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What Turbo Can and Can’t Give You: From Ambassador James Lowsley-Williams

Winter cycling is… character building.

Preparing for winter rides outside can feel like a sport in itself, working out how many layers are enough (and how many are too many), stuffing pockets with snacks “just in case”, and accepting that your bike will probably need washing   after every ride.

It isn’t always easy, but winter riding has a way of being quietly rewarding.

Like most riders, cycling has to share space with work, family, tired legs, and the very real temptation to stay indoors once the heating is on. That’s why winter riding needs to be sustainable and why finding the right balance between indoor and outdoor riding matters.

James in full green Le Col Kit resting on his bike on the clifton bridge, bristol.
James in full green Le Col kit riding towards.

The turbo, a misunderstood winter hero

Let’s give the turbo some credit. It gets a bad reputation for being a bit boring, but honestly, it does a lot of heavy lifting.

The turbo gives you:

Consistency: even when the weather is doing its worst
Efficiency: an hour is an hour, with no freewheeling or stopping
Low-friction riding: no layers debate, no frozen toes

Some of my strongest winters have been built on very ordinary turbo sessions. Just turning up consistently. Especially when time is tight, the turbo offers short, effective workouts that keep the legs moving and the motivation alive for those weekend outdoor rides.


What the turbo can’t give you

For all its virtues, the turbo can’t give you everything.

It can’t replicate the feeling of rolling out into the cold, unsure how the ride will unfold. It can’t teach you how to read the wind, pace a long drag, or settle into discomfort when there’s no countdown clock telling you how long is left.

And it can’t give you headspace in quite the same way as riding a quiet country lane.

Outside, effort opens something up. You come home ready for a hot meal, feeling not just “done”, but steadier, clearer, refreshed even if you’re still slightly cold.

The turbo can’t give you a connection either.The quiet nod from another rider. The chat and laughter of a group ride. The café stop that somehow feels deserved, no matter how short the ride was.

Blurred shot of james cycling alongside the river.

Finding the balance

Ultimately, winter riding works best when there’s balance.

The turbo is there for the days when you want to ride but life or weather makes it tricky. Outdoor rides are saved for when it’s safe  and when you want to remember why riding outside feels so good.

You don’t need to do everything, every week. You just need to keep riding in a way that fits your idea of sustainable and sets you up to roll into spring with fast legs ready to enjoy the bike in some sun.

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