I bought my wife a Keiser M3i for Christmas a couple years ago and she loves it, but also uses it to make routines to teach her spin classes. There's enough adjustability in all areas that anyone can fit comfortably, and it's well made.
If it's just for your son, get a simple stationary bike like the one from the gym that he likes. If it's to increase your performance in the peloton during your weekly rides, then get a dedicated trainer. But the Peloton trainer might be a good choice if your son gets bored and you decide to go for some training. I just have a tablet mount on the cheapest spin bike I could find on craigslist that I use to watch the GP races when I don't want to go for a real bicycle ride, and it works for me to get some basic cardio. But I would honestly go for a simple solution as it sounds like you are looking to help your son stay busy and fit, not that anyone in your house is training for the Tour de France.
I have a Kickr that literally has 2 days use on it if anybody is interested in buying it. Nothing wrong with it.... my wife and I just would rather ride outside.
Wahoo if you want to simulate riding outdoors. To my knowledge the peloton requires you twist a nobby thingy to change resistance. The Wahoo integrates with all kinds of software to control the actual bike to suit your goal or simulate a route you've already ridden and like, or connect to Zwift.
Agreed. Kreitler rollers with resistance fan and front fork stand. Had this setup in the late 90's. Old school Polar HRM, techno music, and hammer down. Opposite days would be rollers only or my beater fixed gear bike.
I have had friends who purchased the Peloton and ended up returning them due to the "message" in the classes they show about social justice etc.. They just wanted to work out with a trainer not bring in agendas..
+1 on the rower. I bought one on Amazon pretty cheap and me and my son share it. We have a stationary bike also, but the rower is a kick @ss full body workout.
I had a Peloton for about a month. I hated it. I like being able to shift gears and stand up to simulate real riding. I sold it and bought a wahoo KikR for my regular bike. If he has a road bike I would recommend this more to the fact he will be spinning a bike that he will be riding outside. I put the trainer in front of the TV and watch MTB video's on youtube.
Hahah. This is great. Been way is everything from practical to extreme. Hes 9 and we don't have a road bike. Winter is coming and I want to keep him active. He like when when actually do go to the gym,to ride there bike. Its got a screen on it with different modes. Maybe riding though a forest or doing a certain distance race. All he has to do is bike what he wants on the screen and go. Can adjust the resistance on the fly. So something similar would work best.
I missed that whole kid part. The Expresso bikes, which I think are what the gym probably has are $4.5k. Does your son check out women in tights yet? If so, then Peloton it is.
To keep a 9 year old kid active? Any of the Sunny Exercise bikes on Amazon or your local classifieds/craigslist site for a couple hundred is all you need to spend. He can ride the thing while watching his youtube videos or playing minecraft. No need to get anything higher end than that.