SIDEBAR Winter 2019-2020 - 12

MONTGOMERYBAR.ORG

By Robert R. Watson, Jr., Esq.

I

n 2020, it is easy to question the usefulness
of many new technologies. It seems that
every day, we see a new gadget being
advertised, and with the right marketing and
social media "word of mouth" campaign, almost anything can
become the next "must-have" product, guaranteed to improve your
life, increase your efficiency, secure your loved ones or increase
your bottom line. We are as guilty of falling for the latest and
greatest tech in our homes as we are at the office. Nothing new
is free, we know, and it seems that with each innovation comes
another not-so-modest price tag to get on board or be left behind.
The goal of any new technology should be to improve its
users' lives, whether personal or in the workplace, in a way that
also provides value for the dollars being spent. As attorneys and
professionals, far too much of our weeks and weekends are spent at
desks and computers, sitting in meetings and driving to and from
those meetings. It is no secret that most folks who work at office
jobs could use more exercise. It's good for the body and good for
the mind. We all know our time is limited, though, so any time
we can take should be convenient and made the most of.
I first learned about the Peloton exercise bike a few years
ago. Always a big fan of cycling classes at the gym, the possibility
of having a similar class in the comfort of my own home ondemand was certainly an appealing one. First launched in 2014,
the Peloton stationary exercise bike links to an on-line library
of pre-recorded cycling classes as well as a daily calendar of live
classes broadcast from Peloton's cycling studios in Manhattan and
London. The bike comes equipped with a 22-inch touch screen
enabling users to log into the system through individual accounts,
and search and browse classes by length, instructor, intensity
and type of music. Once a class is selected and you begin,
upbeat instructors guide riders through intensity and speed levels
("resistance" and "cadence") which are controlled by the individual
rider. As the class proceeds, each rider's intensity and output is
recorded and synchronized to other persons taking the live class
or compared with those previous riders or individuals currently
within any pre-taped on-demand class. Whether one chooses to
challenge others for position on the leaderboard or simply move at
his or her own pace is up to each individual rider, but all intensity
and output results are kept in real time and compiled for the

12 SIDEBAR

user after each workout to compare to personal
goals and judge ongoing strength and fitness
improvement if the user chooses.
Any seasoned cycling class participant will
quickly find the Peloton experience to be similar in many aspects
to sitting in a live physical class in your neighborhood. Riders
come to learn the strengths and areas of emphasis offered by
each instructor, and know which classes to take, either within
each person's comfort zone or to push the limits for a different
or more intense workout experience. In fact, when taking live
classes, it is not completely uncommon for instructors to call out
and encourage riders - sometimes personally when celebrating
a milestone such as a birthday or a particular anniversary ride.
Many cycling classes also include arm workouts to use with light
hand weights you can store conveniently behind the bike seat.
Last January, I was glad to learn I wasn't the only one in my
house interested in the Peloton system, and we quickly made
arrangements to purchase a bike and open an account for classes.
It didn't hurt that I was also changing gym memberships and
moved to a new local facility with limited group offerings and no
cycling classes. Since our new bike was delivered fully assembled
by a knowledgeable and helpful set-up consultant, we have both
made Peloton an important part of our busy workweeks. The
chance to jump on the bike for a class early in the morning or late
at night has become something I look forward to as much, if not
more, than driving to the gym to use weights or the other exercise
equipment available there. Outside of the house, we have met
other Peloton devotees who also appreciate the physical exercise
it offers as well as the growing entertainment aspect of Peloton's
diverse instructors and the types of classes they offer.
It was just recently that I brought the program up at our
SIDEBAR committee meeting, and we agreed that my experience
with Peloton would be a good one to share with our readers.
Peloton also unveiled a new treadmill last January with similar live
and on-demand instructors guiding users through walking, jogging
and running workouts via a similar on-line interface. Registered
users are given full access to other exercise classes and programs
also offered by Peloton, which do not require physical equipment,
such as strength training, yoga, cardio and meditation. Anyone
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SIDEBAR Winter 2019-2020

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