A New Peloton Bike+
My husband and I had been contemplating purchasing a Peloton bike for a while, and finally made the decision when we saw a great deal during Peloton’s Black Friday sale. So far I’ve taken a two beginner rides and a core strength class. Shorter, more intense rides will be a part of my 2026 game plan and I’m really looking forward to exploring the wide variety of classes. I’m expecting the classes to give me some great new variations on exercises to use with my clients as well!
Overview of the Week
Before getting into each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from this past week. Scroll beyond the infographic for daily details…
Sunday
Cycling: 34 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 16.5 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:38 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63° in the basement, 28° (feels like 16°) and snowing outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
To manage a demanding schedule—an 11:30 AM elliptical pickup and an 11 AM to 3 PM holiday open house brunch—I was up at 6 AM to squeeze in a workout and ‘beauty duty.’ Despite the early start and a temporary scare from the snow, the logistical challenge was a success. The elliptical was collected smoothly, leaving us plenty of time to relax and chat with friends at our neighbors’ open house.
Monday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 3 miles
• Average pace: 15:38 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 10:10 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63° in the basement, 23° (feels like 7°) and cloudy outside
• What I wore: capris and tank top
So where exactly do I do those 5:30 AM strength training workouts? In my basement gym, that’s where, and I never have to worry about icy road conditions getting to the gym at zero dark thirty!
Tuesday
Cycling: 20 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 16.2 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:15 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 60° in the basement, 17° and clear outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
I hopped on my spin bike to multitask while virtually training a client and knocked out 20 miles. I love this cute shirt I purchased in Florida two years ago while on our cross-state ride.
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 3.37 miles
• Average pace: 16:33 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 140 feet
• Start time: 3:48 PM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 50° and cloudy, dropping to 45°
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, puffer jacket, and mittens over gloves
Cycling: 4.72 miles (Peloton Hannah Corbin beginner ride)
• Bike: Peloton Bike+
• Average speed: 14.2 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 8:16 PM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 66° in the basement, 38° and mostly clear outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
After early morning strength training followed by seeing four clients, our new Peloton was delivered! Later, my husband and I took a walk, and then just before bedtime, I decided to use my new bike for the first time.
Below is the before and after of the cardio gym makeover – my client is loving her “new” elliptical.
Thursday
Cycling: 16 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 15.7 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 5:57 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 61° in the basement, 29° and mostly clear outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Once again Kim and I joined forces for our weekly virtual cardio workout. We’d agreed in advance to wear Christmas colors, but it wasn’t until it was time to take pictures for our collage that I thought to grab my Santa hat and some spare Christmas lights.
Friday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Balance and stretching: 45 minutes
Walking: 3.01 miles
• Average pace: 15;35 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 7:12 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 63° in the basement, 55° (feels like 48°) and raining outside
• What I wore: capris and s/s shirt
Core strength: 10 minutes (Peloton Emma Lovewell)
Core stretch: 5 minutes (Peloton Emma Lovewell)
After my hour of strength training and walk I decided to try the short core strength and stretching classes Deborah recommended. Next I taught my weekly balance and stretching class, wrapping up a well-rounded day of workouts.
Saturday
Core strength: 15 minutes (Peloton Emma Lovewell)
Cycling: 4.84 miles (Peloton Robin Arzón beginner ride)
• Bike: Peloton Bike+
• Average speed: 14.5 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 12:53 PM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 68° in the basement, 46° and sunny outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
After sleeping in and enjoying morning family time, I did another core strength and beginner ride on my Peloton.
Later we went to 5:30 mass celebrating the fourth Sunday of Advent, followed by a dinner party in our neighborhood.
Garmin Badges Earned
Garmin awarded me with four badges last week.
Questions:
- • Have you gifted yourself with any really cool gifts this holiday season? ~ Our Peloton!
- • If you celebrate Christmas, what are your plans this week? ~ Pablo and his humans are coming into town the day after Christmas so our big family gathering will be after Christmas Day.
- • Which workout did you enjoy most this past week? ~ Aside from my Christmas shenanigans with Kim, it was nice getting back outside for a walk after too many times on the treadmill.
And that’s my rundown… Have a great week!









Congrats on the new Peloton, Debbie!
That’s a big and very well-timed upgrade. The shift toward shorter, harder sessions fits perfectly with what you’ve been saying about prioritising quality in 2026.
I also like that you eased in with beginner rides and core work instead of going all-out on day one.
Do you feel more motivated now with the new Peloton bike or is it about the same compared to the spin bike?
Thanks, Catrina! You know I love my spin bike and never lacked motivation to get on it so I’d say it’s the same with the Peloton.
Congrats on the Peloton!!! Now you and Kim will be matching on your tandem rides! I don’t know if it’s exciting, but I did get a new Garmin watch this week after mine dramatically died this week. I’m looking forward to trying it out today.
After treadmilling it so much lately, I’d say that my most favorite workout was my run on Wednesday–it wasn’t too cold or windy, and the sun was out. Even though that’s when my Garmin died… :p
Merry Christmas!
A new Garmin is very exciting, Wendy!
I bet your run outside was fantastic after spending so many days on your treadmill. Yay for good weather, too!
Merry Christmas to you as well!
Welcome to the Peloton family! 🙂
You might like Christine’s SIIT classes — sprint interval training designed for women of our age. 😉 Otherwise Hannah Frankson is my favorite cycling instructor even though I don’t always know her music (she’s from the UK). Her programming and coaching is so good. You also might like Matt Wilpers — he’s probably the most serious “cyclist” other than Christine.
Thanks, Coco, I’ll check out Christine’s SIIT classes.
I know you are going to love your Peloton! We will have to chat about all things Peloton once you have a chance to explore. I gifted myself a pair of very nice shoes. Hope you and your family have a very MerryChristmas!
So far I’m loving it!
I guess I gifted myself the new Brooks Adrenalines (Black Friday purchase), but also may have dropped a pair of Iowa Hawkeye plaid flannel shorts into my shopping basket when I was a Scheels. I look forward to hearing how the new bike works out for you! Merry Christmas!
New running shoes are a great self-gift! Funny how those plaid flannel Iowa Hawkeye shorts ended up in your basket, too. 😉
Merry Christmas, Kim!
How fun with the new Peloton bike! There seems to be such a huge variety of classes there! I hope you’ll get a lovely Christmas time with your family. We’ll have some quiet time at home with good food, chocolate, movies and some tech projects we’re both working on. Hopefully there will be weather for some walking too.
I’ve given myself a nice gift and it arrived today! I’ve sold two lenses I no longer use, and instead bought a small fixed lens for my Sony camera. I played some with it today but can’t wait to take it out for some proper photos!
I’m sure you’ll enjoy your new lens. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the pictures you take with it.
Yay on that Peloton bike! That is a great gift for you both. And there will be no lack of choices when it comes to the workouts with Peloton. A few years back we bought new road bikes as an anniversary gift to each other. Those are the kind of gifts I love! 🙂
I guess I have been a bit of a hard person to buy gifts for this year. I really don’t need anything, so my suggestions have been pretty limited to my family. I did get a few hundred bucks of cash as gifts and I might just spend that on some new running shoes… because you know, SHOES! (as if I need more, but I do love new shoes).
Hope you and family have a very Merry Christmas!!
I’m sure we’ll love our Peloton. Shoes are always a great gift to buy for yourself.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, too, Lisa!
Congratulations on the new Peloton! How fun!
And I love yours and Kim’s pictures! The lights are the perfect addition!
Your gym is all super serious now! Wishing you many wonderful workouts!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thanks, Jenn!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well!