Seven of My Favorite Peloton Bike Accessories

All the bikes at every gym I’ve ever taught or taken a class at have had pedals that feature clips on one side and straps on the other; even when I’m teaching, I opt for regular gym shoes and just use the pedal cages instead of hauling specialty shoes to the gym and clipping in and out. This is not true for the Peloton, which has small pedals that only work with clip-in shoes. I discovered this the first night I had the bike and was disappointed, and after dropping all that money earlier in the day, I didn’t want to buy the shoes the company sells separately for $125. (Size up if for safety if you’re a half-sizer, like me.)

If you don’t have a disposable $125 to spend on shoes to make your $1,500 bike work, any Delta-compatible cleats will work with the Peloton bike. I ordered a pair of $40 cleats from Amazon and they’ve been serving me faithfully for four years, but Peloton recently sent me some company-branded cleats to use while I test out the Bike+. They’re definitely higher-quality, with more straps and fasteners to make them extra secure on the feet. I’ve noticed something interesting, though: When I unclip from the pedals (by using all my might to wrench the cleats out of their holsters), the cleat attachments on the soles of the shoes become crooked. I always have to grab a hex key, unscrew them, straighten them out, and re-tighten them before hopping on again. No matter how tightly I screw the cleats onto the shoes, the act of unclipping still makes them crooked again, which makes it difficult to clip in until I’ve fixed it. The Peloton-branded shoes definitely feel better when riding, but my Amazon cheapies are better at staying aligned and intact, so if you have to go the inexpensive route, there’s at least one benefit for you.

Once I actually started riding my bike, I noticed it was wobbling a bit on my uneven floor, which was more noisy than destabilizing. I initially got a cheap cushion from the dollar store to stuff under the front of my bike, which solved the problem temporarily, but over the long term, I did have to upgrade. Peloton sells a mat for $75 and this is a good option if you want to be extra sure the mat you order will fit perfectly under your bike. For reference, it’s 72″ x 36″, so any yoga mat or similar item of that size will work. I recommend a thin one, not the cushy kind, just for extra assurance of stability.

Peloton offers a selection of classes that incorporate hand weights and the bikes include little holsters for them—but they cost extra, too. In this case, it’s probably your best bet to buy the branded ones to make sure they fit right in the holsters. The last thing you (and your floor and surrounding valuables) need is your weights flying out while you’re riding hard. The light weights are $25.

That said, because I’m a masochist, I actually have heavier, off-brand weights in my holsters, as Peloton’s light weights only range from one to three pounds each. I won’t lie: Mine don’t fit exactly right, but it’s unclear if it’s because they’re off-brand or too big. You should probably stay safe and stick with the lighter ones the company recommends. I’ll also caution that most of the weight-inclusive workouts available on Peloton’s app are designed for lighter weights; there are some times when even attempting to use my eight-pounders kicks my butt. Even if you’re really strong and a seasoned pro, using the weights while riding is a different beast, so err on the side of caution.

There are some cool, third-party options on the market if you really want to take your ride to the next level. I recommend a desk, especially, since it enables you to work or read while you lightly pedal. The most popular is like this one by TFD for $59.99.

I use a tower fan nearby when I’m worried about getting too sweaty on the Peloton, but I love this small, custom-built fan that attaches directly to the bike. This is ideal if you don’t want to blast a larger fan or want the air directly on your face.

I love my Peloton to death, but if there’s one thing that drives me a little nuts, it’s the lack of safe space to set my phone. I’d love to be the kind of person who can fully unplug for 30 minutes and focus entirely on my fitness and well-being, but realistically, who can afford to do that? When I put my phone in one of the cup holders, it bops around as I ride and I am constantly afraid of it falling out. This little device solves that issue for just $14.99.

I recently tried out a VSEAT ($119), a bike seat with no front section between the legs and a flatter design than a traditional one, plus a little bit of cushier padding. It promises to reduce groin pressure and improve posture, which it did do for me, and it was easy to install, too. I’m used to traditional seats and don’t find them much of an issue, though this was a better experience. If you’re new to cycling and struggling with seat-related pain, this is a good upgrade for you.

That’s a steep price, though, so you can also try this one from Schwinn ($29.99). Reviewers and riders (like this one on Reddit) say it works great for the Peloton, too.