Peloton FAQ: Common Questions Users Ask Plus Answers
Iโve just updated this Peloton FAQ article. Why? Because people have come to me looking for the answers to many more Peloton questions since I first wrote this post. So it has expanded since then.
I know that when I first entered the Peloton world, I could have benefitted from a Peloton FAQ. With Peloton you need to get up to speed on lots of words, phrases, lingo, acronyms, abbreviations, and more.
Iโve had my Peloton since 2016. Therefore, now I understand what different Peloton words and phrases mean.
However, I realize that if youโre new to the Peloton ecosystem, you might not have any idea what instructors are talking about during class. Or, maybe you met Peloton users in the wild. Then, that person asked what your leaderboard name was or what tags you follow.
Peloton FAQ
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So, Iโve created this Peloton FAQ or frequently asked questions. Iโm providing the definitions or explanations for some of the most common Peloton terms that can confuse new users.

FAQ about the Peloton Leaderboard
What is the leaderboard, aka the LB? Well, if you watch golf or racing or โDancing with the Stars,โ then you know exactly what a leaderboard is. Basically, the leaderboard is a board (usually) that shows the position of certain competitors in a race or competition.
On the Peloton, the Leaderboard is the overlay on the screen (or the app) on the right hand side that shows your position in class as well as the position of everyone else in the class with you.
How does the Peloton leaderboard work
The leaderboard shows you everyone thatโs in class with you for a live ride, or when youโre doing a ride on demand. You can also make the leaderboard show the โall timeโ LB for a classโmeaning everyone who has ever taken that class.
Your position on the leaderboard is based on your output. Keep in mind that many bikes are calibrated differently. So your output compared to your โcompetitionโ really means nothing. Honestly, I donโt understand riders who are always trying to be number one on the Peloton leaderboard.
Think your Peloton bike needs to be recalibrated? This article can help.
FAQ about Peloton instructors leaderboard and usernames
Many of the current Peloton instructors have a habit of popping up in class with you. You might even get a high five from them.
So, how do you know if they are, legit, the Peloton instructor you think it is? Well, Iโve tracked down the leaderboard names or usernames for nearly all of the current Peloton instructors.
List of Peloton instructor leaderboard names
Here is an alphabetical list of most of the Peloton instructors and their leaderboard names that I could confirm.
Note: if you follow instructors on Instagram, youโll notice that their usernames on the Peloton leaderboard are the same ones youโll find on social media. So, if my list, below, isnโt complete, I would suggest searching using their Twitter or Instagram handles.
- Ben Alldis: BenAlldis
- Olivia Amato: olivia_amato
- Robin Arzon: RobinArzon
- Hannah Corbin: HannahCorbin
- Christine DโErcole: IAMICANIWILLIDO
- Cliff Dwenger: clifforddwenger
- Hannah Frankson: HannahFrankson
- Becs Gentry: BecsGentry
- Anna Greenberg: agreenberg
- Callie Gullickson: ItscallieG
- Leanne Hainsby: LeanneHainsbyUK
- Chelsea Jackson Roberts: CJRLovesYoga
- Rebecca Kennedy: RKSolid
- Rad Lopez: radlopez
- Kristen McGee: krimcgee
- Daniel McKenna: theirish_yank
- Ally Love: AllyMissLove
- Emma Lovewell: emmalovewell
- Matty Maggiacomo: mattymaggiacomo
- Denis Morton: Denis__Morton
- Tunde Oyeneyin: tune2tunde
- Cody Rigsby: codyrigsby
- Bradley Rose: bradley_rose
- Selena Samuela: selenasamuela
- Aditi Shah: diti22
- Jenn Sherman: JennSherman
- Jess Sims: jesssims
- Andy Speer: AndySpeer23
- Kendall Toole: fitxkendall
- Alex Toussaint: MrToussaint25
- Adrian Williams: AdrianWNYC
- Matt Wilpers: MWilpers
- Sam Yo: SuperYOda
Want to find famous celebrities on Peloton? This article lists their usernames.
Who was the first Peloton instructor?
I understand that in 2014, Jenn Sherman reached out to Peloton founder John Foley about working with Peloton. Then, he hired her as one of the first Peloton instructors. Soon thereafter Robin Arzon joined the company.
