Pros & Cons
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- AI camera for form feedback
- Built-in voice control
- More comfortable seat than the previous generation
- Immersive Sonos speakers
- Included fan, phone tray
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- Expensive
- Limited strength training performance tracking
Peloton Cross Training Bike+ Specs
| Automatic Resistance Adjustment | |
| Bluetooth Headphone Support | |
| Footprint | 48 by 24 inches |
| Heart Rate Monitor Support | |
| Monthly Membership Fee | 49.99 |
| Requires Clip-In Shoes | |
| Rotating Touch Screen | |
| Screen Size | 23.8 |
| Streaming Media Compatibility | AMC+, DirecTV, Disney+, NBA League Pass, Netflix, YouTube, YouTube TV |
Cody Rigsby is back in my life, and I couldn't be happier. I reunited with my favorite fitness instructor on the Peloton Cross Training Bike+ ($2,695, plus a $49.99 monthly All Access class membership fee). Featuring a built-in AI-powered camera that tracks your movements, counts your reps, and analyzes your form to provide real-time corrections on your technique during strength training workouts, the Cross Training Bike+ is just as useful for building muscle as it is for cardio. Voice control lets you switch camera angles and adjust volume during mat workouts, while built-in Sonos speakers deliver an immersive audio experience. Added perks like a phone holder, a fan, and a redesigned seat boost overall comfort. While it comes with a steep price tag, Cross Training Bike+'s sheer versatility easily earns it our Editors' Choice award for smart stationary bikes.
Price and Membership: Interactive Fitness Doesn't Come Cheap
Priced at $2,695, the Peloton Cross Training Bike+ is $200 more than its predecessor started at. Considering the original Bike+ launched five years ago in 2020, the increase is expected and fairly modest. For comparison, the new Tonal 2 ($4,295) smart strength training machine is $1,300 more than the original model I reviewed in 2020.
Alongside the Cross Training Bike+, Peloton has also upgraded its entry-level cycle; the $1,695 Cross Training Bike gains a swiveling screen mount, a longtime feature of the Bike+ series, but lacks the new movement-tracking camera, voice control support, and automatic resistance adjustments. Powered by an AI system called Peloton IQ, the movement-tracking camera is also available on the Cross Training Row+ ($3,495) and Tread+ ($6,695), so you can pick your preferred form of cardio and get the same strength training experience on all three machines.
(Credit: Ali Jaber)The Peloton All-Access membership, required to take classes on the Cross Training Bike+ or any of the brand's other machines, is now $49.99 monthly, up from $39 when I reviewed the original Bike+. That's on the high end for connected fitness machines, exceeding the iFit membership ($39 monthly) on NordicTrack bikes or the Equinox+ membership ($40 monthly) on the SoulCycle At-Home Bike. The wall-mounted Tonal 2 has the most expensive membership among smart fitness machines I've tested at $59.95 monthly.
The All-Access membership offers unlimited access to Peloton's class library and the ability to create up to 20 user profiles on the machine, so everyone in your household can track their workout stats and get personalized workout suggestions. With an All-Access membership, you also use the Peloton app on your Android or iOS mobile device to stream classes while traveling. Without an All-Access membership, you can only use the bike in Just Ride mode, which shows your metrics on screen but offers no entertainment features.
Beyond cycling, the Bike+ offers classes across the following core categories: Bootcamp (which combines cycling and strength), Cardio, Strength, Stretching, Yoga, and Meditation. I've detailed the class library in my previous Peloton reviews, but the selection is always growing, and the brand continues to stay at the forefront of fitness trends. For instance, Peloton recently launched Sculpt Flow, a burgeoning style of yoga that incorporates strength training and cardio, a modality I have practiced and taught for years. There are plenty of strength training classes to choose from, including pilates, but if you want to do your own thing and work on specific exercises, a custom workout generator is built into the interface.
In addition to the vast library of on-demand options, Peloton streams about six to nine live classes per day, as of this writing.
If you like structure, Peloton offers workout programs such as 7 Days of Stretching, Crush Your Core: 14 Day Streak, and A Self Care Retreat. Other entertainment options include the fitness game Lanebreak, and access to the following streaming apps: AMC+, DirecTV, Disney+, NBA League Pass, Netflix, YouTube, and YouTube TV (which require separate subscriptions). There's also a Kindle app if you want to read ebooks while working out.
