8 Hardest Peloton Classes To Maximize Your Performance

Fitness enthusiasts always look for ways to progress. Luckily, Peloton can help you with that since it provides users with many hard classes.

In this post, we will highlight the most difficult Peloton classes. Let’s read through and discover how they can speed up your productivity.

When You’re Ready For The Advanced Classes?

Peloton classes come in three difficulty levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. As their names imply, the advanced lessons are the hardest, and not everyone can qualify for them.

There are two ways to determine if you are ready for those classes:

Time

Often, you need a few weeks for beginner classes and a few months for intermediate ones. After spending that long for the first two levels, you can move to the advanced courses.

However, using time as a determinant may not be an ideal solution. Some people can perform better, which means that the time needed for a level will be shorter.

Ability

Ability should be your first consideration. As long as you feel comfortable with the current levels and want challenges, you can work your way up to the more arduous exercises.

Benefits of Peloton Advanced Classes

Peloton members always want to try advanced classes. But why? How do these exercises help?

• Advanced lessons involve more intense exercises and bring many health benefits.
• You will feel more rewarding and confident as you can conquer challenges.
• These hard exercises can match your skills as you progress.

8 Hardest Peloton Classes

The eight classes we discuss right here have difficult exercises. However, some of them may include easier workouts, and you need to filter the advanced level for the best result.

After selecting advanced classes, check the Difficulty Level by tapping on the class. For hard lessons, the difficulty rate should be at least 8.

Now, we will focus on the top choices. Remember to select high difficulty levels when you find them on the Peloton platform.

1. FTP Test Ride

An FTP (Functional Threshold Power) test helps you figure out your power zone by calculating your power output for a 20-minute intense ride. After riding, you can check your FTP score on the Peloton bike’s touchscreen.

Class overview (updated in 2022): 

There are 8 FTP Test Ride classes, each lasting 20 minutes. Your selection on the test includes:

• Class length: 20 minutes
• Difficulty level: Around 9.4 to 9.8
• Recommended instructors: Sam Yo, Olivia Amato, and Ben Alldis

Why should you choose?

FTP Test Ride is a good idea for those who look for vigorous rides because:

• You have to ride with your maximum intensity for 20 minutes to ensure a correct test result.
• The power zone rides improve your performance and progress significantly.
• FTP Test Ride is a part of the training process for advanced cyclists. 
• The test helps you find suitable classes for your ability.

Recommended classes:

• 20 min FTP Test Ride with Sam Yo
• 20 min FTP Test Ride with Olivia Amato
• 20 min FTP Test Ride with Ben Alldis
• 20 min FTP Test Ride with Erik Jäger
• 20 min FTP Test Ride with Denis Morton
• 20 min FTP Test Ride with Christine D’Ercole
• 20 min FTP Test Ride with Matt Wilpers 

Each class has a different difficulty rate, music, and instructor. You can learn more about Peloton FTP Test Ride classes and choose the most suitable one.

2. Tabata Ride

Peloton Tabata Ride classes are HIIT workouts, with the work-to-rest ratio being 2:1. Instructors often ask you to repeat about eight different workouts for 20 seconds and switch to the next one after a 10-second break.

Class overview (updated in 2022): 

Peloton offers you 100 Tabata Ride classes. Choose the harder ones to boost your productivity.

• Class length: 10 to 30 minutes
• Difficulty level: Around 9.3 to 9.5
• Recommended instructors: Robin Arzon, Ally Love, Denis Morton, and Jess King

Why should you choose?

Tabata Ride classes are good choices if you want to accelerate your fitness progress because:

• The excellent work-to-rest ratio helps you maintain your optimum heart rate.
• You can work on your aerobic and anaerobic capacity.
• Instructors ask you to switch between standing and seated posture.

Recommended classes:

• 20 min Tabata Ride with Robin Arzón
• 20 min Tabata Ride with Ally Love
• 20 min Tabata Ride with Denis Morton
• 20 min Tabata Ride with Jess King
• 30 min Tabata Ride with Charlotte Weidenbach
• 30 min Tabata Ride with Cliff Dwenger
• 20 min Tabata Ride with Leanne Hainsby
• 30 min Tabata Ride with Alex Toussaint
• 20 min Tabata Ride with Hannah Frankson 

There are many Peloton Tabata Ride classes. Feel free to choose the best class with your favorite instructor.

