Connected fitness device company Peloton is looking to gamify exercise with a new in-app experience geared toward its stationary bikes tentatively called Lanebreak. 

Now in beta, the new program is designed to gamify cardio exercises for users and is expected to be available on the Bike and Bike+. 

The game is combined with music and pushes users to match and sustain a certain resistance and speed to get points. Users are represented on the screen with an avatar and instructed to keep pace with the music and are able to switch lanes and face obstacles. 

The new program lets users choose their level from beginner to expert, music genre and length of workout. Additionally, users are able to challenge other Peloton users. 

Currently, the game is slated to roll out in early 2022 and to be open to members in the winter of 2021. 

WHY IT MATTERS 

Gamification has become a popular way to incentivize users. It has often been studied in promoting physical activity. This month, JAMA published a new study that found veterans who were overweight or obese and had a gamification and social support intervention modestly increased their physical activity over a 12-week program. 

Another example is a recent study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania that used gamification to promote physical activity and weight loss among adults with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes. The research found gamification worked best in changing behaviors when used as a competition with peers or with support from their social support networks.

THE LARGER TREND 

It’s been a busy year for Peloton. In June, Peloton announced that it is launching a new corporate wellness program for businesses in the U.S., UK, Canada, Germany and eventually Australia. Shortly after, reports circulated that the company is working on a heart rate monitoring armband. 

In May, the company rolled out a slew of new features, including one that lets users tap into a scenic route from their screen, as well as another feature that lets users see how much time they spend in each heart rate zone. 

But 2021 has also been a rocky year for the fitness company. In May, the publicly traded company announced a recall of its connected treadmills after a report of 70 injuries and one child death. This came after months of pressure from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to take the products off the market. Originally, Peloton fought back at the CPSC's warnings.