The Truth About Peloton Instructor Hannah Frankson

Peloton has taken the world by storm since it launched in 2012 and with its first bike made in 2014 followed by a treadmill in 2018, (via Robb Report), it continues to grow in popularity. During 2020, with gyms closed and people working out at home due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the company stock grew 434 percent, (via The Robin Report). They've also announced a move into the Australian market, and, according to Kevin Cornils, Managing Director, International for Peloton, "Our global growth is fueled by our passionate, growing community of over 4.4 million Members who choose Peloton as their go-to fitness solution, anytime, anywhere," (via PR Newswire).

Much of that popularity seems based on the sense of community. You can deliver virtual high fives to others in the same class that you're taking, and instructors will shout out to some users who have achieved milestones, like 100, 200, 500 rides, etc., and getting a shout-out is coveted by many with a variety of tips and tricks to get one, (via MyPurseStrings.com).

The recognition from the community and instructors is a big factor for keeping people coming back. On the Peloton blog, one user said they loved their bike because "the instructors are fantastic motivators." One of those fantastic motivators is London-based Hannah Frankson.

Hannah Frankson grew up in Essex, and while she's coaching people on top of the Peloton bike these days, the career path was pretty much destined. The fitness guru told the Peloton blog "I really loved riding my bike when I was really small in my favorite park near my home." 

She noted on an Instagram post for her 32nd birthday in 2021 that living and growing up in Essex, meant that it was "a 2 hour night bus home after a night out (shout outs to the N15 crew brap brap)."

Frankson and her mother are apparently close. In fact, for her mom's birthday, she posted a pic of the two of them and wrote, "I'm not sure where I'd be without my mum. From driving me up and down the country to athletics competitions to being on the other end of the phone when I need an outlet." And her mom seems like she's one of Frankson's biggest fans, as she takes her daughter's classes. For Mother's Day 2021 in the U.K., Frankson posted on Facebook about the ride, writing, "My mum was on it live. She said she was at the bottom of the leaderboard (she always tells me this lol) but still enjoyed it. Lol!"

Hannah Frankson's parents are still together after 37 years. On Facebook, he spoke about her parents and growing up with dual heritage in some of her Peloton rides for Black History Month. Her parents raised her to be proud of her heritage. "I've always been extremely proud of my mixed heritage to the point that if I did experience racism as a child," she wrote, "which I'm sure I did because I was the only Black person in my primary school, it never affected my self-esteem." And as a kid, if she was asked where she was from, she had a definite answer: "I was always very proud to tell them that I was from Jamaica.... even though I'd only been there once and in fact lived in Essex!" per Harris Kuipers.

In terms of experiencing racism, she said she felt it sometimes working as a model. Being mixed race, Frankson understood that not every stylist would be prepared to do her hair, which she explained, "I would always go to shoots with my hair already styled in anticipation of a hairstylist on the job not having any products for my hair or reluctant to deal with it."

It may seem like it's not that big of a deal, but having hair that not everyone will work with is problematic. As Frankson said, "It sort of created a low murmuring dialogue inside my head that says you're not 'normal,' but I love my hair, so I never really let it affect me." 

As positive as Hannah Frankson may seem during her classes, like anyone, she had to deal with tough times and found a way through them with the spin class community. One of which she's shared with the world was that she was engaged and bought a house with someone, but, as she wrote on Instagram, "It didn't work out. That was tough and something that really helped me was teaching spin. I let the energy of those dark rooms take on my frustrations, my fears and my confusion. The people that rode with became my inspiration and my drive."

She's been open with her own state of mind and letting it be a point of inspiration for others. In December 2020, she wrote about feeling lonely, writing, "So recently I'd felt unmotivated and a little less happy. After a bit of soul searching I realised [sp] I was feeling hella lonely!" She also shared how she worked to get out of her funk "I felt better after I realised [sp] I was lonely. I started valuing my friends more, reaching out more and really enjoying time on my own again, reading, dancing in my living room, pretending to cook for myself (you know by now, that ain't me babes)."

Hannah Frankson told the Peloton blog why she finds her job so special. "I've trained a lot of women and I love when they start to realize that they're a lot more powerful than what they thought they were," she explained. "It's always a mind thing—I've trained women who are very successful outside of the gym and it's amazing to see them finding the same type of power in their own bodies."

Frankson loves to stay connected with her fans on social media. One her Instagram profile, her posts are filled with comments like, "Physically and mentally- Attempting to find my patience with myself and not be annoyed or frustrated when I feel like I am an emotional disaster. Your classes help work out the crazy." Another wrote, "I took one of your on-demand rides this morning and you made my day. You always do. You always come through" to which she replied "That makes me very happy!!"

While Hannah Frankson works to inspire Peloton riders, it's hardly her first foray into the athletic world. She explained her athletic backstory to Harris Kuipers, writing, "I liked sprinting when I was about 10 or 11, then I found triple jump when I was about 16. I was good at it straight away. I broke the U17 UK all-time record (I'm 100% sure someone else has smashed it since I set it though!!!) so I kind of felt like it was the right event for me."

She was also picked to play for the England Junior Volleyball team after having played with her school. "My school had the best school team in the country and we'd always compete in the UK Volleyball Championships against proper teams," she recalled, "mainly because we had a PE teacher who loved Volleyball." But that didn't work out for her as she wasn't good at the "tactics and game plays. I was better at just running in a straight line and jumping into sand!" 

Frankson was also an extra in the 2012 UK film "Fast Girls," which starred Lily James, (via YouTube). The movie's about a relay team and how the girls "clash and come together." Frankson explained, "I went down to audition for one of the main parts, but I don't act so I wasn't surprised I didn't get in, but they kept me around as one of the extra girls on the relay team," (via YouTube).