Indoor vs outdoor

What is the fastest way to gain fitness, turbo or outdoor training?
I recently started turbo training and my first impressions is that I get a much more effective workout. I can really zone into the area I want to work at without anything interfere.
But I am worried if I turbo too much I will loose bike handling skills and perhaps long endurance as I cannot spend 5 hours on a turbo trainer.
I recently started turbo training and my first impressions is that I get a much more effective workout. I can really zone into the area I want to work at without anything interfere.
But I am worried if I turbo too much I will loose bike handling skills and perhaps long endurance as I cannot spend 5 hours on a turbo trainer.
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Specialising in Git Daaahns and Cafs. Norvern Munkey/Transplanted Laaandoner.
The bike has wind resistance, the trainer doesn't. It also has a highly variable workload which is difficult/impossible to replicate on a trainer. Then there is the whole "outdoors" thing!
Outdoor biking is good for you in so many ways, whereas the indoor trainer is only good for you as an alternative. But of course it depends upon what you are trying to achieve. If it is fitness at all costs then you need to take professional advice.
If I was trying to get super fit for the bike (with no other wimpy considerations, like enjoyment), I would contemplate filling my back pack with bricks and dropping the tyre pressure a lot.
I don't use an indoor trainer, never have, but I can imagine it getting rather samey and dull. Safer, maybe cheaper too, more convenient, but I'd much rather be outside where I can sweat in clear air.
Especially if you are short of time, and have child care commitments, it's really beneficial.
For me, it helps me get fitter, and I then enjoy my outside rides even more.
Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
Scott CR1 SL 12
Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
Scott Foil 18
But I do 100% agree with your preference for outdoors, there are so many benefits!
I bought my indoor trainer (it's an exercise bike like you see in the gyms) when I hurt my back. I just could not go out on my mtb, but with a gritting of teeth I could climb onto my exercise bike and then pedal away in complete safety! Once I was able to ride outdoors again, my fitness hadn't altogether disappeared.
I gave up turboing a few years ago. Then since being forced off the bike a couple of weeks ago I have been turboing most days to try and keep my fitness. Turboing all the time is not sustainable for me mentally but I now realise indoor training is a great tool for working in the higher zones targeting different aspects like VO2, tempo, threshold etc.
So as stated earlier best to use both but for me the majority will be outdoor. The other thing I have learned is don’t go too hard on the turbo as you will soon hate it. Make it hard but not so tough that you can’t face doing that session again.
You'd knacker your back and spend a lot of time crashing or fixing punctures.
I had a turbo, but due to a change in housing circumstances, I no longer have one. I just find other things to do when it's icy or too windy to ride outside.