How to get the most out of your indoor cycle training this winter

It’s wintertime, which means you’ve likely officially transitioned from outdoor to indoor riding. Biking on the indoor trainer is not the most fun activity for triathletes, but there’s no reason it can’t become at least a bit more enjoyable. Riding inside is your training reality for the next few months, so you might as well try to make it fun. We can’t promise that you’ll love the trainer by the end of the winter, but with these tips, it’ll become much more bearable.

Pick a good spot

First and foremost, you are going to want to find a good spot to park your bike and trainer for the winter. If possible, make it somewhere that isn’t too hot, like a basement or garage (if you have those options), or at the very least by a window or fan. You’re going to heat up very quickly while working on the indoor trainer, so it will be much more pleasant to ride somewhere that isn’t already warm.

Make it as fun as possible

Make your indoor riding fun, whatever this means for you. If you like Zwift or other interactive indoor cycling apps, use one. If a TV show or movie is enough to keep you entertained for the hour(s) you plan to ride, that’s great. Maybe you prefer listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks. Whatever it is, make sure you have it on every ride, because if you don’t, you’ll get bored very quickly.

Get a trainer tire

If you have a direct drive trainer (meaning you remove your rear wheel when you attach your bike to your trainer), then a trainer tire isn’t necessary. However, many setups will require your tire to touch some part of the trainer, as this will create resistance when you ride.

If this is the case, you will want to get a trainer tire. Otherwise, you’ll find that your regular tire is burning away and shooting black debris behind your bike. This will cover the floor, walls, and anything else behind your trainer. A trainer tire, on the other hand, is heat resistant and will not create any mess.

Post motivation around you

Take a lesson from the book of Lionel Sanders, who has pictures of his competitors and rivals hanging around his indoor training setup. This keeps him motivated to push in every workout, as he can see the people he is chasing and hoping to beat at his next race. You don’t have to print and hang photos of other people in front of your trainer, but try to find something that will motivate you mid-ride. Maybe a photo of your best race finish, a quote you like, or a picture from a race you hope to complete next season.

Do real workouts

You’ll go crazy if you only ride for the sake of riding all winter. It’s OK to do easy rides, but toss some real workouts into the mix as well. This will keep you engaged in training, and it could also help you improve over the winter months.