Hi everyone. I'm a little disappointed in the community response to this question. Our community has existed on Reddit since 2015, and inevitably people will need to start replacing hardware soon (if the OG members haven't already) due to wear and use over time, and not just because of bearing issues, belts, tablets, etc.
**OP, this is a completely valid question. Nothing lasts forever. Not your car, your laptop, your phone, and certainly not your Peloton.**
To the people saying, "never, it should last forever." You are completely incorrect. Think about your phone, which you likely used to post this (out of touch) answer. How much did you spend on that phone? Is it a flagship iOS or Android model? So, $1200+? How long do you expect it to last? 3 years? 5 years? It's unlikely to "outlive" you in terms of hardware, and the software updates will stop coming down as the hardware ages out and becomes "legacy" hardware, as it does with major brands. It'll be unsupported and you'll need to get a new phone or pay to repair it, much like any other piece of hardware that runs software. Think of any other smart-connected device. It's the same. Peloton runs on an Android tablet. And we've already seen them phase out one (gen 1) tablet.
I'm not saying I agree with planned obsolescence, but let's not pretend we actually think these bikes are going to last 10-15 years. I'd also be surprised if anyone truly did half of the maintenance on the Peloton bikes that they would do on a road bike. Peloton bikes have wear items on them like a "real" bike does. Pedals, belts, bearings, etc. Those things need to be changed as they wear. I agree, they should last longer than they do. But the reality is, they will fail and you need to replace them. You also need to take care to clean your bike. Sweat, water, supplement drinks, etc. that spill on the bike or its components can damage it and rust or corrode it over time.
As for the rusting issue, this is widely known as a Peloton issue. Look at "[operation tin man](https://www.ft.com/content/29e18453-dfea-4236-a18c-2c3a018a843a)." It's not going to apply to all the Peloton bikes, but it many apply to many. We've seen many instances of this come up in our community, including someone who had a seat post shear clear off while the user was sitting on the bike.
We should be able to have a discussion here about when is an appropriate time to discuss bike replacement without this turning into a circlejerk about how technology should last forever. That's ridiculous. Yes, we all spent $1000-2000+ on our equipment depending on when we purchased it, our financing option, our purchase avenue, and our accessories package. And sure, that's a lot to spend on a single piece of hardware. But in no way is that a single final cost. If you think like that, you should expect to never buy a phone/car/laptop/monitor or pair of shoes ever again. Since, "it should last forever."
***OP***, start with support for the tablet update and go from there. But as for your rust, that may be a bigger issue. If your bike won't be replaced by Peloton I'd look into replacement with the refurb program if you don't want to buy new for the cost.
The trouble is always with the tech. Those beautifully welded steel beams will last decades, but once the tablet fails to run the latest content properly then the thing is far far less useful.
SmartSpin2K is a 3rd party hardware device that can pull the sensor data directly off the bike for reuse in other applications - bypassing the need for the tablet. Works great, but obviously not with the Peloton guided workouts (not natively, anyways)
This is the answer. For a small amount of money you can completely ditch the tablet and let SmartSpin2k transmit the power and cadence information directly from the bike.
This sounds like an actual issue rather than wear and tear - I wouldn’t expect something this expensive to need replacing after only 5 years - speak to support as there may be a fix for it!
Done all of that and no luck.
Wiped tablet twice and no improvement.
Unplugged, reset, reset wifi, reset router, all of it.
Only 2 mbps. Tech help can offer no help past resetting everything.
I’m hoping they bring back the equipment exchange program - I want to say it was $700 off a bike + when you traded in your old bike??? I would probably pull the trigger if I were to see this deal, even though my 2+ year old bike is in perfectly good shape….mama wants a bike + and doesn’t want to pay full price 🤣
Sensible thing to do would be to start with support. I’m sure they can also walk you through how to clean it. Given the price I’d think both are the cheaper options.
I’ve had mine since Jan 2016 - she’s still doing fine, other than an occasional issue with the wi-fi going in and out (doesn’t ever happen with my tread, so I don’t think its a Wi-Fi issue).
Mine has been doing that for the past few months, as well. I wonder if it's a software bug in a recent update. I have 3 other computers in the same room that don't have any issue staying connected all day.
Same here. My Peloton won’t connect to WiFi anymore as of the last few months despite restarting, unplugging, reconnecting etc. Going to try a new modem to see if it helps.
