Written by guest contributor: Chris Caruana 

As the cold weather approaches, I’ll be the first to admit that roughing it out on icy roads doesn’t appeal to me this season. But thankfully, cycling doesn’t need to come to a halt when the temperatures drop. Indoor training is an opportunity to not only maintain fitness but to give my bike some much-needed attention and possibly make those upgrades I’ve had in mind (you know the ones!). Here’s how I’m prepping for winter and getting the most out of my indoor riding season.

Transition Time = Tune-Up Time

Moving from outdoor rides to a trainer provides the perfect excuse to bring your bike into the shop for a once-over. It’s easy to overlook the wear and tear that builds up over a season, so winter is a great time to reset. Take this chance to have your bike detailed and refreshed. Just think of how much better your rides will be with a finely tuned machine.

While your bike’s in the shop, routine maintenance shouldn’t stop there. I personally like to check the torque of all bolts regularly. Vibrations and thermal expansion cycles can lead to hardware slowly working itself loose over time, so having a tool like the Wera torque wrench on hand makes it easy. And if you’re using a thru-axle setup, don’t forget to torque your thru-axle bolt securely to the trainer.

Fueling for Indoor Rides

Indoor rides might not have the scenery of the open road, but they can be every bit as intense. When I’m settling in for a long or high-intensity trainer session, fueling is non-negotiable. I keep Skratch Labs Gummies nearby to get quick, convenient energy, and I load up my bottles with Skratch Supercarb for those extra-long endurance rides. For more moderate sessions, the Skratch Recovery Mix does the job of replenishing energy while keeping me ready for my next ride. Fueling indoors as I would outdoors keeps my energy up and performance consistent.

Insoles: My Secret to Comfort and Power

I’ll let you in on one of my best-kept secrets this season: Solestar insoles. These aren’t just any insoles—they effectively enhance both comfort and power output by giving that perfect fit inside my cycling shoes. With these, I feel like the line between me and my bike is blurred; I’m completely connected to every pedal stroke. Now, I’m looking forward to seeing how they’ll enhance my indoor sessions as well, helping me push boundaries I haven’t reached before. Trust me, you’ll be hearing more about these as my indoor season kicks off.

Indoor riding doesn’t just help us keep fit through the colder months; it offers the chance to fine-tune both our bikes and our setups. Whether you’re giving your bike some TLC, fueling up, or discovering new ways to improve your power and comfort, indoor season has its perks! And if you see me around in the Zwift universe, don't be shy and say hi.