Denis Morton: The ‘Country Ride” Peloton Instructor Who Is Just Like Us

“My Name’s Denis Morton and welcome to Peloton.

You’re locked and loaded for a 30 minute Country Ride. You know if it’s going to be my Country Ride, it doesn’t have to say ‘90s’ in front of ‘Country.’ It’s going to be mostly 90’s Country. Because that’s the way we like it.”

This week, I realized that I gravitate toward Denis Morton on Peloton because he is just like us. And it all starts with his love for ’90s country.

If you don’t believe me, please browse the track list that Denis queued up for his three most recent “Country Rides” on the platform:

30 Minute Country Ride- 4/19/22

1. “Meet in the Middle” – Diamond Rio
2. “Why Haven’t I Heard from You” – Reba McEntire
3. “Down Home” – Alabama
4. “That Don’t Impress Me Much” – Shania Twain
5. “Looking Out for Number One” – Travis Tritt
6. “My Maria” – Brooks & Dunn
7. “Everywhere” – Tim McGraw
8. “Down Home” – Brothers Osborne
9. “Speakers” – Sam Hunt (we’ll forgive you for this one, Denis. We know you need to appeal to a broad audience…)

30 Minute Country Ride – 3/16/22

1. “We Just Disagree” – Billy Dean
2. “Beer Can’t Fix” – Thomas Rhett feat. Jon Pardi
3. “Born Country” – Alabama
4. “Not a Moment Too Soon” – Tim McGraw
5. “My Kinda Party” – Jason Aldean
6. “Wild One” – Faith Hill
7. “Straight Tequila Night” – John Anderson
8. “7 & 7” – Turnpike Troubadours (Case closed?)
9. “Tennessee Whiskey” – Chris Stapleton

20 Minute Country Ride – 2/9/22

1. “This Romeo Ain’t Got Julie Yet” – Diamond Rio
2. “Parachute” – Chris Stapleton
3. “Tell Me About It” – Tanya Tucker feat. Delbert McClinton
4. “Livin’ on Love” – Alan Jackson (Again, case closed?)
5. “Hole in the Bottle” – Kelsea Ballerini
6. “If I Could Make a Living” – Clay Walker
7. “Walkaway Joe” – Trisha Yearwood

And in case you’re still skeptical after seeing one Sam Hunt song on this list, Denis also hosted a ride on July 1st, 2021, featuring nothing but the music of Sturgill Simpson.

Denis gets it. He’s a beacon of fine country music taste and understated cool on a platform that took its lumps the past two years with its cringy Christmas ad, a recall of the Peloton Tread+ after a tragic accident, and its plummeting stock price and subsequent ouster of the founder and CEO.  

As Peloton recovers from its blunders and tries to right the ship, they’d better keep Denis. Because Denis and his well-curated Country Rides are what keep me spinning the pedals these days. I sure as hell need the extra motivation.

And who wouldn’t be motivated to sprint their ass to the finish line to the tune of “7 & 7” by Turnpike Troubadours?