RoadRaven - I'm not saying I can't do it; I'm saying I don't like to do it. I don't enjoy it. And since I'm a grownup (sort of) nobody can make me do it. You have some very good points/suggestions. But I was hoping for some suggestions to make it fun at first and then maybe I might actually sort of enjoy "training rides." Intervals, and heart rates and training zones and thresholds...yuk...just makes me want to go watch TV instead. I quit wearing my heart rate monitor just because I kept watching it all the time and wasn't enjoying my rides. Once I took it off I enjoyed my rides a lot more.

I've been thinking about this quite a bit. What about if during a solo ride I sprint for a road sign, or a specific tree, or the next intersection. And if I did that several times during my ride, not necessarily at any certain time interval, would that be of any benefit? Wouldn't that be sort of like interval training without the regimented aspect of it?

I'm just trying to come up with "fun" ways of introducing myself to "training"...of just getting in the mindset and hoping it will take over. Maybe by slowly introducing my body to this additional stress my mind and body will accept it more easily?