Few businesses have ridden the COVID-19 pandemic roller coaster quite like Peloton.
The company went from a growing niche business in 2020 to a household name (thanks in part to positive PR from celebrities and athletes), as people scrambled for ways to work out from home. The New York-based company experienced intense highs, like an explosion in membership numbers, and drastic lows, including the stepping-down of its founder/CEO and massive layoffs.
And through it all sat a brand-new 35,000 square-foot studio complex, awaiting workout enthusiasts from near and far.
Right across from Manhattan’s gleaming Hudson Yards, the studio was set to open just as the world shut down. So for more than two years, Peloton’s popular instructors have been teaching to state-of-the-art empty rooms, with thousands of fitness enthusiasts following along from home. But this weekend, with the first of their Friday soft openings, Peloton is getting ready to officially welcome members back later this summer. NJ Advance Media got to be there Friday to tour and experience the very first live bike class in the new facility.
“We built this mecca for Jane from Idaho to meet Jim from the U.K. to meet Jacques from Germany. And this is a place where we can gather,” said Vice President of Fitness Programming and Head Instructor Robin Arzon said to the assembled media. “Something the pandemic did not take from us is our innate capacity and desire to gather and to feel this energy that’s palpable. And when someone gets to meet an instructor that has been in their living room for hundreds if not thousands of hours, that is an indescribably special moment.”
The connection for Peloton members is not just to the instructors. There truly is a community, where new runners seek advice from seasoned marathoners, people interested in travel offer tips on destinations around the world, and thousands work their way through a monthly member-created calendar of strength training. Members connect on social media, posting their workouts on Instagram and discussing the company’s latest moves on Facebook. There are even fan-led podcasts and newsletters.
Peloton furthered the sense of connection by creating a system of hashtags as a way to find like-minded people. And with so many New Jersey members — and even a few instructors with roots in the Garden State — there is no shortage of hashtags with a Jersey connection. Among more than 150 New Jersey hashtags, you’ll find #NJNurses, #BGMNewJersey (Black Girl Magic, a very popular Peloton group), #PelotonNewJersey and #njstrong along with town hashtags from Bergen to Westfield to Cape May. And on Facebook, the “Official Peloton New Jersey group” boasts nearly 10,000 members.
Peloton showed off its new, state-of-the-art workout studio at New York City’s Hudson Yards on Friday, June 10, 2022.
Since the studio is an easy trip across the river, New Jersey members are looking forward to taking in-person classes, based on what people posted recently on Facebook. A female rider from Montville who goes by the leaderboard name JordysMommy said, “I bought my bike during the height of the pandemic and can’t wait to get to the studio to take a live class with [instructor] Cody [Rigsby] and to hopefully meet him!” Supersarge from Holmdel, who got to work out in the former, much smaller studio, said he “Can’t wait! The studio experience is amazing!” But perhaps CindysSpinning from Verona had the best idea. “Sounds like we should do a N.J. takeover!”
So, what do you need to know before visiting the New York studio? Here’s the inside scoop from our behind-the-scenes tour.
– The “soft opening” of Friday classes will continue for the next couple months. Peloton sent emails to select members who were directed to a Google form. Filling out the form does not guarantee a spot.
– The studio will officially open to the public in late summer, though no date has been announced. In-person classes will be from Thursday to Sunday. Monday through Wednesday, live classes will not include in-studio participants.
– A high-tech temperature check is positioned at the main entrance. For the soft opening, members must show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR or wear a mask to work out.
– Do not count on any social distancing. While treads are spaced apart, bikes are close enough that you may bump arms with the rider next to you.
– There are four workout areas in the new building, so all classes are held in the one facility.
– Bring water. Lots of water. It gets hot quickly.
– Instructors will take photos with members after class. No touching!
– There is a members area on the second floor where people can gather before and after class. A grab-and-go area will have snacks and drinks.
– Locker rooms with showers, toiletries and hair dryers are on the second floor.
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