Watch a training video

If you haven’t got the latest and greatest interactive turbo trainer set-up, you can still liven up your indoor training by following training videos using your laptop, tablet or phone.

Sufferfest create training sessions around videos of archive footage from the pro tour, ranging in focus from climbing to endurance and speed. Each video is delivered as a downloadable video file (costing between $5.99 – $14.99 each), which means you can play it back whenever you like.

Strava also offer a similar service via their Premium subscription with a limited range of training videos in partnership with Carmichael Training Systems, while if you want to go truly free you can always give the Global Cycling Network’s streamable online training playlist a try.

Watch TV/catch-up on a box set

Not all videos you watch while turbo training have to be training specific, so if what you want is to spin for a set amount of time, why not break the seal on one those box-sets you’ve been meaning to catch up on or surf through Netflix?

Watching a box-set while turbo training is a top way to while away the time spent in the saddle, and if you’re really into the programme you’re watching can see 90 minutes to two hours pass in no time at all.

This is best done at a comfortable aerobic pace so you can maintain at least some of your focus on the box-set – so consider this for recovery spins or those times when the weather just won’t allow you to get the miles in you’ve been hoping for.

Turbo club/train with other people

One of the best and most motivating aspects of road cycling is riding with your mates. Masochistic or not as you enjoy your collective suffering, it makes it easier to deal with the pain and monotony if you’re doing it together.

In the crucible of an intense turbo session, it also makes giving up or bailing on that last high intensity interval harder – and if you see your club mate (read: ‘club rival’) notching up the resistance higher, you’ll be all the more willing to do the same in order to hang onto their virtual coattails.

Avoid the turbo altogether… ride outside

Of course, for some there’ll be no substitute for actually getting outside and riding on the road. If this sounds like you, we recommend investing in good quality winter cycling kit (a waterproof jacket, Roubaix-lined bib tights and thick gloves and overshoes for starts) that will a) keep you warm and b) keep you dry.

It’s normally the weather which makes winter cycling such a challenge, so having the right kit can go a long way to kicking down that physiological barrier. Also, you’ll probably want to justify the initial outlay by getting use out of the kit too. Remember, good quality kit will last you for multiple winters if it’s well looked after – so see these items as a long-term investment.

Additionally, think about attaching simple clip-on mudguards to protect your bike and clothing. These will fit in the majority of road bikes – you don’t need mudguard eyelets – and keep the majority of road spray and dirt at bay. You’ll be surprised how much water and muck gets kicked up from the road when riding, so fitting mudguards will go a long way to making winter riding more enjoyable.