Outside Is Scary: Adventures in Not Dying on a Bike After Winter

After five long months of sweating your basement, silently cursing the fan that still isn’t powerful enough, and debating whether or not a “cool-down” is just a government conspiracy, you finally did it—you rode your bike outside!

You know, that thing with wind, potholes, squirrels with a death wish, and no “pause” button?

Let me set the scene: It was a mild spring day. Birds were singing. The air had that fresh scent of pollen and unfulfilled cycling dreams. You clip in, push off, and immediately almost fall over because turning is… apparently a skill???

Trainer Legs, Meet Real World Chaos

Here’s the thing about indoor training: it works. Like, REALLY works. You spend the winter grinding away in ERG mode, pretending your avatar in Zwift isn’t totally judging you, and by March, your FTP has risen, your cadence is silky smooth, and your legs are humming with potential. You’re a powerhouse! A machine! An indoor cycling god!

But the first time you hit a real-world descent and your bike starts shimmying like it’s auditioning for "Dancing with the Stars," you quickly realize: all that power means nothing if you can’t remember how to corner without screaming internally or apply the power you built in your legs to the road as you navigate the bumps, twists and god forbid needing to take a drink!

The Great Relearning

That first outdoor ride is humbling. And hilarious. Here are some highlights I've experienced that might sound familiar:

• Tried to signal a turn, forgot how to ride one-handed, nearly steered into a mailbox.

• Forgot to unclip when I came to a stop at a light (cause you know trainers have wide bases) and while making eye contact with driver on the other side of the intersection tipped over as if in slow motion.

• Was passed by a child on a scooter. A scooter, people…. Did it have a motor, maybe, at least we keep telling ourselves it did for sure.

• Got buzzed by a vulture. Not relevant to cycling skills exactly, but still shockingly traumatic.

Yet beneath the comedy of errors, something beautiful happens when you get outside again. You learn to apply the fitness you have built inside and use it on the road, you develop the skills needed to be a successful bike racer.

Trainer Fitness: The not so Secret Weapon

Indoor training is magic for building fitness. It's controlled, consistent, and brutally effective. You can target weaknesses, improve pedaling mechanics, and build serious aerobic capacity without worrying about traffic or weather or that one group ride guy who sprints every hill like it’s a stage finish.

Think of it as baking the cake.

But riding outside? That’s where you decorate it. Add sprinkles. Maybe a fondant vulture for realism. Outside is where you refine handling, practice gear changes on unpredictable terrain, learn wind management, and yes, remember how to not fall over at stoplights. It’s where your power meets purpose.

Embrace the Awkward Phase

Don’t be discouraged if that first ride is a mess. That’s part of the process. Everyone goes through the “I forgot how to shift under pressure” phase. Every cyclist has shouted “WHY AM I IN THIS GEAR?!” at least once per ride in the spring.

But every ride, you’ll get smoother. Sharper. Braver. By summer, you’ll be cornering like a cat on carpet and reading wind like a sailor.

What it boils down to:

• Indoor training builds the engine.

• Outdoor riding teaches you how to drive the car without crashing it into a bush.

• Both are essential. Both are awesome.

• And vultures are still terrifying.

  
  

So here’s to getting back outside. May your roads be smooth, your legs strong, and your return to nature only mildly awkward.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go practice taking a hand off my handlebars without crying.

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*Time Trial Tuesday posts are intended to be short primer posts to get you thinking, but they are also challenges for myself to see how quickly and simply I can get the topic across to all of you. I give myself 15 minutes on the clock to write each one. No filter, No editing, Just the thoughts in my head..... Scary.

About Nick Farr

Nick is the owner and Head Coach at P3 Fitness and has been a dedicated triathlete and runner for over 20 years. With a passion for endurance sports, Nick brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his coaching, specializing in triathlon, running, and cycling. As an accomplished athlete and certified multi-discipline coach, he has guided countless athletes to reach their personal bests and achieve their goals. In his role as a Triathlon coach at P3 Fitness, Nick is committed to helping each individual unlock their full potential through tailored training programs and expert guidance.