JoeyBike

Something strange and unexpected is happening regarding my new smart bike trainer. When I laid out the $1200 i was thinking of how much I could get for it if it didn't really "take" with me. Maybe half my money back. $600 experiment right? I've effed up more money than that in a year at the grocery. So on with the story...

Last night I saw a great forecast for skating today. I even pulled my favorite longboard down from the wall hook and gave it a look over. All systems GO. Got up this morning, 100% sun, zero rain chance, cold but not freezing. Started thinking about what to wear, as it would warm up during my 2-hour skate session. Same ol-same ol routes I been skating for a decade. And biking same. Seen them thousands of times. Thought about applying sunscreen (hateful stuff), how much water to tote. Covid friendly rest rooms on the route. Wrist guards, knee pads. It's a Saturday so how do I avoid the hundreds of A.H.s that I will be "sharing" the roads and trails with? Yeah, alternate route chosen. Should I take a snack along? OK...you see where this is going.

To get my board off the wall I have to reach OVER my favorite bike that is now always attached to the KickR trainer. I look down as the thought struck me: "All I need to do is throw on some shoes, socks, and shorts" (not in that order).



So I aborted the skate session. No worries about all the road construction debris, getting scuffed up, encountering idiots walking dogs or kids on hover boards, zero chance of a covid infection. Maybe a saddle sore?? No ride-time wardrobe change other than switching on a fan at about the 10-minute mark of my "ride". In fact, my only real concern right now is adequate Vitamin D.

Dollars for the WIN! I can bike virtually just about anywhere on Earth. And thanks to NASA it won't be long before I can bike on Mars too.

So yeah...I'm no longer worried about the $$$.

Cheers

P.S., My chain never gets dirty.

Ed Wiser

Yes I get on my bike the same time every day.
So easy and I get done before everyone else in the house gets up. So I don’t get stopped and get out of my routine. An everyday I do a different cycling app or workout.

AdkMtnMonster

The best part about indoor cycling is that when you skip an indoor session due to weather it’s because the weather was too good to stay inside.

JoeyBike

I am also enjoying the NON-STOP action. No red lights, stop signs, cows across the road, etc. So my 40 minute indoor workout is equivalent to maybe 60 minutes in the real world. And using elapsed time and my heart rate is so much more valuable than just miles IMO. If I am short on time, I hit it for 30. If I have time to kill I'll pedal an hour.

jpescatore

I'll still choose riding outdoors over Zwift in the basement whenever conditions outside support biking but I have to admit my definition of "conditions outside support biking" has changed a bit.

My lower limit before an indoor trainer and Zwift was always 35 degrees or so on a sunny day. Now, it is more like 45! Riding all bundled up was never much fun but it was more fun that not getting any exercise. I never liked riding in rain, but would scheme ways to get a ride in before the green blobs on the radar should reach - now I'm more likely to avoid the rain by riding in the basement...

gthomson

Good to hear another rider see's the light ha ha. I've been Zwifting for over 3 years now and could be a spokes-person for indoor training when I look at all the advantages of it. Cheaper than a gym membership, simple set up (relatively), additional equip. is trainer and a bike and fan you already have, etc...Can't count the number of times riding the indoor trainer and looking out the window at a horrible snow/sleet/rain storm which made outdoor activity nearly impossible (unless you really like to suffer) and thankful I was getting in a great workout while never leaving my home.

kayakindude

I like that you can ride and work at the same time. I added a tripod recently and can answer calls and messages as needed.