Living in a winter city, we've always spent a solid 6 months of our ride year training indoors on trainers. Out of necessity, we've figured out how to make it work and make the best use of our indoor trainer time. Now, smart and interactive trainers together with engaging platforms like Zwift, TrainerRoad and Rouvy have brought huge numbers of cyclists worldwide to our world. This is one area where we have experience to share with the leagues of cyclists now spending so many hours training indoors and online. We know that some days it's harder than others to get started and to keep going. We know how hard it is to keep riding the road to nowhere. We can help you stay on top of your online rides: here are our top ten list of ways to get motivated for indoor riding and get stronger. Here goes!
1. Make a plan
Don't just sit on the trainer and start riding. Give some thought to the purpose of the ride and then make a plan for a workout that meets those goals. I write out my workout on an Excel spreadsheet and print it out. It will have a description of the workout as well as target zones for each interval. Once I've started a workout, I finish it.
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| This is a typical workout spreadsheet for those I don't already have set up in Zwift. I have a few binders full of these!! If you want to 'borrow' them, just ask! |
2. Make a workout date
Meet up with a friend at a set time and date. You don't want to let them down so you will show up and you will do the work.
3. Ride to the beat. You might need headphones for this one!
Music works for most people. Choose music that gets you going and is a good fit for your workout. And I realize that everyone has different taste in music so headphones are a good idea for this one. Not everyone loves to hear my playlist.
4. Try a movie workout
If you find the right movie, you can make up a pretty interesting workout. I'm not a fan of musicals generally but I did take part in one movie workout where the plan was to pick up the intensity every time a song came up. Maybe that's why I'm not a fan of musicals. With a dumb comedy, set up a rule for what you need to do when something predictable happens. With Zoolander, try doing a 1 minute pick up every time someone says "Derek". And add a 2-minute hill climb every time someone says "really really ridiculously good looking". And "orange mocha frappuccino" has to be worth something, right? Find your goal movie and make a plan.
5. Make sure your bike and trainer are ready to go.
Make it as easy as possible to get your workout started and as positive an experience as possible. Set up your "pain cave" with your bike ready to go together with all the accessories you need to get going. I have a small fan, a TV, laptop stand a Netflix subscription all ready to go. Preworkout, I prepare my water bottles and some nutrition and I'm ready to ride.
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| We even made our own custom wall decal for our Zwift workstation. |
6. Have a feedback mechanism
Use a heart rate monitor, power meter or Smart interactive trainer, anything that will give you objective, measurable feedback on your workout. This will keep you on task and help you achieve the results for your training session and for your winter training season.
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| Training apps provide enough data to keep you engaged and enough rewards to keep you motivated. |
7. Use an app
There are so many online training options out there that can help you connect with other riders. I'm on Zwift but Rouvy, TrainerRoad and Sufferfest all have their fans. Online training apps can connect you with other riders and can have in-game rewards that help keep you going. I know that when I'm just a 5 or 10k away from making it to the next level or earning a new jersey on Zwift, I won't stop this ride until I get there.
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| I'm on Zwift - we can meet up!! |
8. Sign up for something
Zwift and other apps have events. If I sign up for the event in advance, I'll do it. Maybe I'll see you there!
9. Aerobars
I don't use aerobars on my road bike when I ride outside but for indoor riding, it sure is great to have another hand position. Riding outside is more dynamic - you'll be moving around on the saddle and your bars frequently whether you are actively aware of it or not. Inside, you don't have to concern yourself with vehicles, traffic signals or corners so you tend to just sit more stationery. Aerobars can get you an alternative position for some of those longer intervals.
10. Set up a social media challenge for yourself.
I saw this one on a Youtube video. The guy had a 4-hour trainer ride to do so he posted a survey on Instagram at the beginning of his ride asking his friends how many thought he could sit on the trainer for the whole 4 hours. About 2/3 of the responses thought he could do it and the remaining 1/3 said "no". He did the same thing I would have done: you finish it! You don't want to disappoint anyone who is behind you and you want to prove the rest of them that they are wrong. Get it done!!
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