Spinning, Sipping, & Shopping

Disney World; Things to Bring to the Magic Kingdom (updated)

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A departure from my usual Peloton musings. I wrote the original post 4 years ago when we first visited Disney. This was trip No. 2 and it did not disappoint. We loved all the new Star Wars additions and with the kids a few years older, we had more rides at our disposal (for example, The Tower of Terror!). I have to think that all of my Peloton training helped me walk the 9 miles a day through the parks! New pictures added.

2017 vs 2021

Post Updated 2021

This is not your typical Walt Disney blog where the author tells you where to stay, where to eat and what rides to take. There are thousands of those blogs. (Although we stayed at the Beach Club again). This blog is all about what to BRING to Disney. By buying in advance we saved a load of money and it was easier than having to go shopping once we landed or checked-in. Have fun. Like they say, Disney World is magical! We had a great time!

Introducing my Keiser M3i; A Wonderful Pairing with the Peloton App

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I did it. I bit the bullet, gifted my Sunny Spin Bike (kitted out with Wahoo speed and cadence sensors) to a dear friend and bought a brand new Keiser M3i. It was a big purchase for me and I didn’t do it without a lot of research. I spent weeks deliberating between the Keiser and Peloton. They have very similar price points but in the end I chose the Keiser. Read on to find out why!

Goodbye Sunny Exercise Bike; Hello Keiser M3i Indoor Cycle

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After 550 rides with my first love – this Sunny Exercise Bike – I’ve finally taken the plunge and treated myself to a Keiser M3i. It is a beauty! My Sunny was still in great shape and in fact, I gave it to a good friend. I just wanted something new and shiny now that I proved to myself that I am in this for the long hall. According to my calculations, I think spent about $0.75 per ride with over 500 rides.

Sunny/Peloton Resistance Conversion Charts

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Sunny Riders! If you are new here, here is a link to my blog post about converting Peloton resistance levels to a Sunny bike while using the Peloton App. I’ve included a BUNCH of Sunny/Peloton resistance conversion charts to this post, too. Happy spinning!

Cycling Shoes and Pedals; SPD and Look Delta Cleats

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The 2^nd most popular question I get (the first being about my disco ball) is about shoes and cleats. For the first couple of years after purchasing my Sunny I just wore my running sneakers and slipped my foot into the toe cage. It seemed fine and I was content but I did have a lingering curiosity. After 525 rides on my Sunny I upgraded to a Keiser M3i which, like the Sunny, had toe cages on one side of pedal but also allowed me to “clip in” on the other side. I finally took the plunge and bought some cycling shoes but holy smokes, the whole process was very confusing!! Only certain shoes are compatible with certain cleats that are only compatible with certain pedals. In fact, I initially even bought the wrong type. Ugh. It was like learning a whole new language! I thought I would share what I learned:

Measuring Peloton Resistance; Sunny, Keiser, NordicTrack and Echelon Resistance Charts

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My readers are always on the lookout for a quality Peloton resistance conversion chart. A copy of a resistance chart to complete the “Peloton Hack” is probably THE number one request I receive. As I noted in my earlier “How to Measure Resistance with the Peloton App” post, the questions usually sound like this:

How do I convert Peloton resistance to my Sunny or Keiser M3i?
Is it worth it to buy these fancy power pedals (pretty cool, check them out!)?
Is there anything similar to this Wahoo cadence senso r that will measure resistance?
How do I measure resistance on my Sunny?
How do I convert Peloton resistance when using my own bike with the Peloton App?
Should I just give up on life and buy one of these? (Just kidding…)

Read on to learn more about resistance and see various Peloton conversion resistance charts for Sunny, Keiser, Echelon and NordicTrack spin bikes!

mPaceline and Peloton

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Hi gang,

Since upgrading from my Sunny to a Keiser M3i (after 525 rides, thank you very much) I started noticing people posting online these really cool looking graphs from mPaceline. Intrigued I signed up for the free trial and then moved on to the yearly plan (it was something like $25 for the year). mPaceline is a cycling and running workout App designed to help you visualize your exercise/training metrics. The App works best if you are taking spinning or running classes that provide metrics on your class performance. It’s primarily focused on individuals that own a Peloton Bike, Tread or owners of 3rd-party equipment that use the Peloton Digital App with attached power and cadence meters (like my Keiser).

Anyway, I started writing a post about all the things I enjoyed about the app but felt like I was falling short describing the awesomeness of this Peloton hack so I reached out to “RiderPaul”, the developer behind mPaceline, and asked that he author a guest post for my readers. I actually met Paul AFTER creating a dedicated mPaceline Facebook group after looking for some like minded users. Come join – it has grown very fast and full of tips, tricks and helpful advice!

Below, Paul provides some basic information about mPaceline as well as equipment advice for those getting started with Peloton.

Over to you, Paul:

This Year’s Hottest Peloton App Accessory?

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Here it is – this year’s No. 1 Peloton App Accessory! Plenty of pictures and videos below.

Whether you are shopping for someone that needs a little more fun spinning at home or you are looking to spice up your spin life, this gadget is a no-brainer!

Introducing my Apple Fitness+ App Group on Facebook

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Hi gang,

I have some exciting news. I created a dedicated Apple Fitness+ App Community on Facebook! I describe it as a safe place to help answer questions, discuss tips, tricks and share best practices while using the Apple Fitness+ App. Please join! More details below.

Any Peloton Riders from Boston?

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Are you from Boston and looking for that perfect holiday gift? Then look no further than my husband’s children’s book, Sully the Squirrel Explores Boston. It is a well-researched, humorous, and beautifully illustrated tour through the great and historic City of Boston told through the eyes of Sully the Squirrel, a curious little squirrel that has a passion for adventure and is nuts for history (get it?)! Read on for pictures.