Trainer Recommendations?

[GraysonKelly]

How do you measure miles on a trainer? Will medium range trainer come with something to measure that? Keep in mind, I don't know and I need one. It's part of my knee rehab and I need something for winter.
Thanks,
Gray

[Irulan]

I am using a training program that I got online from www.lwcoaching.com. I want a little more structure than I think I'll get from the spinervals DVDs. It's a six week program for base building/maintaining.

[melissam]

How do you measure miles on a trainer? Will medium range trainer come with something to measure that? Keep in mind, I don't know and I need one. It's part of my knee rehab and I need something for winter.
Thanks,
Gray

Hi Gray,

I have a Cateye Astrale 8 cycle computer that measures distance via the sensor/magnet on the rear wheel. It also measures cadence, which is a great thing to monitor during indoor workouts.

I know, some people don't track indoor miles because you're not really going anywhere. I like to track indoor mileage because it's a measurement I can relate to and gives me an idea of where I am training-wise. For some reason, I'm not as good at translating hours in the saddle vs. miles on the road.

- Melissa

[gingerale]

Thank you for asking this! I'm getting some great info for myself since I just purchased a trainer this past weekend.

[malkin]

I look at the cracks in the floor
Recite memorized passages in my head
Listen for the various clocks in the house to count off the quarters
And pray that angels will catch me if I start to fall off the rollers.

[LaurenC]

Thanks everyone. Gingerale, what did you get and do you like it? Martina, I want to try the trainer instead of the gym as I can't really afford the gym right now. Also, I wouldn't be there enough to make it cost effective as most of my excercise comes from horseback riding, kayaking, skiing, and of course biking.

[Velobambina]

Martina - in a word, SPINERVALS. You will be stronger for the suffering.

[Norse]

+1 for the Cyclops Fluid. I am going into the 5th winter of use for mine and never had problems. Fluid and roller trainers are better than magnetic because, my understanding is that, magnetics, like Life Cycles, keep spinning after you stop pedaling so they don't simulate the road very well.

Probably like everyone else, mine is set up in front of the TV and I have a small collection of Spinervals, Train Right videos and Bike-O-Vision scenery DVD's. Sometimes though, like this morning, I just turn the TV to the Dance music channel, turn up the volume and do an interval work-out.

Besides being on your own bike and doing the work-out you want to do, the other beauty of this is NOT having to get dressed to go to the gym, fighting for a bike and driving to and from. I wear beat-up old bike shorts that I would not wear in public and too tight sports' tank tops that I would not be caught dead outside our basement in. I love having the trainer.