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.
Zwift is fun and, if you get involved in the races, it can really be a challenge and hone some of your real world cycling skills.
If you really want to push your training indoors, consider https://thesufferfest.com/.
Unlike Zwift, you don’t have avatars, but you have high quality videos, great music, on screen metrics and adjustability AND the app also includes Yoga, Strength and Mental Training, all for a price less than that orange game. Free trial for that available too and it works really well on smart trainers. Try it on ERG mode, and it will change the way you sweat.
Keep writing, I love your stuff.
Thanks for the kind words, and for the info, Terry! I will check it out.
Hi Val, I just stumbled across your blog while searching for keto adapted cyclists on Google. I’m a 61 year old cyclist that has been riding since 1979. I became fat adapted this fall. I’ve been using both Zwift and Sufferfest as a way to maintain my performance, they’re both awesome resources to have available. But since my adaption to keto, my high end intervals have suffered, as well as my sprinting in Zwift. Not that much of an issue right now, but I would like to adjust my nutrition to increase my high end without kicking out of Keto. Any advice would be really helpful.
Hi David! Thank you for reaching out and providing your input on Swift and Sufferfest.
As for sprints, you may want to experiment with fueling with clean carbs the day of a ride where you will be sprinting during or at the end. Once keto adapted, you can easily shift from burning carbs back to burning ketones, so this may help you with your sprinting. Let me know how it goes!
Val
Thanks Val, I’ll keep you updated.