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Experienced a four-month break from outdoor cycling due to winter, opted to cycle indoors instead; now question arises whether the 2,000-mile journey in the shed adequately prepares for genuine outdoor cycling.

Winter indoor challenges tackled by Steve, but will a 15-mile road bike journey push his pedal power limits?

Will Steve's winter indoor challenges, spanning long and short distances, be pushed to the limit...
Will Steve's winter indoor challenges, spanning long and short distances, be pushed to the limit with a 15-mile road cycling endeavor?

Experienced a four-month break from outdoor cycling due to winter, opted to cycle indoors instead; now question arises whether the 2,000-mile journey in the shed adequately prepares for genuine outdoor cycling.

Diving headfirst into the great outdoors after a hibernation of four miserable months? Count me in, alright! My trusty Canyon Endurace and I were long overdue for a rendezvous with the wind, the rain, and all that Southeast England had to offer - or so I thought.

Shed-bound for ten Nov2021 and beyond, I mastered the art of indoor cycling. Racking up the miles, from half-marathon TTs on Zwift's Glasgow crit to 12-hour behemoths, I bumped my threshold power something fierce. From 330 watts for a 10-mile TT at the end of October, I now breeze through it with 400 spankin' watts - not too shabby, huh?

Springtime couldn't come soon enough, so I braved the great outdoors for the first time since end of October. Cracking open that dusty ol' shed door, I was greeted by a scene reminiscent of Salem's Lot - hopeful for sunshine and bracing for impending doom. Fortunate for me, the bright outdoors didn't stake me on the spot like a rampaging mob, and I hopped aboard my faithful steed for the great adventure ahead.

So, how does indoor cycling stack up against the gypsy warrior ways of outdoor cycling? Let's see.

Feeling Defiant

Indoors vs. the great outdoors? Two distinct experiences, for sure. Indoors, your gaze is fixed on the little wattage reading on the screen, desperate to meet your predetermined goals or risk a ruined session. Outside? You're free as a bird, going headlong into the world, feeling your heart race with the wind.

Outdoor 1-0 Shed

Pothole Paradise

Next sensation? A sudden jolt from my bike careening into a literal pothole the size of Suffolk. Blame it on the scenic surrounds - I had forgotten about England's pockmarked roads. The smooth blacktop of my training shed is a much kinder lover compared to the undulating surface of the Great Outdoors.

Outdoors 1-1 Shed

Climbing Clumsily

It wasn't until I ascended a relative tame incline that my next revelation struck me. All that indoor climbing in 8% gradients hadn't prepared me for the real grind of negotiating the steep stuff outside. Guess a smart trainer doesn't account for real-world physics, like the effect of changes in gradient and the physical effort of keeping the bike upright[1].

Guess those ascents took a little more than spirited abandon and finesse. Factors like inertia and the strain of climbing under my own weight at full weight started to show themselves[1].

Outdoors 2- 1 Shed

Traffic Tortures

Hate nothing more than a motorist intent on their revving engine inches behind me. It's pure, unadulterated misery. Outdoors, that far-too-common scenario can take the fun right out of riding. Indoors? No pesky traffic to speak of, leaving you free to focus on your training. See the advantage?

Outside 2-2 Shed

Average Speed Freak

Indoor vs. outdoor speeds? As different as night and day. My heart rate was barely registering outside at 110bpm average, while indoors, it soared into Zone 4 territory, averaging around 171bpm. Guess all of that constant pedaling indoors helps keep my engines humming along[3].

Outside 2-3 Shed

Indoor Power Struggles

Average power outputs were lower outside, too. Sure, more coasting's involved when dealing with the real world, but wouldn't normalized power take that into account? Regardless, I was gonna stick with indoor training for structured workouts and performance testing[1].

Outside 2- 4 Shed

Joy, Unbounded

Despite the tiny lead, the sheer joy of riding outside couldn't be matched by my faithful shed. Indoor training's handy for a training focus, but there's no denying the open road provides an unrivaled experience - one that's an essential companion to a winter spent in the cozy confines of your shed[1][4].

Final result: Outside 5 - 4 Shed, on penalties

In the battle between indoor cycling and outdoor cycling, the outdoor experience offers a sense of freedom and adrenaline that cannot be replicated indoors. The jolts from potholes and the challenge of negotiating steep inclines are unique to the great outdoors. Despite the advantages of indoor training, like structured workouts and performance testing, the unbridled joy of riding outside makes it an essential part of cycling, even during the winter months spent indoors.

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