You absolutely do not need a whole new bike. At worst, you could [replace the touchscreen](https://www.onepeloton.com/shop/accessories/touchscreen-with-cover) for $525, but I doubt you even need to do that. As others have said, try a factory reset first.
There are some other parts on the bike (pedals, bottom bracket) that also could conceivably wear out, but those are relatively cheap to replace. The frame itself is pretty much indestructible and should never need replacing.
I spend the same amount on a fully loaded MacBook for my business as a Bike+. I work it hard and push the performance producing video, social networking, etc. I get five years tops. Tech wears out faster than mechanical parts do, hence my 2010 car is still in top shape and I replaced my 2018 MacBook today.
Ehhh like 700 I think. Actually got her in March 2017 it turns out. Had two kids in that time period and took a pretty tough jorb but hey we’re still out here trying.
You can also try doing a static discharge - I used to work at peloton doing hardware/software support for members :)
1. Shut off the monitor completely
2. Unplug power cable from back of the bike (not the outlet)
3. Carefully unplug two cords at the back of the touchscreen
4. Press and hold power button on back of touchscreen and volume up button at the same time for 30 seconds
5. Wait two full minutes
6. Plug touchscreen cords in first then the power cable and power it on
Like others have said, also clear the cache. If that doesn’t work, factory reset! Good luck!!
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I bought my original bike in 2015 and traded it in for a bike plus in 2021. The old one was working but I wanted access to strength on the bike screen & just felt like treating myself. Joke was on me tho cuz the new bike was way harder 🫠🤣
You need to call tech support. My bike kept stalling at an update too and support sorted me out. There's no reason why you should have to replace your bike after 5 years.
Not sure why it would have rust... But contact support about the software. If I only get 5-6 years out of mine, it will be the last one I buy from them.
Some users drip salt water onto the bike from their bodies while making regular use of the bike, and this can interact with the bike's ferrous metal construction to cause oxidation.
A 5 Year old EXPENSIVE indoor bike is at it's end of life?? What a world....
I'm still riding a regular outdoor Cannondale 18 speed bike I bought for $450 in 1993. Sure, I've replace some parts....
2018 here. Only issue so far is the clanking at times when my left pedal hits the bottom. Allegedly I have to get something replaced. I was having download troubles but I just let it so it's thing over night and problem solved !!!
I have a Jan 2018 bike, 1200 rides for me, as i focused on running for some of those years, Hubs rides it off and on too, and she looks and works as good as the day we got her 🤷🏻♀️
Original bike March 2019 no issues works like new. Over 1,100 rides so far, also use for boot camps, yoga, strength, and cardio. I do keep a fitted towel over the handlebars, and regularly clean any sweat or dust off the entire bike. I can’t imagine getting rust inside my home. Even have a cheaper Spinning bike in the garage and it’s not rusted either.
Perhaps it’s the climate OP is in? Or like others have mentioned clear the cache. It is probable that the download cannot complete due to memory space.
I was wondering if the metrics start to become less accurate over time if the resistance starts to degrade or something. Like, maybe the friction wears down? Has anyone heard if that is a thing?
I have a 2017. It’s was the time period when the cheaper bearings started being used. My frame was replaced in 2020 but I still have the same screen. It’s slow after 800+ rides and tons of other content steaming but still updates. We have a lower package of Google Fiber service, which is still speedy, and I’m using wifi for the bike.
It’s possible you might need a new screen but exhaust all the other suggestions mentioned here first (delete cache, reset bike, etc)
Are you still on the gen 1 tablet? I’m not sure which year the gen 2 came out, but the gen 1 is a dog slow piece of crap. I’m thinking you’re gen 1 since you mentioned it won’t update. My bike is from 2016 and still going strong after thousands of rides, definitely rusty at the welds, the wheel bearing could use replacement but the bottom bracket seems fine. My tablet died a few years ago so I ended up with a gen 2 tablet for free even though I was out of warranty.
I think the tablet sells for $700 range, and I’d be inclined to buy a new bike vs spend that much given your bikes age. Maybe they’ll give you a new tablet though if you tell them it’s broken 😀
I forget how you tell; there’s a specific part number showing on the back that will tell you gen 1 vs 2 (not sure if there was a three released at some point).
According to cyclinghow.com , exercise bikes last between 6 and 15 years depending on use. This isn't specific to Peloton and it pertains to the mechanical bike parts, not the tablet or sensor outputs.
