Spinning bike vs. bike time

[han-grrl]

I remember back in the early winter i got a newsletter from Carmichael training systems explaining that an indoor workout is equivalent to one that is 20% longer outside (does that make sense?) an hour inside is 1:12 outside.

[teigyr]

The ratio makes sense though it almost seems low. The way I see indoor riding, especially spinning class that can be rough, is that almost 100% of the time is useful for training. When riding outdoors, there are often flat "walking pace" times, at least with me. In an indoor class, the instructor forces pace and resistance and it really is difficult. I guess it'd be the difference between sitting on an exercise bike but being unstructured and having an actual training plan.

Then again, maybe training is training and I'm confusing muscle training with cardio benefits.

Ack, I think I'm confusing myself!

[han-grrl]

it isn't necessarily EASIER to do a workout on a bike outside then inside (well mentally maybe ) . you just spend more time pedalling inside than you would outside. outdoors we have hills, wind, bumps and other sources of resistance. you aren't coasting the entire ride, well not usually, anyway.

and in the case of mtb, descending can be just as hard work as on the flats or some climbs, if its technical enough.