Didn't know I could do it

[Geonz]

How many times did you think you couldn't do it while you were doing it?

[alpinerabbit]

Is 90 rpm = 90 full revolutions or half? Oh I get it. 180 bpm = 90 rpm. that's 1.5 full revolutions per second, so on every beat one foot goes down. yeah.

try the pedalradio.com podcasts. I tried my first one last night, was fun to have some new tunes.

[rij73]

Thanks folks! About halfway through I was getting really sweaty and tired, but I was armed with raisins which I guess helped. I mean, I've ridden up to 1.5 hours straight outside in the park, but it feels really different on the trainer and trying to keep a steady pace. I really have no idea if what I did would be considered much of an accomplishment by most people, but it felt like one to me!

Never checked out pedalradio before... headed there right now!

[Zen]

I really have no idea if what I did would be considered much of an accomplishment by most people, but it felt like one to me!

HA!
I never paid much attention to cadence but i did a count today while spinning (not in a class, just by myself)

I got to a point that I felt I was at my push-point resistance,-maybe a little more-and a somewhat fast but not a sprint cadence.

My count was 63

On the other hand, two girls in their early 20's came in while I was there, rode for about three minutes, declared it 'too hard" and left

[rij73]

On the other hand, two girls in their early 20's came in while I was there, rode for about three minutes, declared it 'too hard" and left

Wimps!

[Starfish]

I really have no idea if what I did would be considered much of an accomplishment by most people, but it felt like one to me!

Hey, it is definitely a benchmark. Spinning faster develops a different kind of muscular endurance than grinding slower. (Not taking anything away from the muscular endurance it takes to grinder harder/slower...just different.)

Last year, training for my first long climbing ride, it was all I could do to grind up the hills in a low cadence, pushing HARD. I literally just could not pedal faster. Consequently, with all that slow uphill training, my cadence on the flats was slow...and not very versatile.

This winter I have been working on higher cadence and pedal stroke, and it has been hard work! But, I can tell that I am developing a different (and more versatile) part of my cycling skill ('though still at a low level! ).

Anyhow, all that to say...yes, it is an accomplishment, and adds to your arsenal of biking tools!

[rij73]

Thanks very much Starfish for that perspective! I have read a bit about the necessity to train spinning and grinding separately, but you made it much clearer.

[KSH]

HEY! Congratulations! That's awesome!

This is my first year on the trainer during the winter. I never wanted to do it.. but my Ironman training started January 1st. So, I have had to do it.

It's not that bad. Sure, it's not like riding outside, but I try to see the positives in it.

It's nice to just get on the bike and ride. No packing up the car. No worrying about if I got everything.

I love watching my TV programs and listening to music while I ride.

Back in January... I had a Saturday where I had a 3 hour ride schedule. The weather was crap so I knew I had to do it on the trainer.

I got on the trainer with the idea I would just go about 2-2.5 hours. Figured there was no way I could go for 3 hours.

Then I was watching that silly TV show on MTV... Made. And there was this teenager whining into the camera, "I can't do it. It's too hard". I realized I was doing the same thing. I could do it. And I was going to do it. So I did. 3 hours on the trainer.

This month I had 4.5 hour ride schedule. Again, I had to ride on the trainer. And I did it.

As for cadence... my coach has me doing 90+ cadence always. But I've been riding like this for years. I'm a high cadence gal so I can protect my knees.

[shewhobikes]

podrunner? pedalradio? Somebody clue me in. I haven't tried to find a podcast like this yet, but it sounds like a good way to avoid boredom from the same ole playlists...
Thanks,
SWB