With the spring finally upon us and the eternal darkness nearly at an end I feel the urge to raise the contentious issue of turbo trainers or static bikes, whichever you prefer. Like Marmite, you either love them or despise them. Purists think that pedalling without actually moving is a peculiarity bordering on insanity. However a large amount of forward thinking devotees can see the convenience of remaining stationary, especially those with the commitments of family life and the lack of time available to get out and about on two wheels.
Many riders see turbo trainer time as tortuous and/or extremely boring, so they avoid them, like the plague. However, even those that dislike them acknowledge turbos as a great tool for targeted training and maintaining fitness, especially as you can concentrate on a specific fitness component and focus a training session to the finite second. This is why many elite riders use them year round focusing their sessions and supplementing their road miles.
I also accept that if you are not that confident with cycling on busy roads, or in crappy weather then the turbo allows for intense pedalling to take place without the apprehension of traffic, road junctions and undulating terrains, not forgetting the delights of the predictably unpredictable British weather. Simply, whether you desire a speedy sprint session or a longer interval pyramid there’s a specific session for whatever it is you’re looking to improve and all this within the safety of your home!
Personally I love my turbo, with five kids and limited time, it provides me with the opportunity to expend some energy and stretch my muscles. I accept that nothing beats the experience of the open roads but there are occasions when the turbo is a more than adequate alternative, especially through the winter and the unpredictable weather that it can throw at us. So (if like me) you sometimes get ridiculed for spending hours in the palatial surroundings of your garage or spare room (God forbid the kitchen or living room) then take comfort in the fact that you are maintaining your overall fitness throughout the winter when others neglect their pedalling (you know who you are!) until the first buds of Spring.
Happy Pedalling
Scot
Scot Whitlock Editor, CADENCE Cycling Magazine (coming soon)
Twitter: @cadencemag
Website: www.cadencemag.co.uk
Author ‘Simple Words from the Saddle’ & ‘Simply More Words from the Saddle’
Twitter: @saddlescot
Blog: [email protected]
Kazakhstan trip: www.pedaltheunknown.com
