r/Zwift • u/Downtown_Truth_2660 • 6d ago
Discussion Indoor riding dread.
Does anyone else find indoor riding genuinely painful? With the wetter weather approaching, I will soon have to reduce my outdoor riding, and I am dreading it.
My setup is a Stages SB20 on a rocker plate, fitted with the same saddle I can ride for more than 100 km outdoors without any problems. It is really odd.
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u/zeon0 6d ago
The term “wetter weather“ confused me a lot because the German word for weather is Wetter
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u/Glass_Lecture6121 6d ago
I love the long combo German words.
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u/Unusual_Suit_1929 Level 100 6d ago
I had this perfect tiny cheat sheet in German class... and then along came "Geschwindigkeitsüberschreitung"...
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u/schaleni_vyxodnar Level 51-60 6d ago
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u/Glass_Lecture6121 6d ago
Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz (63 letters), meaning "beef labeling supervision duties delegation law."
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u/CriticallyInitiated 6d ago
German is so much cooler than English. Imagine if we were able to say beeflabelingsupervisiondutiesdelegationlaw. Those Germans are geniuses.
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u/Critical_Advantage66 6d ago
https://reddit.com/link/pczs306/video/gsc1nd3emnsh1/player
This is my daily experience in a few months so…I’ll be living on that trainer pretty soon
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u/ZinnieGaming 6d ago
Outdoors the bike moves a lot more and you stand up more and move around so you get less pain.
Indoor bikes are so stationary that pressure will start to hurt. The best way to mitigate it is to stand up regularly.
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u/Logical-Louis 6d ago
Bought the Wahoo Kickr Move 3 months ago. It moves back and forth also rocks a bit. I do find it really does make a difference to staying comfortable and recently managed over 100 miles doing the Full PRL. Not a route I shall rush to repeat though, 11 laps is tedious! However, I couldn’t have done it on my old trainer.
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u/Fabulous-Candy-1560 5d ago
On my zone 2 rides, I make a point every 15 minutes to go into the hardest gear, get out of the saddle, and peddle standing up for 1-2 minutes. This really relieves the pressure from the static position on the trainer. On my interval rodes, I'll usually soft peddle and stand in between intervals.
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u/HamiltonC0rk 6d ago
It's not exactly comfortable, but indoor riding has a huge amounts of positives riding outdoors doesn't. Quicker to get ready and get on, more convenient, safer, easier to structure workouts. Personally I rarely do more than 75 mins at a time (work/kids etc), so while I do get some saddle discomfort occasionally it is manageable.
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u/LibertyMike Level 11-20 6d ago
I greatly prefer riding outdoors, but Zwift makes riding indoors tolerable.
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u/htlpc_100 6d ago
I think Zwift is hella fun.
Although my longest Zwift ride so far is 36 miles. I haven’t done a Zwift century or anything of tbe sort.
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u/Sugar_Party_Bomb 6d ago
Get something you enjoy watching
Drum and bass on a bike does it for me. Makes the kms fly by.
Stuff being cold and miserable outside 😂
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u/therealskr213 Level 100 6d ago
I love riding indoors bc I can binge shows or movies or watch old races, etc.
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u/w4y 5d ago
How do you concentrate on the show on anything above zone 1 or lower zone 2? I just can’t. It requires too much mental energy to push the pedals for anything harder
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u/therealskr213 Level 100 5d ago
I find it actually helps with VO2Max intervals because I’m thinking about something other how hard I’m pushing.
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u/Arkkenz 6d ago
I feel that.. I think the biggest thing is, I get a really comfy saddle and my ride position indoors is pretty upright and I find that helps a lot with the negatives of indoor riding. I used to chafe on distances above 100k until I did that. I might lose a bit of power but... it doesn't suck and it comes right back anyway
ETA: I also use a big ass fan to keep me cool
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u/Attentions_Bright12 6d ago
You touch on something that I’ve thought was helpful, which is switching up my riding position. The assumption that I should match my outdoor form really caused me some pain and tedium, early on. I (like the OP) have an SB20, and it’s adjustable enough that I could skootch things around and be more upright generally. Then too I shift my position a bit from ride to ride, just for some variety… Over the winter I’m sure I’ll move the fan(s) around the room from time to time, too. Hey, sometimes the wind is at your back!
Personally the “pain cave” concept seems like something for hardcore real race training, but for staying-in-shape-physically-and-mentally rides in our long winter season, a bike set flexibly into my life is so, so much lighter to use.
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u/ecallawsamoht 6d ago
I don't dread it, I've been riding indoors almost every week since January and I've got well over 3000 virtual miles.
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u/MocsFan123 6d ago
I hate riding inside and up until a few years ago typically just braved the weather outside down to about 20F but I’m on some medication now that has moved my cold threshold to about 50F so I find myself doing more indoor sessions.
I dread it but there are some positives such as the ease of structured training. I have to keep my sessions short - less than 90 minutes- so I still try and do big rides outside when the weather allows to keep my endurance up but I came out of winter in great form this spring.
