For competitive cyclists, a sudden injury can feel like an immediate halt to hard-earned fitness. The transition from the dynamic, unpredictable nature of outdoor road racing to the static environment of an indoor trainer is a common path for athletes navigating rehabilitation.

In a recent video, elite cyclist and biologist Will Hardin shares his experience competing in the Echelon Racing League’s Virtual Tour of the Gila while recovering from a broken collarbone. His journey highlights not only the demanding nature of virtual e-sports but also the physiological strategies and recovery tools required to maintain performance under physical compromise.

This article explores the demands of virtual cycling, analyzes Hardin’s strategic performance during the Virtual Tour of the Gila, and examines the cellular science behind recovery modalities, specifically focusing on how red light therapy devices assist in tissue and bone rehabilitation.

The Virtual Tour of the Gila: Grit, Glitches, and Strategy

Virtual racing has matured from a simple training alternative into a highly competitive discipline. Platforms utilizing advanced physics engines attempt to replicate the drafting, rolling resistance, and gravity of outdoor racing. However, virtual racing introduces its own unique challenges, from technical anomalies to unforgiving pacing.

Day 1: Navigating the Frustration of Virtual Technical Issues

Hardin’s virtual stage race began with the Time Trial (TT) stage, a discipline known as the "race of truth" because it eliminates drafting and relies solely on an individual’s sustainable power-to-weight ratio. Competing with a healing clavicle fracture, Hardin set up in his garage, aiming to test his current threshold.

Just as the event commenced, Hardin experienced a classic frustration of virtual sports: a technical freeze, metaphorically described as a "virtual flat tire." A system crash or network interruption can instantly disconnect a rider from the server, rendering minutes of intense pre-race warmup obsolete.

Fortunately, the event organizers permitted a restart. After modifying his virtual avatar’s equipment, Hardin re-entered the course. Despite the interrupted preparation, he paced the climb on the Gila course, finishing the time trial in just over 38 minutes to secure first place among the competitors in his session. This performance demonstrated the importance of mental resilience and structured pacing, particularly when riding with an injury that limits out-of-the-saddle efforts.

Day 2: Strategic Attacks and the High-Torque Grind

The second stage transitioned to a road race simulation. The dynamics of virtual road races differ significantly from real-world pelotons. Without the physical feedback of a moving pack, riders must rely entirely on on-screen data—such as wattage, heart rate, and distance gaps—to make tactical decisions.

Early in the stage, key competitor Adam Carr suffered a technical disconnect, shifting the race dynamics. A small group of three riders remained at the front, including Hardin and competitors Martin Coffey and Luke Elphingstone.

Because Hardin was riding a virtual time trial bike (due to an oversight in equipment selection), he lacked the drafting benefits typically programmed for standard road setups on virtual platforms. To compensate, Hardin initiated an attack just before the 40-kilometer mark on a short ascent.

While Coffey successfully bridged the gap, Hardin maintained a high-torque, low-cadence effort up the steeper 9% to 10% gradients. By utilizing low-cadence intervals (often ranging between 60 and 70 RPM), a rider shifts a portion of the cardiovascular strain to the musculoskeletal system. This approach can be a useful training stimulus, particularly for building muscular endurance during rehabilitation when high-aerobic, rapid respiration might cause discomfort around a healing clavicle. Hardin’s sustained effort eventually broke the resistance of his competitors, allowing him to finish the stage with a significant lead in the overall standings.

The Physiology of Virtual Cycling: Why Indoor Racing Feels Harder

Many experienced cyclists observe that maintaining a specific power output indoors feels significantly more difficult than maintaining the same output outdoors. This phenomenon is not merely psychological; it is rooted in distinct physiological and environmental differences.

Thermoregulation and Cardiovascular Drift

When cycling outdoors, the convective cooling provided by moving air helps dissipate metabolic heat. Indoors, even with high-powered fans, the rate of sweat evaporation is greatly reduced. As core temperature rises, the body initiates thermoregulatory mechanisms, primarily vasodilating peripheral blood vessels to direct warm blood to the skin for cooling.

This peripheral shift reduces the volume of blood returning to the heart, leading to a decrease in stroke volume. To maintain cardiac output and oxygen delivery to working muscles, the heart rate must increase—a phenomenon known as cardiovascular drift. Consequently, a target power output that feels sustainable outdoors can quickly become exhausting indoors due to elevated thermal stress and cardiac workload.

Constant Pedaling and Flywheel Inertia

On the road, micro-rests are frequent. Cyclists coast around corners, adjust their positioning in a draft, and briefly stop pedaling on short descents. Virtual trainers, however, present a highly continuous resistance profile. Because the trainer’s flywheel momentum can dissipate quickly when power is reduced, virtual platforms require almost uninterrupted pedaling. This lack of micro-rests leads to continuous muscular strain and faster accumulation of metabolic byproducts, making indoor racing an intense test of physical endurance.

Optimizing Recovery for Bone and Soft Tissue Injuries

Training through an injury like a clavicle fracture requires a careful balance between stimulating the cardiovascular system and allowing the body’s healing cascades to proceed without disruption.

During the rehabilitation process, athletes often look to supportive modalities to manage discomfort and promote tissue healing. Among these technologies, photobiomodulation (PBM)—commonly delivered via targeted red light therapy modules —has gained attention for its role in cellular recovery.

