How the New Peloton Cross-Training Bike+ Helps Me Stay Consistent When My Schedule Is Anything But

Anyone who has tried to schedule a meeting on Nikki Ogunnaike's calendar knows that Marie Claire’s editor in chief is booked and busy. Between overseeing a digital and print magazine, juggling events, making time for friends and family, and now squeezing in wedding planning you’d think she'd be spending her free time unwinding. Instead, Nikki is prepping for her next 10k race, logging miles before and after work and prioritizing strength training to avoid injury. So when Peloton released its new Cross-Training Bike+ Powered by Peloton IQ—the brand's most elevated equipment designed to help users maximize their workout time and improve their strength function—we knew there was no one better to test it out.

Read on to learn a bit more about Nikki, her goals, and to hear her thoughts after testing the new Cross-Training Bike+ for a week.

Tell us a bit about your job!

"As the editor in chief of Marie Claire, I oversee all content creation and strategy for the magazine, website, and live events. With my digital director and executive editor, we set the creative vision for all platforms and foster an environment where our staff members can then execute on said vision. I liken my job at Marie Claire to being the captain of a giant cruise ship, which at any given moment will have various types of activities happening on different floors. Ultimately my job is to steer everyone in the right (cohesive) direction."

What does a typical week of work look like for you?

"There is no 'typical week of work'—I can go from recording an episode of Marie Claire’s Nice Talk podcast to writing a cover story to a coffee meeting with an upcoming story subject to writing my shopping newsletter Self Checkout in just one day! A lot of my work is also enabling and encouraging others to do their best work: approving ideas, issue themes, fashion and beauty shoot concepts etc."

What does a typical week of workouts look like for you? Do you currently have any fitness goals?

"If I am firing on all cylinders, I work out 5-6 days a week at a pretty equal split of weight lifting (either with my trainer or local studio) and cardio (running and walking.) Mixing things up and working out with friends ensures I actually show up to work out and that I’m never bored."

How do you prioritize wellness when your schedule is jam-packed?

"When I started running regularly about 10 years ago, I realized that I always felt my best and then could pour into others if I had a regular fitness routine. The thing that they say on air planes is true: working out is my mask and I try to put mine on first before helping others. I also think it’s important as a leader to model this behavior so my team feels like they can do the same. "

Workout: 20-Minute HIIT Ride With Leanne Hainsby-Alldis

The Cross-Training Bike+ arrives to Nikki's home and is carried in and setup by a team member free of charge, so Nikki doesn't need to spend all day assembling items. Peloton will even remove old workout equipment for you if needed.

Getting started is easy: she follows the instructions on the screen, creating an account and then inputting her fitness goals (cross-training), and the preferred number of days she'd like to workout with Peloton. The Cross-Training Bike+ from there can customize workouts based on her goals to take the guesswork out of planning, or Nikki can choose her workouts from the menu of options based on her mood.

Since her Monday is jammed packed with new collection showings, work meetings, and editing, she needs to squeeze in a sweat session that’s quick, energizing, and effective.

"Setting up the bike and choosing a ride was really intuitive, and personally, a low barrier to entry means I’m more likely to show up everyday and get it done," says Nikki. "The HIIT workout was challenging, but not defeating: my ideal kind of workout. "

Workout: 20-Minute Upper Body + Glutes With Katie Wang, 20-Minute Legs + Strength With Katie Wang 20-Minute Groove Ride With Emma Lovewell

Tuesday is an in-office day filled with meetings, calls, reviewing budgets, and a client lunch. Since Nikki commutes into Manhattan from Brooklyn, she needs an effective workout that won't cut into her day.

"A 60-minute hybrid workout is perfect, especially on days when I’m crunched for time," Nikki notes.

She chooses a high-energy 40-minute strength workout and a 20-minute cardio bootcamp workout that has her on the floor and then the bike with ease thanks to the swivel screen. This is where the Peloton IQ technology really comes into play. The movement-tracking camera tracks Nikki's movement while she's on the floor to help correct form and count her reps in real time. Members can add in weight rack information info to their account so Peloton IQ can safely make recommendations about increasing or decreasing weights based on their progress.

Workout: 30-Minute Low-Impact Ride With Sam Yo 10-Minute Full Body Stretch With Hannah Corbin

By Wednesday, Nikki is understandably sore from her past two workouts, so she decides to slow things down with a recovery ride and a 10-minute full body stretch.

"At the top of 2025, I really wanted to establish a consistent mobility and stretching practice," Nikki says. "Dedicated classes tacked on to my recovery ride take the guesswork out of stretching ensuring I actually get it done with just the swivel of a screen. Couldn’t be easier!"

Workout: 20-Minute Morning Yoga Flow With Chelsea Jackson Roberts

On Thursday, Nikki clocks 4 miles with her run club and then decides to keep her zen going with a yoga class. If you're keeping score, that's four different workout options in four days! When asked if she feels like the Peloton Bike+ is offering her enough versatility so far, she says: "Absolutely, the Peloton Bike+ is like having individual and group fitness in a singular machine. And since it doesn’t take up that much space it's ideal for living in a small New York city apartment."

Workout: 45-Minute Power Zone Endurance Ride With Hannah Frankson

As the week comes to a close, Nikki decides to get in some long miles before the weekend by taking an endurance ride. It's challenging, motivating, and just what she needs to build her stamina for her upcoming races. There's a misconception that outdoor runners find stationary machines tediously boring, but after a week on the Peloton Bike+, Nikki emphatically disagrees.

"I absolutely understand people’s obsession with Peloton. When it comes to achieving fitness goals, I don’t see it as an either/or but a great compliment to an already established workout routine. It’s a great way to break the monotony that can arise if you don’t mix things up."