Peloton classes On Demand
I knew the term โon demandโ from having cable TV. Basically, something you want to watch that was recorded previously but you can queue up and press โplayโ when itโs convenient for you. On Peloton itโs the same.
Every class that is broadcast live is recorded and placed in an On Demand library. Sometimes instructors record classes exclusively for On Demand.
Encore classes
Whatโs the FAQ about Encore classes?ย An Encore is a class thatโs been previously recorded. However, it is being rebroadcast like a live class. Therefore, it will show up on the Peloton schedule with live classes.
When it does, the class will say โEncoreโ underneath it, instead of โLive.โ Fun fact: when looking at the Peloton schedule on your Bike, you can toggle a switch to hide all Encore classes. This is a handy trick if you want to ride Live only.
Here is my blog post that explains how the Peloton class schedule works.
FAQ: Whatโs a High Five?
When youโre in a class with other peopleโon the bike, on the Peloton app, on the Treadโyou can double tap on a personโs picture to send them a high five. You do this as a sign of support or โyou go girl (or guy)โ just to be friendly.
Peloton Tags
What are Peloton tags? Itโs short for hashtags.
You can add up to 10 hashtags to your profile. This allows you to find people who have similar interests, live nearby or even went to the same college as you did. When youโre a Power Zone Team, youโll usually get a unique tag for your team.
Where do I find my Peloton tags?
You need to go into your profile settings to add tags. However, you need to do this on the Peloton hardwareโaka the Bike or Treadโor the Peloton website. As of this writing, I have not been able to figure out how to work with my tags when I access Peloton through the app or my Roku TV.
When youโre in a ride with other people who share your tags, the hashtag will show up in blue under their profile on the Leaderboard. Again, this color change only shows up on classes taken on the hardware.
How do I add hashtags to my profile
As I mentioned you need to go into your profile on the Peloton on the bike or Tread to add hashtags or tags to your profile. However, Peloton has just added the ability to add tags in the app, too. Hereโs how you do it.
One, in the Peloton app, tap Profile at the bottom. Two, underneath your profile picture youโll see any hashtags that youโve previously added. Tap that. Three, the next screen will give you three options for adding tags:
- My tags
- Search or create (meaning search or create new tags)
- Explore
What โMy Tagsโ means
When youโre in your profile and see the option for โMy Tags,โ it shows you the tags that youโve added to your profile. Youโre only allowed to add 10 tags to your profile at a time. In other words, you can only have a total of 10 tags maximum.
However, you cannot delete tags here, if youโve reached your maximum. Iโll explain how you can do that shortly. Anyway, you would think that the app would have the functionality like Gmail or even the class stacks and be able to tap a tag or swipe left to have the option to delete. Nope, that doesnโt exist.
What โSearch or Createโ tags means
When you tap on โSearch or Create,โ youโre given the option to type in the name of the tag. As Peloton explains, โTags are up to 20 letters or numbers with no spaces.โ
I decided to search for tags related to my alma materโNYU. I typed in NYU and got a bunch of results. One of them seemed appropriateโNYUalum. When I tapped on it to add to my profile, I was given the option to delete one of my existing tags so there would be room for it to fit.
How do I know that I could delete an existing tag? Because an โXโ showed up in a circle next to it. That says to me, tap here and delete.
I decided to tap on the name of my last Power Zone team, which I no longer need since the challenge is over. When I did, the app asked me if I wanted to replace the tag with the new one and confirm by tapping the big red โReplaceโ button. So, I did. Then, I got a confirmation screen that this new tag was added with a big check mark.
What โExploreโ tags means
When you tap the โExploreโ tags option, you get a list of tags that are classified in four ways:
- Trending
- Featured
- Friends
- Popular
This way you can find popular and trending tags, obviously, or, more importantly, find the tags that your friends are following, too.ย
Featured, well, Iโm not sure what the criteria is for the tags that Peloton decides to feature. Because on the day I was writing this article, the featured tags were #BeersAfter, #BunsofAnarchy, #TeamSlackers and many more.
