Spinervals--New Release

[Velobambina]

Everyone -- I just ordered the new 5.5 hour Spinerval workout! It's supposed to simulate a century. Just in time for cookie season!!! When it arrives and I give it a try, I'll write a review.

[SadieKate]

Does it come with a psychotherapist?

[TsPoet]

Does it come with a psychotherapist?

Yes, his name is Dr. Troy

[maillotpois]

I don't think she meant a "psycho therapist".

[TsPoet]

I don't think she meant a "psycho therapist".

Oh, my bad.
Love coach Troy.

[Velobambina]

If I end up not being able to do the whole thing in session, I'll let you know. I have a lot of "use or lose" leave to burn in December, so if it rains/snows on a day I'm at home and I can't ride outside, I might see if I can do the whole thing. I made Veronica's oatmeal cookies (put dark chocolate m&m's in them) and I have been enjoying them, so a 5.5 hour Coach Troy marathon might keep me from breaking out the elasticized waistband skirts/slacks in December.

I also got the new yoga DVD he's selling---will probably need that, too.

[Veronica]

Please give us a review of the yoga DVD too. :)

V.

[Velobambina]

No problem with a review of the yoga DVD (thanks for the recipes, by the way). I got a shipment notice so I hope to have both DVDs by either Friday or Monday, at the latest.

[Veronica]

It's been fun reading about what variations people are doing. I've put chocolate chips in the oatmeal ones and I still don't really like them.

My Trader Joe's didn't have the mini peanut butter cups, but I found some organic PB chips that I'm going to try mixing with chocolate chips.

Back on topic - my winter goal is to get my core in better shape. Hence the interest in the yoga dvd. Although pushups are cheaper. :D

V.

[Velobambina]

It's been fun reading about what variations people are doing. I've put chocolate chips in the oatmeal ones and I still don't really like them.

My Trader Joe's didn't have the mini peanut butter cups, but I found some organic PB chips that I'm going to try mixing with chocolate chips.

Back on topic - my winter goal is to get my core in better shape. Hence the interest in the yoga dvd. Although pushups are cheaper. :D

V.

I can pick you up some of the mini peanut butter cups the next time I go to TJ's. Just PM me your address and I'll send them to you.

[Veronica]

Thanks - I can try one of the others out here. The one in my town just opened, so they are still working out what people want. I put it in the suggestion box.

V.

[Bikingmomof3]

Small hijack---If you could only buy one Spinerval, which would it be (yes, it is for me). I have not been on a bike in months and I am optomistic I will be back on Dec 22nd. :) SO, I want to order one for Santa to put in my stocking, but cannot decide, please help.

[Bikingmomof3]

No problem with a review of the yoga DVD (thanks for the recipes, by the way). I got a shipment notice so I hope to have both DVDs by either Friday or Monday, at the latest.

Yes, a review please. :) I have been practicing yoga for years and this one really interests me.

[Veronica]

Small hijack---If you could only buy one Spinerval, which would it be (yes, it is for me). I have not been on a bike in months and I am optomistic I will be back on Dec 22nd. :) SO, I want to order one for Santa to put in my stocking, but cannot decide, please help.

Have you read the various reviews here on TE?

If I could keep only one, it would probably be No Slackers because I HATE it! When I ranked my videos in order of my perceived difficulty, it's the second hardest, only Tough Love got ranked harder. Coach Troy rates it a 9.0 and I have several 9.5s that I think are easier.

If I were to keep one that I actually enjoy, probably Zoot Challenge.

V.

[Bikingmomof3]

Have you read the various reviews here on TE?

If I could keep only one, it would probably be No Slackers because I HATE it! When I ranked my videos in order of my perceived difficulty, it's the second hardest, only Tough Love got ranked harder. Coach Troy rates it a 9.0 and I have several 9.5s that I think are easier.

If I were to keep one that I actually enjoy, probably Zoot Challenge.

V.

Yes I did read the reviews, which has left me further uncertain as to which one to buy. It sounds like I cannot go wrong.

[Veronica]

So think about what kind of workout do you want; hills, a mix of things, strength building, aerobic base?

Then how long do you want?

I like the 45 minute ones because I can always talk myself into doing it. It's just 45 minutes after all. :p

V.