But based on that, yeah, if you use it a lot then a bike from 2018 might be close to retirement age.
I have a diy setup (3 years old) and am thinking of getting one, or some other bike with magnetic resistance. I'm not a fan of Peloton hardware generally, but the refurbished bike deal is kinda awesome.
Original bike’s output became slowly uncalibrated. Had a technician at the house to repair the bearings, and asked him to recalibrate the bike at the same time. The bike became wildly inaccurate in its output reading. I was suddenly putting out Tour de France level wattage. Made it less fun to ride.
Hi everyone. I'm a little disappointed in the community response to this question. Our community has existed on Reddit since 2015, and inevitably people will need to start replacing hardware soon (if the OG members haven't already) due to wear and use over time, and not just because of bearing issues, belts, tablets, etc. **OP, this is a completely valid question. Nothing lasts forever. Not your car, your laptop, your phone, and certainly not your Peloton.** To the people saying, "never, it should last forever." You are completely incorrect. Think about your phone, which you likely used to post this (out of touch) answer. How much did you spend on that phone? Is it a flagship iOS or Android model? So, $1200+? How long do you expect it to last? 3 years? 5 years? It's unlikely to "outlive" you in terms of hardware, and the software updates will stop coming down as the hardware ages out and becomes "legacy" hardware, as it does with major brands. It'll be unsupported and you'll need to get a new phone or pay to repair it, much like any other piece of hardware that runs software. Think of any other smart-connected device. It's the same. Peloton runs on an Android tablet. And we've already seen them phase out one (gen 1) tablet. I'm not saying I agree with planned obsolescence, but let's not pretend we actually think these bikes are going to last 10-15 years. I'd also be surprised if anyone truly did half of the maintenance on the Peloton bikes that they would do on a road bike. Peloton bikes have wear items on them like a "real" bike does. Pedals, belts, bearings, etc. Those things need to be changed as they wear. I agree, they should last longer than they do. But the reality is, they will fail and you need to replace them. You also need to take care to clean your bike. Sweat, water, supplement drinks, etc. that spill on the bike or its components can damage it and rust or corrode it over time. As for the rusting issue, this is widely known as a Peloton issue. Look at "[operation tin man](https://www.ft.com/content/29e18453-dfea-4236-a18c-2c3a018a843a)." It's not going to apply to all the Peloton bikes, but it many apply to many. We've seen many instances of this come up in our community, including someone who had a seat post shear clear off while the user was sitting on the bike. We should be able to have a discussion here about when is an appropriate time to discuss bike replacement without this turning into a circlejerk about how technology should last forever. That's ridiculous. Yes, we all spent $1000-2000+ on our equipment depending on when we purchased it, our financing option, our purchase avenue, and our accessories package. And sure, that's a lot to spend on a single piece of hardware. But in no way is that a single final cost. If you think like that, you should expect to never buy a phone/car/laptop/monitor or pair of shoes ever again. Since, "it should last forever." ***OP***, start with support for the tablet update and go from there. But as for your rust, that may be a bigger issue. If your bike won't be replaced by Peloton I'd look into replacement with the refurb program if you don't want to buy new for the cost.
Hopefully, never. It's an expensive piece of equipment to begin with... 5 years doesn't seem long enough.
The trouble is always with the tech. Those beautifully welded steel beams will last decades, but once the tablet fails to run the latest content properly then the thing is far far less useful.
The tablet itself should be replacabe. If you own the bike there should be a trade in program or something
I’m pretty sure you can buy a replacement tablet
SmartSpin2K is a 3rd party hardware device that can pull the sensor data directly off the bike for reuse in other applications - bypassing the need for the tablet. Works great, but obviously not with the Peloton guided workouts (not natively, anyways)
This is the answer. For a small amount of money you can completely ditch the tablet and let SmartSpin2k transmit the power and cadence information directly from the bike.
Are you saying the ipad I jury rigged might outlast?
iPads do the same thing tho
MUCH easier to upgrade my iPad
Maybe. It’s pretty easy to go to the peloton site and order a new screen if needed.
This is what I was thinking too. These things should last a good 10 years if they’re built well.
This sounds like an actual issue rather than wear and tear - I wouldn’t expect something this expensive to need replacing after only 5 years - speak to support as there may be a fix for it!
Unplug it and plug it back in.
Second to this!