You can see how many Peloton members are in each of these tags, including the featured ones. And thatโs confusing because the tags arenโt even listed in descending order by number of members. I mean, #PeloDoctors with 26,199 members was right above #SweatSquad with 7,918 members. Whereโs the logic there?
Peloton FAQ: What is Just Ride mode
If you want to ride your Peloton bike but you donโt want to take a class, per se, you have two options. One, you can log onto one of the scenic rides. (Hereโs my review of Peloton scenic rides.) Two, you can start Just Ride mode.
What is Just Ride mode? Exactly as it sounds. You start Just Ride mode and pedal away. Cadence, resistance and output all work during a Just Ride-ride. Thereโs nothing on the screenโjust the metrics.
Why would you use Just Ride mode
Just Ride mode is a great option if you want to move your legs but you donโt want to commit to a class. Or, if you need to do work at home or get on a Zoom callโbut you also want to keep your Peloton streak goingโyou can put your SpinTray on your bike, start Just Ride and off you go.
Where is Just Ride on the Peloton?
How to find and start Just Ride mode? One, look at the bottom of the Peloton home screen. See the icon and the word โMore Ridesโ? Tap that. Two, there youโll find the two aforementioned, non-class options: Scenic Rides or Just Ride. Tap on Just Ride to enable Just Ride mode.
A Just Ride-rideย will count towards your total rides. So be mindful that you donโt โwasteโ a milestone on Just Ride.
What is Peloton Lanebreak?
New for 2022: There is now a third option is โMore Ridesโ and itโs called Lanebreak. Lanebreak is the Peloton video game that lets you play while working out. Think of it like Guitar Hero meets the Peloton bike.
Lanebreak rides count just like any ride you take. See my profile, below.

Please check out this review of Peloton Lanebreak for more info on this video game on the bike.
FAQ: How to pause a recorded Peloton class
For the longest time, whenever anyone asked how to pause a Peloton class, the answer was, you canโt. Well, at least you couldnโt on the Peloton bike. Now you can. This article on the Peloton pause button goes into more details about pausing classes.
FAQ: Is there a Peloton weight limit, height limit or age limit?
Officially, not only is there a Peloton weight limit but also a limit with height and age. That is, Peloton says the bike and Bike Plus can support weight up to 297 pounds. However, I know people who weigh more than that and letโs just say they were not limited in how they used their bike.
As far as a height minimum and maximum, again Peloton says 4โ11โ is the height minimum and 6โ5โณ is the height maximum. I cover short riders on Peloton in this blog post about the shortie tribe.
Finally, you may wonder if there is an age limit for Peloton. The company likes users to be at least 14 years old. However, my article on Peloton for kids gives you more information on how the youngest users can safely benefit from Peloton.
FAQ: What is the Peloton Strive Score?
FAQ: Does Peloton have a camera
UPDATE: Peloton has discontinued the ability to video chat.
So, why, you may be asking, does the Peloton have a camera? Because, if you want, you can video chat with a follower while you are taking the same class.
FAQ: Can you use Peloton without the Internet
The answer to the question about using Peloton without Internet is both yes and no. Yes, you can use your Peloton without Internet, as long as you can hotspot your phone to the bike or Tread. Iโve done this at times when my Internet went out.
The other yes for using Peloton without Internet is using the Peloton app. You can use the Peloton app on your phone or tablet, as long as it has a data plan.
In fact, I do this nearly every dayโuse the Peloton app without Internet. Iโve taken Jess Simsโ 30-minute 90s walk probably 63 times. I listen to it when I walk my dogs each morning. In case you didnโt know, itโs all what she calls Jock Jams.

Finally, itโs clear that if you do not have Internet or canโt hotspot your phone, then, no, you cannot use your Peloton without Internet.
FAQ: What to do when Peloton not showing cadence or resistance
Have you logged on to do a ride, only to discover that your Peloton is not showing cadence or resistance? Or that the Peloton is not showing metrics at all?
Yeah, this has happened to me, too. There are three fixes that Iโve found that seem to work.
Check for Peloton system update
One, start by exiting the ride youโre in. Then, look at the bottom of the screen.
