Here's what to consider when buying an indoor trainer

If you're a cycling fan, triathlete, or looking for a good cardio machine for your home gym, an indoor trainer could be for you.

An indoor trainer can look a little different, with some you attach the whole bike to the indoor trainer, while other models require you to remove the rear wheel first. But what they all have in common is that you can ride your regular bike - indoors.

Is there any point in using an indoor trainer now that it's getting warm again?

- Many people might think that an indoor trainer is something specifically for winter training, when you can't be out on the road. However, an indoor trainer can just as easily be used in the summer, when you want to get the most out of your workout. When you're out cycling, you're rolling, there are downhills and so on, which means you can't fully control your training. But on an indoor trainer, you can adjust your power output and resistance throughout your workout," says Caroline Rafstedt of RLVNT, who knows everything and more about indoor trainers.

How does it differ from cycling outdoors?

- The great thing about indoor trainers is that they provide a similar feeling. You can use an app to choose to cycle a certain course and then many models automatically adjust the resistance, making it heavier when going uphill or lighter when going downhill. The advantage of an indoor trainer is that you can choose whether you want the same feeling as cycling outdoors or whether you want a more structured and intense training experience.

How can everyone benefit from an indoor trainer?

- Well, if you like cycling, it's a great training tool. You can make it social and fun for example through the Zwift app, but also use it for really hard training that improves strength and endurance, while being gentle on the body. If you are more advanced, such as a triathlete, you already have two other sports to spend a lot of time on. Then it may be nice to spend just one hour on an intense session on the indoor trainer, instead of running three hours outdoors to get the same effect.


Thanks to technology, cycling alone in your living room can be social.

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