The Peloton Strive Score is a useful training tool that can help you make the most of your Peloton workouts.
By monitoring key metrics like intensity, heart rate and workout duration, the Strive Score gives you valuable insight into your current fitness level and progress over time.
As fitness enthusiasts ourselves, we know how motivating it can be to have measurable goals and track your improvements.
That’s why we created this guide – to show you how to get the most out of the Peloton Strive Score so you can maximize your results and make consistent progress.
Inside this article, we’ll cover:
- How the Strive Score algorithm works behind the scenes
- Steps for enabling and customizing your personal Strive Score
- Tricks for improving your Strive Score and workouts over time
- Ways to stay motivated using the Strive Score as an accountability tool
- Solutions for common issues or questions that may come up
By the end, you’ll have a good understanding of how the Peloton Strive Score can be your secret weapon for optimizing your workouts and boosting your fitness.
Whether you’re just getting started on Peloton or have been riding for years, this guide will show you how utilize the Strive Score to push your progress and get the most out of your Peloton experience.
Let’s jump in! We’ll break everything down step-by-step and provide examples and recommendations based on our own experiences using Peloton.
What is Peloton Strive Score?
The Peloton Strive Score is Peloton’s proprietary fitness metric that evaluates your overall performance based on various workout data.
It combines key metrics like heart rate, intensity, workout duration, and progress over time into a single score ranging from 1 to 999.
The Peloton Strive Score gives you a consolidated view of your fitness that is much more meaningful than any individual workout metric in isolation.
It considers not just how hard you work during a single ride or run, but also your consistency, recovery, and improvements over weeks and months of training.
By tracking changes in your Strive Score over time, you gain valuable insights into what’s working and what needs improvement in your training approach.
A higher Strive Score generally indicates better cardiovascular fitness, but Peloton designed it to account for the nuances of different training plans, intentions, and abilities.
At its core, the Peloton Strive Score serves two main purposes:
- It provides an objective benchmark for measuring your current fitness and performance at any given time.
- It allows you to track progress in a quantifiable way so you know your training efforts are paying off and you can make adjustments when needed.
Overall, the Peloton Strive Score gives Peloton users a standardized, yet personalized method for maximizing results from their workouts and pushing their training to the next level. The higher your Strive Score, generally the “fitter” and better conditioned you are.
How Does Peloton Strive Score Work?
The Peloton Strive Score algorithm is quite complex and considers several key metrics collected during your workouts:
Heart Rate Zones
The most significant factor is the amount of time you spend in each heart rate zone during a workout. Peloton defines five heart rate zones based on your maximum heart rate. Time spent in higher intensity zones has a greater impact on your Strive Score.
Intensity
Your average workout intensity based on your heart rate, power output (for cycling), and resistance (for treadmill workouts) affects your Strive Score. Higher average intensity workouts result in more points.
Workout Duration
Both the length of an individual workout and the total weekly workout duration matters. Longer and more frequent workouts tend to yield a higher Strive Score.
Workout Type
The Peloton Strive Score accounts for time spent in different types of workouts like cycling, running, strength training and yoga. Each workout type contributes points in a slightly different way.
Progress Over Time
Importantly, the algorithm compares your current performance to your past performance. Consistent improvements in the above metrics over weeks and months positively impacts your Strive Score.
By synthesizing information from these different factors, the Peloton Strive Score algorithm calculates a single number between 1 and 999 that represents your current overall fitness and performance relative to your personal history and progress.
While other metrics matter, time spent in higher heart rate zones during hard training seems to be the primary driver of Strive Score increases.
Read Also: Hardest Peloton Instructors
Setting Up Peloton Strive Score
Setting up the Peloton Strive Score is a simple process that requires a Peloton account and compatible workout tracking equipment:
Step 1: Purchase a Peloton bike, treadmill, or subscription to the Peloton Digital app. These are required to track your workouts and metrics.
Step 2: Create a Peloton account through the Peloton app or website. Signing up is free and allows you to enable Strive Score.
Step 3: Log in to your Peloton account from the app, bike, or treadmill.
Step 4: Go to your “Profile” within the app or homepage (upper right on web).
Step 5: Select the “Strive Score” tab and toggle the switch to the “On” position to enable Strive Score tracking.
Step 6: Calibrate any workout tracking devices like heart rate monitors to ensure accurate readings. This improves the reliability of your Strive Score calculations.
That’s it! After your first tracked workout, a Strive Score between 1 and 999 will appear under your Profile. In addition to viewing your score within the app, it will also show on the leaderboard during workouts.
Important notes:
- Equipment is required for accurate tracking, but the Digital-only subscription also provides a Strive Score.
- Strive Score considers all workouts tracked by Peloton, not just cycling or running.
- Regularly tracked workouts and progress over weeks/months are needed for a meaningful Strive Score.