3. Pro Cyclist Ride

Pro Cyclist Ride classes are the most vigorous options in the cycling category. As the name suggests, they are suitable for people who want to be a “pro.”

Class overview (updated in 2022): 

Christian Vande Velde only presents 13 Pro Cyclist Ride classes. However, you can choose the length and difficulty level that works for you.

• Class length: 30 to 45 minutes
• Difficulty level: Around 9 to 9.2
• Instructor: Christian Vande Velde

Why should you choose?

Pro Cyclist Ride classes are what beginners aim for when they start. As an experienced, you may like the lessons because:

• You will practice the most intense cycling exercises on Peloton.
• Christain Vande Velde is a Tour de France competitor and professional racing cyclist. He will show you the right cycling techniques when working out at an extreme level.
• The lesson works on interval training basics.

Recommended classes:

• 30 min Pro Cyclist Ride with Christain Vande Velde
• 45 min Pro Cyclist Ride with Christain Vande Velde

4. Climb Ride

Peloton’s climb rides are cycling workouts that primarily mimic cycling uphill. You continuously improve your tension during each session by steadily increasing the resistance.

Class overview (updated in 2022): 

There are up to 503 Climb Ride classes. However, not all of them are hard. Remember to check the difficulty level before starting your class.

• Class length: 10 to 60 minutes
• Difficulty level: Around 9 to 9.1
• Recommended instructors: Hannah Frankson, Jenn Sherman, Camila Ramón, and Charlotte Weidenbach

Why should you choose?

Climb Ride classes, with the difficulty level of at least 9, will be helpful for skilled cyclists because:

• Uphill riding is much more challenging because your entire body must work more.
• These intense exercises boost your resistance gradually.
• There will be fewer risks of injuries.

Recommended classes:

• 45 min Climb Ride with Hannah Frankson
• 20 min Climb Ride with Hannah Frankson
• 30 min Climb Ride with Jenn Sherman
• 30 min Climb Ride with Camila Ramón
• 30 min Climb Ride with Charlotte Weidenbach
• 60 min Climb Ride with Charlotte Weidenbach 
• 45 min Climb Ride with Christine D’Ercole
• 60 min Climb Ride with Erik Jäger
• 45 min Climb Ride with Tunde Oyeneyin
• 45 min Climb Ride with Mayla Wedekind

5. Hills & HIIT Run

HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) includes high-intensity lessons. So, HIIT runs are the ones that need you to run at a higher speed and use more strength during the workout.

Class overview (updated in 2022): 

More than 40 HIIT and Hills Run classes are available in the Peloton library:

• Class length: 20 to 45 minutes
• Difficulty level: Around 8.7 to 9.1
• Recommended instructors: Kirsten Ferguson, Marcel Maurer, Adrian Williams, and Becs Gentry

Why should you choose?

Running may sound simple, but Hills & HIIT runs are hard. Yet, their benefits for runners are undeniable.

• High-intensity workouts demand runners to bring out the most bursts in every session.
• The runs are good for your heart health, speed, strength, and endurance. 
• The combination of extreme runs and short breaks will maximize your productivity.

Recommended classes:

• 20 min Hills Run with Marcel Maurer
• 45 min HIIT Run with Adrian Williams
• 30 min HIIT & Hills Run with Becs Gentry 
• 20 min HIIT Run with Kristen Ferguson
• 30 min HIIT & Hills Run with Jeffrey McEachern
• 30 min HIIT & Hills Run with Tobias Heinze
• 30 min HIIT & Hills Run with Jermaine Johnson
• 30 min HIIT & Hills Run with Olivia Amato 

Check more HIIT and Hills Run classes and settle on the best one.

6. Full Body Bootcamp

Peloton Bootcamp combines cardio and strength training. Both are intense exercises but definitely yield impressive outcomes.

Class overview (updated in 2022):

You can find more than 60 classes. There are also many instructors to choose from.

