Is Erg Mode Making You A Worse Cyclist?

Published at : 23 Dec 2025

Are you ruining your own training? ERG mode is the most comfortable feature on your smart trainer, but it might also be the most dangerous for your real-world performance! It takes away one of the most critical skills a cyclist can have: the ability to pace.

We're getting to the bottom of it! In a direct comparison test, Alex rides the same workout twice: Once lazily in ERG mode and once with full concentration in resistance mode. Tune in to find out how to use ERG mode smartly without sabotaging your skills for the road!

00:00 - Intro: The Dark Side of ERG Mode
01:00 - What Is ERG Mode & How Does It Work?
02:12 - The Experiment: ERG On vs. ERG Off
02:34 - The Advantages of ERG Mode (Why We Love It)
03:41 - Let's Go Testing!
05:10 - The Disadvantages: Why ERG Can Hurt Your Performance
09:20 - Should You Turn Off ERG Mode?
10:20 - The Power of Power Smoothing
11:16 - Why The Right Gear Matters (Or Doesn't?)

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