Indoor Riding During The Chilly Winter Months

Many thanks to Lakewood’s Spin Bike Shop’s Sales & Social Media guru Tim Comerford for sharing his insight for this article.

Winter, winter, winter!

For cyclists who are counting the days till warmer weather and a fresh new cycling season, an option exists that will help keep you in the saddle, boost your mood and maintain and improve your fitness level, all without having to step outside the front door!
This option is the indoor bike trainer. These devices allow cyclists to recreate the feeling of a ride outdoors. Simulation of routes, headwinds, ascents, and descents are all possible. And once you add more technology, you can re-experience routes saved on your GPS bike computer, do structured workouts, even ride (and compete!) in virtual worlds using online programs such as Zwift (which offers fun with avatars – different bikes and jerseys are earned as your skills increase) and TrainerRoad.

With the wheel-off type of trainer, the back wheel of a bike is replaced with the trainer which gets connected to its drivetrain. Wahoo currently has two two-wheels-off types: the KICKR and the KICKR CORE.

The latest type of trainer is also available from Wahoo. According to Tim, the KICKR BIKE Smart Bike is “pretty rad” – it was made for indoor riding exclusively and doesn’t include your bike at all but replicates it to match the settings on your road bike: the height and angle of the saddle, the handlebars, etc. Details such as the angle of sweat pouring off a cyclist’s forehead were considered during its design. What does this mean? On an outdoor bike, sweat tends to fly off one’s face due to wind but when riding indoors, a towel draped across the handlebars is typically needed to catch sweat falling straight down. No towel necessary on the KICKR BIKE Smart Bike. I have one and it’s also great for multiple users – switching settings for each rider in the household is a piece of cake. Ace bike mechanic Mitch Gable installed mine with easy-to-follow adjustments for two!

The original wheel-on type, such as those offered by ROCKBROS, is deceptively simple, with both wheels staying on the bike and a roller to provide the necessary resistance. I say “deceptively” because although they are the most basic, these trainers are the hardest to use and are best for more experienced cyclists. I won’t even try it but admire those who do. Roller trainers can be great for balance and core work, but for under $50 more you can get a KICKR SNAP which is also wheel-on but has flywheel technology plus direct connect and Wi-Fi connectivity, updated Zwift-friendly features, and more.

As with any cycling equipment there’s quite a price range, but a basic model can start as low as $150. If you’re in the market for a trainer, GearJunkie published online The Best Bike Trainers of 2024 https://gearjunkie.com/biking/best-bike-trainer to help you determine your best option.

Enjoy your winter and start riding indoors now if you’re not a year-round rider – consider alternative ways to keep cycling!

Ken Knabe is Greater Cleveland's Bike Attorney promoting cycling safety and representing cyclists injured by careless drivers. 14222 Madison Avenue Lakewood, OH 44107 (216) 228-7200 www.KLFOhio.com