How-To: Ride the Saris MP1
You may not realize it, but riding your bike on an unmoving indoor trainer is not at all like riding your bike outdoors. Indoors, there is no need to contend with gravity to balance yourself (unless you are one of the lucky few who has managed to fall off the indoor trainer).
As you pedal, your upper body subtly leans towards your powering leg in an attempt to gain leverage through the power-phase of your pedal stroke. Outdoors, this motion is enabled by leaning your bike away from that powering leg as you propel yourself forward and work to stay upright. On the static trainer, it is not necessary (or even possible) to lean the bike as you would outdoors.
This video demonstrates the proper and improper forms for riding an indoor trainer rocker plate, such as the Saris MP1.
When you introduce a rocker platform to your indoor riding setup, immediately you will notice your natural inclination to lean towards your powering leg (i.e. applying power with right leg, and leaning body towards right leg). This motion gets the rocker platform moving, but it will feel a bit foreign, as your entire bike and body will lean in the same direction: towards the ground.
To get the bike moving more similarly to how it would outdoors, you will need to apply gentle pressure with your hands — moving the bike away from your powering leg. To do this, as your right leg is entering the power phase (down-stroke) apply gentle pressure with your left hand, rocking the bike and MP1 to the left. As you progress through the power phase with your right leg, transition that pressure to your right hand as your left leg enters it’s power phase. The platform should rock side-to-side with each pedal stroke.
This concept is a bit hard to grasp by reading, so check out the following videos to get a clearer view on how to ride the MP1!
Seated
This video explains the simple motion involved in riding the Saris MP1 Nfinity at a steady, seated effort. Subtle use of your upper body by applying pressure on the handlebars makes riding on the MP1 far more like riding outdoors than a static setup.
Through each pedal stroke, push your bars away from the foot that is currently in it’s power phase. The MP1’s fore/aft movement will be felt as you do this, giving you the sensation of speed & inertia. The sensation of inertia on the stationary bike makes for an incredibly immersive experience in games such as Zwift!
Climbing
This video explains the motion involved in riding the Saris MP1 Nfinity out of the saddle in a climbing effort. Apply pressure on the bars through your upper body, leaning the bike away from your powering leg for each pedal stroke. This allows you to generate constant force to maintain a fluid motion.
As you rise out of the saddle, the bike will respond to the movement by shifting backwards. Begin maneuvering the bike to initiate the fluid side-to-side rocking motion. Each pedal stroke should be met with a corresponding lean of the bike towards the other side.
This motion is comfortable and replicates the motion of climbing outdoors far better than simply raising the bike’s front end.
Sprinting
This video explains the body's motion involved in riding the Saris MP1 Nfinity out of the saddle in a sprint effort. Sprinting is the most complicated of the efforts on the MP1, requiring the complete upper body interaction with the bike.
As you throw the bike side-to-side, you will be pulling and pushing with your arms to generate leverage. Your legs will work to push against that leverage to produce as much power as you can through the pedals.
Once this motion is nailed down, you will be sprinting with the best of ‘em!
Interested in learning more about the Saris MP1 or indoor riding in general? Leave a comment below!