How Long Has Cody Rigsby Been With Peloton?
Cody Rigsby is one of the most popular Peloton instructors in the world, and with nearly 1 million followers on Instagram, it's only a matter of time before he's a household name. Over the course of the pandemic, sales of the stationary bike soared 172%, per CNN, further solidifying Rigsby's status as one of the most influential fitness instructors out there.
But while Rigby's association with Peloton is well-known, fans may be surprised to learn that he balanced many jobs before hitting it big. In March 2021, the North Carolina native told People that when he first moved to New York City 11 years ago, he was a backup dancer and even dabbled in the fashion industry. Rigsby also worked for startups and streetwear brands, and he cites these jobs as his "genesis into New York City."
So, when did Rigsby get into Peloton? What do we know about how he slowly built his following? Here's what we know about Rigsby's start with Peloton.
Cody Rigsby worked as a dancer before joining Peloton
According to People, Cody Rigsby got his start in Peloton seven years ago. The company, itself, however, was founded in 2012, according to Built In NYC. Prior to that, Rigsby was "dancing 'for coins'" at gay bars (per Vogue). In his interview with Vogue, Rigsby admitted that he didn't find dancing professionally fulfilling. He explained, "You're often ... treated like a moving piece of furniture to the artist. I don't believe in God, but there is some divine fate, because this opportunity just came and it was the perfect fit for me."
It was Rigsby's connections as a dancer that got him involved in Peloton. He told People that a choreographer friend who worked for Peloton in its early days was the one who got him an interview. He started the following day. Rigsby said that, fortunately, his skills as a dancer have informed his success on the bike. "I think that when I was a dancer, I was developing skills that were going to help me here. If you take my class, I'm a stickler for musicality — I want the push to go on the beat drop, and I want it to feel like the music."
Cody Rigsby is Peloton's cycling director
Along with working as a Peloton instructor, Cody Rigsby is the company's cycling director. He told People that he's "super proud of" the position, adding, "I'm kind of a liaison between our producers, our instructors, and really advocating for what our instructors need. And then a really big part of what I do is talent recruitment and development." Some instructors Rigsby has recruited include Cliff Dwenger and Mayla Wedekind.
Rigsby — who teaches strength, meditation, and even dance cardio in addition to cycling — told Vogue he is truly passionate about his work at Peloton, especially when it comes to representing the LGBTQ+ community. He said, "I always think of the Peloton bike as a Trojan horse of diversity and acceptance. I want to be able to change people's hearts and open their minds to what a gay man is." As for his overall goal, Rigsby added, "If I'm creating change in the world, even if it was just one person at a time, it gives me immense pride."