Using the Strive Score Metrics
Once you enable Strive Score, several key metrics become available to provide insight into your performance:
Heart Rate Zones – You’ll see the amount of time spent in each of Peloton’s five heart rate zones during workouts. Zone 1 is easiest while Zone 5 is hardest. More time in higher zones tends to yield more points.
Intensity – The “Intensity” metric shows your average workout intensity based on heart rate, power, and/or resistance. The scale runs from 1 to 10 with 8+ considered “high intensity.”
Workout Metrics – The workout summary section shows your total weekly and monthly durations for cardio workouts, strength workouts and stretching/yoga. Longer durations often correlate with higher scores.
Trends Over Time – The “Strive Score Progress” chart displays changes in your score over the past 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. This allows you to identify positive or negative trends in your performance.
By monitoring these different metrics within the Strive Score system, you gain valuable insights into:
- Which aspects of your workouts are most impacting your score in positive or negative ways
- Where you need to focus your training efforts to improve your score and fitness
- How consistently you’re training and recovering at the intensity required to progress
- Whether changes you make to your training plan are actually moving the needle in the right direction
Overall, the Strive Score metrics provide an objective summary of your workouts that helps ensure you’re training and progressing in a sustainable, effective manner. Your specific numbers are personalized to your needs, abilities and goals.
Interpreting Your Peloton Strive Score
Now that you understand the basics of how the Peloton Strive Score is calculated, you can start to make sense of your personal score:
A Higher Strive Score Generally Indicates:
- Improved cardiovascular fitness and conditioning over time
- An ability to train at a higher average intensity level during workouts
- Increased time spent in the harder heart rate zones (Zones 4 and 5)
- Longer weekly duration and higher frequency of workouts
- More consistent training and effective progression
- Better performance during classes and programs
By itself, a high Strive Score simply means you’re performing well relative to your past results based on the metrics captured. There isn’t a “goal” score that all Peloton users should aim for.
A Lower Strive Score Could Suggest:
- Plateaus or declines in conditioning
- Inadequate recovery between hard training weeks
- Not training at a high enough intensity during most workouts
- Inconsistencies in your training or shortened weekly durations
- Undertraining certain fitness aspects that aren’t fully reflected in Strive Score
- Potential overtraining or injury that limits performance
- Improper calibration of heart rate monitor or other equipment
When analyzing your Peloton Strive Score:
- Compare to previous scores for trends over time
- Review other workout metrics for additional context
- Consider lifestyle factors impacting training consistency and intensity
- Adjust your training approach based on areas of improvement identified by Strive Score
By interpreting your score with a holistic understanding of your specific goals, abilities and lifestyle, the Peloton Strive Score becomes a powerful companion to help optimize your training and maximize results.
Read Also: How to Turn Off the Peloton Screen
Customizing Your Peloton Strive Score
While the Peloton Strive Score algorithm is predetermined, you have some options for personalizing how your score is calculated to better match your fitness goals and preferences:
Adjust Intensity Levels
Under “Intensity” within the Strive Score tab, you can modify the lower and upper heart rate limits for each zone. By lowering or raising these limits, you shift the intensity required to achieve points.
Set Personalized Goals
Under “Intensity” you can also set personalized output and duration goals. Reaching these goals on a weekly basis awards you points to boost your score.
Focus on Specific Workout Types
The algorithm equally weighs all workout types by default. You can adjust the “WorkoutWeights” to focus more on cycling, running, strength or yoga when calculating your score.
Enable Challenges
Periodic challenges are available that award points for completion. You can opt into these to provide a score “boost” if desired.
Disable Strive Score
If the Strive Score does not align with your goals, you can always disable tracking. Your workouts will not be impacted – only the scoring system.
The key is to customize your Strive Score in a way that:
- Aligns with your specific fitness goals and priorities
- Reflects the types/intensities of workouts you’re able to consistently do
- Rewards the aspects of training most important for your progress
- Motivates you to push a little harder or train a little smarter
- Provides actionable guidance for making continued improvements
- Feels achievable and sustainable over time
While an “out-of-the-box” Strive Score can be useful, personalizing the settings based on your training needs and preferences will help maximize the impact of this powerful coaching companion on your fitness journey.
Strategies to Boost Your Peloton Strive Score
While the Peloton Strive Score attempts to evaluate your overall fitness, there are concrete actions you can take to improve your score over time:
Increase Your Average Intensity
The biggest factor within your control is the intensity at which you do most workouts. For cycling and running, consistently training at higher resistances/inclines and speeds will increase your average workout intensity, pushing your Strive Score higher.
Focus on Interval Training
Interval workouts like pace & cadence pushes are scientifically proven to improve fitness the most. Incorporating these high-intensity efforts into your regular training will boost the time you spend in harder heart rate zones, thereby boosting your Strive Score.
Vary Your Workout Types
In addition to cycling/running, strength training and yoga workouts also contribute to your Strive Score. Mixing in these different workout types can expose weaknesses and advance your total fitness.