[Bikingmomof3]

Strength, aerobic, and endurance-so probably a mix. :)

[Velobambina]

BMO3---For versatility (more bang for your buck), I recommend getting one of the longer ones. Have Mercy, the original, is 2 hrs and has a good mix of tempo, hill work, sprints, etc. It's my favorite longer Spinerval. Have Mercy the Sequel (also 2 hrs) is more endurance focused, as the individual sets are longer. Tough Love is 3 hours and the new DVD is 5.5 hours. The beauty of the longer workouts is that you can break them down into shorter workouts.
If you want a short workout, Hillacious is my favorite for the fun but very difficult factor. It's just over an hour and will help with your climbing.

[aicabsolut]

I've heard good (in a painful sort of way) things about Bending Crank Arms.

Those Have Mercy ones sound more my speed. Maybe those will go on my wish list.

[Bikingmomof3]

Has anyone done: UltraConditioning 3.0 - Ultra Full Body with IronGirl?

I was contemplating Sweating Buckets. Any thoughts?

[Velobambina]

Sweating Buckets is an "easier" Spinerval. That said, it's a decent workout. I use it for recovery days.

I love the Iron Girl DVD and try to do it once a week. It's more of a circuit type workout---on the bike and then off the bike for strength work. The first strength segment (push ups then bicep curls into overhead presses---repeat three times) is a killer. It makes you stronger, even if you already are into strength training.

By the way, I love Bending Crank Arms, too. :-) It's a great leg strength workout.

[Bikingmomof3]

Thank You Velobambina. :)

[emily_in_nc]

"Sweating Buckets" may be an "easier" Spinervals, but remember, these are Spinervals. If you've never done one, they're pretty brutal. I think SB is a great workout, and especially if you haven't been on the bike for awhile, I think it would be a good choice. If you do all the warmup and cooldown time, it ends up being around 52 minutes, I believe. It's a good all-around workout.

If you want a short but TOUGH, all-woman workout focusing on hill work, "Uphill Grind" is a butt-kicker! I definitely have a love-hate relationship with that one!!

I have "Have Mercy" also but have only managed to do it about twice all the way through. You can do it in parts, but it's pretty choppy as it's made by putting clips together of many of the other videos. I don't like it as much as a result.

I don't have any of the newer ones, only the older - and all in VHS as we didn't get a DVD player until after I bought my Spinervals. I got a few of them (I have five or six total) on ebay for bargain prices, by the way.

Emily

[Bikingmomof3]

Thanks Emily. I ordered Sweating Buckets, since I have not been allowed on my bike for some time.

[pooks]

I'm totally new to this. Can Spinervals be done on a bike and trainer, or do you need an actual Spinner?

[Bikingmomof3]

I will be using my bike and trainer.

[Veronica]

Thanks :rolleyes: - now you've got me thinking about adding to my videos.

V.

[Bikingmomof3]

There are so many and they all sounded worth the money. It was so tough to decide. I do not think I will regret my purchases. :) Oh, I bought 3 because: all3sports.com had a special, buy 3 get $5 off each and I received free shipping. :D

[Veronica]

That's cool and it sounds like the three you picked will be good.

I have ten. And I can still get in some good outdoor riding. In January and February when I'm getting bored with the ones I have I'll probably get a couple more.

V.

[Bikingmomof3]

I bought 3 without even knowing if I can get back on my bike. I am hoping the neurologist will say it is okay, even if I need to wear a helmet on my trainer. :)

[emily_in_nc]

I'm totally new to this. Can Spinervals be done on a bike and trainer, or do you need an actual Spinner?

You can definitely do it on a bike and trainer. Coach Troy will tell you which gears to use (front and back), but you can adjust according to your fitness level, etc. If you have bad knees you might not want to push some of the tougher gears he suggests, and that's fine too.

Emily

[roadie gal]

I second the "Uphill Grind". It's my favorite that I love to hate. Coach Troy mixes up sitting, standing and multiple gears.

I also like "Recharge" for *easier* days.

I'm planning on asking Santa for a bunch more for this winter.

