BENEFITS OF INDOOR CYCLING

Did you know indoor cycling can fast-track your training?

Winter months, the risk of bad weather, poor light and busy roads are all contributing factors that make cyclist turn their attention to indoor training solutions to keep their training on track.

It is easy to understand why indoor cycling has increased over the past couple of years. Indoor cycling has a great range of benefits, from beating bad weather to targeting specific training goals when you are short on time.

From the pros of the peloton to new cyclists, almost anyone who turns the pedals can use indoor training to fast-track their outdoor riding.

Here is why...

Indoor training is time-efficient

One of the biggest benefits of using an smart trainer for your training is how little time it takes compared to going out for a ride outside. If you’re short on time – and who isn’t? – riding indoors can help you squeeze in a training session when you otherwise wouldn’t.
Indoor training is convenient and no time is wasted. It’s uninterrupted nature will give you big training gains in a relatively short time.

With indoor training there is no such thing as bad weather

There is no elements to contend with. We know the right winter gear can go a long way to keeping you comfortable outside, but, let’s face it sometimes riding in poor weather is just not pleasant.
Bad weather also boost unsafe road conditions. It is also a fact that riding in bad weather conditions hamper your immune system. Make sure you don’t miss your workout and stick to the indoor trainer.

You train with power

Smart trainers and training apps have improved significantly over the past couple of years. Smart trainers are equipped with built-in power meters, allowing riders to target specific training goals with much greater precision.
Smart trainers also offer external resistance control. That means, if you’re doing an interval training session, you’ll hit the exact numbers required to get the most out of the workout.

You ride without interruptions

One of the greatest benefits of indoor cycling is that it allows you to ride without interruptions.
When riding on the road, it can be hard to complete a specific training session – particularly targeted intervals – without your rhythm being disrupted by the undulating nature of a route, or the need to stop for traffic or intersections.
Indoor training removes those interruptions and uncontrollable variables, so you can focus solely on completing your workout.

Indoor training helps with consistency

The structured, focussed nature of indoor cycling also ensures consistency from one training session to the next. If you have a goal in mind, whether that’s completing your first Cape Town Cycle Tour or racing at professional level, indoor cycling allows you to keep your training on track.
Indoor cycling is predictable. You know what you have to do, how it should feel like and you can gauge whether you are improving or not. Keeping that in mind one should still enjoy the great outdoors! Indoor cycling, thus, should not replace outdoor riding but complement it.

Indoor training is more interesting than ever

The days of riding away in a spare room or cold garage for hours, with just a wall in front of you to look at, are long gone.
Indoor training studios and interactive training apps have brought indoor training to life.
You can ride in the virtual world or in an indoor training studio like RADLAB and do indoor races or group rides.

Simulate longer rides

You can also combine indoor cycling with off the bike exercises to simulate longer rides. These sessions are perfect for individuals that don’t want to spend hours on the indoor trainer, for days in and out which is particularly the case in winter.

The idea behind this will be to load the body with cross-training and body weight exercises followed by a indoor training interval session.

You could simulate what would have been a 4hour ride outdoors in 1and a half hours indoors. Now that is what we call smart training.

If you want more on how to simulate a 4h ride send us a mail at info@radlab.co.za and we will send you our “cheat sheet” ride.