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1. indoor cycling is cheaper than you think
If you switch to the Smart Trainer in winter, you don't need full winter equipment for all temperature ranges. A Smart Trainer, mat, a training app on your smartphone, tablet or laptop and a towel are all you need. A Fan is also pleasant.
Costs for road training in winter
The bottom line is 595 euros. Not including the increased wear and tear on the bike when training on the road due to dirt, salt and moisture. A smart trainer like the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 is available for €549.99.
You also need to wash less laundry: socks, cycling shorts, base layers and possibly a sports bra are enough for an indoor session.
2. boredom? Not a chance
Thanks to interactive platforms such as Zwift, the days of boring indoor training are over. From creating your own avatar and exploring new virtual routes and worlds to workouts and entire training plans - you can even take part in virtual races.
3. train effectively with indoor cycling
The Smart Trainer is a very effective way to train. No stop and go out of town, which can't even really be classed as a warm-up. A short warm-up and then the training can start straight away and be carried out exactly as planned. The longer the intervals become, the more difficult it is to find a suitable section of the route. Three times 20 minutes with a 10-minute break between intervals? Often difficult outdoors. And once you've found the perfect route, there's the traffic to watch out for. And suddenly you're slowed down and can't do the interval as planned. You can track and monitor your watts, cadence and heart rate on the Smart Trainer. This makes training really effective.
4. safety
You don't have to worry about traffic or icy roads and cycle paths. That's a big advantage of indoor cycle training. Nobody takes your right of way, you won't be overlooked and you don't have to look out for the right of way yourself. What's more, you don't need lights if you train when it is still or already dark.
5. indoor bike training is independent of the weather
Whether it's raining, storming or snowing, with indoor cycle training you can train in a comfortable environment at any time. All year round.
6. indoor bike training is independent of time
Indoor cycling is possible at any time of day or night. Before work, after work, between two meetings - a short training session fits into almost any day.
7. ride with friends while indoor cycling
On various indoor training platforms, you can arrange to meet up with friends, acquaintances and people from all over the world and ride together. Chat functions on Zwift or a group call or video call via external apps bring everyone even closer together. You can even join global cycling communities and make new friends.
That is not possible
But what no indoor training platform in the world can do so far is actually get you from A to B. Commuting by bike, packing a bike to visit friends or family - Zwift and co. can't do that yet.
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
