Riding through the Canadian winter

There are several home trainers on the market. It can be hard to know what to pick. The most important thing is to find one that meets your needs. You don't have to go for the most high-end trainer if you're planning on using it only a few times or for a few miles over the winter.

However, if you like to be challenged and want to make the most of it, I recommend investing in a Smart Trainer. This kind of trainer will adjust the resistance according to the virtual route when using a training App (incline, watts, cadence).

Your local Liv retailer is the best place to look at the different options and find the right trainer.

There's many cycling apps available: Zwift, SufferFest, TrainerRoad. Most of them offer free trials, allowing you to try them out for a few sessions, but then you'll most likely have to get a monthly membership.

There are pros and cons to every app. Personally, I got used to using Zwift which offers a good diversity of training and courses. You can even virtually meet up with your friends and go on a group ride (perfect for pandemic times!).

I got my bike. I got my trainer. I picked an app. What now?

Some people work-out watching their favorite TV show. Others listen to music. I prefer creating a playlist with training videos on YouTube. Since I started riding indoors, I've probably watched all the Ironman World Championships from the last 10 years...! One thing is sure. You want to take this time for yourself, just as if you were riding outside. You'll see, you'll quickly become addicted.

Indoor training is also a good opportunity to try different food without having to carry everything in your jersey...

I like to eat a very light snack before a workout. A coffee (never without my coffee), a banana, and I'm all set. After training, I like to eat a handful of almonds and a good omelet. When I train later at night, I always wait at least 1-2 hours after my meal.

My training essentials are little energy gummies and two water bottles: one with water and the other with electrolytes.