Is there a system update showing on the bottom of the screen? That is, do you need to update the Peloton software? Itโs usually shows with an exclamation point with circling arrows around it.ย
If so, then you need to update the system software. This could be the sole reason that cadence and resistance or any metrics arenโt showing on your Peloton.
Shut down your Peloton bike
Two, if there isnโt a system update showing, let me ask you: when was the last time you fully shut down your bike? I know a common question that people ask is if they should shut down or turn off their bike in between rides. I always do. Thatโs because I think itโs a good practice.ย
So, if itโs been a few days since you shut down your Peloton, go ahead and do that. Then start it back up and go back into your ride. Is it fixed? Are the metrics finally showing? Great.
Unplug your Peloton cycle like a modem
Three, if none of the above options work, think about your Peloton bike like a modem. You know how unplugging a modem, counting to 30 and then plugging it back in seems to fix all problems?
Yeah, well, remember that your Peloton is a fancy computer device. Technically, the screen or tablet is an Android device. So try the modem trick to restore metrics.
Iโm confident that one of these three solutions will fix the problem of the Peloton not showing cadence or resistance or metrics overall. However, if Iโm wrong, then I would suggest reaching out to Peloton support.
How to cast your screen to a Peloton
This article can help you with step-by-step instruction to cast your Peloton to a TV.
FAQ: Can you use a Peloton membership on multiple bikes
There are two ways of answering the question, โCan you use one Peloton subscription on multiple bikes?โ If you have more than one Peloton bike in your home, household or family, then, yes, you can use one Peloton subscription on multiple bikes. But, itโs a yes with a caveat.
If more than one person signs into two or more bikes at the same timeโon the same subscriptionโonly one person can ride. In other words, only one subscription at a time can be active on a Peloton bike.
On the other hand, if you and your children or significant other want to be able to ride classes together, youโll each need to have separate subscriptions. This applies to the same kind of hardware only. So, two Peloton bikes riding at the same timeโeither in the same place or just simultaneouslyโwill need to pay for separate subscriptions.
Similarly, two Peloton Treads being used at the same time will need separate subscriptions.
However, a single Peloton subscription can be used on a piece of hardwareย and the Peloton app or website or channel on a Roku TV at the same time. You will not get kicked off for using a bike or Tread and an online version of Peloton classes simultaneously.
So you can share a Peloton membership. You just canโt share it and use it at the same time when riding the bike while someone else rides another Peloton.
FAQ on Peloton: What does the person icon mean on a Peloton class preview
This little person icon in the upper left corner of a Peloton class preview is new. And itโs been confusing.
At first people thought it meant that people were currently taking the class. Because, as you can see from, below, there is a number next to the icon. Now I know that the person icon shows how many of myย friends or the people Iย follow have taken this same class.

Youโll also notice that check mark next to the person icon. That check mark shows thatย youโve previously taken this class. In older iterations of the Peloton app, it would tell you how many times youโve taken a class. Now you just see the checkmark.
However, there is a person icon when youโre taking a class that does tell you how many people are in a class with you. Youโll see it on the upper right hand side of the class screen, when you use the Peloton website or Peloton app. Iโve circled an example, below.
For example, when I was doing a Ben Alldis stretch class this morning, shown below, the person icon had the number 15 next to it. That told me that there were 15 other people taking that stretch class, too. Basically, thatโs your leaderboard on the app or website.ย

You can tap that icon and it will expand to show you exactly who is in class with you. Also, this is where you can send high fives to your classmates via the website or app.
FAQ: What is Tabata vs HIIT?
Both Tabata and HIIT are interval classes or workouts. In fact, HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training.ย
When it comes to Peloton Tabata vs HIIT classes, hereโs what I know: according to the Cleveland Clinic, Iโm right that both are kinds of interval training. However, Tabata is much more specific in how those intervals are organized.
For example, a Tabata class usually has a strict 2 to 1 or 2:1 ratio of work to recovery. So, if you push for 20 seconds, you rest for 10 seconds. If you push for 40 seconds, you rest for 20 seconds. And so on.
On the other hand, while a HIIT workout may have elements of Tabata in itโa ratio of work to recovery, it is not as specific. In HIIT classes, intervals and recovery periods can be of varying lengths.
