Training indoors. Get on and go go go?

[DR ◣◢]

At first the Kickr was fun regardless of using Rouvy or Zwift. But as time passed I found myself getting bored and losing interest.

 

I have a very comfortable setup with Rouvy on a 27” monitor and a 40” TV above it to watch Netflix etc.

 

I just can’t stay motivated for more than 30 minutes really. Currently doing max 15km at a time. Very expensive setup to do fun rides on.

 

How do you stay motivated?

[Duane_Bosch]

At first the Kickr was fun regardless of using Rouvy or Zwift. But as time passed I found myself getting bored and losing interest.

 

I have a very comfortable setup with Rouvy on a 27” monitor and a 40” TV above it to watch Netflix etc.

 

I just can’t stay motivated for more than 30 minutes really. Currently doing max 15km at a time. Very expensive setup to do fun rides on.

 

How do you stay motivated?

I used the training plans on Zwift. Or on Rouvy I "design" my own plan using the workouts. 3 workouts a week and ride outdoors twice on the weekend.

 

Work your way through the Cape Epic workouts on Rouvy. I designed those. When I say design I basically copied the Zwift versions to Rouvy.

Edited November 4, 2020 by Duane_Bosch

[shaper]

If you just free riding it is easy to get bored as there is no real focus on riding, racing is a different story. 

 

Get a training plan and do structured workouts when riding indoors.  Use your time more effectively and with a purpose.  Not only are you more involved in the riding required, but it also focuses the mind and the time passes quickly.

[The Ouzo]

I spent the most time I've ever spent on IDT during lockdown.

For me to stay motivated I needed to set a goal/plan for that training session. Just getting on and riding would see me wanting to give up after 20min.

 

I kind of set a rough training plan out with intervals on certain days and long slow rides on other days. 

In the beginning I was pushing to try and do the max time on IDT as before lockdown I think the longest I had spent on it was 45min.

 

The moment you become bored is the moment you start feeling all the way the IDT sucks compared to be outside.

[Tomik]

I found doing nice routes helped for those "fun rides". Fulgaz had the best selection and best interface in my opinion. So I could do a 2.5 hour 80-odd km ride from Sydney to Woolongong without getting bored (during lockdown). 

 

Now, the training plans kinda keep me motivated most of the time as I get my long rides in outdoors. I found about 10 workouts that I like (on Zwift) and saved those as custom workouts - each serve a specific purpose.

 

That said, with the weather getting better, I do find it much harder to train on the IDT. In fact, haven't done so in a few weeks. No real goal to train towards at the moment doesn't help.

[Tomik]

Also don't think having Netflix on is optimal. Focus on the riding (racing in Zwift helps) and it might be less boring than sitting on a saddle watching TV.

[RobertWhitehead]

Have you given Sufferfest a go yet? You can use this coupon: KICKSTART60 for a 60 day trial. That way you can suffer properly before having to pay for anything  . 

 

So here's my take on things (please note that this is my take and I may upset some Die Hard Zwift and Rouvy users) - Both Zwift and Rouvy is great but, and this is where it gets tricky. They both offer the user an option to clock some "junk miles" and basically just faf around in different virtual locations with other people who are also just faffing about. So you end up just basically riding around staring at an Avatar of yourself whilst other guys come flying past because they made themselves weigh 45kg to be the fastest up certain climbs. 

 

What makes Sufferfest different is this: 

 

1) The coach is world class - Sir Neal has coached Olympic athletes 

2) There's no faffing about, you get on, break yourself and get off.

3) The 4DP fitness test is leaps and bounds ahead of the normal ramp test that Zwift and or Rouvy offers

4) They offer more than just Spinning, there's yoga and strength as well

5) You ride with actual race footage and not as an avatar 

 

Those are some of the things I can think of now but Suf is not for everyone hey, it is really hard work. I have had friends who tried it only to return to Zwift later. The key with Suf is that you need to do a 4DP test as soon as possible so that the smart trainer can adjust the resistance for each metric accordingly. 

 

Head me up if you need some guidance on how to do the 4DP and or any other Suf stuff that you would like to know 

[Veebee]

You need to add some structure if you want to keep going indoors... The trainer is good for recovery rides or if you need to do intervals and hit the numbers.

 

Zwift group rides or races can be fun, I usually join a C or D group for my Monday recovery spins, and then do structured workouts on Tuesdays and Thursday.

[EddieV]

I have a much cheaper setup – Zwift, with Powertap powermeter on a resistance roller. I used to commute and race anything that moved in the same direction, so once stuck at home I had to improvise.

 

I’m happy with Zwift, I have earphones on a selection of Industrial Dance/Rave music, laptop on Zwift, and TV(silent) on Netflix (comedy)  – with subtitles.

 

I then proceed to race/stay with any Zwifter that passes me in the region of 250W to 300W. Sometimes I’ll sprint at much higher watts for a while chasing someone, but then I’ll drop significantly recovering from the effort. 60min - 90min passes quickly that way.

 

Most important is the music selection ... when the correct track comes on you can really smash it.     

 

I can't IDT at all without appropriate music

 

 (Disclaimer: not sure the Powertap measurement s correct

)

[FondTF2]

I find creating your own routes (maps) also helps.

 

Have created multiple routes such as Oudsthoorn to George, Knysna to Natures Valley, Harrismith to Clarens (Via Golden Gate) etc.

 

Only issue I have is that the app I use has some issues with the Topography in same cases. Was doing a simulated ride from Simons Town over Smitsvinkel and Chappies and on chappies hit a slope of 19% (couldn't even turn the pedals)

[Grumpy4]

Enter online races and compete!!

[DR ◣◢]

Thanks all. 

Signed up to Sufferfest. Looks like this is where I should have spent my money in the first place.

[Jewbacca]

I don't free ride in zwift... I do 2 x interval/workout sessions a week and free ride in real life.

 

If the weather is rubbish then I will sign on for a race, 2.5 w/kg hundy or try PB on alp d'zwift.

 

Free riding is boring and silly as you have all these great training tools at your fingertips on zwift which you could use instead.

 

The 1 hour work outs are killer....

[Veebee]

Thanks all. 

 

Signed up to Sufferfest. Looks like this is where I should have spent my money in the first place.

Enjoy the bleeding through your eyes

[LongDonkey]

Assuming you like sports, so put on live sport. Cycling is a little early for most of us to train, but the Vuelta is on later now. Put the TV on with cycling and see if you can cycle like they do, whatever the terrain. 

I am on Rouvy right now and still enjoying it. Sufferfest is awesome though, so enjoy.

[ChrisF]

All depends on WHY you bought the IDT ....

 

The triathlon crowd (as an example) are "goal focused", and the IDT let's them continue their TRAINING as and when their time allows.

 

 

I would hazard a guess that the vast majority of owners do a few races each year, and want to use the IDT to stay in shape .... fine and dandy, until all the routes have been done ... try a few races ... play around with a few training plans .... but these are all just ways to try and fight off the boredom from riding indoors.

 

You need a VERY special mindset, and very specific set of goals to stay active and focused on an IDT !!

 

 

I am on the far opposite end of the spectrum of users .... Winter time my Zwift account gets activated for a few months, I clock up some routes, and sort of stay in shape for the next outside ride.  This week work has me in the car ... this weekend it seems we are due for the final winter rain .... so I have update Zwift, and will be using some of my free miles for the month to keep the legs moving.

 

For ME the IDT is just a tool to keep active when I cant ride outside.

 

For the serious athletes it is very much part of their training plan.

 

The other 99% needs to figure out where they fit in .... ultimately you will only USE it when you have a clear goal, whatever that may be for YOU ...