Seven things I learned during 1,000 hours of riding on Zwift

If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter weather is starting to close in. Technically it’s still fall but I assure you that, at least in the American Pacific Northwest, we’ve long since left behind any romantic notions of fall weather. As I sit and write this, I can see it raining hard out the window and I know that when I’m ready for today’s ride, it will be indoors. I’ll be testing a new potential addition to our list of the best smart trainers available and this will be far from the first time. 

I looked and I’ve spent over 1,000 hours on Zwift over the years. Truthfully the winter has little to do with how much indoor riding I do. Sometimes I ride indoors to free myself of time constraints related to shorter days or to get a better bang for my buck if I’m pushed for time. Other times, I choose to ride inside so I can be home and still get my ride in. I also do structured training exclusively inside and intervals generally have little to do with the weather. Whatever my reasons, or yours, after all this time, I feel like I’ve collected some wisdom. 

I don’t view indoor riding, be that Zwift or another system, as a drag. Quite the contrary, I love indoor riding almost as much as outdoor riding. The two are different but they each have their place in the larger ecosystem of modern cycling. If you think you dread indoor riding, keep reading to see some of the things that have helped me enjoy my time spent riding my bike without moving.  

1. A challenge makes things fun