Home trainer vs. outdoor

HOW DO YOU COMBINE HOME TRAINER AND OUTDOOR TO PROGRESS?

Home Trainer vs. Outdoor: What to choose? The quest for performance often leads cyclists to wonder whether it’s better to train on a home trainer or go out and pedal outdoors? The truth is, each of these training methods has its own advantages and disadvantages!

BENEFITS OF HOME TRAINER TRAINING VS. OUTDOOR

No worries about the weather:

The home trainer, often considered the ideal training companion for bad weather days (wind, rain, cold) or winter evenings, offers a great training alternative! Not only does it allow you to pedal at any time of day or night, but it also protects you from the vagaries of the weather! This allows you to adapt your training and maintain its continuity.

Precise and structured sessions:

During your indoor training sessions, using Kinomap you can create and carry out structured workouts such as splits with different intervals and intensities! You can also customize your own Kinomap workouts, thanks to the workout editor. A perfect option for those looking to improve their performance! Indeed, on a home trainer, you can precisely monitor your power, cadence or heart rate, and adjust your training accordingly, which is more difficult to achieve outdoors between red lights, traffic, irregular gradients!

Short and to the point:

A great advantage of indoor cycling sessions is their ability to provide short, effective workouts. No need to block off 3 hours of your day to train! Just 45′ and you’re done! That’s all you need for an ultra-efficient workout and to boost your progress! It’s the perfect ally for anyone with a hectic schedule – work, family, friends – who wants to stay in top physical condition without spending hours on it.

Fun and entertaining:

Home trainers aren’t just for structured workouts; they can also be fun and entertaining.

With kinomap, you can travel from your home through ultra-realistic roads and landscapes from all over the world! You can also take part in multiplayer challenges and events that will provide you with maximum motivation, sharing and fun! A great way to mix business with pleasure!

BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR CYCLING VS. HOME TRAINER

Despite all the advantages of home trainer training, outdoor cycling has an undeniable charm!

The thrill of the outdoors:

Nothing can truly replace the feeling of the air on your face, the sensation of speed, the adrenaline rush of descents, the beauty of the landscape or club outings.

Technical expertise:

What’s more, by riding outdoors, you can not only work on your physical condition, but also improve your riding technique, your balance and your ability to ride in a group! Something you can’t do on an indoor bike.

Mental well-being:

Outdoor cycling also offers a real boost to your mental well-being: you can escape, clear your head, let off steam and enjoy the moment!

STRONGER TOGETHER: COMBINING HOME TRAINER AND OUTDOOR CYCLING

Combine the two:

Why choose? The key to optimizing your cycling training is ultimately to strike a balance between home trainer and outdoor cycling. By combining the two, you can benefit from the advantages of each mode and limit their disadvantages.

Practical example of a typical training week:

For example, on weekdays, when you have less time, you can use the home trainer for your structured, intense split sessions. And at weekends, you can pedal outdoors for several hours to work on your endurance, go on adventures and explore new landscapes without looking at your watch.

• Monday: rest
• Tuesday: home-trainer with a PMA session (45 min)
• Wednesday: home-trainer with a Threshold session (45 min)
• Thursday: rest
• Friday: home-trainer with a sprint session (45 min)
• Saturday: Club outing or long outing in low-intensity endurance (2h to 5h depending on your level)
• Sunday: Club outing or long low-intensity endurance outing (2h to 5h depending on your level)

This is an example of a week’s training, and can be adapted to suit your abilities, objectives and availability.

CONCLUSION:

Ultimately, each training method has its own advantages and disadvantages that the other does not. In the end, the best solution is to combine them, because they complement each other! This method will enable you to create a varied, effective and, above all, fun workout! You’ll be able to improve your cycling performance while taking care of your mental well-being.

See other articles regarding the nutrition:
HOW SHOULD YOU EAT BEFORE TRAINING?
SPORT & HYDRATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW