you people with trainers at home...

[roadie gal]

Definitely use a fan and open a window even if it's cold. Also, put a mat that you can wipe down under the bike.

[Tri Girl]

My tire gets all shiny silver, too.

My LBS guy was saying that sweat is the single most damaging element to come in contact with your bike (corrosive as all heck). This winter I'll have to have my tri bike on the trainer. It's not the bike I want to have on there, but I'm having wrist surgery and will have to be in aero position for a few months (my beater bike won't let me lay down ).
I'm going to cover most of the bike with a HUGE beach towel that I'll wash after every ride.

[Grog]

Fan on high.

Window open. (We live in Vancouver so it's seldom less than 3 C outside.)

Music on high.

Oh, yeah, with old tires if possible. But I use the trainer very little so I'm not too concerned. My husband has a dedicated trainer bike. (He rides it A LOT although maybe less now that he commutes to work over 60 km a day.)

Sometimes he sets up the trainer outside in a dry spot.

[Eden]

If you have a spare wheel or plan to leave the bike on the trainer all winter it pays to invest in a trainer tire (like this one http://www.glorycycles.com/coulsphotrti.html)

Not only will it last longer (my husband and I shared one all last winter and it doesn't even look used), it doesn't slip at higher resistance.

[ny biker]

+1 on using a fan - for me it's a must.

I also turn the thermostat way down to make sure the heat won't come on while I'm on the bike. With that plus the fan, I usually don't need to open the windows.

I put my hair in a ponytail and use a cotton knit headband as a sweatband (regular terry sweatbands are too tight on my head). It looks pretty silly but I live alone so no one sees but me. I keep a microfiber towel on the handlebar to wipe sweat off me every once in a while.

I also wear a lightweight top, usually a Nike dry-fit tank top with a built-in bra.

That generally seems to work for me.

[Pedal Wench]

Same as above -- sports bra and shorts, since no one will see but me. Fan right in front of me, water and remote control in bottle cages.

Good luck with the LWCoaching plan! I'm using Coach Lynda's plan again this year -- start in a few weeks. Can't wait for those 6 hour days on the trainer this winter...

[Irulan]

omg,

6

hours a day on the trainer? I'm shooting for an hour, maybe 2, 3-4 x a week. Then again, I'm going for the non-conpetitive/stay in shape program. LW has some pretty serious programs out there.

I went for the box fan, sweat band and open window today: much better. Even tho I kind of have a cold I went light but at least I went. For me, some of it is trying to make a new habit, routine where there hasn't been one before.