For every Peloton Member, there’s a community that’s just waiting to welcome you with encouragement, open arms and opportunities to work out together—and it’s not uncommon for people to wonder if those virtual connections ever turn into anything more. While a few people can happily answer “Yes!,” the answer for most people is a little more complicated. As mid-February is traditionally a time dedicated to happy couples, we thought we’d check in with the Peloton Members who use this Tag about life on the other side of the coin. We heard back from 624 Members of the #PelotonSinglesGroup Tag, who answered a series of multiple-choice and short-answer questions about their lives, and we’re grateful for each one of them taking their time to tell us about being single and Peloton Members during a global pandemic.
So, who are the Peloton Members in the #PelotonSinglesGroup Tag? How have they been? What are they looking for? Are they even looking for anything? Here’s what we learned:
1. The Majority of #PelotonSinglesGroup Are Happily Single, but…
...if the right person came along, of course, they’d be open to changing that. At least that’s what 65% of respondents told us.
As Member Victoria R., who answered that she’s happily single but open to someone, said, “[The Peloton Singles Facebook group] is an incredibly welcoming group. I joined to meet more folks who were like me—happily single, but looking for a little more connection in this virtual world. It's so great to have a space where it's okay and normalized to be single and happy about it. And now with this group, no one ever has to ride alone.”
Still, 33% are actively looking for a partner.
Member Susan M., who uses the #PelotonSinglesGroup Tag, told us, “I am putting myself out there even with Peloton ... I’m single and ready to mingle.”
Only 2% of the #PelotonSinglesGroup told us they’re happily single and prefer it that way.
(Of note: We received more than a few product requests to make it easier to meet other Members on the Peloton platform. Thank you for those suggestions, and we’ll pass them along to the team.)
2. Being Single Recently Has Been … a Lot of Different Things
We asked the Peloton Members to use one word to describe being single in a pandemic, and the responses reflected many different experiences.
Some of the most common responses were brutally honest about how difficult it’s been:
“Lonely,” “challenging,” “frustrating,” depressing” and “woof” are pretty relatable to anyone who’s living in the pandemic, but resonated deeply with people who are going it alone.
Others embraced the moment, seeing their solo status as a positive:
“Enlightening,” “empowering,” “fun,” “liberating” and “introspective” show that some of the #PelotonSinglesGroup are able to make the most of their situation and see this unusual time as an opportunity.
Others, understandably, had mixed feelings: “Rollercoaster” stands out, as did the many Members who had to make up their own phrases to express themselves, as the limits of the English language were woefully lacking:
Some of our ever-creative Members came back with “Park-frequenter,” “option-opening,” “quaransingle” and “unicornesque,” while a few just gave us a simple yet profound: “Haha.”
3. Thankfully, Being a Peloton Member Helps
No matter the highs and lows of the single experience during a global pandemic and quarantine, #PelotonSinglesGroup was quick to tell us the unique ways their Peloton Membership has positively impacted their lives, whether they’ve been Members since 2016 or only until recently. Overall, we got the sense that Peloton has helped #PelotonSinglesGroup in their relationship with the most important person in their lives—themselves.
Member Mona T. said joining Peloton has probably been the best decision of her life. She got the Bike after an unexpected breakup, and the community has shown her that they can get through anything together. She’s had all the emotions on the Bike: “I’ve cried on the Bike, I’ve laughed on the Bike and I’m the strongest I’ve ever been mentally, physically and emotionally.”
Member Candice C., who was going through a divorce and dealing with single parenthood through quarantine, saw her physical fitness on the decline. She joined Peloton to help achieve her fitness goals, but found something much greater: “The sense of community is so enlightening, empowering, enriching—never in my wildest dreams did I think a Bike and fitness app would change my life.”
To Member Nathalie B., Peloton means hope. “I struggle with myself a lot. I'm a 32 year old, still struggling to get into the animation industry. My goal is to become a character designer, but as the years go by with not landing a job, a bit of me starts chipping away. I start feeling hopeless and bring myself down. Am I really good enough? Yes, I am ... but when I don't get a reply from anyone, I start feeling like I am not. I start losing hope. Peloton and its instructors are super unique. It's not just a workout platform that pumps you up, but also a place that gives you hope. The messages I hear daily while I ride keep my little flame in me going.”
