Cyclists ride harder outdoors

There’s new research to get you off the trainer and outside.

New research published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning seems to show cyclists ride harder outdoors than they do indoors, even at the same perceived effort.

Twelve experienced riders completed two 40-km time trials in random order. Every rider performed better on the outdoor ride, which was done on relatively flat terrain. The average time indoors over 40 km was 96 minutes; outdoors. 83 minutes. The riders averaged 13 minutes faster over 40 km when outside.

Unsurprisingly, power output and heart rate were higher when the riders were outside; if you’re riding faster you’re working harder. There aren’t many ways around that when all else is equal. Power output was 30 per cent higher outdoors. The takeaway is that the perceived effort was the same. Riders didn’t know they were working harder outdoors until after the ride was over. Something about being outside made them ride faster without realizing it.

“These data indicate that outdoor cycling allows cyclists to exercise at a higher intensity than laboratory cycling, despite similar environmental conditions and perceived exertion,” wrote the authors. “In light of this, cyclists may want to ride at a higher perceived exertion in indoor settings to acquire the same benefit as they would from an outdoor ride.”