Peloton offers a selection of scenic rides, but most are unguided, meaning you can take in the view, but there's no formal structure to the workout. If you're into scenic classes, NordicTrack is a better option thanks to its vast library of iFit global workouts filmed in picturesque locations around the world and led by world-class athletes. I haven't tested the new NordicTrack X24 bike, but I gave the brand's earlier Commercial S22i excellent marks in my review. Like the S22i, the X24 can incline and decline, a boon for scenic workouts, and a feature Peloton doesn't offer on any of its bikes.
Design and Specs: Super Sleek, and More Comfortable Than Ever
The Cross Training Bike+ has a similarly compact design as the original, with a few comfort upgrades. Measuring 54 by 22 by 60 inches (LWH), the Cross Training Bike+ has almost the same dimensions as its predecessor (59 by 22 by 59 inches), and both are among the sleekest indoor cycles I've used. It has a 48-by-24-inch footprint, but Peloton recommends at least 24 inches of free space on all sides of the bike. I have mine closer to the wall, and it's not a problem. For the Intervals & Arms cycling classes, a personal favorite, you'll need enough room to stretch out your arms for dumbbell exercises when you're on the bike. Strength classes require at least enough room for a yoga mat on the floor near the bike.
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)Rider requirements haven't changed from the last generation—the Bike+ supports people between 4'11" and 6'5'' tall, weighing up to 297 pounds. All Peloton bikes require Delta-compatible clip-in cycling shoes; I wear the same ones I used with the previous-gen Bike+, and they work perfectly with the Cross Training model. The seat depth and height, and handlebar height are adjustable; in the Peloton 101 section of the interface, you can view tutorial videos on how to set up the bike, clip in and out of the pedals, and use the camera, fan, and phone tray.
The Cross Training model has a 23.8-inch Full HD swivel screen like the previous-gen Bike+. The display is big, bright, and easy to adjust for a good viewing angle during floor-based workouts since it rotates a full 360 degrees and tilts up and down. The base Bike has a smaller 21.5-inch display, but that's not a significant drawback—both screens are expansive and look great. The Bike+ display is almost overkill; the handlebar sometimes blocks part of the massive screen when it's rotated for floor-based workouts, but this is a minor gripe.
Above the display is the main new addition for the Cross Training Bike+ and one of the regular Bike's primary omissions: the new AI movement-tracking camera. The integrated camera works similar to the discontinued Peloton Guide, letting you see yourself on the bike display as you work out, and enables some new strength training capabilities, such as rep counting and form corrections.
The movement-tracking camera is smartly designed. It can pivot up and down just like the display itself. This physical adjustability, combined with the wide-angle lens, makes it very easy to frame yourself. There are five camera views to choose from: side by side (the screen is split vertically with your video on one side and the trainer's on the other), stacked (the screen is split horizontally with your video above the trainer's), maximized (your video takes up most of the screen and the trainer's is in a small box in the left corner), minimized (the trainer's video takes up most of the screen and yours is in a small box), or you can hide your video if you don't want to see yourself on the screen.
Music has always been an integral part of the Peloton experience, and the Cross Training Bike+ improves sound quality with Sonos-tuned speakers and a rear-facing woofer for added bass. This wasn't exactly a pain point, as the original Bike+ also sounded loud and clear to me, but the Cross Training model offers an even more immersive audio experience thanks to the added woofer.
Indoor cycling can be a literal pain in the butt, and if you're new to it, you can generally expect some discomfort in your hind region at first. That said, Cross Training Bike+ features a redesigned Comfort Saddle with increased padding and a wider width, minimizing soreness during and after rides. The standard Cross Training Bike comes with the same Comfort Saddle, and the $65 seat is available for purchase separately for use with Peloton's older bikes.
The included fan attaches to the Cross Training Bike+ display and has low, medium, high, and off settings that you can control with a physical button or on-screen controls. The fan also works with the base Cross Training Bike, but you'll need to purchase it separately ($99); it is not compatible with earlier models.
The phone holder, which snaps onto the handlebar in either horizontal or vertical orientation, is another welcome addition. The $45 phone tray can be purchased separately for the standard Cross Training Bike, and also works with the original Bike+. Otherwise, the Cross Training Bike+ provides built-in storage for two water bottles beneath the handlebar, and one set of light dumbbells behind the seat.
(Credit: Ali Jaber)The red resistance knob remains unchanged from the previous-gen bike. It's easy to turn and lets you fine-tune the resistance from 0 to 100. I continue to love the Auto-Resistance option introduced last generation, which automatically adjusts the resistance to match the trainer's cues, so you don't have to fiddle with the knob. The Bike+ always adjusts the resistance right in time with the trainer's cue, which is especially helpful when transitioning from seated to standing intervals.