4. The #PelotonSinglesGroup Tag Represents Many Stages of Life
The majority of #PelotonSinglesGroup are in their 30s (47%) and 40s (29%), and while their stories are all different, their support for one another is unwavering. Member Holly W., who is in her 40s, joined Peloton after a three-and-a-half year break from exercise after her marriage ended. “I needed to find a way to start moving again that could fit into my life as a single working mom. I fell in love with all things Peloton, and it has changed my life. I'm in the best shape I've ever been in. And since I found PSG on Facebook, I have made some deep and true friendships that mean the world to me.”
We saw equal representation from those in their 20s and those in their 50s, each making up 11% of our respondents. Two percent of #PelotonSinglesGroup are in their 60s, and are loving what Peloton brings to this stage of their lives.
Member Nikki K., who is in her 60s, told us that despite having two back surgeries this year, she’s never missed a day of some sort of Peloton activity (even if it’s only a meditation). “Some days I drag myself into my workout room, but within a matter of minutes I'm uplifted and moving with purpose. I'm reminded to be better, do better and accept myself as I am each and every day. The journey continues…”
Of the many varieties of “single,” 27% of #PelotonSinglesGroup told us they’re divorced, 2% said they are widowed and 1% are separated. Also, 36% of #PelotonSinglesGroup are parents.
No matter the highs and lows of the single experience during a global pandemic and quarantine, #PelotonSinglesGroup was quick to tell us the unique ways their Peloton Membership has positively impacted their lives, whether they’ve been Members since 2016 or only until recently. Overall, we got the sense that Peloton has helped #PelotonSinglesGroup in their relationship with the most important person in their lives—themselves.
5. There Are Many Paths to #PelotonSinglesGroup
Maybe you’ve seen #PelotonSinglesGroup on the Leaderboard, but how did they get there?
32% of Members saw the Tag on the Leaderboard or heard an instructor shout them out and wanted to join.
27% found #PelotonSinglesGroup when searching for Tags on Peloton.
21% heard about #PelotonSinglesGroup through word of mouth.
20% joined through social media, specifically the Peloton Singles Group on Facebook, which predates the #PelotonSinglesGroup Tag.
The Peloton Singles Group was founded by single Peloton Members, for single Peloton Members, as a place to get to know each other and talk about Peloton and more. However, that doesn’t mean every person on the #PelotonSinglesGroup Tag is in the Facebook group: 61% of respondents told us that they’ve never connected in another way with anyone on the #PelotonSinglesGroup Tag. They use it on their own profile to show their relationship status, some as a sign of pride in being single and others as a sign that they’re looking for someone.
6. And About That Group—No, It’s Not a Dating Service
Among those who have made a connection through the Tag, it’s mostly in the form of a friendship: 36% of #PelotonSinglesGroup told us they’ve made friends through the Facebook group. Member Erick Y. says, “It means worlds to me. I don't use Facebook much anymore, but literally for Peloton Singles Group and our family we have there. This is more than just a hashtag, it’s a way of life. A way of holding each other accountable for our workouts, a way for us to uplift each other, a way to support each other through failure or success. I have made friends here that will be with me for a lifetime. I will do my best to always be there for others as they have been there for me."
Of course, sometimes things blossom into something more. Three percent of respondents told us they’ve actually met a partner through #PelotonSinglesGroup.
7. However, Most Members Are on Dating Apps
Even though #PelotonSinglesGroup wasn’t designed for dating, that doesn’t mean our Members aren’t getting out there—72% of #PelotonSinglesGroup told us they use conventional dating apps.
8. The Friendships Formed in the Group Are Real
We heard many touching stories of Peloton Members who have formed friendships through #PelotonSinglesGroup, mostly starting in the eponymous Facebook group. These friends help each other in hard times, celebrate wins and hold each other accountable on the Leaderboard.
Member Katie C. had a heartfelt moment with someone she’d never met. “I had a tough dating app date situation, and I posted and asked for advice. Another member of the group friend requested me and started sending me recorded messages of her just supporting me, talking me through it and offered to Zoom later that night. We chatted, and she listened to me cry and be bummed and was encouraging and kind. This was someone I’d never interacted with before in any way. It was incredible.”
Member Laura L. got a gift from another Member to celebrate her promotion. “I posted I was getting promoted, and I received incredible support and energy from the group. One sweet and super generous lady sent me a bottle of wine! I mean a total kinda stranger did this for me. It was so meaningful!”
