I have been enjoying Zwift alongside my running. On days when my legs feel like they need something gentler, a light ride at home is an option I actually look forward to. I can move for a while, listen to music and finish without having to plan another trip out.
Cycling has been part of my life for years, from long commutes to rides around Suffolk and the Isle of Wight. I have written about that history before. Indoor cycling has been there for a long time as well, with Zwift activities in my Strava log going back to 2016. Its place in my week changes as my other training changes.
Giving cycling a place alongside running
Running is taking more of my attention at the moment. I am building towards a 50 km ultra in December, and finding a sensible rhythm matters more to me than filling every available day with a hard session.
The bike gives me some variety. When I want a light ride, I can keep it light and enjoy it on those terms. I do not need every session to be longer or harder than the last one. There are also days when I would rather rest, and having a trainer in the study does not change that.
I find it useful to have a form of exercise that feels different from running. I am still doing something physical, but there is a change of position, a different rhythm and something else to concentrate on. That helps keep training enjoyable when a running plan starts to feel very repetitive.
The setup in my study
I use my Boardman carbon road bike on a Wahoo trainer, with a Zwift Cog and the controls on the bars. It means I can keep using a bike I enjoy riding, with the indoor setup giving it another job.
The Cog and controls give me virtual shifting in Zwift. The gear changes alter the trainer’s resistance rather than moving the chain between different sprockets at the back. In use, I can change gear from the controls while keeping my hands where they are comfortable.
Zwift runs on my MacBook Pro, connected to a monitor. I spend plenty of time working on that machine already, so it is a familiar bit of equipment to use. The larger display gives me a clear view of the ride without trying to follow everything on the laptop screen.
That is the practical side of the setup: a bike I know, the trainer, the controls and a screen I can see easily. I like being able to get on with the ride once it is all connected.
Music and keeping the room cool
I listen to music through my Sony earbuds, with noise cancelling switched on indoors. It helps me settle into the ride and gives my mind something to follow alongside what is happening on the screen. The earbuds are light and fit well, which makes a difference when I am moving for a while.
I use noise cancelling differently here from when I am running outside, where I want to hear what is around me. In the study I enjoy shutting out some of the background noise and listening to the music properly.
I also have a portable air-conditioning unit in the room. Riding indoors gets warm very quickly, and there is no breeze from travelling along a road. Keeping the study cooler makes the whole experience more comfortable. It is one of those unglamorous parts of the setup that I appreciate once I have been pedalling for a while.
What the recent rides look like
My recent Strava entries show a mixture of sessions. There was a 50-minute Welcome Workout on 3 August and an Endurance Free Ride on 18 August that lasted about the same amount of time. This week, on 9 September, I rode Seaside Sprint in Watopia for 57 minutes 44 seconds, with a recorded virtual distance of 27.14 km.
I treat those kilometres as distance within Zwift. They are useful for following what I have been doing there, rather than for deciding how the same ride would have felt outdoors. The time I spent riding and the kind of session I chose tell me more about how it fitted into my week.
There is enough variety to keep my interest. Some rides have a workout to follow; others are a chance to pedal around and enjoy the route on screen. I can choose something that suits the time and energy I have, and an easy ride does not have to become an event.
Convenience that makes a difference
The biggest advantage is how easy it is to fit in. I do not have to decide which roads to take or how far from home I can get before I need to turn back. I can have a drink nearby, put some music on and use the time I have available.
That matters when I am trying to keep running consistent as well as finding time for work and everything else. A session with less preparation is often much easier to start. Being able to do it in the study means I can keep cycling in my life even when a longer outdoor ride would be awkward.
I still love going out on the bike. Zwift gives me another way to enjoy it, and at the moment that fits well alongside the running. Sometimes a light ride, a good playlist and a cool room are exactly what I want.