The past year I have been occasionally obsessing with thoughts of buying a peloton or soul cycle bike, pre-COVID.

I grew up on a bicycle. It was the only safe place for many years of my life. It represents freedom, dreaming, flying, believing, facing fears and usually pushing myself.

In Chicago, we rode 13 miles to work and back several times a week—even in some snowy weather. When we moved to California, I rode to work so much that I lost 45 pounds. I was also tracking my food, but it was the activity of riding that kept up my momentum. Sadly, I have since gained a good part of that back. Ugh.

But honestly the past few years have not been kind to my bicycling lifestyle. It seems that just when I get a good thing going for daily riding, something huge happens to change it—I get a different job, we move to another place, a global pandemic happens and we can’t ever go outside again without fear and anxiety. . .

Now my bike has become just a hand sanitizer holder near the front door.

So this summer I had planned to buy another bike to have on campus in my office. Since that isn’t even a thing anymore, I started obsessing over home spin bikes again. This time I was able to convince M that we needed it! Until now we both had free access to some of the best gyms in the area—completely free. But I think adapting to this quickly changing world is how any of us will thrive. The wait times (6 weeks for delivery) were a big concern, but wow was it worth it!!! I started taking the strength and yoga classes using the peloton app with the tv and that helped the weeks go by until it finally arrived!

I have to say I’m kind of shocked at how much the lady loves it! I knew I would. (I’ve never met a bike that I didn’t love.) But she is crushing it. She consistently gets more power output than I do! It pisses me off a little, but I’m glad she loves it so much, too.

Peloton is kind of a cult, but only in that it is a collective of supportive people all just out to ride a bicycle to nowhere. I joke that’s what I’m doing, but #togetherwegofar hahaha

All joking aside, I’ve completed my 30th ride today. It arrived just over a month ago! That’s ridiculous. I’ve almost taken rides every single day, often more than one, to make up for the required rest days. Since I signed up with the peloton app, I’ve completed a total of 67 workouts!!! I really love yoga now because #TeamChelsea. I also do stretching and core strength classes.

It really does feel like you have a whole team of personal trainers to choose from. Even more surprising is that I like so many of them that I feel like I’m missing out if I can’t do their rides because I’m doing another one. Pride month was the best. I’m so glad we had the bike for half of it at least. #TeamCodyRigsby is my jam. He’s my gay boy outlet for quarantine…new gay tracks, fresh haircuts, gay stories, talkin’ bout wigs…he really gives me life. I may never be able to go to a drag show again so Cody might be IT!

Robin’s Dolly Parton artist ride was THE BEST. As was Ally Love’s Whitney!!! OMG. I will tell you though, Ally’s Whitney arms 10 minute class will bust your ass (after a ride especially). She’s tough, man. And speaking of tough, I highly recommend Chelsea’s Juneteenth Yoga Flow. She will also kick your ass! The Peloton Juneteenth classes were such a nice way to celebrate and honor — with Black instructor’s personal stories, history, anecdotes, and family stories. It was really meaningful content. Major props.

There’s a lot of bitching online right now at Peloton because they won’t stop with facebook ads. I completely agree. Just stop with the facebook shit. Of all companies, you do not NEED to be advertising on facebook right now. Gyms across the country are shuttering. Be on the right side of history, Peloton.

AS A NOTE, if you are on the fence and wondering if you should go with Soul Cycle instead. . . please let me remind you that they are owned by Equinox, who held a giant fundraiser for the Idiot in Charge. When you look at it like that, there’s just no comparison. No thank you.

If you’d like to follow me (at the very bottom of the leaderboards) my name is GirlBoom.

See you on the virtual rides! 🚴🏼