Progress Over Time
Rather than just training “hard,” focus on making small improvements over weeks and months. Consistently riding/running just a bit faster/longer each week will maximize your Strive Score gains according to the algorithm.
Take an Occasional Deload
After periods of hard training, taking an “easy” week with lighter workouts and active recovery can help you come back stronger. These planned deloads can prevent overtraining that hinders performance gains.
Cross-Train Regularly
Activities like swimming, rowing, and outdoor running force your body to adapt in different ways while also contributing to your Strive Score. Include cross-training 1-2 times per week for optimal results.
By working to improve the factors that directly impact your Peloton Strive Score – intensity, heart rate zones, workout duration, progression over time, and incorporating cross-training –
you give yourself the best chance of constantly raising the bar and optimizing your performance, as represented by an ever-increasing Strive Score!
Tracking Progress and Setting Goals
While the Peloton Strive Score quantifies your performance at any given time, it truly shines as a tool for monitoring your progress over longer periods:
Track Changes in Strive Score
The “Strive Score Progress” chart allows you to easily see if your score is trending up, down or remaining flat over months. This identifies whether your training efforts are moving the needle in a positive direction.
Set Milestone Score Goals
In addition to your training-specific goals, set ambitious yet achievable Strive Score targets to hit at 3 month, 6 month and 1 year marks. Having a score to strive for keeps you motivated and focused.
Review Other Metrics Regularly
In addition to Strive Score, analyze trends in your target heart rate zones, workout intensities, and durations. These metrics corroborate improvements (or lack thereof) in your actual fitness.
Make Data-Driven Training Adjustments
When your Strive Score plateaus or declines, use the other workout metrics to identify weaknesses that require more focus or intensity. Then adjust your plan accordingly.
Continue Tracking Over Time
The longer you use the Peloton Strive Score, the more historical data you accumulate highlighting areas of strength and improvement over years of training. This long-term perspective keeps you motivated.
By combining the Peloton Strive Score with other workout metrics to set goals, monitor progress, and make data-driven training decisions, you ensure that your hard work in the gym (or on the bike/treadmill)
is actually paying off in the form of measurable performance gains over time. An ever-increasing Strive Score simply reflects the progress you’re making – and motivates you to keep pushing for more.
Staying Motivated with Peloton Strive Score
While tracking progress is valuable, the Peloton Strive Score truly shows its worth as a motivational tool:
Celebrate Achievements
Every personal best Strive Score, as well as milestones you hit along the way, are worthy of celebration. Reward yourself for your hard work and dedication.
Participate in Challenges
The built-in Peloton challenges give you a short-term Strive Score goal to work toward. The social accountability and potential to “level up” can give you an extra push.
Connect with the Community
Share your achievements and goal progress within the Peloton community for encouragement, inspiration and friendly competition with others on a similar journey. A few “high fives” go a long way!
Compare to Past Performance
While experts advise against comparing yourself to others, you can still draw motivation from seeing how far you’ve come personally since first starting your Peloton journey.
Track Non-Score Improvements
In addition to Strive Score gains, celebrate increased energy levels, performance PRs, weight loss/strength gains, and overall improvements in how you “feel.” These tangible benefits keep you motivated to maintain and boost your Strive Score further.
Remain Consistent
The most powerful thing you can do is make tracking your Strive Score part of your weekly routine. The more consistent you are, the easier it becomes – and the more motivated you’ll feel to see that score continually increase.
By utilizing the Peloton Strive Score as both a tangible benchmark and source of motivation – rewarding yourself for achieving score goals, celebrating personal improvements, connecting with the community, and making consistency a habit – you give yourself the best chance of maintaining the momentum needed to keep progressing towards your fitness potential.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
Like any complex system, issues can arise when using the Peloton Strive Score. Here are some common problems and solutions:
Inaccurate Readings:
- Double check your heart rate monitor is calibrated correctly and fitting properly
- Reset your bike/tread calibration
- Ensure app updates are installed
- Contact support if the issue persists
Slow or No Progress:
- Focus workouts on improving the metrics directly impacting Strive Score
- Increase average intensity, time in harder zones, and duration of workouts
- Take an occasional deload week to facilitate recovery and adaptation
- Consider customizing your Strive Score settings
Temporary Declines:
- Short-term score drops are normal due to lifestyle factors or overtraining
- Focus on recovery, consistency and reducing workout intensity temporarily
- Strive Score should rebound as you continue training
Data Privacy Concerns:
- Peloton states it does not sell your personal data to 3rd parties
- Data is used to personalize your coaching and improve the overall platform
- You can opt-out of sharing data or delete your account if desired
For more specific questions, Peloton Support is available via the in-app chat, email, phone and social media. Their troubleshooting guide also covers a range of common Strive Score issues.
Beyond this general troubleshooting information, we hope this guide has armed you with the knowledge to derive maximum value from the Peloton Strive Score in your own fitness journey!
Utilize these tactics and recommendations wisely, remain consistent in your tracking, and celebrate every achievement – big or small – along the way.
