This Les Mills RPM and GRIT Cardio review covers a training day that started as Ladies Training Day and somehow turned into Gents Training Day in honour of Pedro Pereiros.
I had originally expected something else from the day, and I was already irritated by the weather, soaked clothes on the line, and the fact that I missed the chance to book Pilates in time. But once the classes began, the whole mood changed.
I started with RPM, the Les Mills indoor cycling workout where you ride to the rhythm and control the intensity through resistance and pace. Then I moved on to LES MILLS GRIT Cardio, the 30 minute HIIT format built around bodyweight drills for speed and stamina.
What followed was not a soft day.
It was two demanding classes, both taught by Pedro, both memorable, and both strong enough to leave me completely done by the end.
Quick Verdict
RPM
- Intensity: 8 out of 10
- Good for: cardio fitness, cycling endurance, resistance control, pace awareness and leg work
- My after class mood: challenged, focused and very satisfied
GRIT Cardio
- Intensity: 9.5 out of 10
- Good for: speed, stamina, bodyweight conditioning, mental toughness and being reminded that HIIT does not negotiate
- My after class mood: finished, stunned and mission accomplished
Class Snapshot
RPM
- Duration: typically 45 minutes
- Format: indoor cycling set to the rhythm, with pace, resistance and position shaping the effort. Les Mills describes RPM as the original indoor cycling workout and a low impact, high energy cardio session.
- Equipment: indoor bike, towel and water bottle
- Instructor style: Pedro was informative, precise and clearly in control of the room
- My focus today: hold the resistance, manage the speed changes and survive mixed terrain
- What stood out: learning PRP, track 4 mixed terrain, choosing not to recover in track 5, and Pedro’s pace guidance
GRIT Cardio
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Format: HIIT with bodyweight drills for speed and stamina. Les Mills describes GRIT Cardio as the bodyweight option in the GRIT series, built around intense effort and short intervals.
- Equipment: training shoes, towel and water bottle
- Instructor style: Pedro was intense, inventive and just a little dangerous in the way good HIIT instructors can be
- My focus today: do not freeze, get through the push-up torture and stay functional
- What stood out: mountain climbers, jumps, skaters, shuffles, burpees and the exercise that nearly switched my body off
The Workout: RPM + GRIT Cardio
And would you believe there was a plot twist? Ladies Training Day turned into a GENTS TRAINING DAY. In honour of Mr. Pedro Pereiros. What incredible classes he taught today!
I started with RPM and, of course, Pedro Pereiros.
Pedro’s classes are extremely rich, not only in terms of training but also in information. Today I learned something new: PRP (position, resistance and pace). 3 essential elements of RPM: our position on the bike (hands and so on), the resistance we use, and the speed at which we go. How cool is this? I am so curious! I LOVE learning!
The first three tracks were manageable. Track 4 (mixed terrain) however was VERY tough! For me, going from heavy resistance to speed is always a huge challenge.
I decided not to recover during track 5 and always went with the more demanding options.
I could definitely feel that track 6 was a little different… Pedro explained what had changed. But it remains my favourite.
Track 7 is the one that comes to finish us off, it is incredibly intense!
I LOVED the class! Worth highlighting the pace guidance, (see? I learned the word…) that Pedro delivered through vocal sounds, which helped enormously, especially during the speed sections.
I moved on to Grit Cardio, also with Pedro.
This Grit genuinely frightens me. I never know what to expect and it is always SO intense.
We had, as always, mountain climbers (I really do not enjoy this one), squats, jumps, running, sprints, burpees, skaters, shuffles, and we even played hopscotch… or something close to it. But the one that stood out was Pedro’s personal favourite (this group of instructors clearly only enjoys exercises I refuse to even describe, so cruelly demanding are they): loaded push-ups. I hope I remembered the name correctly, because the exercise itself left me almost unable to function. I would literally freeze up when it came time to do the push-ups, especially after using the legs first. GOOD LORD! These instructors are going to be the end of us! Which one takes the crown for most creative form of torture?
Today’s training was spectacular. I had to name the day GENTS TRAINING DAY, because Pedro, besides being a true Gentleman, treated us to two truly MAGNIFICENT classes! I left the gym completely done for. Mission accomplished!
Instructor Notes
Instructor credit: Pedro Pereiros
Honestly? Pedro made the whole day work.
In RPM, he was thorough in the best possible way. He explained things, gave context, added little details that made the class feel like more than just riding to a playlist. I genuinely loved learning about PRP, and his pace cues? More helpful than most people probably realise.
Then GRIT Cardio happened. Same instructor, same room, completely different human being. 😄 He switched modes entirely. More ruthless, more unpredictable, and very clearly having the time of his life with the chaos of it all.
That contrast is what made the day stick with me.
How I Felt After Class
- Right after class: I was completely done. But satisfied. The good kind of tired that tells you the work was real.
- By later in the day: the tiredness had settled in properly. Nothing dramatic, just that honest, full-body kind of fatigue that you almost enjoy because you know exactly where it came from.
- What stayed with me most? Pedro’s coaching in RPM. The detail, the cues, the way he made the class feel like more than just a ride. And the fear factor of GRIT Cardio, which I say with full respect and zero exaggeration.
Final Thoughts
This was supposed to be Ladies Training Day.
It had other plans. 
Pedro took over the morning, taught two excellent classes back to back, and fully earned the title of Gents Training Day. No complaints from me.
RPM gave me structure, challenge, a little bit of learning, and that familiar internal battle between resistance and speed. GRIT Cardio gave me fear, chaos, and the kind of effort that makes you seriously question your life choices somewhere around the third interval.
Together? One very strong training day.
Everything I actually use and love during my workouts. Tested, approved, and perfect for busy women who want efficient results.
- Water Bottle: Stay hydrated without wasting time refilling.
- Training Shoes: Stable, comfortable, and perfect for cardio and step workouts.
- Gym Bag: Compact but spacious enough for everything I need for my sessions.
- Shockproof Phone Case: Keeps my phone safe during intense workouts, because I drop it more often than I admit
- Smart Fitness Watch: Tracks heart rate, calories burned, and workout intensity.
