As a lifelong cyclist and bike traveller, the very essence of cycling for me has always been to get outside and to discover the world and its many great rides. While our future cycling trips and adventures may have been paused for the time being, it’s probably more important than ever to saddle up and go for a ride, and there are now many superb virtual cycling options available. The idea of riding on a sweaty and static bike trainer while staring at a wall might sound like self-inflicted torture, but thankfully indoors cycling technology has moved on in leaps and bounds in recent years, and it’s no longer a thing to dread. From the confines of your own home, you can now take on simulated bike rides along many of the great roads and famous climbs, and you can also sign up for group rides or even races, and in real time – along with the likes of 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas . Fitness and training may well be their primary purpose, but the offshoot is you can still enjoy cycling and even discover new routes. The options differ in their offerings and requirements. To get started you will need a bike and an indoor trainer. For the best experience, consider investing in a “interactive smart trainer” (such as those offered by elite-it.com, if you can afford it – they can cost US$600 or more. These trainers integrate with Ant + (Adaptive Network Topology – wireless connectivity) or/and Bluetooth via mobile and desktop apps, and are able to automatically make the trainer adjust resistance in sync with your chosen online ride. This effectively gives you as near as possible the true physical experience of riding a classic route or climb, such as the Stelvio Pass in Italy – one of the world’s greatest rides. Depending in the system you sign up for (most are on a monthly subscription basis) you will get either have a virtual-reality screen display as you ride or, with some systems, you can ride along to pre-recorded POV footage of the rides. Luckily you do not have to splash out anywhere near that amount to get started; all you need is a basic trainer (which can be found online for around US$90, such as the LifeLine TT-01) and a cadence/speed meter that can link via Ant+ or Bluetooth to your mobile device and then to the relevant app or desktop software. Cadence sensor Wahoo RPM, for example, can be found online for around US$65. You will not always have prime features and experiences by going the budget route, but it is a good way to get started. Three of the best virtual riding systems Zwift Zwift (7-day free trial then US$14.99 per month, zwift.com) is an interactive virtual reality platform, and arguably the best featured and most popular online cycling system currently available. You can get started by hooking up a basic trainer with an Ant + or Bluetooth enabled cadence or power meter, and then signing up and connecting to the app or desktop software. Create your own avatar and then select one of their riders or sign up for a group ride (posted on the site). Just like in a computer game, the faster you pedal the faster your avatar goes, and if you wish you can ride with friends or other riders (including regular rides hosted by top pro racers) along both classic and fictional cycling routes (there are also some off-road rides). RGT Cycling To use the RGT platform (free account or US$14.99 per month for premium, rgtcycling.com) you will need either a smart trainer or an Ant +/Bluetooth compatible cadence and power meter and a heart rate monitor. The basic plan does offset against the set-up cost, and the great thing about this system is that there are real POV videos that you can ride along with; these include the classic climbs of the Stelvio and Mont Ventoux. FulGaz To use the FulGaz system (US$12.99 per month, fulgaz.com) you will need a smart trainer (check the site for compatibility) with Ant + or Bluetooth, which you then connect to the app. The best feature of this system is that it has more than 400 road and gravel roads to take on, all with real POV footage, making it very realistic. Once hooked up, your smart trainer will respond to simulate the ride demands and intensity, making for a very realistic ride experience, which moves along at your own pace.