Didn't know I could do it

[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

[roadie gal]

Good job!

[rij73]

That's really cool KSH. I don't plan on doing any racing, but I do want to get good enough so that I don't feel like I'm holding up my husband too much when we ride together. He hasn't been biking any longer than I have, but he's just naturally more athletic and faster. Plus, it's just fun to be getting reasonably good at something athletic. I'm a classical musician who was always babied and discouraged from doing anything potentially dangerous, so I've basically spent my life indoors... seated.

SheWhoBikes... I learned about these podcasts right here on the board. Check out Podrunner and Podrunner Intervals here: http://www.djsteveboy.com/mixes.html
and Pedalradio here: http://pedalradio.libsyn.com/

They are planned to go at certain speeds. Pedalradio and Podrunner Intervals have various speeds within the same track so it's like doing intervals. If you have rhythm and can pedal to the beat, it's a way to practice pedaling at a steady cadence. I've also biked with a metronome on to keep any particular steady cadence, but it's obviously not as entertaining.

[DirtDiva]

Hey, cool. Don't own a trainer, but would be nice to load some new tunes onto the shuffle for running.

I'm trying to use my commute to work on upping my cadence. My fun rides tend to involve too many hills for it.

[jesvetmed]

rij73: Thanks for the links. I'm SO not into techno music, so found the Pedalradio interesting. I downloaded three of them, and will try them out! The rain is moving in for the next week, so this is GREAT timing!

[rij73]

No prob jesvetmed... Glad to help! You must be incredibly cool since you are not only a cyclist but also a vet. I'm an over-the-top animal lover as you might be able to tell by my dog's website.