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Want to build your own DIY Peloton? Check out all the gear you need here!
If you have ever seen a commercial for a Peloton bike on TV, you want one. I found myself in this situation. Having a fancy spin bike that can provide workout classes in the comfort your own home is extremely appealing.
So I whipped out my iPhone and headed over to Peloton’s website to see how much this beautiful matte black workout machine is going to set me back. The sales page is enticing. Now I really want the bike.
I scrolled to find the price and to your disbelief, it is over $2,200! My dream of having a beautiful bike in your custom-built pool house shattered.
So it was time to find a way to get the Peloton experience without having to pay the Peloton price tag.
First, I hunted for competitor bikes that may have the same features, but cost significantly less. Every smart bike manufacturer had similar sticker prices. Between $1,500 – $3,000.
So, I decided to build my own Peloton bike. I did it for under $400. Here is how I did it.
Pssst. I also found a cheaper way to do it if you are on a budget and already have a normal bicycle. If that is more your speed (nothing like a good bike pun) then check out the second half of this article.
The DIY Peloton Bike
The first thing you need is, well, the spin bike. The beautiful thing is, there are a number of great spin bikes that you can get for cheap. I have tested a number of spin bikes. I wanted to find the best possible bike for the money. It needed to be quiet and mobile. I am 6’4’’ 230lbs so the bike needed to maintain my build especially during heavy Tabata or HIIT sessions. I also needed to ensure the handlebars and seat were adjustable, this way anyone in my house can use the bike for sweat sessions. Guess what? I found the perfect bike that fit everything on my checklist.
The bike I went with is the Sunny Health and Fitness SF B-1002(You can get it HERE).
This spin bike is fantastic for the money. It actually compares to spin bikes that cost hundreds of dollars more.
Flywheel
The Sunny Health and Fitness spin bike comes with a 49lb flywheel. A flywheel is the big round wheel that spins under the bike. It gives your bike a more smooth powerful ride. This is comparable to the flywheel weight of your local spin classes. Typically, bikes with a flywheel of that weight command a much higher price.
Drive
One of my favorite features about the bike is how quiet it is. There are two kinds of drives on spin bikes.
Chain Driven
These will make the cost of your bike go down but are also much louder. They also require more maintenance. Since I value my time, I opted for the next option.
Belt Drive
A belt drive is usually leather. It is much quieter which is why I chose this option.
With young kids, the last thing I wanted to do was wake them up while I was working out early in the morning. The maintenance-free belt system allows you to workout without interrupting anyone around you.
Handlebars
Adjusting the handlebars was also important to me. I wanted to ensure everyone in my household would be able to use the bike. The two-way adjustable handlebar allows you to fit the bike to your liking. The ergonomic design allows you to adjust your hand placement where you feel comfortable.
Frame
I also needed a sturdy frame. The frame has a 275 maximum user weight that allows for a rock-solid build. You don’t feel the bike rock or sway as some other models do. There is no question this frame is a solid build when you get on the bike.
Assembly
It was fairly easy to assemble out of the box. It took me about 45 minutes and I am not handy. The directions were straightforward and to the point. Amazon also has services that will assemble the bike for you (if you have more money than time).
Adjustable Resistance
Having adjustable resistance is a must and this bike does a great job. You will hear the Peloton instructors tell you to adjust resistance the entire ride.
What are the Pros?
- Adjustable leather pad resistance
- 49 lb heavy-duty flywheel
- Sturdy Frame Holds up to 275 lbs
- Adjustable handlebar and seat
- Very quiet ride
The Seat
The one thing we would change on this bike is the comfort of the seat. I got used to it over time but my wife and others who have since purchased the bike after they saw my set-up all complained.
This can easily be fixed by purchasing a more comfortable seat or adding a gel seat cover. Here is a gel seat cover that has been a great addition.
If you are going to keep your bike on hardwood floors then you may want to grab a may to a mat, but that is not necessary at all. I keep mine in my garage with concrete floors so I don’t need a protective mat.
The Peloton App
The next step was to find out how to stream the Peloton workouts. This is where the Peloton App comes in. I honestly had low expectations but this app is truly awesome in my opinion. I am not an affiliate with them, I just like it that much. The app costs $12.99 a month, which is truly inexpensive for what you get.
Not only do they offer spin classes for your new Peloton Hack, but they also have weightlifting, yoga, stretching, abs, cardio, boot camp, stretching, outdoor running, and many other at-home workout classes.
The instructors are super motivating and can really push you through tough workouts. They upload multiple new workouts each day for each category. You actually feel like you are in a fancy boutique spin class. You can see how many other people are sweating it out with you at the same time. It gives you a community feels without having to hop on a bike someone else just sweat all over.
