Exercise bike v road cycling

[Forgetcourgettes]

I have an exercise bike which I’ve been using since December to try and build up my fitness. I can now go for an hour, do 20km (could probably go further). At the start I was totally beat after 30 mins!
An hour of the bike really is a workout for me and I’m really exhausted, sweating, head, back and neck! I’ve always walked but an hours walking wouldn’t cause me to sweat. 🙈

Anyhow I’m just wondering how much harder road cycling is than indoor? Anyone able to compare? Obviously I could just go for a ride and see but I’d like to plan a realistic route and be confident I could do it.

My indoor bike has different intensities and inclines. I can do the top level for about a minute or so.

I don’t want to have to get off my bike 😳 when I’m outside!!

It depends where you go!!

An hour road cycling on the flat is no effort whatsoever, compared to a standard spin class. But an hour's road cycling up a mountain is brutal. Just plot a flat route and you'll be fine...

Agree - plot a flat route, or if that's not possible, a shorter one than normal, and give it a go. Check the weather forecast for wind direction and speed too. Let yourself stop for a rest if you need to. Or take a photo of something fun or beautiful you see. And enjoy the lack of traffic!

Normally an exercise bike is harder than the road.

I find indoor cycling much harder than riding outdoors. I think its partly psychological as indoors you don't have scenery and wildlife to look at.Outdoors there's just so much more variety to the terrain and wind direction, and, crucially, you get downhill bits so there's a chance to rest! So you may find riding outdoors a lot easier than indoors. Even professional cyclists often talk about how hard they find indoor training.
Plan yourself a nice route, pick a day with decent weather and go for it! Avoid steep hills initially if you can. Make sure you have enough to eat and drink with you and don't be too tough on yourself. Sure, nobody likes to have to get off but it really doesn't matter if you do. Everyone has had to walk at some point and nobody is going to be bothered. Just enjoy yourself and build things up gradually.

I find indoor cycling much harder. I have my road bike on a Turbo trainer and can manage an hour. On the road I can do two hours easily and often more. My it does depend on the route / resistance, etc.

Outdoors is easier than indoors. You can freewheel outdoors and carry momentum, indoors you always have to pedal!!

I’ve done 100km rides outdoors regularly and on Zwift indoors. Indoors was more effort and sweat but over quicker (3hrs vs just under 4) but some of that is not stopping for junctions/traffic lights etc.

Get a 10 mile ride planned and start from there. There’s also nothing wrong with getting off up the odd hill. There’s a few near me which catch people out if you’ve not done them before.