. Half gayness notwithstanding, this is like an upscale caricature of a normal evening in my house and lot of households.

"Spend $2k on our bike and for just $40/mo you can get in shape while you ignore each other"

Re: Peloton Confidentially Files Statement for Proposed IPO

#46

Post by froindt »

abuckenheimer wrote: post #21

Would highly suggest listening to the "How I built This" podcast[1] with the peleton founder John Foley, really great story with usual tech themes like doing things that don't scale and finding a niche but loyal customer base and expanding organically. [1] https://play.google.com/music/m/Dmjr6m5i4h3j6gaysgjd47ryhci?...

I was shocked at how successful he described their mall marketing!

Rough quote from when I listened a week or two ago:

"If I could get someone to ride the bike, there was about a 50% chance I could get them to buy it"

Also rough quote:

"People would ask what would happen if we went out of business. Since it was a subscription, there was an annuity value in keeping the platform going. Whoever ended up with our assets after a bankruptcy could use those revenues to spin up an instance of AWS to host the videos. I had a whole line ready to go about it."

Re: Peloton Confidentially Files Statement for Proposed IPO

#47

Post by jmull »

bluedino wrote: post #16
ex_pelo wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

disclaimer: I used to work for Peloton and still own some equity. The company was started with the insight that working out at home is a much more pleasant and effective activity than going to the gym. Pelotons business model is what I think Apple will eventually be forced to adopt. They sell a very expensive, thin-ish margin hardware product and up-sell you on their software + content + some merchandise. The hardwar…

Apple has thin margins on hardware?

I think PP meant that’s what Peloton does now and Apple will eventually adopt the same approach.

Re: Peloton Confidentially Files Statement for Proposed IPO

#48

Post by __comrade__ »

wlesieutre wrote: post #34
bstar77 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This bike is for people that don't want to go to a gym and/or don't have lots of time to leave the house on a daily basis. You can also finance the bike so the hit isn't so bad. Additionally, there's no extra charge for multiple accounts (up to 10), so if everyone in the house uses it, the cost makes more sense. I work out of home and this is the only way I get consistent exercise. My fitness has gone up tremendously…

Semi-related, I just got a $400 Oculus Quest and burned 1900 calories playing Beat Saber yesterday (as calculated by Apple Watch's "Other" workout type). Much cheaper purchase and fun enough that I can enjoy playing it for hours a day. I have an (admittedly shitty) exercise bike, and will probably be using that a lot less now. If anyone's looking for a home fitness gadget, give that a look. I'm told BoxVR is a better…

You burn 1900 calories running 2/3 of a marathon. I hardly think you were able to achieve that in an hour playing a VR game.

Re: Peloton Confidentially Files Statement for Proposed IPO

#49

Post by ex_pelo »

sjg007 wrote: post #39
ex_pelo wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think eventually there is a good chance they will be forced.

Nah, apple will play the extended financing game.

I think they will ride the debt cycle up and down if they go down that path, just like cars seem to.

Re: Peloton Confidentially Files Statement for Proposed IPO

#50

Post by wlesieutre »

mrguyorama wrote: post #43
wlesieutre wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Semi-related, I just got a $400 Oculus Quest and burned 1900 calories playing Beat Saber yesterday (as calculated by Apple Watch's "Other" workout type). Much cheaper purchase and fun enough that I can enjoy playing it for hours a day. I have an (admittedly shitty) exercise bike, and will probably be using that a lot less now. If anyone's looking for a home fitness gadget, give that a look. I'm told BoxVR is a better…

>I just got a $400 Oculus Quest and burned 1900 calories playing Beat Saber That's an absurd claim by your apple watch. An hour of expert level beat saber is closer to 360 calories.

I have a hunch that it's overestimating because you wave your arms around a lot, but 360 seems like an underestimate. Average heart rate in 70% to 80% range, and I'll have higher than average calorie expenditure because I'm overweight.

EDIT - did a comparison against Runner's World's calorie burn calculator, and the calories/hour burn rate lines up with a leisurely 11:30 minutes/mile pace based on my weight.

It honestly seems about right.

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