“Indoor training” was a phrase cyclists used to mutter angrily… something we only did when the weather grew so terrible that it left no other option. But this season, arguably for the first time ever, we are seeing massive numbers of cyclists riding indoors despite beautiful weather outside.
Is it mass hysteria? Some sort of cycling brain flu?
A recent post on the CycleOps blog from professional triatheletes (and Zwifters) Trevor and Heather Wurtele discussed this phenomenon. For Trevor and Heather it comes down to two simple reasons:
- Getting shorter rides done more quickly:Â “For me a 1500 kilojoule ride often takes around 1 hour and 50 minutes outside, but I can finish that off on the trainer in 1.5 hours, and spend all of that time in the aero position.”
- High quality interval sessions: “Putting these shorter, hard workouts, on the indoor trainer keeps them very specific. We can control every aspect of the workout with no risk of interruptions.”
These are excellent reasons, and I could add many more to the list. Here are just a few:
- Easy race access: it may be racing season, but my closest races are a 2-3 hour drive away. Thankfully I can clip in and compete whenever I’d like thanks to Zwift’s busy race schedule–and I don’t have to pay an entry fee!
- Safety: whether you’re recuperating from an injury or just concerned about the dangers of real-world riding, moving the ride indoors keeps you out of harm’s way.
- It’s cooler: when the temperature starts to hit 90+ degrees Fahrenheit, the coolness of my garage and a big fan become quite appealing.
Yes, I’m currently doing most of my riding outdoors here in northern California. But I’m still enjoying regular Zwifting sessions as well.
What about you? Are you finding yourself riding indoors in good weather this season? Why?
EDIT: many Zwifters have chimed in with their reasons for riding indoors in good weather. I’ve created a new post with those reasons here.
