One of the challenges of training for triathlon is getting enough time on the bike. While riding outdoors is great, indoor bike trainers give us a safe and convenient way to practice cycling right next to the pool.
I’ve been working on developing our own indoor cycling system, and it’s becoming a pretty exciting addition to our practices! Our bike trainers connect to a custom-built system that displays each athlete’s progress along a virtual course on a TV.
Instead of simply riding for 20 or 30 minutes, our athletes can now ride a specific distance and watch themselves move along the course. Even better, the resistance on their trainers automatically changes with the terrain. When they reach a hill, pedaling gets harder, and when they head downhill, it gets easier!
This means we can simulate not only the distance of an upcoming race, but also the difficulty of its bike course. Athletes can practice climbing hills, pacing themselves, and getting a feel for what they’ll experience on race day.
One of my favorite parts is watching the kids see themselves making progress. Every pedal stroke moves them closer to the finish line, and they can see how they’re doing compared to their teammates. It’s especially exciting during our swim-bike-run simulations, when the athletes are actually racing each other and can watch their positions change as they compete!
It’s been a fun project to develop, and I’m excited to keep improving it. Most importantly, it’s another way we can make training more engaging and help our athletes become better triathletes!