Passing time on the trainer

[tulip]

If you know one Romance language, the others will be easy...but I've found that to be only partly true. I'm fluent in French. I've dabbled in Italian and Spanish, and I put in a good effort with Portuguese several years ago. Now I'm working on Spanish again, and I'm finding that I must have retained alot more of the Portuguese than I thought.

When I get going fast, French comes out.

I like Rosetta Stone alot, but I'm not stuck in front of a computer all day since I work from home and can easily distract myself (too easily sometimes)

[Starfish]

I find the trainer really boring, too. Sometimes a movie helps. Sometimes the Spinervals.

But, for me, the one thing that makes trainer time go a LOT faster than anything else is this audio cycling-breathing-spinning stuff I ordered from Ian Jackson called Breathplay Zooming. It comes on CD, and I put it on my iPod. It is all perfectly timed for 90rpm spinning, and it is all about the breathing.

It is not easy...hard to really, truly breathe from the diaphragm for a full 90 minutes (for me, anyhow). But, I really like this workout, and the time flies by.

[Velobambina]

Spinervals. I don't think I could do it w/just the TV or Tunes. When I row, I watch TV and it can get DEADLY. I have to incorporate intervals into my rowing to make the time pass faster. LOL.

Seriously, if you focus on the "good work" that you are doing while on the trainer, it can be motivating. Also, mixing it up by standing, sitting, doing drills. Maybe by doing some circuit training, like Coach Troy's Ultra Conditioning DVDs, can keep up your interest level. One-legged spins are now my "thing" and I sometimes will stick some on the end of a Spinerval session. Used to hate them but since they've made a difference in my power/leg strength, I love them. You will notice yourself improving, both inside and out on the road. Makes it worth the grind.

[NoNo]

I should look into that breathing CD, I was actually wondering if there was some "trick" to learn. I remember when I tried running a few years back, I had read a book that said to inhale 3 steps, exhale 2, and I found it helped keep me from getting too winded. I didn't know if there was something similar to do for cycling to help control both my breathing and my heart rate.

[alpinerabbit]

I found a couple more podcasts that I'm just downloading.

I can make it for 60-90 minutes on the trainer but it is an exercise in mental strength.

MP3flex podcast
Pedalradio podcast
http://www.technosweat.com/podcasts/podcast4_view.php

[Crankin]

First rule is that I never do more than 45 minutes on the trainer, maybe a bit more with a warm up. If I'm doing 45 minutes, then usually I'm doing one of the rides from the Graeme Street Winter Training for cyclists. It's not on a DVD, except for one very difficult intervals and yoga workout, it's just in a book. I keep very focused on what I'm supposed to do next, looking at the very big clock with a second hand that I bought to keep track of each section of the rides. I also put on the radio very loud. Even though the bpm of the songs doesn't always match the cadence of my ride, it does keep me going.
Sometimes I get on the trainer for 20-30 minutes of an easy spin to warm up before a core work out or yoga. I watch TV during these rides or again, put the radio on. Once in awhile my husband and I are on the trainers at the same time, so we talk.
I mix this up with spin classes at the gym, but not so much this year and winter sports. I also ride my hybrid bike outside on the road whenever the temperature gets above 35. These are short rides, sometimes just 7-8 miles, not more than 20, but on a heavy bike, I get a good workout.

[Starfish]

I should look into that breathing CD, I was actually wondering if there was some "trick" to learn. I remember when I tried running a few years back, I had read a book that said to inhale 3 steps, exhale 2, and I found it helped keep me from getting too winded. I didn't know if there was something similar to do for cycling to help control both my breathing and my heart rate.

I think you will love it. It is just a cardio workout, no intervals, but if you do the breathing the way he leads you, it is not easy (maybe it would be easy for all the yoga folks, etc, who have been doing real breathing for a long time, but for me, it is not easy). You do get a lot of practice doing a nice 90rpm for 90 minutes. Also, the way he leads it, you also get guidance on stretching the spine with each breath, etc. I really like it.

I ordered the 3-disk pack...one for walking, one for running, one for cycling.

[KSH]

Well, I just started riding a trainer in Jan 08. So I'm still a newbie.

My training schedule has been:
Monday- 1.5 hour ride
Wednesday- 1.5 hour ride- intervals
Saturday- 3 to 4.5 hour ride- outside if the weather is nice, inside if not.

The TV can keep me entertained for a long time. I just store up my shows on my DVR and watch them while riding. This makes me look forward to being on the trainer.

When it gets tough, I turn on the music. That motivates me to finish my time off.

This past Sat. I did a 4.5 hour trainer ride (my longest to date)... and for the last 1.5 hours I watched the rerun of Kona 07. Very motivating.