Not really that great advice tbf, not everyone likes to go out for long bike rides and if you’re going to go out for 20 minute bike rides you’ll probably spend longer on safety checks and pumping tyres. Also it’s great glib advice in weather like we have now, not so easy to go and do in a thunderstorm or when it’s shotting it down, freezing, windy AF or snowing. Some people like that but not a lot. Likewise paying a sub isn’t that barmy because you’re subscribing to content. You’re not subscribing to the bike, you can have the bike without the sub. You’re subscribing to multiple daily classes which can be accessed at your leisure.
As for peloton, you have 4 options imo
1) Buy peloton
£1900-2200 plus £39 a month. Nice option if you can afford it but for me this is crazy money for what you get. If you finance the bike over 3 years you’re paying £100 a month including the sub! But you do get all the metrics and leaderboards etc
2) Buy a peloton knock off like echelon or Ajax
Bikes can be cheaper but subs are generally still £30+, I’d personally avoid this.
3) Buy any old spin bike and do YouTube classes or other apps
Ymmv!
4) Or do what I did and build a cheap peloton. Basically buy any bike you like, fit a tablet holder (£12) and cadence sensor (£29) and sync to a HRM and subscribe to the peloton app, it’s £12 a month which is a lot more palatable than £39.
I love spin classes, they’re short, they burn calories like crazy and I enjoy the music. I would previously go to the gym for them but obviously not that keen now, plus classes were generally on at like 5:30pm so a ballache trying to get there after work. I can hop on my bike any time I like - they’ve got live classes and you can access the back catalogue. The peloton classes themselves are fairly good with a good daily selection.i do go out on my real bike but it’s completely different to spinning and spinning is great for training and a quick sesh before work or at lunch etc (I work from home permanently now), and my partner can use it without us both doing gym subs. For many, they may Not live near a gym at all, or may not want to be around a gym in the current climate, so I can see the appeal.
I’ve got hue lights as well so get the authentic spin studio vibe
The bike I use is a bodymax b15 which has rrp of £499 atm but you’ll find a glut of them for sale that people bought at lockdown start - I got mine for £200 in basically as new condition, so cost me very little setup. Conversely my outdoor bike cost about 7x that but I love both.
If you like spin classes, you can make any of those 4 options work and it’s what fits your budget and lifestyle
Sorry just realise option 5 - smart turbo trainer with existing bike... but that’s more for indoor “outdoor” bike practice rather than spin class, or zwift!