I love riding outside. The fresh air, the rolling terrain, challenging climbs, and thrilling descents are unmatched. I feel free – even liberated- when I ride outside. And we all know getting a dose of natural Vitamin D from the sun is good for our bodies, too. Even better, I love riding with friends outside. It’s good for my fitness and for my soul. But sometimes, oftentimes – I would rather ride inside.
I don’t reserve my Wahoo Kickr just for bad weather days. I actually do workouts inside all year long. Now I know it’s popular to train outside all year long, and if that’s your jam, go for it! But I have a number of reasons that I like to do the not-so-popular thing and keep some of my training indoors, all year long. Here’s why.
Convenience
First of all, riding inside is really convenient. I keep my trainer set up and ready to go (I know, I’m lucky I have space for this and not everybody does). But this way, when I’m pressed for time, I can grab a kit, hop on the bike, and smash out a fast workout. I don’t have to spend time pumping up tires, checking my bike, loading up the snacks, and prepping a route. It just works even when I’m super busy. (And who isn’t?)
Kids
My friends love to tease me about that time my kids called me in the middle of a hard outdoor ride to ask for ice cream. And then again, five minutes later, to ask for a soda. And later, a tv show. It’s funny but it makes a point. I don’t have to worry about this when I use my trainer at home.
I love that I can workout with my kids around. I don’t have to find a sitter, get the kids prepped, or worry about them when I’m not there. They can easily work out with me and I don’t have to worry about them needing to keep up at a park or trail.
I do teach my kids about being safe around the trainer and I set them up to workout with me, if they like. If there’s an urgent need, I can quickly hop off the trainer and help. And they love popping in to cheer me on or clap for a PR.
Traffic
I have had a few close calls with traffic, and that’s something that I have to worry about inside. While I am fortunate enough to have lots of safe roads where I am, there’s always ‘that guy’ that isn’t paying attention or who has it out for cyclists.
It’s especially helpful if my only workout time is during rush hour. I can skip the traffic and just concentrate on getting things done.
Intervals
The challenge with trying to do a very specific workout outside is hitting those power marks and trying to work them in around stop signs, traffic lights, traffic, and even pedestrians and other cyclists. Even at the fitness park, you still have to be very aware of people walking, riding, or skating, dogs who might be off-leash, and especially small children that might not realize you are there. It’s just easier to focus on what I want to achieve in that workout.
I can really focus on the workout and allow the trainer to set the resistance for my power targets. I get to maximize my training time by really focusing on those intervals, and feel safer than trying to work them in around cars and trucks.
Snacks
It’s all about the snacks! Did I mention snacks? Riding inside, I have a small table next to my bike so I can easily dial in race nutrition, or eat other stuff like cereal, an occasional cookie, or whatever I feel like in the moment that I wouldn’t necessarily bring on a bike. I can even drink from a cup with a straw, which I wouldn’t do while riding outside. There’s just more flexibility for fueling long rides when you’re indoors.
Clothing
Ok, so dressing for a bike ride is part art and part science, especially on the east coast where we can flipflop from 40 degrees in the am to 75 in afternoon. Or from sunshine to rain in the blink of an eye. There’s no bad weather – or quickly changing weather – when you’re inside.
And it’s easy to start with extra layers and peel them off when I get hot. I don’t have to figure out how to carry them on the bike – I just toss them nearby until I’m done.
Sunlight
If you ride inside, you aren’t bound by daylight hours. And yes, I’ve ridden after dark (especially when it’s cyclocross season) but most of the time I stick to the sun. But on the trainer, I can ride anytime of day, morning, noon, or night, and not worry about running out of sunshine. I can get up super early before my kids are awake, or stay up late after they’re in bed, if I need to. It just offers more flexibility for time.
Uber
You can literally just get off the bike. If you’re out riding, and have a mechanical, get sick, or just burn all your matches and get too tired, you might have to Uber your way home. But if you ride inside, you can literally just get off the bike.
Solo
You don’t have to worry about going solo. I used to enjoy riding alone, but I have had too many negative experiences with scary men. And while that’s an entirely different subject, it is something many of us women have to worry about and when I’m not able to ride with my bike friends, I often feel safer inside on the trainer. No one is following me, chasing me, or cursing at me to get off the roads. I can just be myself and ride how I want to.
Riding inside verses outside doesn’t have to be one or the other – mix it up however it works for your day. I love getting out with my bike friends – and I love smashing a hard workout on my trainer. Whatever kind of riding works for you – just get on a bike and ride!
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