Riding into the future.
That’s the message from Le Tour de France as they commit to inspiring people to make cycling a part of their life. Aside from the environmental advantages, cycling is a source of well-being and exercise like no other!
As the Tour de France enters the 108th edition of the epic road race, you may be sitting thinking, “I’d love to do that!” Well there’s no reason why you can’t, from the comfort of your own home, intrigued?!
Let’s see how you can follow in the footsteps of Sir Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas whilst riding through the stunning scenery of France!
TDF10 – A QUICK OVERVIEW
The TDF 10.0 offers you a virtual Tour de France experience, in your home. With SMR (Silent Magnetic Resistance) technology, the bike is quiet as well as smooth and most importantly durable, so you can focus on your ride everytime, not disturbing others in your household for example.
Naturally, we are all different in terms of physique but the bike has been designed to suit the majority of people, with a fully adjustable saddle that can go forwards or backwards and handlebars that can be moved up or down.
Fitted with a 10″ HD console, the display is easy on the eye and covers all the data you could wish to have at your fingertips as well as iFit and Tour de France workouts, more on that later.
The TDF 10.0Â also features revolutionary 20% incline and 10% decline capabilities. Not only that, the bike adjusts automatically to the grade of incline or decline to simulate the actual landscape of the route you are cycling on.
iFIT READY WITH PRESET TOUR DE FRANCE WORKOUTS
Technology is moving forward everyday, especially within the cycling world. Peloton for example revolutionised the interactive cycling experience, more of which you can read about here.
Both ProForm and NordicTrack is compatible with iFit; an app that offers interactive classes and personalised workouts. However, the TDF 10.0 takes that to a whole new level. You go from spectator to participant, with 24 preset Tour de France workouts on the bike all in stunning HD quality. The videos feature iconic past tour segments like the Champs Elysees, Albertville, and Alpe d’Huez.
The bike stands out from others’ thanks to the Live Resistance Control technology where the trainer within the iFit app takes control of your bike to to realistically match the terrain of the workout you are doing, showcasing the 20% and 10% incline and decline. This gives you the most realistic cycling feeling and experience to feel what the elite cyclists taking part in the Tour do.
Click here to find out more about the TDF10.0
ARE THERE SIMILAR BIKES?
There are of course hundreds of indoor studio bikes / exercise bikes but within the ProForm brand, both the TDF CBC & TDF CLC have been added to their range.
Both models use silent magnetic resistance systems, making them both extremely smooth and quiet to use, with an excellent all-round cycling experience.
The CBC is fitted with a touchscreen LCD console whilst the CLC is equipped with a more basic LED console, however both bikes are compatible with the iFit app, which comes as a freebie with both bikes. Who doesn’t love a freebie?!
iFit compatibility ensures you can follow along with the personal trainers as they lead your workout and help you get results on the console. With the live resistance control technology within the app that connects to your bike, your trainer takes control of the resistance on your bike to realistically match the terrain of your workout. When your trainer goes up a hill, you’ll feel the burn, again just like the competitiors will during this year’s Tour!
Both bikes have 16 levels of resistance that come as standard. One difference aside from the screen is that the CLC comes with a set of 1.4kg dumbbells, allowing you to take part in some different exercises whilst you cycle or indeed on the floor, but your instructor will keep you right!
Aside from having a sturdy bike to use, cycling overall allows you to increase your calorie burn, improve your overall health and fitness, improve your lower body muscle tone but offers a low impact exercise which sustains the health of your joints.
You can find out more about both of these bikes here.
SO WHO WINS THIS YEAR’S TOUR?
The two main contenders this year have been tipped as Tadjej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic, who stole the headlines in 2020, as they battled it out for the Yellow Jersey, with Tadjej stealing the victory after an incredible performance on the La Planche des Belle Filles stage.
Or what about the Ineos Grenadiers? They start with multiple Grand Tour winners in their side, all of whom could be given the chance to lead, one of those being 2018 winner, Geraint Thomas.
Thomas goes in to the race aged 35 but still has plenty class about him with some good recent performances.
Ineos also have Richie Porte, Richard Carapaz and Tao Geoghegan Hart, all who finished on a Grand Tour podium last season, not to mention Michal Kwiatkowski & Luke Rowe, exceptional squad depth that could be difficult to shake off.
A host of outsiders of course, with some familiar faces from previous Tours may fancy their chances but all things considered it’s difficult to look further than Pogacar to retain the Yellow Jersey.
One thing is for sure, it’s setup to be another outstanding show of world-class cycling.
Looking for more cycling inspiration? Check out our cycling price comparison guide and learn more about why cycling is the best kind of workout.