I would recommend AGAINST any of the CTS training CDs. I got one just for grins and to compare to the Spinervals. You must have either a power meter or a cadence monitor or a heart rate monitor for it to be worthwhile. Also, at least on the time trial one that I got, the sets are much longer and the cool down times are too long: up to 5 minutes. I got bored. Last, while I am a Lance fan, I got a little tired of Chris Carmichael repeating about how he has Lance do this workout.

[Pedal Wench]

We're all so different. I prefer the CTS DVDs because he relies on cadence and not gears. Depending on gears (Spinervals) assumes we all are running the exact same resistance on our bikes, or that we have the same cassettes and chain rings. I also HATE the music used in the Spinervals, but I can drown out the music on the CTS discs with my iPod and still hear Carmicheal's voice.



I second the "Uphill Grind". It's my favorite that I love to hate. Coach Troy mixes up sitting, standing and multiple gears.

I also like "Recharge" for *easier* days.

I'm planning on asking Santa for a bunch more for this winter.

I would recommend AGAINST any of the CTS training CDs. I got one just for grins and to compare to the Spinervals. You must have either a power meter or a cadence monitor or a heart rate monitor for it to be worthwhile. Also, at least on the time trial one that I got, the sets are much longer and the cool down times are too long: up to 5 minutes. I got bored. Last, while I am a Lance fan, I got a little tired of Chris Carmichael repeating about how he has Lance do this workout.

[pooks]

Which would you recommend for an out-of-shape newbie?

[roadie gal]

I would start with the "Fitness" series. I have 1.0. It is "easier" than the others but it's still quite the workout.

[beetle]

Hi found this thread and thought it a good place to ask some Spinervals questions.

How do the hills sessions work, do you just use gears to simulate the hill gradient?

Can you use any indoor trainer or do you need a special Spinervals one?

Does Coach Troy give any technique coaching or is it assumed that when you get to the competition series you are a highly technically competent rider?

I am training for a very hilly half IM next year and wondered if a couple of these DVDs would help my training on indoor days.

[SouthernBelle]

HI beetle. No expert here, but any good trainer will do. Hills are simulated by gearing. I've done competition 1 & 2. There is no particular training on technique, but in just the short time I've been using them, I've noticed improvement in several areas. I ride stronger, can come up off the saddle easier and my gearing has improved. I bought a 5 pack and have 3 I haven't gotten to yet. Worth it.

BTW, Velobambina, still waiting for the report.

[Thorn]

I have the Hillacious for hills (we're travelling to Italy in Spring and we're hoping that it will help). Besides using big gears, they also recommend propping the front end of the bike up a couple of inches. I'd love to know if this is just psychological or if there is something to it. With the front-end propped up when I'm in the hard gears, I do find myself more likely to slide back and push with my hill climbing muscles. But, again, I don't if that is all in my head.

The Hillacious set has you grind some longer sets in a moderately hard gear(to mimic a 4-6% grade), then he does some rolling hills where you're flipping gears from spinning to grinding (oddly, I find these almost as much fun as doing rolling hills outside) and then he does short bursts to mimic a 12% grade (puts you in the hardest gear). The Hillacious DVD comes with a hill climing technique short, but I think you can get that directly off the Spinervals web site.

We use our bikes supported on a trainer and, not being super athletes, we compensate on the gearing. But, I've learned that if my cadence is about what he's calling out and my effort matches what he's expecting that I sweat up a rainstorm and get a really good workout.

[beetle]

Thanks Thorn and Southernbelle for the feedback.

Thorn - I was wondering if raising the front wheel would help too and thought it would just be mental if it did but your comment about sitting further back and taking more of a climbing position has now got me thinking that there prob is some physical advantage. Where in Italy are you heading? The race I'm planning to do is nr the French/Italian border so I plan to do a bit of training around Italy beforehand. Having visited before I know there are some serious hills around there, not like anything we have in Australia :eek:

[Thorn]

We're going to be in the "flat" area of Italy--about 100km north of Rome. We'll cross the country through Umbria and Marche. For Italy, that area is flat; for people like me who live in glacier-flattened terrain, it will be very hilly. We've only been biking for a couple of years--I figure I'll keep gradually increasing the elevation on our cycling vacations.

We were in the Piedmont area last year (?is that where you will be?), but not by bicycle. Lovely country. Big hills. To bike that and in a race to boot...wow, I stand in awe.