20 truths about indoor training from a mountain biker

I need structured intervals to get stronger/fitter, I can't do these when it's pitch dark and 4° in the lanes after a day at work so it's indoors for me during the week.

For the most part I enjoy it, and being stronger/fitter helps getting the most out of my riding when the spring/summer months come around...this makes me happy.

I guess the indoor only crowd have thier reasons but for me it gets stale pretty quickly without some outdoor rides at the weekend to break things up.

I've stupidly got my set-up in the garage. Which is great from a space perspective, but the 'outsideness' is still enough to often put me off!

On the topic of tips, get an ANT+ dongle for your device. Better connection. And also get a mat thing for the floor, I've got a big neoprene work-out mat. Floor will get ruined otherwise with your fluids mixed with bike fluids. That sounds grotty, doesn't it?

I've really missed not getting out regularly to around Old Winchester Hill or the likes of Warren Corner and Milland at all over the last almost 2.5 years, but my Saris H3 turbo has been my cycling lifeline since long covid.

While I'm still using ~30% trainer difficulty in Zwift for races and TTs, recently I've added some rolling routes to "my list" like Grand Central and I freeride them at 100% trainer difficulty, to try and help prepare me for heading to the outdoor hills in ~6 weeks or so.

Out today. Slippy mud, fierce headwind and idiot with her dogs off the lead (“he’s not good round bikes since he got hit by one” - so WTF is he running free on a share use path?) made this Type 2 fun but it made a change from staring my Zwift avatar…

Testing

Out of curiosity, I once tried to do a very simple structured workout outdoors.I found it impossible to maintain the required power for the required duration, even though I'd chosen a long, almost traffic free section of road without any junctions.

Even slight variations in grade meant my power numbers were all over the place and I was spending more time looking at my Garmin than concentrating on the road. The power numbers seem to fluctuate in the region of +/- 50 watts for what felt like similar effort levels. Maybe it requires more practice but it's LOT easier on a turbo in ERG mode!

(Or maybe I need to find a pan-flat outdoor velodrome to do such workouts -  with no other riders to get in my way)