THIN AIR

Your legs are the engine. Stop pedalling and you fall.

Spinning up…

Sortie

Smart trainer or power meterNot connected

Heart rate strapNot connected

Speed / cadence sensorOptional, for dumb trainers

Weight (kg) FTP (watts) Difficulty Trainer effects: 50% Units Graphics Paint scheme Camera

Sound (headphones recommended) Rear-view mirror (turn off on a slow machine)

Level flight costs a little over half your FTP. Climbing costs more. Your FTP sets everything, so a beginner and a racer get the same fight.

How to fly

Power is lift. Hold about 55% of your FTP and you fly level. Push above it and you climb. Ease off and you sink.
Ridges cross the valley. The box at the bottom gives you the wattage you need and the distance you have left to find it. Miss one and you hit it.
Stay between the walls. Arrow keys, A and D, or tilt on a tablet.
Enemy fighters come at you head-on and from behind. Fire with the button, the space bar or a Bluetooth remote.
Missile lock means someone is behind you. Go to the burner — hold the sprint number until it loses you.
Three airframes. Lose all three and the sortie is over.
Trainer effects sets how much the climbs load up your resistance. 0% keeps it flat.

Orbit until you are ready.

You went into the hill.