How to Setup Indoor Virtual Workouts
with TrainerRoad
Equipment needed
- Your bike, so that your fit and preferences are right there.
- Smart trainer or smart bike that measures power, via Bluetooth or ant+ is preferable. Here is a link to Bicycling Magazine Review of Smart Trainers 2020. The Wahoo Kickr Bike or Stages Bike SB20 are also compatible with these apps. A regular trainer (wind trainer or equivalent) with speed sensor or power meter. Here is a link to trainer road where it will walk you through your equipment to see if it is compatible Trainer Road Equipment Checker.
- A laptop or desktop computer, TRAINERROAD group workout feature is only available on the trainer road app for computers. Trainer Road app itself and the workouts will work on an iOS (phone, or iPad) but to join a virtual group training session you need to be connected to the app on a computer (windows or Mac). Here is the direct download of TRAINERROAD App for your desktop.
- A TrainerRoad account. Trainer Road is an app that works with smart trainers as well as other Bluetooth devices and regular trainers. It has been around for a long time and I find has less connectivity errors than Zwift and just added the group feature during the pandemic. They are constantly making updates and are very responsive at the help desk. An account with TrainerRoad costs $18/month or $15 if you pay for a year in advance.
How Virtual Workouts Works
- You will need the TRAINERROAD App installed and updated on your computer.
- Each session will last 60-90 minutes depending on the focus of the workout, there will be optional add on longer Endurance classes on weekends once a month.
- You will get a code or RSVP link via email when you register for a class.
- Be sure to check your computer prior to the class time as the TRAINERROAD App is doing a lot of updates on the computer to help with any bugs with group workouts.
- I will be playing music through the class via Spotify, if you want your own music you can feel free to play it with headphones, but I suggest having one ear available to hear my cues as I will be cueing and coaching throughout the workout.
- Each class will begin with a welcome and I will describe the workout for the day as we warm up. Each workout will have a specific physiological purpose with coaching during the class provided by me or one of the coaches at Linton Horner Coaching.
- All the workouts are written by me and based on a physiologically based periodization to improve your power, efficiency on the bike and overall fitness.