Tough Love

I dread doing Tough Love. DH and I rode the Colorado Trail from Denver to Salida (we're going to finish the rest soon) last year and this was one of my main training spinervals. I must say it helped! But I haven't used it since!!!;)

Yes Dar, you are so right. Running on the cushy indoor track is quite wussy of me. I was feeling a bit like a hampster exercising on a wheel.....round and round. I'm sure once I get brave enough to step outside and run I'll find I'm much more out of shape then I thought. Maybe next month I'll give it a try.

I have a question about spinning/riding out of the saddle. Seems some folks have a really hard time with this. For someone with much more experience than me, can you give us some insight?

My only experience was when I was testing bikes. I was down to two bikes and when I rode one of them, it was really HARD to get out of the saddle. I "think" it's really because the bike was too short for me (from saddle to handlebars). When I rode the other bike (the one I bought) it was really easy to get out of the saddle and ride. I bought the bike I could ride easily out of the saddle, since I figured I'd need this capability for hills.

So, anyone with insight on this problem? Does bike fit play a big part in riding out of the saddle?

Yes, bike fit can have something to do with being able to ride out of the saddle, but what most of the folks in this thread are talking about is peculiar to spinning class or riding your bike on the trainer -- standing up and riding while in a really easy gear is extremely difficult.

It's easy to stand up and ride on a spinning bike or on the trainer when you are in a "harder" gear because your weight has resistance -- standing up in an "easy" gear is tough on the legs because there's no resistance pushing back, and you need strong muscles and good spinning technique to be able to do it.

I don't think standing up on the bike while riding up a hill can really compare, because that circumstance is pretty similar to standing up in a harder gear while on the trainer.

Yeah, it can be a LOT harder to stand on the trainer - and standing on rollers (even with the fork mount) is really tough.

I think core plays a big part as well as pedlaing consistency and balance. You're almost working against yourself, and having to make good pedal strokes.

I've done the entire Tough Love a couple times (2-3). Always alone.

I did the first disk of the Hardcore 100 -- a simulated century that runs about 5 hours if you do all three disks. The first disk was about 1:40 minutes but the intensity wasn't too bad. It's supposed to get more difficult as the workout progresses. If we get the snow storm that's predicted for next Tuesday and they close down the gov't, I might try to do the entire thing.

Since riding outside has been unsafe due to lingering icy conditions and extreme cold, I've been back to my trainer. My new favorite thing is to do a strength video (one of the ultra conditioning Spinervals) after doing another Spinerval.

I can't wait until temperatures moderate and there's no more ice/snow. Doing Spinervals is much tougher, mentally & physically, than riding outside.

WOW! definitely have to give credit to anyone that has done "Tough Love" or "Have Mercy"!! I have done them several times over the past few years, and there's no doubt that you get a great workout in!!

Keep pedaling everyone!