• WHERE ONCE THE turbo trainer was seen as an instrument of torture, now the smart trainer is seen as an essential tool to prime you for your big rides. The likes of Zwift and Wahoo RGT have seen impressive uptake over the past few years, and this can only serve to help your cycling performance. Read on for how you can boost your indoor training.
What the experts say...
Get more out of each indoor session with these handy tips
01 All the gear
• To tap into online cycling games, you'll need the basics of a bike; computer or smartphone; and a set of rollers or a turbo trainer. It's this last one where, increasingly, the magic happens, as smart trainers like those from Wahoo wirelessly sync to an app for terrain-specific, reallife-mimicking changes in resistance. Don't panic If you don't have a smart trainer as an ANT+ or Bluetooth speed cadence sensor should also do the job.
02 Sim or Erg?
• The two most common 'resistance modes' for your smart trainer are Sim and Erg. Sim mode is simulator mode and is used in all Zwift activities other than workouts. In this mode, an application like Zwift tries to replicate the feel of the VR environment via its resistance on your drivetrain. Erg mode, on the other hand, enables you to hit and hold a pre-determined wattage, forcing you to work at a certain level. This is particularly useful for pacing.
03 Fan your furnace
• Whichever gaming system you're riding to, one or more cooling fans will mimic the air chill you enjoy from outdoor training. If you're using just the one fan, choose one that's at least 15 inches (38cm) in diameter so you receive the air coverage needed. It's also worth the extra outlay for a remote-controlled fan to adjust speed as intensity rises.
04 Find your FTP
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Cycling Plus UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Cycling Plus UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Air Apparent - Pollution hasn't gone away. It's still there in every lungful, even if we can't see it in the air or on the news. But there are reasons to breathe easier, thanks to pioneering projects using cycling 'citizen scientists'. Rob Ainsley took part in one...
The toxic effects of pollution have been known about for years. 'Just two things of which you must beware: Don't drink the water and don't breathe the air!' sang 1960s satirist Tom Lehrer.Over recent decades, though, pollution has dropped down our list of things to worry about, thanks to ominously capitalised concerns such as Climate Change, AI, Global Conflict, Species Collapse, etc. That doesn't, unfortunately, mean the problem has expired. Air quality often exceeds safe limits, with far-reaching and crippling effects on our health.
No limits
Not every adventure needs to be that epic, says bikepacking Scotland founder Markus Stitz
UNBOUND UNLEASHED
Josh Patterson was one of 34 starters for the inaugural edition of Unbound in 2006. Now, with more than 5,000 riders taking part in today's event, he charts the rise of the most important race in gravel
The stuff of dreams
Ned sings the praises of the Paris Olympics road-race course
FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE
We venture into the hidden gem of the glorious Creuse, one of France's least populated regions
COMFORT AND JOY?
Is a £2,000 to £3,000 endurance bike with mechanical Shimano 105 going to do the job for you? Read on to find out how our tasty trio performed...
Tern Orox R14
The Orox just can't be pigeonholed. It's designed, say Tern, for adventure and utility, be it personal or commercial (it even has a built-in tow bar!).
SRAM Apex AXS XPLR groupset
\"Apex shifters are basically the same as on Rival AXS... and the brake units follow the same design as the latest Force AXS brakes\"
Land of the Giants
Warren Rossiter heads to Taiwan to experience the launch of the new Giant TCR
Tourtalk
Eight key talking points ahead of a much-anticipated race