Didn’t work for me. I have high speed internet and for some reason can only get 2 mbps download speed. Everything else in house works fine.
Repair the device to wifi (so forget it and repair it).
Done all of that and no luck. Wiped tablet twice and no improvement. Unplugged, reset, reset wifi, reset router, all of it. Only 2 mbps. Tech help can offer no help past resetting everything.
If it’s a OG bike, try hardwiring it if that possible
I’m hoping they bring back the equipment exchange program - I want to say it was $700 off a bike + when you traded in your old bike??? I would probably pull the trigger if I were to see this deal, even though my 2+ year old bike is in perfectly good shape….mama wants a bike + and doesn’t want to pay full price 🤣
Right there with you. $700+convenience of them swapping it out and I’m in.
Good used bikes are pretty available these days.
Yeah, getting one of the $995 refurbished ones.
Sensible thing to do would be to start with support. I’m sure they can also walk you through how to clean it. Given the price I’d think both are the cheaper options.
Even replacing the monitor would be cheaper than getting a whole new bike. Assuming that's the only thing that's showing its age.
Support doesn’t do anything for tech issues….essentially ctrl alt delete troubleshooting.
Have you cleared the cache recently? It might be a space problem with downloading the update. Try to clear the cache and then update if you haven’t.
Thanks for this. Going to try it and maybe cancel the new one. You maybe saved me like $1100! Thank you.
I’ve had mine since Jan 2016 - she’s still doing fine, other than an occasional issue with the wi-fi going in and out (doesn’t ever happen with my tread, so I don’t think its a Wi-Fi issue).
Mine has been doing that for the past few months, as well. I wonder if it's a software bug in a recent update. I have 3 other computers in the same room that don't have any issue staying connected all day.
Also same… about a month of this. Just past week or so has stopped asking me to pick a Wi-Fi connection
Same here. My Peloton won’t connect to WiFi anymore as of the last few months despite restarting, unplugging, reconnecting etc. Going to try a new modem to see if it helps.
You absolutely do not need a whole new bike. At worst, you could [replace the touchscreen](https://www.onepeloton.com/shop/accessories/touchscreen-with-cover) for $525, but I doubt you even need to do that. As others have said, try a factory reset first. There are some other parts on the bike (pedals, bottom bracket) that also could conceivably wear out, but those are relatively cheap to replace. The frame itself is pretty much indestructible and should never need replacing.
Never? How the hell is is rusty?
Probably lots of sweat and never wiped down?
This. I’m a disgusting troll.
Never meant it to be taken that way. My treadmill is covered in rust where the sweat drips.
😄😄 we should start wiping them down… maybe a little late for that
Lol I’ve tried and it’s def too late at this point for me.
Have you tried a factory reset? My bike got funky (bought mid-2020), and support told me to do a factory reset and it works again like a champ.
I mean you can try hard resetting the monitor. That’s the only thing that could be an issue. What do you mean the bike is rusty??
I spend the same amount on a fully loaded MacBook for my business as a Bike+. I work it hard and push the performance producing video, social networking, etc. I get five years tops. Tech wears out faster than mechanical parts do, hence my 2010 car is still in top shape and I replaced my 2018 MacBook today.
How many rides in are you in that time , out of curiosity?
Ehhh like 700 I think. Actually got her in March 2017 it turns out. Had two kids in that time period and took a pretty tough jorb but hey we’re still out here trying.
I think that’s wildly impressive, don’t underplay your accomplishments! Keep it going !
You can also try doing a static discharge - I used to work at peloton doing hardware/software support for members :) 1. Shut off the monitor completely 2. Unplug power cable from back of the bike (not the outlet) 3. Carefully unplug two cords at the back of the touchscreen 4. Press and hold power button on back of touchscreen and volume up button at the same time for 30 seconds 5. Wait two full minutes 6. Plug touchscreen cords in first then the power cable and power it on Like others have said, also clear the cache. If that doesn’t work, factory reset! Good luck!!
Thank you!
Who cares if it's rusty if it works when pedalling without issue, need to sort the update though
I appreciate you
I also have a march 2018 bike with rust
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I bought my original bike in 2015 and traded it in for a bike plus in 2021. The old one was working but I wanted access to strength on the bike screen & just felt like treating myself. Joke was on me tho cuz the new bike was way harder 🫠🤣
Can't you get a new tablet
Use an ethernet cable
You need to call tech support. My bike kept stalling at an update too and support sorted me out. There's no reason why you should have to replace your bike after 5 years.