• Class length: 30 to 60 minutes
• Difficulty level: Around 8.5 to 9.1
• Recommended instructors: Andy Speer, Jess Sims, Rebecca Kennedy, and Selena Samuela

Why should you choose?

Why do people love Full Body Bootcamp so much? The reasons are as follows:

• The short recovery time allows for more productive exercise time.
• You can work on your lower and upper body with one training session.
• The exercises in these classes are beneficial for your blood circulation and lactic acid reduction. 

Recommended classes:

• 45 min Bootcamp: Full Body with Rebecca Kennedy
• 30 min Bootcamp: Full Body with Andy Speer
• 60 min Bootcamp: Full Body with Andy Speer
• 60 min Bootcamp: Full Body with Jess Sims
• 30 min Bootcamp: Full Body with Jess Sims
• 45 min Bootcamp: Full Body with Selena Samuela 
• 45 min Bootcamp: Full Body with Callie Gullickson
• 45 min Bootcamp: Full Body with Tunde Oyeneyin

7. Metal Ride

The idea of Peloton Metal Ride is to use Metallica soundtracks while riding. The track’s ideal beat, about 80 to 120 BPM, is perfect for workouts.

Class overview (updated in 2022): 

You can choose from 50 Metal Ride classes in the Peloton library.

• Class length: 15 to 45 minutes
• Difficulty level: Around 9.2 to 9.4
• Recommended instructors: Erik Jäger, Charlotte Weidenbach, Kendall Toole, and Tobias Heinze

Why should you choose?

Metal Ride classes are getting more and more popular among Peloton skilled members because:

• You have to use more energy, and all your muscle groups work more intensely. 
• The soundtrack beat works for your resistance and cadence.
• These rides are quite similar to hill-climbing because you have to stand a lot, making the exercises harder.

Recommended classes:

• 20 min Metal Ride with Erik Jäger
• 30 min Metal Ride with Charlotte Weidenbach
• 20 min Metal Ride with Kendall Toole
• 30 min Metal Ride with Kendall Toole
• 20 min Metal Ride with Benny Adami
• 20 min Metal Ride with Bradley Rose

8. All-Star Ride

All-Star Ride is different from other options because it’s an event. Ruan Ruocco, a TV sportscaster, and Ally Love – a Peloton instructor, host this competition.

This riding competition is for charity as Peloton will donate one million meals to the Food Bank in New York City if all the 16 participants hit the output of 3,000.

The competitors are all athletes, like Matt Grevers and Gordon Hayward. The best part is that you can join the race.

Class overview (updated in 2022):

Here is some basic information about the event:

• Length: 20 minutes
• Difficulty level: Around 9.6
• Instructors: Robin Arzon and Alex Toussaint
• Host: Ruan Ruocco and Ally Love

Why should you choose?

All-Star Rides are hard because you will compete with professional cyclists and athletes. Unfortunately, these classes are not frequent.

Recommended classes:

• 5 min Peloton All-Star Cool Down Ride with Alex Toussaint
• 20 min Peloton All-Star Ride with Alex Toussaint 
• 5 min Peloton All-Star Cool Down Ride with Robin Arzón
• 20 min Peloton All-Star Ride with Robin Arzón

Hardest Peloton Instructors

All Peloton instructors can deliver hard and easy lessons. However, some may be more popular for difficult classes because of their strict training style and complicated exercise. The 8 hardest Peloton instructors are:

• For cycling: Kendall Toole and Olivia Amato
• For running: Jess Sims and Becs Gentry
• For yoga: Ross Rayburn and Anna Greenberg
• For strength: Tunde Oyeneyin and Rebecca Kennedy

Conclusion

Do not allow yourself to remain in your comfort zone for too long. Instead, try to challenge your skills with hard Peloton classes. They are beneficial for your health, muscle buildup, weight loss, and even your satisfaction.

If you are not confident, take it slow. Start with short classes first, and go for longer ones once you are ready. Peloton instructors always stand by your side to help you with your fitness journey.

FAQs

Are Peloton classes harder than SoulCycle?

Both offer hard classes and instructors. Yet, Peloton is an overall winner because it has more options.