The truth of the turbo
Luke Holmes • March 26, 2020
The real emotions when you are cycling indoors.......
*N.B. We appreciate this is a very uncertain and serious time and are conscious there is a lot more at stake than cycling, this is an attempt to put smiles on peoples faces rather than ignoring the current situation*
This can come in many and varied forms, be it Zwift, the Sufferfest or simply staring aggressively at your wall, but we will guarantee you will have experienced some, if not all, of these emotions at some point in your training.
1. Hope and expectation: This is a great idea! I don’t need to get all those gels and bars ready! I’m not going to have a puncture! I can really structure some great training time. It never rains indoors! Yes you naïve soul, these things are all true, but how quickly are you going to miss sunshine, wind and a bit of a change in scenery. With all the clever apps and smart trainers in the world, you are still in your shed.
2. Confusion: Should I have put a podcast on or gone for music? Do I feel good, or is my resistance too easy? Will an hour on the turbo be worth two hours in the real world? Maybe I should try Zwift? Is that £1000 smart trainer really worth it? Its never quite as simple as it seemed in your Hope and Expectation phase is it, there are still variables, they are just different ones!
3. Boredom: Is it really possible for the second hand of your watch to be moving THAT slowly? I cycled a 3 hour club ride last week and it flew by, what on earth is happening. Please let me off, no-one would know!
4. I NEED more things!:
Sweat towel, fan, mat, all the apps, specific shoes, those specific tyres I have heard everyone talk about, post-turbo cake?
5. Pride: Okay that wasn’t so bad. Do you know what, by the end of the session, I am actually immensely proud, I can do this, I may even do it again tomorrow. The thing is there is nowhere to hide on a turbo, no downhills, no sheltering behind anyone who might be feeling great. I know that and I’ve put a great effort in – I could it again tomorrow.
6. Strava angst: Should I put the turbo ride on? It looks amazing but yes it was on a turbo and yes I’ll get those comments but SHUT UP I need something to compare it to. You don’t know me! I was only looking at my heart rate anyway.
We know turbo training is a great option at the moment to stay fit, and physically and mentally healthy so this is a bit of fun. Keep well, keep healthy and see you on Zwift/sufferfest/a shed wall……..
Come along and find your next cycling bargain!
Training Runs: Saturday and Sunday at 9am from Cafe Nero in Enfield Town - usually go for a 40-60 mile circular ride at a fast-ish training pace, without stops. Sunday Touring Runs : Meet Cafe Nero, Enfield Town at 08:45 for 09:00 start unless an alternative venue/time is shown. Intermediate ride will be 12 to 14mph to morning stop, approx 20 to 30 miles. The relaxed ride is shorter and does what it says on the tin!
