I did it, I'm alive--aka the Spinervals Noobs thread/tips and tricks

[SadieKate]

Just did Uphill Grind - hadn't in ages. I like that it's all women. Something fun about that, though I do love the pained expressions some of the guys make. It is definitely "geared" (sorry) to race type climbing not super long endurance pace climbing, but the intervals will obviously benefit that as well.

Here we go again, roadie girl. Got tunnel vision over the winter, didn't you?

It's great for mtb training with repeated short climbs and bursts of power.

[maillotpois]

Salsa - for 2 hours of Tough Love over the weekend I was 100% functional for 1 1/2 hours of it. UG is so much shorter that it went very well. My strength is reduced, but I can support my heft standing now. My range of motion may always have some limitation (the bone's never going back where it was), but it won't effect cycling. I start PT tomorrow and have a short test ride planned for Saturday.

And, SK, my doctor specifically told me yesterday: NO MTB. (My UG "review" was specifically targeted at Starfish who's looking for long indoor climbing simulating training. Which this is not. But it still has its purpose.)

[salsabike]

So what are the Spinervals that are designed to replicate endurance climbing? Would the Aerobase Builders fit what Starfish wants to work on?

[Starfish]

I have the Tucson Spinerval that has a core workout of about 75 minutes of tempo climbing. Then there are a couple shorter additional climbs.

Actually, last night instead of falling asleep, I made up in my head a trainer workout to simulate my local mountain climb, which is about 5000 feet in about 19 miles. I know how long it took me to do last year, and I know the road very well (how long it goes at what percentage grades, etc...and how long those sections take me, at what cadences, etc. Yesss...I am a little detail oriented...).

I have an indoor climbing workout coming this weekend, and I am going to try out a simulation of that ride, and see what happens!

LOL...it is a favorite motorcycle ride route for one of my brothers and his daughter...maybe I can have him follow me up the road this spring with her on the back videotaping...make my own "Spinerval" for my own private use! Evil Coach Starfish!

[maillotpois]

I have to say I'm really liking Tough Love for the tempo pace endurance workout. The aero base builder is good, in general. But for a climbing simulation like what she's looking for, her Tucson thing or Tough Love seems to be pretty good.

[Starfish]

I have to say I'm really liking Tough Love for the tempo pace endurance workout. The aero base builder is good, in general. But for a climbing simulation like what she's looking for, her Tucson thing or Tough Love seems to be pretty good.

Alas, I am budgeting. This morning I finally broke down and ordered some shorts and a saddle from Terry, both on sale.

I have been SERIOUSLY in need of another pair of shorts (just at that point...everything I have is worn out, and my current saddle has never been perfect...found one on Terry on sale I have wanted to try since it was introduced, so went for it.

Just had to do shorts/saddle over Spinerval purchase for now.

[jobob]

Well for what it's worth, I've seen a big improvement in my speed on the flatlands over the past month or so since I started doing spinervals.

I'm still finding it hard to believe that on the long flat stretches of my commute I'm cruising easily at 17-18 mph. I haven't been doing much climbing lately but I think that might have improved some as well.

The big test will be the 200K brevet this weekend.

[salsabike]

Jobob, which ones have you been doing? I know Aerobase V, I think, is one of them?