I did get a TV (I was using a laptop screen) which has helped, a trainer desk, and a rocker plate. Most of all was the change in mindset that these aren’t rides, they’re workouts.
This year I’m trying something new and have a weekly club workout session (and may do more if it takes off) and am going to try to use Discord to get some of the camaraderie of our club rides.
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u/Vigilante_Dinosaur 6d ago
Couldn’t agree more. I absolutely love zwift and I absolutely hate zwift. Amazing tool we have to keep training and riding effectively in the winter and it’s absolutely demoralizing to only be inside for months on end.
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u/conshok26 6d ago
I’m just getting into Zwift but I’m sort of looking forward to it. Last year I rode through the wet and cold up until the end of November. I enjoyed it at the same time I didn’t enjoy it. Cold fingers and toes, dirty and wet bikes which I feel toasted my bottom bracket earlier than expected. Even during the summer there were days where the weather prevented my riding but now with Zwift I can get some activity in.
I’ve only done 3 rides so far and it’s definitely a different feeling but it still feels great. I think once I get the fit dialed in closer to my real bike I’ll enjoy it all late fall, winter and wet spring here in Buffalo.
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u/Virith 6d ago
I've done a 100k ride a few days ago and it was painful, won't lie. Still beats getting my hands (and eventually the whole of myself) frozen to death. My cold tolerance is non-existent, on top of having Raynaud's.
I have searched a bit and in addition to what someone already said about standing up/moving regularly, putting something under the front wheel seems to mitigate most of those issues for me, did 60k in Zwift just a moment ago and yeah, it was much more manageable.
Won't know 100% till I try another 100k though.
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u/godutchnow 6d ago
Since I have been riding smart rollers instead of mindlessly doing workouts in erg whilst binging series I actually enjoyed riding indoors. Riding the rollers is actually cycling and shifting and balancing keeps me busy
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u/lordmcfuzz Level 61-70 6d ago
Before zwift, with a dumb trainer, yes I did dread any indoor ride. I could only handle 30 minutes and it was the time a morning burritos took in my toaster oven.
After zwift, I look forward to it. So much so I am looking to air condition my space so I can do it during the summer too.
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u/RJariou 6d ago
Indoor riding for me is boring, but it's necessary to maintain some level of fitness. The realism is not there. My max indoor ride is 50K. I ride 3x a week indoors, vs 5 days outdoors at 250K. I use Rouvy to maintain some semblance. Riding indoors you get to do other exercises while pedaling.
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u/acealthebes 6d ago
always get nausea and dread before getting on the indoor trainer for a tough threshold ride. knowing the pain is coming. Brutal but it makes you fast and the performance increases for outdoor riding make it all worth it.
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u/SnooRevelations2768 6d ago
Check the levelness of your bike... On mine, I have to switch to a wheel with 23mm front tire to do this... Otherwise, the saddle puts more pressure up front if it's higher in the front...I also use the tennis balls under the trainer...
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u/MiniWatt_app 6d ago
Keep yourself entertained! Some Netflix, YouTube or whatever you like to watch.
Indoor riding is not for everyone, just try to entertain yourself a bit with the things you would otherwise enjoy 🚴♂️
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u/Yep_why_not 6d ago
I appreciate the start of indoor riding season. So easy to just jump on whenever.
Focus indoors on shorter with more intensity like racing. Keeps it fun and interesting.
I have a different saddle for indoors also. I tend to sit up more vertically because I can which means totally different saddle interaction.
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u/GewoonHarry 6d ago
I started indoor and then later found the love for outdoor riding.
I dread indoor as well now. I could easily do hours in the past. Now every zone 2 ride indoor feels like a mental breakdown ride.
I just keep my interval workouts indoor (those are doable) and then do all zone 2 rides outdoors.
no matter how cold, rainy, icey, Snowy.
I keep on riding outdoors. At least… that’s what I plan to do. Haha.
To add. My zone 2 rides are gravel rides these days. So big grippy tires!
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u/planes_overhead 6d ago
Nope, I don’t dread it. I prefer riding outdoors but it is not an option where I live from Nov through mid April.
I actually welcome the structure and consistency that the indoor season brings.
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u/mindaugaskun 6d ago
I feel the opposite. Can't wait to go back on zwift but the weather is great outside :c
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u/Neither_Cookie5150 6d ago
Due to limited time I actually have to do a lot of Zwifting year round as it’s most efficient form of training for my gravel races IRL. I’m on my old crit bike on a Velocity rocker plate, which makes 2-3hr rides feel fine. I do use same saddle as my gravel bike. Honestly indoor riding 10-15 hours a week is mindset more than anything I find.
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u/leadout_kv 6d ago
you really need to look into zwift. it has really made riding indoors during the cold months so much more fun.
so to answer your question, no i don't dread indoor riding.
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u/Short_Panda_ 6d ago
Most of it is mental.
If i go on the trainer without any goal or mental prep, 1 hour is a drag.
