If you've just joined the Peloton family… congratulations!

The Peloton really lives up to the hype: it saves you a ton of time, eliminates your old training excuses, and can even save you money in the long run versus the spin class.

But if you're a Peloton beginner, you still have a lot to learn before you can have a great first ride.

Start your first Peloton ride off right with these crucial beginner tips.

1 – Level the bicycle

Your delivery people will probably help you with this before they leave, but it's good to know how to adjust the bike settings when necessary.

Before your first Peloton ride, make sure your bike is level on the mat so it doesn't wobble as you ride.

If you can, lie with your face close to the ground so you can see if any of the stabilization knobs on the bike have room underneath them, and adjust accordingly.

If possible, wait a few days after setting up the bike before riding, even if you're eager to get started! The bicycle sinks into the mat and becomes even more level.

2 – Buy and wear padded cycling shorts

If you are new to cycling or spinning, please note:

Your butt will be sore after your first few rides!

It is normal for your body to adapt to the chair.

A pro tip is to buy padded cycling shorts if you're worried about the pain. They will protect you as a beginner, and eventually you will find that you probably don't need them anymore.

3 – Leave your shoes locked

As a beginner, it can be very frustrating to click your shoes on and off the bike.

There's really nothing worse than getting all excited for a ride and then fighting with the cleats for a solid 10 minutes.

If you're having trouble with the Peloton shoes, there are many adjustments you can make, but here's the simple pro tip:

Just leave them locked in place.

When you're done riding, simply reach down and undo the Velcro and buckle. You can practice putting the shoes on and taking them off later, when you have more time.

4 – Try an all-for-one ride

Now that the bike is set up and you're ready to go, comes the fun part: choosing your first Peloton class!

Sorting through all the different instructors can be overwhelming at first, so your best bet might be to try an All For One Ride.

These are special rides that you can find in the app, where all Peloton instructors come by for a song or something.

It gives you a little taste of them all so you can see who likes you.

5 – Start with a 15 to 20 minute lesson

If you're a true Peloton or spin class beginner, your first ride should last 15 or 20 minutes.

30 and 45 minute rides are great, but they are quite long and challenging, even those with a low difficulty level.

You'll build up to them quickly, but start with shorter lessons to get the hang of your sea legs.

For the easiest rides, look for beginner or low-impact classes with a difficulty level of less than 6. If you still can't decide, opt for a class with a playlist in your favorite genre.

6 – Take out numbers

Don't go too hard and too fast on the Peloton.

As a beginner, you will hit PRs (or personal bests) almost every time you ride.

However, if you are struggling on your first ride, it is not a crime if you do not follow the cadence or resistance indicated by the instructor.

Lower the resistance to below 30 and pedal for a song or so until you recover and feel ready to push again.

You can strive to improve your performance next time, but not if you injure yourself by pushing too hard.

7 – Turn off the leaderboard

If you're really competitive, you'll spend most of the ride staring at the leaderboard. It can be a great motivational tool, but it can also hold you back.

It can be a little discouraging when you see that you are in the bottom 10% of performance compared to the thousands of people who have taken the class.

Either way, otherwise you'll have to push way too hard to climb the board!

Feel free to hide the leaderboard and focus only on your own ride, especially if you're just starting out.

8 – Stretch or cool at the end

Especially as a beginner, a good warm-up and cool-down are very important.

Each ride ends with about 1 minute of cooling down and a minute or two of stretching.

But for the best recovery, take a 5-minute cooldown ride after the ride via the recommendations screen.

Better yet, take a quick full-body stretching class before going about your day.

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Your first Peloton ride is really exciting; it's like entering a whole new world.

Before you know it, you'll be hooked on your Peloton and obsessed with new PRs, just like the rest of us.

But as a newbie, it's best to take it easy and just learn to enjoy the bike. Choose lessons with music you like and try to steadily improve your performance over time.

Before you know it, you'll be a cycling veteran with exceptional endurance and great legs to show for all your hard work.

Please take the opportunity to connect and share this video with your friends and family if you find it helpful.