After a lot of consideration, my husband and I ordered a Peloton row. We have had a Peloton bike for four years and love it. Between the cycle classes and all of the Peloton workout classes available with the Peloton membership, I cancelled my gym membership four years ago and have no regrets. We have been talking about the row since we first heard rumors of a Peloton rowing machine years ago. I wanted to share my initial impressions of the row and why we decided to purchase.
Testing out the Peloton Row: First Impression
We first saw the Peloton row about two months ago when we took a trip to the Short Hills Mall. The showroom at the Short Hills Mall was the closest store available with a row on display at the time. We did not make an appointment to test, but went to the showroom to hopefully just see the machine. The row was on display right in front of the showroom. Luckily, the showroom was not busy and my husband had a chance to site on the machine for a few minutes. (I did not get a chance to test out the row, as I took the chance at the showroom to have an employee help me with my bike adjustments. It was nice to have someone check the adjustments, as I was not sure of my height after adjusting while riding during my last pregnancy). We did not have the chance during that visit to take a class as we had our children with us.
Our first impression was that we liked the row machine- it seemed like a quality machine and the form assist was really interesting. But we were not convinced to purchase at that moment. At that time, the row was only available for preorder and we had not seen any reviews of the machine or the classes. I wanted to see feedback if people liked the classes, if people thought the classes were fun and to see how many classes would be available for the row once it started to ship.
Additionally, the row was larger than I thought it would be. I was a little concerned about the size of the machine and wanted to measure the room we would be placing it in again. (For reference the row is 7’10” L x 24” W according to the Peloton website). Before I considered purchasing, I really wanted to test out the row with a class to see how the form assist worked. I was pretty skeptical of the form assist- if it really would show my form errors and if I would be able to follow how to correct my form.
Testing the Row: Showroom Test
Last week we checked out our local Peloton showroom in Shrewsbury, New Jersey which now had a row on display in the front of the showroom and a row in a private room to test out. My husband visited the showroom first and took a ten minute class. He liked the machine, but was not completely convinced to purchase. However, the next day, he was really excited when he felt sore and realized the rowing workout was a great workout.
I was able to test out the machine the following day. The manager at the showroom took the time to explain how the machine and classes worked. For example, the screen and metrics (like the cadence and resistance if you are familiar with the bike) are different than the bike and were all new to me. The manager walked me through how to set up the row to your body (how to calibrate the row to your body). Once you calibrate the row, the row is able to tell if you are using proper form and will show you how to improve your form.
The form assist feature shows you during the class if you are not using the correct form. A cartoon image on the screen follows your movement no the row and highlights in red the part of the body that is not using the correct form.
At the end of the ride you can view your form insights. The form insights are like a report card, it shows you what areas of your form you need to work on and provided a short video (again a cartoon like image) to show you how to improve. I could not believe how accurate the row was in identifying specifically at what point in my row that I needed to improve.
I used a rowing machine before, many years ago. While I liked the rowing workout, I was always concerned about form and possible back injury from not having the correct form. However, with the Peloton row, the form assist feature and the form insights you receive at the end of the class will help ensure that I have the proper form. These features were a huge factor in my decision to purchase. Once I felt secure that I could learn the correct form and that the Peloton row would continue to help ensure that I was using proper form- I was pretty much set on purchasing.
I was also impressed by the quality of the machine. The machine is very solid and very quiet when in use. I workout during nap time, so the sound level actually is important to me and my sleeping baby.
Another huge influence in my decision to buy the row was how my body felt using it. When I picked up the handle bar on the row, I instantly felt different muscles getting a work out that I was not used to. According to the Peloton store manager that helped me, a rowing workout will activate 86% of your muscles. I am really excited for the workout and building strength through the row.
There are some new instructors for the row. But I was excited to see that Adrian Williams is teaching on the row. I have enjoyed his weight lifting classes and like his energy, so I will definitely be trying his classes. The manager at the showroom said that there is already an N*SYNC ride, so I know at least one instructor is playing the pop music that I love.
