How Peloton Shook Up the Health and Fitness Industry in 2019

Unless you have been living under a rock in 2019, you know Peloton—the sleek stationary bikes meant to let you work out anywhere… besides in your local gym. Peloton is focused on bringing “serious fitness” into people’s homes in a “fresh and relevant” way with its growing library of classes, according to company president William Lynch.

At the end of 2018, the at-home exercise-bike company had more customers nationwide than Soulcycle, according to data cited by Recode. Peloton was projected to amass even further growth in 2019—and that it did. 

According to the New York Times, though, the Peloton trend won’t last—but it also isn’t fading as fast as trends previous. Over the past five years, Peloton has sold over 577,000 bikes and amassed an estimated net worth of around $4 billion, clearly capitalizing on the idea that there’s a market for being able to work out in the comfort of your own home on your own time without being tethered to a studio’s set schedule.

All of this being said, Peloton took a surprising tumble in its Wall Street debut, down 11% from its initial IPO, per CNN Business. While the brand chose to test its luck going public when competing concept SoulCycle decided against in May 2018, the future isn’t all bleak. Despite fighting off comparisons to Uber’s ill-fated IPO, Peloton continues to persevere and has accumulated 1.4 million users to date. 

At its most simplistic, Peloton is no different than a number of other at-home workout fads that have come and gone, dating back to the likes of Ab Rollers and Shake Weights. But where Peloton differs from these concepts of old, though, is its infusion of technology and appeal to a generation of consumers who have grown accustomed to e-commerce. While Peloton’s concept isn’t yet fully proven, its tech savvy and appeal to those who desire to get fit without leaving their homes, it’s worth watching whether its appeal will drive local gyms and studios to become a thing of the past.