Bike Trainer very different from the road

[hgrill02]

Hi everyone! I got my bike trainer in today and was so excite, put it together and hoped on. Phew! It was so hard, maybe I have my tension too tight or do I want it that way? I could hardly go five minutes before stopping!

Also does anyone have any spinning training suggestions?

Thanks!!!

H

[DebW]

Some trainers have adjustable tension via a knob or dial. Some you just use your gears to change the level of effort. Start on an easy gear where you can pedal at a moderate to high cadence without wearing ourself out.

[Wahine]

Yes, using a trainer is very different from riding on the road. DebW's advice is excellent. You also need to take into account what kind of trainer you have. If there is a drum that applies resistance to the surface of the wheel, how hard you tension the drum to the wheel also makes a difference. You want just enough tension to rotate the drum smoothly without you wheel slipping on the surface.

I like to use the Spinerval DVDs but they are not easy. I also like to work on cadence on the trainer. My warm-up consists of slowly building up my RPM by 5 every minute until I can't go any faster and I'm sweating like a pig, that usually happens at 115 RPM this time of year but gets progressively better. This warm-up is a great lead in to any workout.

The other thing to keep in mind is that you do not get any coasting time on a trainer, so the general rule f thumb is that 40 to 45 min on a trainer is about equivilant to 1 hour outside in terms of muscular effort. So you should adjust your saddle time accordingly.

Try searching the web for different workouts, Bicycling mag usually publishes some trainer workouts this time of year.

have fun and mix it up or it will get really boring really fast.

[caligurl]

ya.... i hate my trainer with a passion! i think i've used it 2 or 3 times in the last 2 1/2 years!

[Wahine]

ya.... i hate my trainer with a passion! i think i've used it 2 or 3 times in the last 2 1/2 years!

Hey Caligurl,

What kind of trainer is it and would you be willing to sell it?

My hubby needs one so we can ride and watch movies together.

It so happens we'll be in LA next week.

Wahine

[Geonz]

Oh, dear... no, it's not anything like riding on the road

It *is* a lot harder - you get much more sweat per hour.

I rely on either a video (at the bike shop inside rides) or DRIVING MUSIC in the background.

[hgrill02]

THanks for your responses! Good to know I was not as out of shape as I thought althought I have a LONG Way to go. Has anyone made their own spinning routine along with music? I dont think I could do it without music, and lots of options. Same was with walking for me. I have been looking online for a list of music to spin to with out buying a $30.00 DVD or cd...any suggestions?

Butt hurts after just 30 minutes on it but I'm already addicted! I can't wait to hop back on!