The Power Zone Pack is taking over Peloton… and here’s why
My dermatologist is a Peloton fanatic. Sure, she gives great advice on skincare, but she’s also had a fundamental impact on my fitness. Her enthusiasm for indoor cycling is unparalleled and contagious. That’s why, after a visit where she encouraged me to join the Power Zone Pack and enroll in one of their challenges, I took the plunge.
Before hearing about Power Zone classes, my ride selections were normally a bit random. Cody Rigsby’s XOXO classes are hilarious, making the time go by very quickly. Ally Love and Robin Arzon’s Tabata and climb classes are killer in the best way. Kendall Toole’s 60-minute EDM ride helped me to achieve a PR that’s been tough to beat. But other than picking what I was in the mood for, and mixing up the lengths and class types, there was no real structure to my ride, or way to measure progress. That’s where Power Zone comes in.
While I haven’t personally taken it, there is a Discover Your Power Zones program that you can follow along with to get the hang of Power Zone. Instead, I jumped straight into a challenge, and don’t feel like I missed out. The challenges vary in length — typically 6–8 weeks, with the option to take mini-challenges in between. They feature a ton of 45-minute classes with some longer sessions sprinkled in (the 90-minute ride that’s usually included is a huge measure of both mental and physical endurance). Matt Wilpers — the ‘face’ of Power Zone — is featured very frequently in the challenge structure, so you get to benefit from his clear and informative explanations of Power Zone throughout your rides.
The first thing you’re going to want to do (and then question your own sanity afterwards!) is the Functional Threshold Power — or FTP — test. This sneaky 20-minute ride will absolutely crush you, if you’re doing it right. Definitely make sure you do a 10- or 15-minute FTP warmup beforehand. I personally really enjoy Matt Wilpers’ FTP tests as he coaches you expertly throughout the ride. At the end of the ride, you’ll have the option to input your FTP score and — voila! — you’ll have a fancy new power zone meter with your personalized zones displayed at the bottom center of your screen. This is going to help you to make sure that you are riding at the right level of intensity for your very specific, individualized fitness level.
The rides themselves start predominantly with Power Zone Endurance classes — getting you used to riding in the relatively simple Zones 2 and 3. Around this time, many people will post that these classes are ‘too easy’, and discuss whether they should redo their FTP to increase the challenge. Many of those people end up regretting this life choice. Patience is key here. The purpose of the Power Zone Endurance — or PZE — classes, is just that — to build your endurance. They’re not meant to leave you feeling crushed.
Midway through the challenge, you’ll find yourself in some regular Power Zone classes, which predominantly focus on zones 3–6. These are higher-intensity than their PZE counterparts, and this is where you’ll figure out that Zone 4 is no joke. I have a love/hate relationship with Zone 4 now.
Finally, towards the end of the challenge, you’ll experience the infamous Power Zone Max classes. These will take you all the way into the highest zone — zone 7. Expect many short, incredibly powerful bursts of effort in these exhilarating rides. I always feel fantastic after completing a PZ Max ride!
Each of the rides fulfils a different purpose, expanding your fitness in different ways from aerobic to anaerobic. I’m not going to get into the science here because there are so many experts in this area; however, when you take Power Zone rides the instructors are all very informative about why you’re doing what you’re doing on a given day. The most important thing to remember is that there is a real structure to this type of training, and that it’s important to do a blend of Endurance, regular Power Zone and the occasional Max ride.
At the conclusion of the challenge, you’re going to want to retake the FTP. I mean, part of you will remember how tortuous it was the first time, but also a genuine curiosity about how much this challenge has assisted you to improve your fitness. Try not to think about it too much, and get it done! I’ve been pleasantly surprised by my FTP increases each time I’ve subsequently tested; results can fluctuate depending on a variety of factors, but it’s rewarding to see a general upward trend over time.
The Power Zone Pack itself has a supportive Facebook group, known for being a kinder forum than some others, regardless of your fitness level. People take the time to patiently answer questions about Power Zone, celebrate PRs and increased FTP scores, and commiserate when things don’t go so well. There’s support troubleshooting any issues with the bike, discussing whether it’s worth also getting the tread, finding accountability partners and friends to celebrate milestone rides with. There’s also a Power Zone Pack website which is free — you can also make a payment to access additional features. This is also how you check off your rides and hold yourself accountable during the challenges.
As you can see, I’m now very much into Power Zone myself, and enjoy being a part of the Power Zone Pack. If you’re looking for a bit of structure, backed by science, and a way to objectively assess your fitness improvements, I cannot recommend Power Zone highly enough. I look forward to seeing you on the leaderboard!!