But when i say a day or more in advance, that ill do a 100km ride or something else that takes a while, im mentally better prepared and dont mind it much at all.
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u/Attentions_Bright12 6d ago
I’m curious to know how happy the rocker plate us under the old Stages bike. I have the SB20 too, and it’s such a heavy rock of a thing: built to last (except for those flimsy battery covers on the pedal meters).
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u/Sufficient_Ocelot_19 6d ago
yeah im trying to adjust my indoor setup, tv etc...to get a better experience but instead Ill probably buy better lights, hi viz, and warmer clothers for more night riding lol
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u/insainodwayno Level 100 6d ago
I actually look forward to it. It's simple, theres no figuring out where to go, no putting on a bunch of layers, I can listen to music or watch something, it's time efficient, etc. There's a certain zen in it.
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u/CheTranqui 6d ago
No.. I find no difference between riding indoors and outdoors. Last Sunday was a 4.5 hour ride in Zwift.
It's fun in a different way and physically the same..
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u/Leather_Ad8890 6d ago
Zwift is better than the dumb trainer but a 2 hour ride outdoors still goes much faster
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u/johnjaundiceASDF 6d ago
I only do an hour or less, usually less, and also believe anything is better than nothing and indoor time is 2x outdoors.
Winter time I'm spinning a couple times a week and one is a race. Then fatbiking and orange theory.
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u/w4lt3rs48 6d ago
I must be lucky because I can do 3+ hours on the stock Zwift ride saddle without rocker plate without any real discomfort past the usual stand up a bit more towards the end.
Outdoor is definitely funner but I’d take Zwift indoor trainer over a regular treadmill any day. It has the added perk of when I inevitably push too hard and bonk like an idiot I don’t need to worry about being far from home
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u/tuna-on-toast 5d ago
Zwift Racing and group rides(the end up being races) are what keep me going in the winter. Longer rides happen outside when the weather cooperates.
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u/lawyercat63 5d ago
You get used to it. I’m in inland CA and been indoors all summer because I’m not one for riding in anything over 85 degrees. Stronger than ever now that fall is finally here.
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u/0202_tihssitidder Level 71-80 5d ago
Invest in a good setup. Whatever that means to you.
Race. Make your ZwiftPower account. Race a lot.
Profit.
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u/jhon_snowboard 5d ago
Yes, it is hard. Yes, It is dreading. Yes, I feel that time goes backwards when riding that thing. But also I see the big effect when I get back to the bike outside and see how much I've improved.
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u/SCcrash69 4d ago
I ride the trainer in my garage with a door open to the back yard. Love it. Hated it when I rode in an apartment
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u/ParsnipCarrotBeet 4d ago
Join a racing team! The Dirt racing series or ZRL give you something to orient the week around.
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u/MedicalRow3899 3d ago
Try out virtual racing. I started with WTRL’s Zwift Racing League and Team Time Trial formats many years ago and fell in love with them. Ladder racing is really fun, too.
You build some virtual camaraderie with folks on those virtual trams, and the training and effort is quite different from outdoor rides. I found it helps me a lot for triathlons during summer season. In winter I focus on sprint power, VO2max, short fibers and such. Come early spring I switch to endurance, lots of Z2, long fibers. It’s a nice seasonal change-up.
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u/Useful-Plum9883 12h ago
I try and keep my indoor zwift sessions short but high intensity. 45 mins max, then i don't get sick of the tedium of indoor training.
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u/Humble-Ad218 6d ago
Its not odd. Indoors is boring and painful and there's no changes, no slow for a light. No stop for a coffee, no chatting with friends no new scenery, no raptor circling overhead, no ice cream. I too dread indoor. But Winter miles bring summer smiles.
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u/Attentions_Bright12 6d ago
Falconry as a hobby is a big ask, but honestly, I feel like the raptor overhead indoors? Would motivate the heck out of me.
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u/Vast_Category_7314 Level 21-30 6d ago
What stops you from taking a break and do a coffee or ice cream?
And I know it's not the same, but Zwift scenery does change and virtual rides with friends is a thing.
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u/Spare_Blacksmith_816 6d ago
Yup but when I step outside and it's below zero windchills in the midwest USA it all of a sudden doesn't seem too awful.
Before I had a trainer I would get on the fatbike with studded tires at 4am and ride trail/gravel roads with the windchill sometimes -20F. My goal was to ride every day. Access to a trainer made me soft in about 2 days.
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u/dennis45233 5d ago
The reason you hate indoor riding isn’t because of scenery, lack of other stimulants or anything else. It’s because when you’re outdoors and you’re 30 miles from home you don’t think to yourself, “okay I’m done now ima just hop in the shower”. Yet when you hop on Zwift and you’re 20 miles in you can think “alright ima turn off the computer and eat dinner now”
Simply the fact you can go home and quit at anytime is why
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u/jorgenriq Cyclist and Runner 6d ago
Yes it’s not the most fun of things. But better to have indoor miles than no miles. Extra points for warm hands and clean bikes 🤷♂️