[background music] Hank: It's 4:00 PM,
and already the sun is starting to set, which means one thing. We're entering the winter,
the nights are getting longer, and the days are that bit shorter, meaning a lot of us will end up
sitting on the indoor trainer on the turbo all the way until spring but do we really
need to? Could we actually head out on the bike? Manon: In order to really put this to the test,
I'm going to be doing a Zwift race from the comfort of my own home.
Hank: I'm going to get properly kitted up, lights and all, and head out on the open road
under the stars, and I'm also going to try to do the same session as Manon. Yes,
she's doing a race while I'm going to do a similar really hard, intense interval
session. Manon:
It's worth saying that not everybody will be comfortable riding in the dark at night.
You might be new to riding or have some safety concerns. Hank has some tips later,
but indoor riding is a great option if that's the case. I have to say that, if your bike is already
on the turbo trainer, which mine is, it's pretty easy and quick. That's all you have to do is,
whack your shorts and jersey on, fill your bottle up with some water, switch your fan on,
put your shoes on and you're ready to go. Riding outside in the dark is a lot more effort.
Hank: Yes, Manon. It's taking me slightly longer to get set for the ride tonight. I've got
my face layer on, as you can see there. My long-sleeve, my gilet, my bib tights. Luckily,
the weather is actually pretty nice this evening, so I don't need to wear overshoes,
or gloves, or a hat for that matter. One thing to remember, though, is I've charged my Wahoo,
because no data, no rides. After all, this is a training session, and I've got to put my lights on
after all. Yes. Safety first. I've got to be seen.
As Manon said earlier, you might not feel comfortable heading out
on the open roads in the dark, so there are a few things you can do to make it that bit
safer. Maybe going out with a friend or a group,
sharing your location with loved ones and letting them know what your route is you are taking. It's
also a good idea to let your loved ones know what time you're going to get back. After all,
keeping safe is the most important thing. Manon: Okay. I am kitted up, ready to go,
shoes on, bike on the turbo, bottle, need to switch my fan on, got my Zwift all set up,
and the race I'm going to be doing. I'm going to be doing the 3R Volcano Circuit Flat Race. Yes,
a flat race. Do not want any hills today, so keeping it nice and flat.
Hank: Manon's got her fan on, but I don't need any fan out here. One thing to remember, though, when
you're heading out into the night is to make sure you've got a good enough charge in your lights.
The last thing you want to do is be in the middle of an effort or a session and your battery in your
light runs out. That would just mean you'd have to cut your training short, and no one needs that.
You also want to think about the routes you're going to do. You want to aim to go for a route
that's quite lit. What I mean by that is slightly bigger roads than the small country lanes. Now
I know this is a fairly small country lane, but, luckily, the sun isn't completely down.
The other thing to bear in mind is how strong your front light is. The stronger the light, the
more confidence you're going to have when flying into those corners and doing those big efforts.
Manon: Hank needs to think about his route. I find it quite hard riding in the dark just because
everything looks so different and you can't really see your surroundings. It's a lot easier to get
lost, but, for me, my route is already planned out. There's nothing quite like hacking around
Volcano Circuit from the comfort of my own garage. If any of you have done or has experienced before,
you'll know they're pretty hard from the gun. There's no hanging around, so you need to be
pretty warmed up. I've got 20 minutes before my race, so I'm just going to start warming up,
maybe do a few little efforts just to make sure I'm ready to go from the gun.
Hank: I planned a 10 kilometer loop on Komoot. I've used roads I know. That way,
I know where all the hazards are and the potholes, and it's a good tip to use. Talking of
sessions, I've got my first interval. Five minutes at high intensity. Stop procrastinating, James,
let's go. Are you ready? 3, 2, 1. Manon:
Is it only me that gets nervous for virtual races as well? I feel like,
if you've got a race in front of any session, I automatically get nervous. I've got four minutes
to go and my heart rate has started racing really fast already, just because I'm nervous.
I need to get to the front and stay there.
It's the hardest bit for me, getting off the start line.
The start kills me every time. Hank:
Ah. See, the thing is, I've put in some big hills in this loop, so I can't skip any efforts.
I guess that's the other plus for riding outside, is you've got hills and the terrain,
so there's no hiding places. You've also got the wind. Manon doesn't have any of
that. I wonder how she's getting on. Manon: They're not a great angle.
The indoor trainer is really good for getting controlled efforts in. If you're specializing in
a certain event where you need to hold a certain power, the trainer is really good for that.
I do find it hard to really get the most out of myself on the turbo. I do find it better
when you're out on the road and you've got that adrenaline. I just feel like I push myself up a
little bit harder. It still hurts on the turbo. Hank: Right now, I'm a good way into my sessions
now. I've got to say, I've got a big smile on my face. I'm absolutely loving shooting
around the corners. It's like being in a knock down, just without the crowd. I have to say,
you've got a lot more to think about when out night riding. I guess, that's only a good
thing. Your reaction time has got to be faster. You're handling on the bike, so your skill level
is that bit better. It's been worked as well compared to being stationary on a bike.
I bet Manon is head down, looking at her watch and fighting against the competitors on Zwift,
where me, I'm on my own and I'm loving it. I'm fighting against the wind and the terrain,
and it's bloody great. Manon:
No, wait for me. Oh, gosh. Come back. Nearly at the end of the race now. Just need to hang in
there. I have been dropped from the first group. I think I'm in the second group,
but I'm still going to give it a go in the sprint. Every place counts.
I'm really trying to overheat now, but I guess it's better than being hailed on or snowed on
and getting too cold. I think I'd rather get too warm than too cold. Good job, I've got my fan.
They never get easier. Hank:
I'm enjoying taking these corners and these climbs. I guess they take my mind off the
intervals in the actual session. I also feel like like you're a lot faster than I am, because
everybody's coming up with me that bit quicker. Manon: Right, workout done and dusted.
Thankfully, I don't need to stand outside and wash my mucky bike. The dream. I do need
to shower myself though, so yes, I might go do that. I wonder how Hank gone on his night ride?
Hank: My session's just about done, and I got to say, I really enjoyed it. My power numbers
look good, too. There you have it. I can actually train as hard as I would on indoor trainer
outside at night. There's no definitive answer as to what is better. They're both good. Having the
variation of both, I guess, would be absolutely ideal. If you don't have an indoor trainer,
then getting some lights and heading out on the bike and taking the right precautions,
trust me, you will have a great time. I'm going to try and keep my voice down because I reckon
everyone's sleeping in this village. Manon: I hope you enjoyed this video.
Please let us know, in the comment section below,
which do you prefer. Night riding or indoor training? It's indoor training every time
for me, without a doubt. [00:10:05] [END OF AUDIO]