Peloton Row Rides
Unfortunately, I cannot view the row classes yet, despite having a Peloton membership with my bike. Based on my research, it seems that you can only view the row rides on the row machine. So until my row is delivered, I cannot start looking through the classes and bookmarking the ones I want to take- and I will have to scroll through the classes only on the row.
I find it frustrating that you cannot see the row rides on the app. I like to plan my classes out before my workout. I like to select my workout as I rock my little one to sleep for her nap. As soon as my little one is down, I race to bedroom to do the workout I just picked. I do not like to waste time scrolling through workouts once my little one is napping- I only have a limited time (if you have a baby, you get it).
I do not know all of the row instructors or their music taste, so I would like to spend some time looking at the row classes before I get the row to pick the classes and instructors I am interested in taking. I am hoping Peloton changes this feature, as picking my workout before I get to the machine makes my life easier and lets me maximize the time I have to work out during my little ones nap time.
Price and package we selected for the Peloton Row
The Peloton row price is currently $3,195. Peloton had a sale at the time we purchased of $200 off of Peloton Row packages. We picked the “Select” package, which was $3,320. The Select package came with the row, set up, delivery, and:
- Row mat
- Sport water bottle
- Reversible workout mat
- Dumbbells (2 sets, which you pick the size)
- Heart Rate Band
We went with this package for two reasons- the row mat, which we felt was important to have since we are placing on carpet and the additional heart rate band. We have one band right now, but we would both like one. The additional weights will be a good addition as we were missing a few weight sizes which I am glad we will have.
As owners of the Peloton bike, our information was already in their system. So checking out was easy. The manager walked us through the options with the package we picked (size of the weights, size of the heart rate band). The entire check out only took a few minutes.
We ended up purchasing the row on December 21st. We could have had delivery on January 10, 2023, but selected the 11th as my oldest will be out of the house during the delivery window which will make delivery hopefully easier. We received this date as soon as we purchased. We were told if an earlier date becomes available, we will be contacted.
After we place our order, we found out by an email that the row mat that was part of the package (and as I noted, a reason we picked that package), is on back order. We will not get the mat when the row is delivered. This is frustrating, as we wanted the entire row to be set up at delivery. I would have expected that we would receive the entire package when the row is delivered but that is not the case here. Given the cost of this package, I expected to have everything I ordered when the row is delivered.
We also purchased the extended warranty. With the price of this machine and the length of the extended warranty, I thought it was worth purchasing. We purchases the extended warranty with the bike and have used several times. I was happy with the service received with the extended warranty with the bike, which influenced my decision to purchase with the row.
If you are considering purchasing, don’t forget the additionally monthly membership fee for the row classes. This fee gives you access to all of the Peloton classes, which include yoga classes, barre, weightlifting and more. I love the diverse library of classes. Membership does not increase when you purchase another machine, so we will continue to pay the monthly membership fee we currently pay.
If you have not checked out the Peloton website yet, here is a link.
My Concerns with the Peloton Row
As I mentioned earlier, I am concerned and slightly annoyed that I cannot view the row classes on the app. I like to pick my rides/classes before my limited work out window (aka nap time), in order to not waste time looking through the classes when my little one sleeps. This may seem like a small annoyance, but I actually find very inconvenient.
This may sound silly but I am concerned about how to fit the row into my workout routine. There are so many workouts available on Peloton. I try to do a yoga and a weight class once a week. I try to do a 10 minute core atleast once a week, normally after a bike ride. I have taken a few barre classes, which have been a lot of fun and I would like to do more of. I generally take whatever class I am in the mood for that day, while trying to rotate different workouts- but I may now make a schedule to try to rotate the classes I take.
My final concern is that I hope the row classes will be fun and keep my interest. I had the same concern about the bike- how can a class on a bike keep my interesting for 15, 20 or 30 minutes. Well, it definitely does. The music, the movements (such as rising on the bike into a run), and changing the resistance, make the rides a great workout and fun. I am hoping that I enjoy the row as much as I have loved the bike.
I haven’t heard of the row, but I did look at the cost of it and was instantly put off. It is good you think the classes will help you stay interested.
Lauren
Exercise equipment can be expensive- I am hoping the quality of the row justifies the price!