The Cellular Science of Photobiomodulation

Photobiomodulation involves exposing cells to specific wavelengths of light to stimulate metabolic activity. When red or near-infrared (NIR) light penetrates the skin, it is absorbed by chromophores within the cells.

The primary target of this light is cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), a key protein complex within the mitochondrial respiratory chain. During periods of cellular stress or injury, nitric oxide (NO) can bind to CCO, displacing oxygen and inhibiting the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of the cell.

When red or near-infrared light of the appropriate wavelength and power density strikes CCO, it helps facilitate the release of nitric oxide. This allows oxygen to bind once again, restoring and enhancing mitochondrial respiration. The resulting cascade leads to:

1. Increased ATP Production: Providing cells with more energy to perform essential repair processes, synthesize proteins, and rebuild damaged tissue structures.

2. Mild Translocation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): Activating transcription factors that upregulate antioxidant defenses and promote cellular survival pathways.

3. Improved Local Circulation: The liberated nitric oxide acts as a potent vasodilator, widening local blood vessels and increasing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the injured area while assisting in the removal of metabolic waste.

The Importance of Specific Wavelengths: 660 nm and 850 nm

The biological effects of photobiomodulation depend heavily on the wavelength of light used, as different wavelengths penetrate tissue to varying depths.

• 660 nm (Red Light): This wavelength is absorbed efficiently by superficial tissues. It is highly suitable for targeting the skin, shallow connective tissues, and bones that lie close to the surface, such as the clavicle.

• 850 nm (Near-Infrared Light): Near-infrared light has a longer wavelength, allowing it to penetrate deeper into musculoskeletal structures, including deep muscle tissue, tendons, and joint complexes.

By utilizing devices that emit both 660 nm and 850 nm wavelengths, athletes can target multiple tissue depths simultaneously, supporting superficial bone healing as well as deeper muscular recovery.

Preventing Energy Scattering with Focused Optics

The effectiveness of photobiomodulation is also influenced by power density (irradiance) and light delivery. Many consumer-grade light panels emit scattered light, which quickly loses intensity as the distance from the source increases.

Advanced PRUNGO FluxGo, such as the portable units highlighted in Hardin's training vlog, utilize specialized lenses to focus the emitted light. By directing the photons in a concentrated beam, these devices help minimize energy scattering, ensuring that a higher dose of therapeutic light reaches the target tissue layers to assist with localized recovery.

Practical Takeaways for Athletes Recovering from Injury

1. Prioritize Structural Integrity: Training should never compromise the physical alignment of a healing injury. Indoor trainers provide a controlled, low-risk environment free from road vibration and the risk of crashing, making them an excellent tool for rehabilitation.
2. Utilize Low-Stress Training Modalities: When high-intensity cardiopulmonary efforts cause discomfort or tension around an injured area, incorporate low-cadence, high-torque efforts or focused endurance sessions to preserve muscular conditioning.
3. Address Thermoregulation: Maximize airflow in your indoor training space. Use multiple high-velocity fans and maintain adequate hydration to offset the cardiovascular drift caused by heat accumulation.
4. Incorporate Evidence-Based Recovery Tools: Consider integrating modalities like focused photobiomodulation alongside standard medical care. Utilizing targeted red and near-infrared light can assist with localized circulation and support the body's natural cellular repair mechanisms.

Conclusion: The Intersection of E-Sports and Scientific Recovery

Will Hardin’s experience in the Virtual Tour of the Gila illustrates the demanding reality of modern virtual cycling. It serves as a reminder that virtual racing is a highly rigorous athletic discipline requiring precise pacing, mental adaptability, and careful physical preparation.

When injuries occur, leveraging indoor training platforms allows athletes to maintain their competitive edge in a controlled environment. By pairing these virtual training sessions with targeted recovery protocols—including the use of focused red light therapy devices—athletes can support their cellular biology and work toward a gradual, structured return to outdoor competition.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why does indoor virtual cycling often feel more physically demanding than outdoor road racing?

Indoor cycling requires continuous pedaling because there are fewer opportunities to coast or benefit from a real-world draft. Additionally, the lack of natural convective cooling indoors elevates your core body temperature, causing your heart rate to rise higher at a given power output compared to riding outdoors.

How do red light therapy devices support athletic recovery and tissue healing?

These devices emit specific wavelengths of light that are absorbed by mitochondria within your cells. This process helps displace nitric oxide from cytochrome c oxidase, allowing cells to produce ATP more efficiently. This increase in cellular energy supports the natural processes of tissue repair and inflammation management.

What is the difference between 660 nm and 850 nm wavelengths in photobiomodulation?

The primary difference is the depth of tissue penetration. The 660 nm wavelength (red light) is absorbed primarily by superficial tissues, making it useful for skin health and bones close to the surface, like the collarbone. The 850 nm wavelength (near-infrared light) penetrates deeper, targeting muscles, tendons, and joint structures.

Is it safe to train on an indoor stationary trainer with a broken collarbone?

Indoor trainers offer a stable, controlled environment that eliminates the risk of road vibrations, bumps, and crashes, making them a common choice for maintaining fitness during recovery. However, any post-injury training protocol should be cleared and monitored by a qualified medical professional to ensure the healing process is not compromised.