1st time on the trainer

[malaholic]

For my Christmas gift, DH surprised me with the a trainer along with a whole bunch of spinerval DVDs! I finally got it set up and tried it out tonight. I wish I'd have noticed the difficulty ratings on the DVDs *before* I popped the one numbered "1.0" in - it was difficulty 9/10 which kicked my butt. We've been away for pretty much the whole month of December, and after a month off the bike, I think I'm only capable of about a difficulty 5 right now! But I know if I stick with it, it will get easier.

Better yet, we are also now signed up to ride our first STP! I'm a little intimidated by the thought of that long of a ride, but excited too. It will give me something solid to train for over the next several months, and hopefully keep me motivated. It also means that I'll probably be posting lots of questions to you more experienced ladies around the training & logistics for such an event.

Anyway, just had to post about it cause I'm excited. Hope everyone's New Year is off to a great start!

[RoadRaven]

Congrats on the pressie, Mal

I have only seen a sample of spinervals and they don't appeal to me to train to. Glad they are working out for you.

I like riding to the DVDs we have made of Le Tour, the Giro, and local events like the highlights from the Tour of Southland. I try and match Cancellara or Lance, or locals Ulmer or Vennell or Yates, in cadence and perceived effort... Thats fun too

Enjoy your indoor efforts - the key is variety - and it sounds like you have that with a bunch of different spinervals.

The other thing - if you have a day where you don't want to watch/ train to spinervals, then put your fave music on and spin/mash in time to that.

(I love rock best - anything by Melissa Etheridge is my fave... though albums like Nebraska (Springsteen) or Heavy Horses (Jethro Tull) are great too.

[Velobambina]

Trainer riding is more difficult than riding outside, particularly if you do Spinervals. That's one of the reasons I dread any weather that precludes cycling outdoors. LOL.

It will make you stronger. Just stick with it. The year that I was regularly supplementing my outdoor riding w/Spinerval sessions, I was very strong, particulary on hills.

[SouthernBelle]

Congrats! I have been so avoiding the trainer this year. It's 10 degrees here this morning, but promises to be 60 by the weekend. Yet another reason to avoid putting an old tire on the back wheel and putting the scoot on the trainer.

At least I went to the gym last night.