No Slackers + Hillacious

[jobob]

Jo, No Slackers will get easier. In my mind, it use to be the hardest DVD we had. Now, it doesn't seem so bad. You're really going over to the dark side though. What other DVDs do you have?

V.

Oh, I've really fallen into the abyss.

I have a bike set up on a trainer, I have a heart rate monitor, and, as of yesterday I also have a cadence sensor. All things I swore I'd never use.

But I've come to realize that left to my own devices I'm not inclined to push myself (put another way, I'm lazy) and it's so much more convenient to hop on the trainer rather than get dressed for the cold outside.

So I started out with Aero Base Builder V (the compilation DVD), and I got the Interval 5-pack last week, which has No Slackers, Suffer O Rama, Muscle Breakdown, Uphill Grind, and Sprinting Machine.

So far I've only done No Slackers (all of twice ) but my plan is to an interval workout twice a week, with at least a day off in between - I'll probably alternate between Uphill Grind and one of the others each week.

Since I did No Slackers yesterday evening, this morning I did a 30 minute "recovery" ride where I used a low enough gear to keep my cadence between 80-90 rpm and my heart rate below 130 (which is below roughly 70% max) - which is something I wouldn't bother to do if I had to dress for the weather, check my tires & all that.

Tomorrow I'll do Uphill Grind.

[Veronica]

So I started out with Aero Base Builder V (the compilation DVD), and I got the Interval 5-pack last week, which has No Slackers, Suffer O Rama, Muscle Breakdown, Uphill Grind, and Sprinting Machine.

Uphill Grind is one of my favorites. We use to have Suffer O Rama and Muscle Breakdown. But we relocated where the trainer is - no longer in front of the tv - I use a portable DVD player now and those two were on tape and haven't been replaced.

I don't think I liked Suffer O Rama.

I did like Muscle Breakdown. I think it's the one where you get off the bike and do an isometric squat for what seems like forever.


V.

[Velobambina]

Suffer O Rama lives up to its name. Fun fact: Coach Troy's first wife is in that video (look for Lisa).

Is Muscle Breakdown the one w/Judy Molnar in it? If so, it's the one with the iso squats. Of the early Spinervals, I like that one least. There are acceleration drills on that tape that are horrible.

Jo, Uphill Grind will motivate you to get on the trainer. It's not too long in duration (~45 minutes) and it's FUN. You should get Zoot---it's also short in terms of time but a hard workout. Also, consider investing in Have Mercy (the original, not the newer one). Excellent variety and you can break it down into shorter sessions.

One Spinerval that I've enjoyed recently is Big Gear. I just love the set where you alternate sitting and standing for five minutes. On the bad weather/black ice days, I've been focusing on a lot of the strength Spinervals.

V--Congrats on joining the "Back to Back" club! Mentally, it seems easier some days to do two Spinervals rather than slogging out a longer one.

[Running Mommy]

Since we moved to AZ I haven't needed my spinervals much. But I have fond memories of running son coming downstairs and yelling "5-4-3-2-1... Soft pedal" in his best coach troy voice!
He loved to repeat all of coach troys "motivational statements" too... OY!

In 05 Troy raced IMAZ. I was a voly at an aid station, and I just HAD to make a few "motivational statements" of my own.. heh heh...
I'm sure he LOVED it!

[Velobambina]

RM---You have to get the Arizona Virtual Reality Spinerval. It's a tough one and you'll get to ride w/your pal, Troy. LOL. BTW, you are very lucky to live out there. Looks beautiful.

[Starfish]

RM---You have to get the Arizona Virtual Reality Spinerval. It's a tough one and you'll get to ride w/your pal, Troy. LOL. BTW, you are very lucky to live out there. Looks beautiful.

Slight hijack:

VeloB, I am new to Spinervals, and this is one of the few I have. I don't yet have any of the other climbing ones (just cadence technique, etc).

How does the AZ one (which I DO have), stack up to the other climbing ones for difficulty. I have done the AZ one, but as of yet don't have other climbing Spinervals to compare it to.

[Thorn]

On the hijack--I'll be interested in VeloB's opinion, too. I am also a Spinervals junkie and have Hillacious, Uphill Grind and the Tucson Training Rides.

Personally, Mt. Lemmon is the toughest. Unrelentless. Mean. Tough.

Then, Hillacious and Uphill Grind. I can't say one is harder than the other; they're different. Hillacious seems to feel like it is working me better because it is more like I ride--long upills, rollers and short steep sections. But, Uphill Grind really gets the heart rate up, but in a different manner. It feels more like learning to sprint up a hill than just to get to the top. Both are tough, but differently so. I alternate them, tossing in Mt. Lemmon when I'm having a good day.

Gates Pass is the easiest. I don't consider that a hill workout so much as a tougher aero with some hills thrown in to raise the heart rate for a while. But that could just be the way I ride that one--aero the flats, work the hills.

[jobob]

Jo, Uphill Grind will motivate you to get on the trainer. It's not too long in duration (~45 minutes) and it's FUN.

It was allright.

[Velobambina]

Sorry about the delay, gals. Been a stressful week.

There are two rides on the AZ Spinerval. Mt. Lemmon and Gates Pass. Both are tough climbs, but the scenery is just beautiful. I'd rate this as a good hill workout. Since there are two workouts on this DVD, I consider it a good deal in terms of $$. I haven't tried to do the entire thing at once yet. Would have to be a day when I'm feeling very strong and/or very stressed.