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Teenage girl training on bike indoors.

Indoor versus outdoor cycling

A year ago, no one would have predicted the uptake of indoor cycling meets gaming platform, Zwift. With national and world championship events, and the scandals of e-doping, the virtual world is almost mirroring real-life competitions. Likewise, the number of people with turbo trainers and a ‘pain-cave’ has rocketed. But is cycling indoors a genuine rival for getting out on your bike?

Indoor versus outdoor training in a straight head-to-head battle. Categories of our devising. Feel free to add your own. Let’s go!

 

Round 1

Washing

Cycling at this time of year requires layers to counteract the wet and cold, which means washing, a lot of it. Two bike-rides in winter kit is basically one full load. That’s before you start on your bike. A bad day is when cleaning your bike takes longer than your ride did!

Indoor cycling on the other hand requires very little. Despite some manufacturers offering indoor training kit most of us still use an old pair of shorts and a base-layer, which barely contributes anything to the household washing burden.

Verdict: Indoor training

 

Round 2

Convenience

Your turbo trainer is always there, waiting for you. As long as everything is left in place between sessions you can jump on and get going in no time at all. If you’re tied to the house waiting for a call or a parcel to arrive there’s no need to skip your session. You can even manage to do a ride while the baby naps or the kids are in bed.

On the other hand, a turbo can’t take you anywhere. One of the most time-efficient ways of getting cycle fit is by commuting to work. If you can combine a journey you need to do anyway with your bike ride, then outdoor cycling can be both convenient and time efficient.

Verdict: Indoor training – but only just

 

Round 3

Sociability

In ‘normal’ times, and in the days before Zwift, this would have been an easy win for outdoor cycling, as indoor cycling was very much a solo occupation. But with lockdown limiting exercise to just one person from outside your own household, there is no advantage to outdoors in this category. Instead, with chat apps like Discord being used alongside Zwift, it is indoor cycling that has the edge.

For many people, Zwift (and having a chat with your mates while rolling round Wattopia or Zwift’s London Olympics course) has been a saviour during lockdown. Much like cycling in the outside world, you can choose to race, ride gently side-by-side and chat to a friend, or join a group ride. Will Zwift ever replace the fun of riding to the pub or café with your mates? No, not for most of us, but right now it’s the best we have.

Verdict: Indoor training

 

Round 4

Fitness

A lot of people maintain that indoor cycling is best for fitness – and in many aspects, they may be right. For a start there’s no coasting or stopping at traffic lights, every pedal stroke counts and every minute you’re on the bike you are pedalling. Sessions are much more structured and goal orientated because, until Zwift, no one ever sat on a turbo trainer just for fun, there was always a reason behind it.

But fitness takes many forms, it’s not just about cultivating massive power outputs. Riding your bike outside develops core strength and postural endurance. Alongside this is technique; you can’t learn to corner fast, accelerate over the crest of a hill, follow a wheel safely or ride in a bunch while cycling indoors.

If you just measure fitness in watts then yes, maybe indoors wins, but to be the best all-round cyclist you’re capable of being you need to head outside too.

Verdict: Outdoor training

 

Round 5

Mental health

Our mental health is precious. It is very hard to be physically healthy if your mental health is suffering. There is a lot of evidence linking exercise with mental health so both indoor and outdoor cycling has a role to play. However, what helps your mental health is very individual. Some exercise environments might work for one person but not another.

Cycling outside is more than just exercise, it is connection with nature and being in nature has a very calming impact on how we feel. It is also escapism – you can literally pedal your problems away, escaping from the place or people who trigger your feelings. The repetitive nature of pedalling works for many people almost as a meditation, it helps free your mind and bring a state of relaxation.

In a time when we are having to stay at home, using daily exercise to get outside, breathe some fresh air and take in the scenery is incredibly valuable. For that alone cycling outdoors wins this round.

Verdict: Outdoor cycling

 

And the winner is… CYCLING!

It’s a fix! You knew this was how it would end up. Whether indoors or outdoors, cycling can play a part in maintaining your physical and mental health. So if you love catching up with your mates on Zwift, or prefer a solo effort in the hills, do whatever works for you. It’s all bike riding, and it’s all good!

For more information about our services or to start your claim, call 0808 100 9995 and speak to one of our specialist solicitors. We’re here to help. You can email us or schedule a callback.

 

Written By:

Emily Pheysey

Litigation Executive

Emily has over 7 years of experience in the legal sector, handling road traffic accident claims to recover compensation and support her clients. Her focus is to ensure all clients feel comfortable and at ease with the claims process so that they can focus on their recovery.

Emily considers rapport to be an essential part of the role and strives to always provide excellent client care.

Away from work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and friends and travelling as much possible.