When you press the lock icon on the class interface to enable Auto-Resistance, it automatically sets you to the middle of the trainer's prescribed range (35, for instance, if the range is 30 to 40). From there, you only have to manually turn the knob when you want to adjust your set point within the prescribed range. If, for instance, the trainer prescribes a resistance of 30 to 40, and you adjust it to 30 with Auto-Resistance enabled, it will keep you on the low end of the range for future changes. So if the trainer later says to increase your resistance to 40 to 50, it will automatically adjust you to 40. If you manually adjust the knob outside of the prescribed range (or disable Auto-Resistance), the bike won't automatically adjust your resistance.
The Cross Training Bike+ supports Bluetooth 5.2 for connecting to heart rate monitors and Wi-Fi for connecting to your home network. I use my Apple Watch as a heart rate monitor on the Cross Training Bike+; it seamlessly connects via the Peloton watchOS app, allowing me to see my real-time pulse on the display as I work out.
Delivery and Setup: Dusting Off My Peloton Shoes
The Bike+ delivery process could not have been easier. The delivery people arrived on time, carried the machine into my house, and set it up in the room of my choice. The entire process only took about 15 minutes, and the installers ensured the bike was working properly and running the latest software before leaving my home. They also showed me how to adjust the seat and handlebars, which I found helpful.
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All I had to do was connect the bike to my Wi-Fi network and sign into my Peloton account, which was seamless. Peloton shipped the fan and phone holder separately, so I had to install them on the Bike+ myself, which was easy enough.
For strength classes on the Bike+, you'll want at least three sets of dumbbells–something light, medium, and heavy. You can set up a virtual weight rack, noting what you have on hand for each of those three categories, and Peloton will track your volume lifted during class. You can update your weight rack via the touch screen before any strength class.
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)To set up hands-free voice control, you must calibrate the microphone by speaking four commands, like, "OK Peloton, switch to medium weights." A moving ellipsis indicates that the assistant is listening, and a check mark appears next to the phrase once Peloton has successfully registered that command. In testing, I had to repeat a few of the calibration phrases more than once, but the voice control setup still only took a minute or so.
You can use voice commands to control media playback, track weight rack changes during strength classes, adjust the volume or sound mix (to turn up just the instructor's audio or the music), hide or show information on the class interface, bookmark classes, and more. Like most nascent voice control systems, I find you have to use precise language with Peloton IQ, so not all of my commands work. It's very reliable for simple tasks like changing the volume or camera view, but more complex commands, such as adjusting your tracked weight for a specific move, are hit or miss.
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)During setup, you can select your primary fitness goal out of the following options: Boost Cardio Fitness, Build a Routine, Build Strength, Just Having Fun, Promote Longevity, Support Weight Goal, or Nothing Specific. Peloton then offers class suggestions based on your goal, which you can change at any time.
My goal is to build strength, and Peloton IQ has helped me stay focused on that. After I'd been taking mostly cycling and yoga classes, I came across an Insight on the home page one day that read, "You're building strength, try strengthening your upper body to complement recent yoga flows," alongside three core strength class options. This made me realize that I should probably prioritize strength training. Another time, I was debating whether to do a bike, strength, or yoga workout, and I found helpful guidance on the home page; the insight read: "You're balanced across strength and cardio; target upper or lower body strength for 20 to 30 minutes to build overall strength!"
Peloton has also baked AI into the profile section, where it tracks your performance for all workouts. When you tap into your profile, it now shows weekly Peloton IQ insights and tips alongside all your metrics. One recent tip suggested doing a 30-minute full-body strength session "to boost total volume and keep your strength gains accelerating." Beside the insight was a handy button to browse suggested workouts based on the tip.
Strength Training Features: Making Gains With Movement Tracking
Pretty much all of the new strength training classes Peloton has been streaming over the last month or so are compatible with the new movement tracking experience, but only certain older on-demand sessions are. Peloton makes it easy to find compatible classes; just tap into the strength tab on the Bike+ display and look for the movement tracker symbol in the top left corner of the workout thumbnail. There's also a button within the strength section that pulls up all compatible classes, and a filtering option.
(Credit: Ali Jaber)To activate the movement-tracking camera, flip it forward so that the lens is facing out. For privacy, you can flip it back to cover the lens when it's not in use. When the camera is on, the green light beside it illuminates, and you can optionally stream live footage to the display to monitor your form alongside the trainer's video. Peloton SAYS that images and videos captured by the camera are not recorded or stored.
