{"id":204303,"date":"2025-12-04T08:15:37","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T08:15:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=204303"},"modified":"2025-12-04T08:15:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T08:15:37","slug":"inside-indoor-cycling-why-i-dont-train-indoors-yet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2025\/12\/04\/inside-indoor-cycling-why-i-dont-train-indoors-yet\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Indoor Cycling: Why I Don’t Train Indoors\u2026 Yet"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many cyclists, winter means retreating to the garage, firing up a smart trainer, and grinding through structured intervals on Zwift or Rouvy. Indoor cycling has become its own culture with virtual races, power-ups, and entire training plans that never leave the living room. But despite its popularity, I\u2019ve never joined that world.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not because I dislike training or the idea of cycling indoors. And this is not a series of articles that should convince you to stay away from indoor trainers. Rather, I want to take a look at how I approach winter training and what would make me ride indoors.<\/p>\n

Why I still ride outdoors in winter<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First, I should say that I don\u2019t stop cycling outdoors entirely when temperatures drop. If it\u2019s not freezing and the roads are dry, I\u2019m usually out on my road bike. Good winter clothing goes a surprisingly long way. That said, mistakes happen. I recently came home with a cold after underestimating the wind and overestimating my jacket. That\u2019s the kind of error that simply doesn\u2019t happen on an indoor trainer.<\/p>\n

When true winter arrives, with below-freezing temperatures and frozen soil that finally stops being muddy, I switch to my mountain bike. I find winter MTB genuinely fun. There\u2019s a childlike joy to carving through frost-covered trails and navigating the icy parts. But even then, cycling becomes less frequent and more dependent on the weather. Some weeks, the window simply doesn\u2019t open.<\/p>\n

\"E-MTB<\/a>
Mountain biking in winter can be real fun. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why I don\u2019t feel the need for an indoor trainer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve considered buying an indoor trainer more than once. I\u2019ve analysed the prices, watched the review videos, and imagined myself exploring virtual Alpine climbs or getting competitive in Zwift races.<\/a><\/p>\n

But the truth is, I don\u2019t need structured indoor cycling to stay fit, motivated or happy during winter.<\/p>\n

When the weather closes in, I don\u2019t sit on the sofa wishing I had a trainer. I just lean into the other sports I enjoy.<\/p>\n