Diane Holderness

Litigation Executive

Diane is a Ministry of Justice (TOJ) Team Leader within our Cycle Department. She has 11 years’ experience managing road traffic accident claims, and 6 years’ experience managing MOJ claims.

Diane enjoys a challenge and always strives for the very best results for her customers; something that is clear in the way her team continually adapts its strategies in order to secure the most desired outcome. Diane has worked her way through the legal ranks here, and is proud to now have a strong, specialist team that is committed to customer satisfaction.

Diane believes that happy clients make a happy working environment, and it is this that ensures a productive and efficient workforce.

Nina Haddock

Chartered Legal Executive

Nina has over 30 years’ experience in the legal sector. She specialises in recovering compensation for injury claimants as a result of road traffic accidents. Her focus for each and every claim is to help her clients secure the funding that they need to pay for ongoing treatment and support.

Nina became a CILEX Fellow in 2006 and now helps her clients and their families at a time when they have been through a traumatic experience, and everything they hold dear to them appears to be changing.

One case Nina is particularly proud of is supporting a client who had successfully sought asylum in the UK, following a road traffic accident. The claim was successfully pursued through the MIB and the client was left with significant injuries. Her client was able to use the compensation to aid family members with their applications to seek asylum in the UK.

Julian Fox

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Julian qualified as a Solicitor in 2005 and has worked in all areas of personal injury since 2000. Julian has a well-rounded understanding of personal injury law, having represented both claimants and defendants.

Julian always aims for maximum damages to meet his clients’ needs for injury and rehabilitation expenses, and can often secure interim payments to help meet clients’ financial needs. Julian is highly proactive in ensuring cases are progressed, ensuring a timely conclusion.

When not at the office, Julian is a keen cyclist, both on roads and virtually -he will often do an hour of ‘Zwifting’ in the mornings before starting work.

Richard Atherton

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Richard has 12 years of legal experience and qualified as a Solicitor in February 2014. He has been a Team Manager with us since 2019. Throughout his career, Richard has specialised in personal injury, handling an array of Road Traffic Accident cases, in addition to employer and public liability.

Richard prides himself on his very strong strategic and planning skills, which come into their own in complex injury cases where more technical arguments are involved. On every case, he is committed to ensuring that his clients receive full compensation for their injuries.

Away from work, Richard enjoys sport; he is a season ticket holder at St Helens Rugby Club and a Liverpool FC fan. Not only a spectator, Richard also likes going to play golf as often as he can.

Dave Gardner

Litigation Executive

Dave has over 20 years of experience in the legal sector. His specialism is personal injury and he has dealt with hundreds of cycling injury claims during his career. Excellent client care and communication is paramount to Dave. He prides himself on being accessible and available, attending court hearings where damages are in dispute to ensure the best outcome for his clients. One case Dave is particularly proud of is when he supported an elderly client who suffered serious injuries following a road traffic incident. The police had not taken any action against the defendant, so Dave had to be proactive and act within a 24-hour window. The case proceeded and the client was in receipt of £30,000 in damages, which he would not have been entitled to had the client not approached Dave. He is also an avid supporter of Glasgow Rangers and travelled abroad on many occasions to see them play in European competitions.

Gerard Horton

Partner

Gerard is a Senior Solicitor at Cycle SOS. In his 13 years of experience, Gerard has built a national reputation in the catastrophic injury sector, dealing with high value and complex cases. Alongside his legal role, Gerard supports several charities including Headway Central Lancashire, Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre and spinal injury charity, Back Up.

Julia Eyton

Partner

Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Cycle SOS team.

Specialising in representing those who have had life changing injuries, Julia handles some of the most serious and complex personal injury cases both within Cycle SOS and nationally.

She often works on high value claims and is skilled in winning complex liability cases.

NADIA KERR

Partner

Nadia has over 30 years of legal expertise and has represented hundreds of vulnerable road users. With a focus on ensuring timely rehabilitation, speedy repair or replacement of bikes and kit, and securing fair compensation, Nadia is committed to advocating for justice and client rights. Alongside her legal career, Nadia actively participates in national campaigns to benefit vulnerable road users and acts as a Trustee/Director for the national cycling charity, Cycling UK. Nadia was named in Cycling UK’s ‘100 women’ and was a founding member, now running a women’s cycling group, TeamGlow in South Manchester. Among her many achievements, Nadia takes pride in her spot on BBC Breakfast, where she provided expert commentary on long term government funding for pothole repairs.

Caroline Morris

DIRECTOR OF SERIOUS INJURY

Caroline has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years, recovering more than £56 million in damages during that time, to help clients rebuild their lives after injury.

Caroline is committed to achieving rehabilitation options early, meaning her clients benefits from the best care and treatment at the earliest stage possible.