Member Jessica S. testifies how important this community has been to her Peloton experience, sharing her favorite four memories with the group. One was a trip to Peloton’s cycling studio in New York City, and riding with Cody and other Peloton Singles Group ladies for a milestone ride. Two other favorite memories involve real-life meetups with other Members in Charleston, Virginia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for activities outside of Peloton. Lastly, Jessica loves the group challenges #PelotonSinglesGroup does together, which have shown her how important the PSG support system is in meeting her fitness goals.
Member Lauren R. met two of her best friends through a local Peloton Singles Group hike and has met even more friends online: “I now have best friends all over the country that I truly care about. They are the most supportive and understanding people. I think it's because we are all in a similar position in life. Meeting people virtually has been a crazy change, but I wouldn't change my experience with this group for anything.”
Member Melissa W. found support through #PelotonSinglesGroup by wearing her heart on her sleeve. “Telling my truth about discovering my husband’s infidelity, filing for divorce and suddenly finding myself a single mom to a one-and-a-half year old. PSG groups kind of wrapped their arms around me and encouraged me to keep moving forward. There are a lot of women, and men, that have endured the same betrayal. That’s therapeutic in and of itself!”
9. Can You Flirt on the Leaderboard? It’s Controversial.
Was that mid-class high five just a high five from a Member of #PelotonSinglesGroup? It really, truly depends who you ask: 53% say no, while 47% say yes. You never know…
In the camp that thinks high fives are just high fives, they love the feeling of encouragement it gives them and allows them to give others during class.
Among those who think high fives are a little more than just a high five, here’s what we heard:
Member Julia L. met someone on a dating site, and he happened to have a Peloton. “One time I saw that he was in a Power Zone class. I knew he had been stressed about this 60 minute burner, and I joined the class to high five him and then went to take my Jess King ride. He texted later that that meant a lot to him and helped him hit a PR. Don't worry, he returned the favor a few weeks later and my intuition was correct, high fives from crushes do make you pedal harder."
A high five has left Member N’Higel B. wondering. “There was a class where one guy in the Tag high fived me like 4 times. I thought it was a sign that he was not only single but also ready to mingle. I tried so hard to find his socials after that class!”
10. They’d Like an Active Partner, but Their Activities Vary
#PelotonSinglesGroup largely prefers their future partner to be an active person. On a scale from 1 to 5, 85% told us it’s either a 4 (45%) or a 5 (40%) in terms of importance. Fourteen percent said it was a 3, with only 2% combined saying a 2 or a 1.
#PelotonSinglesGroup practices what they preach in terms of the importance of working out, as we heard many stories of classes they’ve taken and challenges they’ve embarked on together, from the push of huge climbs to sweating it out during Power Zone classes. Member Jen A. told us about one grueling workout she and other Members did as a group. “The Haleakala climb with #PelotonSinglesGroup. Five hours with a group of people pushing each other, being there for each other, cheering for each other and finishing together!”
From group dance parties on live DJ rides to early-morning Power Zone sessions to start off the day, #PelotonSinglesGroup loves to ride together. As Member Jessica F. put it: “We ride together, support each other, laugh and even sometimes cry together. This group is fam.”
Member Melissa B. said, “Tabata followed by a date? That's the dream.” Well, 55% of the Tag might agree: The #PelotonSinglesGroup house is divided between preferring Power Zone and Tabata classes. 55% is on Team Tabata, with 45% preferring Power Zone.
And, just in case you were courting a Member of #PelotonSinglesGroup, given the choice of a playlist or a poem … the odds are in your favor if you made them a playlist, with 88% of the Tag preferring a playlist to a poem as a romantic gift.
11. Home Is Where the Workout Is
#PelotonSinglesGroup is spread all across the country, and they love connecting virtually from wherever they are. When sparks start flying, though, they're ready to move from digital to IRL—73% of #PelotonSinglesGroup would relocate for love.
Among that 73%, 18% of #PelotonSinglesGroup would move to a nearby city for love, while an additional 15% would consider a nearby state. But as befits Members of our giant global community, most of this crew doesn’t see location as much of an obstacle: 39%, the majority of respondents, would meet you anywhere in their country, and 27% wouldn’t mind moving internationally, if it meant being together.
While there are many different experiences within #PelotonSinglesGroup, like all Peloton Members, they’ve managed to “find their people” through Peloton and a shared experience of being single. Whether it’s as quick as an encouraging exchange of high fives on the Leaderboard or as intimate as a tearful Zoom chat with a Peloton friend after a tough breakup, our community is stronger for the relationships that have been built here. We’re honored to be a part of your lives as you overcome challenges and step into your joy.