Cycling Indoors

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After two weeks of regularly getting on my indoor bike trainer it all seems fairly normal. It is part of my daily routine. Routines are good for us.

Each morning, my husband and I take turns making our cappuccinos. Weโ€™ve perfected the art with our Breville espresso machine, which has been our trusty companion for over five years. Itโ€™s a simple pleasure that sets a positive tone for the day.

After enjoying our coffee, we spend some time just beingโ€”whether itโ€™s meditating, reflecting, or catching up on our thoughts. Itโ€™s a quiet moment before we dive into the rest of our day.

Yoga has been a consistent part of my morning routine for a long time. We usually do yin yoga together, which focuses on deep stretching and holding poses for longer periods of time. Yin yoga not only helps with flexibility but also plays a huge role in improving mobility and reducing muscle tightness, especially after cycling.

When you cycle indoors every day, muscle tightness can become a real issue, particularly in the hips, quads, and lower back. Yoga addresses these areas and helps keep my body feeling limber and strong, which directly enhances my cycling performance.

The newest addition to my routine is indoor cycling. Itโ€™s been such an exciting change. Now, in the mornings, after my yoga session, I get on my bike trainer for some heart-pumping cardio. I love using interval training videos on YouTube, which guide me through high-intensity bursts followed by recovery periods. My husband prefers to listen to his music and spin away. We both track our heart rates. This ensures weโ€™re staying within our optimal training zones.

Monitoring heart rate is crucial for getting the most out of any workout. Itโ€™s especially important to understand your max heart rate. Everyone has a different range. If youโ€™re new to exercising, especially as you get older, consult a fitness professional. They can help you find out your ideal heart rate zone. It is going to be different for everyone.

So with this new addition of exercise, it does take some planning. What else am I doing in the morning. Any video calls or meetings? Do I have work I need to schedule in? It just depends on your work and preferences.

I like to exercise in the mornings. I have always been like this. Even when I was younger, my best training time was in the morning. Afternoons I felt a bit sluggish and tired. If I waited until then I usually did not have the best workout. It takes some time for your body to warm up. For me it is about twenty minutes. This is the same whether I am running or cycling. It’s the same. This is the amount of time it takes me to get up to my optimal heart rate zone.

Once you are warmed up, you can do some interval training and get into higher workout zones. While it is good to push yourself, you need to do it safely so you don’t injure yourself. I like the training videos because they have you push for just a minute or so and then recover. The recovery sessions are meant for you to use lower gears and spin easier. Then you can get back into the training zone again. I also like to vary the zones so I can build up endurance to cycle longer.

A simple workout that I absolutely enjoy includes a five-minute energizing warm-up. It also involves interval training with refreshing breaks. The routine ends with a delightful cool-down period of 5 to 8 minutes.

I vary my daily cycling workouts like we vary the yin yoga sessions. Some days are 30 minutes and some days are 50 minutes. I take into consideration of how I am feeling. It would not be good to cycle hard if I was not feeling great.

Stillness of Winter

What do you think? Do you have any thoughts?

Thank you for reading my blog!

Tschรผss!

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10 responses to “Cycling Indoors”

  1. Hazel Avatar

    I love watching yoga, however, I never tried it. I always stick to my walking routine. You have a healthy lifestyle, momsthoughts.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Momsthoughts Avatar

      I try my best and have noticed how much better I feel because of my exercise routine. I love walking too Hazel but canโ€™t do much during our Winter months.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hazel Avatar

        Oh, I understand. Exercise books happy moods, indeed.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Hazel Avatar

    Oh, I understand. Exercise boosts happy moods indeed.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Hazel Avatar

    Still ,enjoy the winter, momsthoughts

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Momsthoughts Avatar

      Thank you! I sure enjoy seeing all your lovely green where you live!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hazel Avatar

        I’ll share here always. Thank you for always checking out my blog. And you’re always welcome, momsthoughts

        Like

  4. Aman Singh Avatar

    Great content!

    Like

  5. swabby429 Avatar

    I also prefer exercise in the mornings when possible. This clears the rest of the day for my other obligations.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Frank Solutions, LLC Avatar

    I got a Zwift to cycle indoors, check out my post about it ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

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