At launch, the system can track your reps for 120 movements and provide form feedback for more than 50 exercises, and Peloton hopes to scale that up quickly. Peloton's rep-counting technology works well for the most part. It occasionally tracks an extra rep I didn't do, but very rarely misses actual reps. It may, for instance, give me credit for an extra rep if I'm still setting up for a move when the timer starts.
Sound effects play a significant role in smart strength training, helping to gamify the experience. Peloton dings every time it tracks a rep, which is a slight dopamine rush. Tonal similarly uses sound effects to indicate your last three reps in a set and when you hit a new PR, both of which are very satisfying.
(Credit: Ali Jaber)Peloton IQ form corrections can be helpful. While the AI analyzes your form, it displays an animated graphic that looks like thinking bubbles on the left side of the screen. If your form is correct, it shows a green check mark. If it detects that you did something wrong, it will issue an audio correction.
After one set of Romanian deadlifts, Peloton IQ recommended I lower the weight to focus on my form. I'm very familiar with this exercise, so the correction was humbling, but I knew the AI was right–I was rushing through that set. In this instance, I declined the weight change, but I slowed down my pace and didn't receive any corrections on the next set.
I'll admit that I suck at push-ups, but Peloton IQ has helped me improve my technique for this basic exercise. During one workout, the AI repeatedly told me to lower my hips during push-ups. After hearing the same correction a few times, I actually did lower my hips and realized this helped recruit my abdominal muscles, making the exercise a little easier.
Another time, during bent-over rows, Peloton IQ told me to lean forward further, which was a good cue. Even the most seasoned exercisers are prone to having a sloppy rep here and there, and Peloton IQ can hold you accountable. The Tonal 2 also utilizes a camera and AI to track your form and provide real-time corrections, and goes a step further by filming your mistakes and sending the footage to its companion mobile app for review, a feature called Smart View that earned our Technical Excellence award.
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)As noted, Peloton tracks your volume lifted based on your light, medium, and heavy dumbbell settings. This should be sufficient for newbies, but it's limiting if you have a lot of other weights at home, which I do. You can use voice controls to tell Peloton you're lifting a different weight, provided you remember to do so, and you use the correct command.
During one class, I felt a clicking in my elbows while doing skull crushers, so I dropped down from two light dumbbells to one, and the move felt much better. I tried telling Peloton IQ to adjust my weight for the move using voice controls, but it didn't respond, likely because I didn't phrase the command correctly. After the workout, I attempted to manually adjust the tracked weight using the touch screen, but it only provided the option to specify whether I used light, medium, or heavy weights. For more accurate tracking, it should give you the option to modify your weight lifted to any value. Tonal offers much more detailed and accurate performance tracking for strength training workouts; it sets the resistance for you and allows for granular 1-pound adjustments, so it always knows exactly how much you lifted.
At the end of movement tracker workouts, Peloton shows the percentage of rep targets you hit. During one 30-minute class, I hit 20 out of 24 targets and earned a score of 83%. During a different class, a short 10-minute strength session, the rep counter didn't match up with the movements we were doing, so I only scored 33%. I believe this was caused by human error due to the trainer getting off sequence, versus a technical glitch, so it was easily forgivable, and I haven't otherwise encountered this problem.
Over the past eight weeks of testing, I feel that I've gained strength from working out with the Cross Training Bike+. All of the strength instructors are great, but I've gravitated toward Tunde Oyeneyin, and I'm constantly surprised at how challenging yet accessible her classes are. With Tunde's inspiration and motivation, I have used my heavy weights that were previously collecting dust a lot more over the past two months. The strength workouts always leave me sore the next day.
In the past, I've heard critiques that Peloton's strength training classes are too high-intensity and not good for heavy lifting, but I don't find that to be the case, at least anymore. Many of the classes incorporate circuit training, but the instructors generally give breaks between sets, which is important for heavy lifting. During a recent 20-minute strength class, my Apple Watch reported an average and maximum heart rate of 138bpm and 148bpm, respectively, which is about 20 to 30bpm shy of my target workout max, and a suitable zone for strength training.
When cycling on the Cross Training Bike+, I usually stick with Cody Rigsby's classes because I jive with his music selections (Britney Spears features heavily on his playlists), and he gives me a great workout while keeping me laughing the whole time. I especially love his XOXO, Cody rides, in which he dispenses love and life advice, all while leading a heart-pumping workout. His classes are so entertaining, I sometimes forget I'm working out—something that would never happen on a basic indoor cycle at the gym.