Welcome! If you're new here – I'm Arne, a passionate cyclist and engineer with a deep interest in tech and AI. On wattsinside.me, I explore how technology, especially artificial intelligence, is shaping the world of endurance sports. Some articles take a deep dive into the details, while others are just my thoughts and takes on “things”!
I am an indoor idiot. I love riding indoors, and I ride indoors A LOT. To give you an impression: over the past year (March 2024–March 2025), I have ridden 1115 hrs and 512 of these were indoors 🤡. That’s nearly 50% of my total time on the bike, so yes, I’m an indoor idiot. However, it is not that I am staring at the wall for 512 hours – I have my coping mechanisms.
1. Podcasts
My favorite entertainment on the bike. It is not 100% indoor-specific as podcasts are also great to listen to during outdoor rides. However, you might not be able to concentrate and listen as well outdoors as you can indoors. My Shokz are great but I can understand close to nothing when riding in a strong headwind. Indoor riding is perfect for podcast multitasking: listen and pedal.
2. Replying to messages
One that is definitely not recommended during your outdoor rides but works perfectly indoors. Replying to your Whatsapp messages, DMs, emails and all the other stuff you don’t have time for or don’t want to do during the day. Small disclaimer: sitting up for too long and typing on your phone might hurt your butt. 🍑
3. Calling people
During your easy and endurance rides, you are perfectly capable of talking. So why not call someone and have a chat? Even better when riding side-to-side in the virtual world. Almost like a real-life cycling date.
4. Intervals
This sounds hard to believe until you try it. 5-minute VO2 Max efforts might feel like they last forever. Nevertheless, time seems to go so much faster when you focus on checking the boxes during an interval session. Give it a shot!
5. Group rides and races
Honestly, I should have put this as #1. This is where the indoor addiction started. Hop into a race or group ride and have fun! Playing video games whilst getting fit. It becomes even better when you combine it with #3. Be like Pogi and make the call yourself: “I’m gone, I’m dead.” Evaluating the race on the radio after the finish is even better and often ends with chatting away extended post-race rides.
6. Streaming
At least you feel less guilty than Netflixing on the couch.
7. Reading
Some people are able to read a book whilst riding. I can’t, but give it a try. It must feel very wholesome to both exercise and read a good book. Normal people are proud if they spend 30 minutes a day doing either of them. Double satisfaction, baby!
8. Bonus: suck it up
Just get it done.
Tip for developers: ENTERTAIN ME
At last a free tip to the indoor cycling app developers: entertain me! There are big differences between online cycling platforms, but generally just riding around remains a bit boring. I demand more stimuli, a higher TikTok-factor when riding around. Some ideas:
Combine the platform subscription with exclusive content that I can only watch while riding.
Online dating with sprints: don’t swipe, sprint! Must be a great match if you’re worth 1000W+.
Let the bots tell me something interesting for once and actually respond to my messages.
Can I please send people Buzzers like in the MSN days?
Go full Mario Kart mode: let me throw virtual bananas at other riders!
Not sure if the above ideas will help churn rates, but that’s not my problem.