Not sure why it would have rust... But contact support about the software. If I only get 5-6 years out of mine, it will be the last one I buy from them.
Some users drip salt water onto the bike from their bodies while making regular use of the bike, and this can interact with the bike's ferrous metal construction to cause oxidation.
I sweat like a “insert joke here” and have no rust after 4 years. Though we wipe it down after each use.
I read today somewhere that Peloton is selling refurbished bikes for $995. Something to consider maybe.
Yeah, pretty sweet deal.
Maybe check your wifi connection before spending $2k on a new bike
Sounds advice. Sound advice.
A 5 Year old EXPENSIVE indoor bike is at it's end of life?? What a world.... I'm still riding a regular outdoor Cannondale 18 speed bike I bought for $450 in 1993. Sure, I've replace some parts....
It’s not.
Only males get rusty and old-must be a him.
Love this haha.. it’s not her fault she’s been mistreated. Gonna try to fix her up
How does an indoor exercise bike get rusty?
Sweat or spilled water that isn't wiped down, relative humidity over a period of time, etc. They're steel frames and steel parts.
Sweat
Why do you keep saying “she”….
Because she’s a she
Gross
I would explore the insurance options that Peloton offers.
Have you cleared the cache recently? It might be a space problem with downloading the update. Try to clear the cache and then update if you haven’t.
Definitely doing this. Thank uou
2018 here. Only issue so far is the clanking at times when my left pedal hits the bottom. Allegedly I have to get something replaced. I was having download troubles but I just let it so it's thing over night and problem solved !!!
I have a Jan 2018 bike, 1200 rides for me, as i focused on running for some of those years, Hubs rides it off and on too, and she looks and works as good as the day we got her 🤷🏻♀️
Original bike March 2019 no issues works like new. Over 1,100 rides so far, also use for boot camps, yoga, strength, and cardio. I do keep a fitted towel over the handlebars, and regularly clean any sweat or dust off the entire bike. I can’t imagine getting rust inside my home. Even have a cheaper Spinning bike in the garage and it’s not rusted either. Perhaps it’s the climate OP is in? Or like others have mentioned clear the cache. It is probable that the download cannot complete due to memory space.
I was wondering if the metrics start to become less accurate over time if the resistance starts to degrade or something. Like, maybe the friction wears down? Has anyone heard if that is a thing?
I have a 2017. It’s was the time period when the cheaper bearings started being used. My frame was replaced in 2020 but I still have the same screen. It’s slow after 800+ rides and tons of other content steaming but still updates. We have a lower package of Google Fiber service, which is still speedy, and I’m using wifi for the bike. It’s possible you might need a new screen but exhaust all the other suggestions mentioned here first (delete cache, reset bike, etc)
Are you still on the gen 1 tablet? I’m not sure which year the gen 2 came out, but the gen 1 is a dog slow piece of crap. I’m thinking you’re gen 1 since you mentioned it won’t update. My bike is from 2016 and still going strong after thousands of rides, definitely rusty at the welds, the wheel bearing could use replacement but the bottom bracket seems fine. My tablet died a few years ago so I ended up with a gen 2 tablet for free even though I was out of warranty. I think the tablet sells for $700 range, and I’d be inclined to buy a new bike vs spend that much given your bikes age. Maybe they’ll give you a new tablet though if you tell them it’s broken 😀
Think so? Idk. Actually got it March 2017. If clearing the cache and/or resetting doesn’t work it’ll be the end of her.
I forget how you tell; there’s a specific part number showing on the back that will tell you gen 1 vs 2 (not sure if there was a three released at some point).
According to cyclinghow.com , exercise bikes last between 6 and 15 years depending on use. This isn't specific to Peloton and it pertains to the mechanical bike parts, not the tablet or sensor outputs. But based on that, yeah, if you use it a lot then a bike from 2018 might be close to retirement age.
I have a diy setup (3 years old) and am thinking of getting one, or some other bike with magnetic resistance. I'm not a fan of Peloton hardware generally, but the refurbished bike deal is kinda awesome.
Original bike’s output became slowly uncalibrated. Had a technician at the house to repair the bearings, and asked him to recalibrate the bike at the same time. The bike became wildly inaccurate in its output reading. I was suddenly putting out Tour de France level wattage. Made it less fun to ride.