I’ve recently been suffering on the trainer. I listen to music, but generally hate every minute of it, largely because it’s painful and I’m bored. Then I decided to try Zwift – an indoor cycling “game” that connects to your smart trainer – https://zwift.com/

I’ve done 2 rides on Zwift and have enjoyed how interactive it is. You see other riders, the terrain you’re riding, you can draft off of other riders, and all of your data is right in front of you: power, speed, incline, weight to power ratio and more. I have found myself riding longer and harder when I use the Zwift app, so that is certainly a positive thing. It’s still painful, but I’m not bored!

You can do a free 7-day trial before paying something like $15/month. You can also upload your data directly to Strava, GarminConnect, Training Peaks, and other apps.

If you haven’t tried it yet and need a way to keep your cycling fitness through the winter when outdoor riding is a challenge, I highly recommend giving it a try.