FAQ: What does EMOM and AMRAP mean
Youโll hear the acronym EMOM and AMRAP primarily in Peloton strength classes or bootcamp workouts. Hereโs what each means.
EMOM stands for Every Minute on the Minute. That is, youโre doing a series of moves, with movement starting at the top of each minute.ย
AMRAP stands for As Many Reps as Possible. So, for example, today I did a 30-minute Bike Bootcamp class with Robin Arzon. The floor section of class ended with an AMRAP. That AMRAP involved moves like push ups, tricep kickbacks and wide presses. As soon as you finished one set of each of the moves, you started again until time was up. It was a real burner!
FAQ on a Peloton Crew or Tribe
What is a Peloton crew or tribe? This is a group of people who are fans of a certain instructor.
For example, the #boocrew are Cody Rigsby fans. Why? Because Cody calls everyone โboo.โย
You will find lots of crew or tribe-related tags associated with peopleโs profiles. Some examples include:
- CDETribe (for Peloton instructor Christine DโErcole
- JSSTribe (for Peloton instructor Jenn Sherman)
- Yougettocrew (for Peloton instructor Jess Sims)
- Pushpushcrew (for Peloton instructor Hannah Frankson)
- 80screw ( for people who like music from the 1980s)
Boocrew Products
For a sample of some of the gifts from Etsy I include for the #boocrew, here you go.
Peloton homecoming FAQ
What is Peloton homecoming? It is an annual event in New York City. It is a time when Peloton users can gather together to ride, run and workout with their favorite instructors.
This article answers all your questions about the homecoming event.
Peloton PR
In Peloton land PR is โpersonal record.โ Some people might refer to it as PB for personal best. To me PB is just an abbreviation for peanut butter.
Basically, itโs when your total output on a class that was the same length (i.e. 45-minute ride) is higher than your previous output. Then, you have a PR. When you earn a PR, youโll get a yellow star badge for your achievements.
Does Peloton have captions?
You can enable closed captions or subtitles on Peloton. This includes the hardware (Bike and Tread), the app, a Smart TV and the Peloton website.ย
This article explains how to turn subtitles on and off.
Output on Peloton
Have you ridden with instructor Denis Morton yet? He always says, โCadence and resistance come together like Voltron to create output.โ
Basically, as youโre riding, the cadence (your leg speed) and the resistance (the knob you turn to make pedaling harder or easier) are combining to create the output (your power), the number in the middle.ย
Output is the metric that riders use on Power Zone rides. Unfamiliar with Power Zone training? Here is my blog post that explains Power Zone.
Peloton achievement badges FAQ
If thereโs one thing Peloton has excelled at, it is incentivizing working out. How? By giving out badges.
You get badges when you achieve a PR, you get badges when you hit a daily or weekly streak, and you get badges when you hit a milestone, such as your 100th ride or your Century Ride.
I do a real deep dive on badges in this blog post about Peloton milestones.
Final thoughts on this Peloton FAQ
I hope that this Peloton FAQ has helped you become more familiar with Peloton lingo. If I have missed any phrases or terms, please post a comment. Then, I will update this post accordingly.
Finally, if you are new to Peloton, please visit my post on Peloton for beginners. If youโre wondering about Pelotonโs return policy, this article will help. And do subscribe to my email list for the latest info from me on everything Peloton.
Thank you for all the information you provide.
1/ Since you are a 50+, you may not know there is a category for 70+. I am not sure why it is not revealed, but you have to click at the bottom of the 60+ to get to it. Why can you not permanently record your age group ranking? I only can get it for overall rank.
2/ Why can you not differentiate between warmups and cooldowns when filtering classes?
3/ Is there a way to save favorite classes?
4/ Is there a way to filter out instructors you don’t want?
5/ I realize that, the older you get the tougher it is to maintain your ranking in your age groupโ60-somethings keep turning 70. Are there any stats on the distribution within the decadeโwhat percentage of 70+ are 71, 72, etc.
Wow, lots of good questions. I really don’t have good answers for one and five. However, I can answer the others. For question two, I use the search feature for cool down or warm up to find the classes I want. There really should be that option in the filter, I agree. For questions three, you can’t favorite classes but you can bookmark them. Question four, no but I wish there was this option.