It has snowed for three days here. The white stuff isn’t gonna melt anytime quick, making roads and trails unrideable for the foreseeable future.

Welcome to winter! Let’s… Embrace it.

Indoor riding has always been a huge part of my year round fitness maintenance and gains. Back in the day we just did our own workouts and had to keep track of time, power, cadence etc. it took a lot of focus and self discipline to get it done ✅

Since 2012 or so I’ve been on Zwift. I was one of the first beta adopters and I’ve always been a huge fan. I don’t care that much about avatars or racing but I LOVE using the workouts feature. Either the ones my coach programs into my training peaks- which auto populate into Zwift- or the library of workouts in Zwift.

It uses your FTP to dial in your numbers and keeps track of timing etcetera, so following along is easy and the gamification aspect provides motivation. Plus racing is an option and while insanely hard, definitely provides a carrot 🥕 to dig deep!

So with my plug for Zwift … let’s get into how to get you rolling as cheaply and easily as possible.

EQUIPMENT:

Trainer: you can buy a really expensive smart trainer that will load resistance on for you. They are pricey and bulky and not really portable. The upside is you take your back wheel off for most models, so you spare wear on your rear wheel, cassette and tire.

I prefer “dumb trainers” so I can control my own gears and resistance. I have used the Feedback sports omnium since they first came out and am a huge fan. They are so portable you can take as a carryon or stash in your car easily! They also work great with any kind of tire like road, gravel, or mtb. That’s why you see the mtb and cx pros using them for warmups.

Plus- feedback is based in golden co and is owned by two rad humans, doug and lisa Hudson!

Ok next— your bike needs to talk to Zwift via Bluetooth. At minimum you need speed and ideally also cadence sensors to get any kind of accurate read. (I’ll say from personal experience the power it calculates for you isn’t super accurate so don’t get too hooked on your high watts as they’ll likely drop if you get a real power meter). I’ve always always been a Garmin girl - they’re based in kansas, they support some of our favorite gravel events and since my very first computer from them, their customer service has always blown me away. So I’m a fan for life.

Here is the speed and cadence sensors group from them— but get it from your local bike shop instead as I bet they’d love the sale.

Ok then you’ll need to download the Zwift app to your phone, laptop, desktop - I use my laptop or my phone personally. (Laptop for the bike workouts, my phone on the treadmill for run workouts).

Want a 🆓 month of Zwift to try it out? Cool! Use my referral code:

https://www.zwift.com/invite/Y3EA5fwcvR

I’ll get free month too! Yay!

Alright then it’s time to get the program and your devices talking. It’s in the “pair” section of the menu. You’re off and running! We can do group rides and workouts together now!

Once you decide to upgrade to power which I highly recommend-

May I suggest a stages left side crank for the best - easiest- and least expensive option IMHO. I know pedals are a thing but that’s further away from your BB and more likely to break- esp if you’re a mtn biker and smash pedals ;)

After stages I upgraded my bikes to the SRAM red crankset with power. By far the most accurate and reliable but of course the most expensive too. Consider upgrading your bike’s crank to a power crankset when it’s time to upgrade it or get a new bike.

Ideally you’ll also run a HR monitor to have heart rate and power both. Always good to get all the data you can.

If you join Zwift please lmk and give me a follow there. I hope to see you on a ride soon.

Also download the Zwift companion app so you can chat during activities and make changes to route, etc

Not sponsored. I pay full price for Zwift just like the next person. Just my opinions.

Here is how it looks to use the phone app to do a treadmill run- I use my Garmin fenix watch and the activity type is “virtual run” al the watch talks to Zwift and more or less Tracks my speed on the treadmill (not always super accurate but you can do run pairing to sync speed etc).