Peloton Accessories Every Rider Needs to Maximize Performance

You dropped serious money on your Peloton. Now it’s time to make sure you’re getting every dollar’s worth out of that investment. The bike or tread alone will change your fitness game, but the right accessories separate casual riders from those who are genuinely crushing their goals week after week.

After thousands of rides and countless conversations with the Output Nation community, we’ve identified the accessories that actually matter. No fluff, no gimmicks — just the gear that makes a measurable difference in your comfort, performance, and results.

Cycling Shoes: Your Most Critical Upgrade

If you’re still riding with the toe cages that came with your Peloton, you’re leaving power on the table. Period. Clip-in cycling shoes are the single most impactful accessory you can buy. They create a rigid, direct connection between your foot and the pedal, allowing you to generate force through the entire pedal stroke — not just the downward push.

Peloton sells their own branded shoes with Look Delta cleats, and they’re a perfectly solid option for most riders. But if you want to level up, consider these alternatives:

Shimano IC5 or IC3: Outstanding ventilation, comfortable for longer rides, and built with a walkable sole that won’t have you skating across tile floors
Nike SuperRep Cycle: Premium comfort and a sleek design with a secure strap system that eliminates hot spots
Tiem Slipstream: A popular choice among riders who want a shoe that looks and feels like a normal sneaker but performs like a cycling shoe

One important note: Peloton bikes come standard with Look Delta pedals. If you choose shoes with SPD cleats, you’ll need to swap out your pedals. It’s a simple switch, but make sure you know which system you’re committing to before you buy.

Heart Rate Monitor: Train Smarter, Not Just Harder

Output numbers are great. Heart rate data is better. Combining the two is where real training intelligence happens. A heart rate monitor tells you exactly how hard your body is working, regardless of what the leaderboard says. It keeps you honest on recovery rides and pushes you to dig deeper when you’re sandbagging intervals.

The Peloton heart rate band connects seamlessly via Bluetooth and displays your heart rate zones directly on screen during classes. But plenty of riders prefer a chest strap for greater accuracy:

Garmin HRM-Dual: Broadcasts on both Bluetooth and ANT+, making it compatible with virtually every device and app you own
Polar H10: Widely considered the gold standard for chest strap accuracy, with built-in memory for recording sessions independently
Scosche Rhythm+: An armband option for riders who find chest straps uncomfortable — accurate enough for most training purposes

Padded Seat Cover or Upgraded Saddle

Let’s be real. The stock Peloton seat is not kind to new riders, and even experienced cyclists sometimes struggle with it. Saddle discomfort is one of the top reasons people stop riding consistently, and that’s an unacceptable barrier between you and your goals.

A gel seat cover is the quickest, cheapest fix — something like the Domain Cycling seat cover can be installed in seconds and takes the edge off immediately. However, if you’re riding four or more times per week, invest in a proper saddle replacement. Options from brands like Selle Italia, Bontrager, and ISM are designed to support your sit bones properly and eliminate pressure where you don’t want it.

Pro tip: Padded cycling shorts do more for comfort than any seat cover. If you haven’t tried them, you’re missing out on a game-changer.

Floor Mat: Protect Your Space and Your Bike

A quality mat under your Peloton isn’t optional — it’s essential. It protects your floors from sweat corrosion and the weight of the bike, dampens vibration and noise for downstairs neighbors, and provides a stable, non-slip surface that keeps your setup locked in place during aggressive out-of-saddle efforts.

The Peloton-branded mat works fine, but you can find comparable options at a fraction of the cost. Look for mats that are at least 4mm thick, made from high-density PVC or rubber, and large enough to catch the sweat radius around your bike.

Fan: The Performance Booster Nobody Talks About

Cooling isn’t a luxury. When your core temperature rises too fast, your body diverts blood away from working muscles to cool your skin. The result? Lower power output, earlier fatigue, and diminished performance. A strong fan pointed directly at you during rides is one of the simplest ways to sustain higher output for longer.

Vornado 633DC: Compact, powerful, and quiet enough that it won’t drown out your instructor
Lasko High Velocity Pro: A budget-friendly option that moves serious air
Dreo Tower Fan: A sleek tower design with oscillation and multiple speed settings for riders who want precision control

Weights and Resistance Bands

If you’re doing Peloton’s strength classes, bike bootcamps, or even the arms sections during cycling classes, you need proper equipment at hand. The tiny one- and two-pound weights that come with the bike are fine for light toning segments, but real strength work demands more.

A set of adjustable dumbbells ranging from 5 to 50 pounds covers virtually every Peloton strength class
A set of loop resistance bands in light, medium, and heavy resistance adds variety to lower body work
A quality workout mat for floor exercises is a must if you’re doing any off-bike programming

Towels, Water Bottles, and the Small Stuff

Never underestimate the basics. A microfiber towel draped over your handlebars keeps sweat out of your eyes and off your screen. A large insulated water bottle ensures your hydration stays cold through a 45-minute climb ride. And a sweat-proof phone mount lets you keep your device visible without risking water damage.

Some riders also swear by screen protectors for their Peloton display and a can of compressed air for keeping the fan intake and internal components dust-free. These small maintenance habits extend the life of your investment significantly.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need to buy everything on this list tomorrow. Start with the accessories that address your biggest pain points — literally. If discomfort is cutting your rides short, fix the saddle situation. If you’re training without heart rate data, you’re flying blind. If your floors are taking a beating, get a mat down today.

Build your setup over time, prioritize the gear that directly impacts your consistency and performance, and stop letting small equipment gaps hold back the results you’re working so hard to earn. Your Peloton is a world-class training tool. Give it the support it deserves, and it will return the favor every single ride.