We just got back from our family vacation to New York, and while we were there, I took two Peloton classes live in the studio. I feel like information is kind of hard to find (or maybe I didn’t look that hard) about what it’s like to do classes live, so I am going to document everything I remember.

Booking a class

First, booking is like getting tickets to a Taylor Swift concert, only much cheaper ($25 $35 instead of $2500.) Okay, maybe not that hard. But you have to be fast and decisive, because classes book up within seconds of the slots opening.

Six weeks before our trip, on a Thursday at 11am Central time, I logged on to the site and was lucky enough to get into two classes. Well, that makes it sound easy. Here are some tips:

• Six weeks out is hard to figure out, because it’s a Thursday, and six weeks out from what? The week you’re going? I dunno. Calendar math is not my strong suit. So about two months before, I started looking at the booking page for the studio and was able to figure out the exact Thursday I would need to book my class.
• Before classes go live, make sure you have your payment method READY TO GO. I can’t remember if you can save your payment method ahead of time, I don’t think so. So have the number copied so you can paste it right in, and memorize that expiration date and three digit code.
• Also, there is a waiver you’ll need to sign. Do this ahead of time as well! I think I did this by finding a waitlisted class, and starting the signup process so the form would pop up. If you wait until you select a class, it may be full by the time you have the waiver done.
• You won’t know what kind of class it is until two weeks out, so just look for times that work and instructors you like.
• GO FAST

Okay. So that’s booking. NO STRESS, NO STRESS.

But seriously this was my heartrate at the time. Check out that spike at 11am!

Okay, so now you’re all booked. The day of your class has arrived.

Getting to the studio

I went to the studio the day before my class so that I could get a shirt to wear, and also to familiarize myself with the location. I’m glad I did this. Also, don’t do what we did and see a building with PELOTON on it and assume that’s it, because that might be the corporate headquarters. Just go to 10th Avenue, it’s right next to the Whole Foods. Trust me on this.

The day of my first class

My first class was on Sunday morning at 10am. The studio was about a 20 minute walk from our hotel, so I left around 8:30 to get there an hour ahead of time. (They recommend 45-60 minutes before. 30 minutes before is the cutoff.)

When you walk in, you go to the desk where a nice person will check you in. They’ll ask if it’s your first time there, or if you’re celebrating any milestones. Then you’ll get a card with a color and a sticker if you are indeed celebrating a milestone. The card will indicate which group you will enter the studio with.

You will get in a higher group if it is your first time or if you are celebrating a milestone. Both applied to me, so I got a red card, which that day meant I’d go in with the first group. I wish I’d known this ahead of time, because I’d have made it so I hit my milestone for my second class and therefore gotten in a better group for that one. But more on that later.

You’ll also get a wristband which I think they said is for pictures after. I don’t remember. Just put it on.

I put my stuff in a locker, then stood around awkwardly until a nice lady talked to me. She’d been there a bunch so answered all my questions, including where the bathrooms were (upstairs.) 45 minutes before the class start, they started distributing shoes if you needed them.

I talked to the nice lady for the next 20 minutes or so. Meanwhile, they were setting up the lines by color. It just so turned out that I was standing at the front of the red line. They opened the doors 25 minutes (I think?) before class started. They let someone with a silver card in first, and then I was the second person into the studio. I picked a bike right at the front, to the left of the instructor, second from the mirror.

I got all set up, logged in, and then ten minutes before class started, Jenn (the instructor) came in! She chatted with us while she got set up, and then three minutes before the class time, they turn on the cameras so the outside world can join the class. Then one minute before, the class begins (well, the official intro to the class.) I learned that there’s a 50 second delay from the home feed, which makes sense, in case someone barfs or whatever.

And then the 45 minutes went by, and while I felt like I might die, I did not! It was a super hard class. Plus my legs were dead from walking around the city in the heat for the past few days. But I survived.

One thing I will say, if you don’t need your glasses, don’t wear them. I wish I hadn’t. I always wear them, but I guess I got hotter than usual. I only need them for reading, and I was able to see the screen well enough. It’s smaller than the home screen and only has a little info so not much to see.

Oh, and I liked being on the side I was on because I could see what was on the screen next to Jenn, which was basically the music and so I could see how much longer was in each song, because there was a timer on the screen.

After class, WHICH WAS VERY HARD, there was a line to get your picture with Jenn. I was nervous. I didn’t say much. She said I was tall. She stood on her tippy toes.

After that, I showered there and then went to meet the fam back at the hotel. I also washed my clothes in the sink because I only had one set of exercise clothes. (Do not recommend.)

Oh, also, there was a Peloton celeb in the class. This guy, who was doing his 5000th class. I got a selfie with him while I waited in line for my picture. He was the “silver” member who got into the studio before I did.

Sunday’s class with Christine was at the same time, but I woke up earlier, so I left the hotel earlier and even after stopping for coffee and a snack, I got there over an hour before the start time. I sat in the lobby and read and chatted with a woman I’d sat next to in Jenn’s class. So that was nice.

This time, though, I got a white card. I didn’t know what that meant. I hoped it didn’t mean I’d be in the last group.

ALAS. It did. Now I know for the future, be a first timer for your first class, and for the second class, hit your milestone. (In case, you, perhaps, have booked two classes in London for your trip there next month.)

Being at the end of the line for the last group let in to the studio meant I was in a spot in the back corner of the room, which meant I was never on camera. Which is FINE, I got plenty of camera time the day before. And I got to sit next to my new friend, so that was fun.

Everything basically went the same, but Christine was so social and lovely! She went around to every person and shook their hand and said hello. She admired my tattoos. 🙂

This was a New Wave class, which meant the music was great! She played The Smiths, so I was happy. I loved that the song she walked around to before class was Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others.

Even though I thought this class was a lot easier, my output was a lot higher. I wonder if it’s because I was less nervous, or if it was my bike, or what. Anyway, after class, I got a picture. And I admired her lipstick, so she told me the brand and color. (KDV, Jupiter’s Eye.)

(This time, I did not wear my glasses to class.)

And so that was my experience taking classes at the Peloton New York studio. I enjoyed every bit of it and hope to do it again one day!