Here are a few things you should know for your indoor cycling season
For the next few months, you’re likely to be stuck to indoor riding when it comes to your bike training. You might be well-versed in the game of indoor training, but if you’re not, there are a few things you should know before diving into it. Here is some stuff to do and other things to avoid this winter while indoor cycling.
Do stick to regular programming
With outdoor cycling, you’re likely only riding when the sun is up, meaning you have a certain number of hours during which you can train. With an indoor trainer, you can ride any time of the day or night, which can be both good and bad. It’s good because you can push your ride later than planned if you get busy with other stuff, but it’s bad because you might push it and push it and push it and all of a sudden it’s time for bed and you haven’t done your workout for the day. It’s OK to shift things around to fit your schedule, but try to stick to a fairly consistent program so you don’t end up missing too many workouts.
Don’t bore yourself
Riding outside is engaging, whether you’re with friends and getting to chat or on your own and taking in the scenery. When you’re on your indoor trainer, it’s not as entertaining, so you have to find ways to keep yourself occupied. Watch a movie, listen to music, get a buddy over to ride with you, or hop on Zwift. Whatever you do, make sure it will keep you busy for as long as necessary for the ride. That way you won’t be tempted to call the workout early.
Do dress the part
At the very least, you should wear your cycling shorts for your indoor workouts. We get it, you’re in the comfort of your home, so you really can wear anything, but you are going to want those cushy shorts while you’re in the saddle. It’s also nice to wear a cycling jersey so you have the option to unzip it if things get hot.
Don’t park your bike in “public”
The last place you want to park your trainer for the winter is somewhere that your family or roommates will be when you’re riding. For one, they’ll be annoyed when they have to skirt around your bike setup every time they walk through the living room. Secondly, you probably won’t want them to be in your way and potentially distracting you when you’re trying to work out. If you have the space to set your things up somewhere more private, that’s your best option.
Do bring water and fuel
Bring everything you’ll need to your trainer at the start of the workout. Get your bottles, any nutrition you might want mid-ride, and whatever else you would normally take on a ride. This way, you won’t have to get off the bike and go to the kitchen to fetch whatever you forgot (and therefore you won’t disrupt your workout).
Don’t just ride
Do real workouts on the trainer. Yes, you can sometimes just ride easy for an hour or two, but if you do that day after day, you will go crazy with boredom. Mix in some workouts and hard efforts to make the time go by faster (and to see better results ahead of next triathlon season).
BEN SNIDER-MCGRATH DECEMBER 18, 2024
