Anyone who spends time on even one of the best turbo trainers will know the feeling of numb glutes, a stiff lower back or other aches and pains that aren’t there after a bike ride out on the road. Riding an unmoving bike, clamped into a static machine sees us use our muscles in a subtly different way. And as we do more of it, turbo injuries are becoming more widespread.
This has been witnessed by former British Cycling physiotherapist Phil Burt, now owner of a cycle training and bike fit company. “In the pandemic, indoor cycling just went bonkers,” Burt recalled. “People who had been cycling for 20 plus years were all of a sudden having knee issues and saddle sores. It’s because of how different the loading profile of indoor cycling is compared to outdoor cycling.”