You can feed data into the app such as your cadence or heart rate from a heart rate monitor.
The app will tell you how many calories you burned, workout details, and give you other helpful information. I like that stats it gives you on lifetime rides. In a recent ride, One member was on their 5,000th ride (what an overachiever)!
Tablet or Phone
For my screen I used my iPad. I love using a tablet because it is a nice size screen. A tablet is not necessary though, you can also use your phone or TV. Any tablet that can download the app will work.
I use my phone fairly often when I leave my iPad at the office. If you have an Apple TV or similar streaming device, you can also throw the workouts on your tv using airdrop.
Tablet Mount
To mount my tablet to the bike I bought this tablet mount.
It is cheap and gets the job done. I attach it right in the center of the bike and it works great. I don’t see the tablet shake or wobble so I don’t have any worry if it will fall.
Cadence Sensor
When you use the Peloton app, you will hear the instructors talk about your cadence throughout the workout. This is just a fancy way of measuring how fast you are pedaling per minute (RPM). So if you pedal 90 times in a minute, your cadence is 90.
Enter a nifty little device called a cadence sensor. I picked up the Wahoo Cadence sensor which you can pick up on Amazon here. It’s cheap and does what I need it to. It is actually a pretty cool device. It mounts to the bikes from the wheel hub and will transmit the data to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth.
Heart Rate Monitor and Calories Burned
For the heart rate monitor and calories burned, I just used my trusty apple watch. This data is far from perfect so if you are looking for a more accurate heart rate monitor then I would for a chest strap monitor like this one. You can also get a guesstimated idea from the Peloton App. If you maintain the cadence and resistance through the whole workout, then it will give you your estimated kcals burned after the workout.
Wahoo makes a chest strap monitor that will pair well with your cadence sensor. You can check it out here. Remember this is not required to get a good workout in.
The Cheapest Option of ALL
Now if this all sounds great but you don’t want to spend a few hundred bucks on a bike, there is another option that is even cheaper. If you already have a bicycle, then you can attach it to something called a trainer. This is a little machine that hooks up to your bike and allows you to pedal in place. Typically, there will be a moving stand in the back, and a small hookup in the front that does not move.
Cyclists and triathletes primarily use these because it maintains the same feel as riding your bike. When I used to do triathlons, I would cycle on a trainer all the time when the weather was not optimal for an outdoor ride. It comes at a cheaper price and you can still ride your bike outdoors if you want to.
This is the trainer that is the best overall for the price: Sportneer Bike Trainer Stand.
How to Turn a Bike into an Exercise Bike
Step 1 – Position Your Stationary Bike Stand
Look for space in your home where you can fit the bike on its stand. Ideally, it should be completely flat and not carpeted. Your garage or spare bedroom is where I would look first. Layout the parts of the stand the way they are meant to be assembled. This will ensure that setting up the stand is quick and easy, and you don’t forget any essential parts.
Step 2 – Install the Bike
Start by placing the back end of the bike onto the stand and clamp the back wheel securely into place. It will still move around a bit until the front end of the bike has also been secured.
Once you’ve done this, place the front wheel of the bike onto the stand and secure it into place as well. Then, check to see that the back wheel hasn’t come loose.
Step 3 – Check for Safety
Make sure the bike is mounted evenly and is not tilting in any direction. Gently test it to ensure that it won’t fall over once you start riding it. It may wiggle somewhat when you’re riding fast. If this happens, you must know that this doesn’t mean that there’s a fault with the trainer, or that it isn’t assembled properly.
Let’s Run The Final Numbers
So, after you have decided to give this a try, what will it cost to set up your DIY Peloton Bike? It first depends on how much equipment you have and what you need to purchase. The Peloton App is a bargain at $12.99. Especially for all the features that come with it.
If you had to buy it all you may spend $300 on the bike, $200 on the tablet, and $100 on extras.
That is less than 30% of the cost of the Peloton Bike. That’s 70% off! Plus you save on the monthly subscription. Peloton Bike owners pay a higher cost for the App than the users who do not have the app pay!
Hopefully, Peloton bikes will become less expensive in the future. Until then, I am going to ride my DIY Peloton Bike (in place) into the sunset.
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Andrew is the host of The Personal Finance Podcast, a show that is changing the way you think about your money. His primary goal with the podcast is to bring as much value as possible to his listeners.
Andrew's favorite free financial tool he's been using since 2014 to manage his net worth is Personal Capital. Each month he uses their free Investment Checkup tool and Retirement Planner to track his investments and ensure that he's on the fast track to financial freedom.
His favorite investment platform is M1 Finance, a site that allows him to build a custom portfolio of stocks for free. It has no trading fees and is his preferred way to invest without having to lift a finger.
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