Got a trainer...now what?

[Miranda]

This is part of why-how I became a Spinning Instructor lol. I can't make myself do it alone at home in soitude. And I don't want to drag my bike and gear out in the winter.

I own a trainer. Couple dvds... one Chirs C., and other Spinnervals I think. Been on it couple times maybe... since 2007.

There are a couple of our local bike shops that host an indoor ride. Some have rollers available to use (& will teach you how to ride them). The others you bring your own trainer, bike, and you ride as a group to a dvd. One shop has a CompuTrainer class (computerized in their trainers) for a fee (like a Spinning class).

My riding partner did not like the bikes in Spinning (no gears, etc.). So, she drags her bike and trainer out just to have the fellowship to ride the dvd with the bike shop. Which would be fun to be with the people... but I'm teaching my friends inside at the same time, so I've never been.

It's pretty painless for the bike shop to provide this type of class. Maybe you could even suggest it to your shop to start a ride if there is not one near you. And... you could mix in a simple / inexpensive pay as you go membership to ride Spinning just to mix it up... as well as maybe get some ideas to ride in your trainer from the Instructor's profile... but hey, I'm partial there lol.

Good Luck.

[DMC]

so glad I read this thread. I was about to plonk down the money for a kurt kinetic. Now I think I'll just do the trainer classes at my tri group and see how it goes.

A road racer friend has the e-motion rollers and he says I can come try them a few times to see if I might like those.

Given how much I hate running on the dreadmill during the winter, Im not holding out much hope for the trainer/roller option.

[colorisnt]

I think if I only trained on one I would be bored out of my mind, but since I commute in the day, I think I will get my happiness and outdoorsy-ness that way.

[marni]

My favorite music to zone out to is podrunner intervals. Go to Podrunner.com. They have various workouts of various tempo and another that is interval training for various running distances. Gets me through treadmill, stationary bike and elliptical trainer hours at the gym on my non riding days.

also anyone who rides a trainer/ stationary bike etc. should definitely read Stephan King's short story " the stationary bike" and listen to or read Memory of Running by Ron Mcclarty.

[Norse]

I have several spinervals and like them well enough. While nothing beats being outside, I also have several Bike-O-Vision DVDs that are just scenery (the music is lame so I mute the sound and listen to my MP3) and my favorites are the CA coast and wine country - especially when I am sitting on my bike, on the trainer, in the basement, in Minnesota, in January. My latest faves, which combine a focused bike work-out with gorgeous scenery, are the Global Vision DVDs (http://www.amazon.com/Global-Ride-Ha.../dp/B001OQQKOO). I have a couple of the Hawaii videos but I would like to get the Italian ones too. I also like that they feature a different off-bike work out at the end of the videos such as yoga for bikers or strength conditioning....

[kaseyloramar]

I don't think it matters much which video a person gets just that there is a bit of variety. I like to have a few that I can rotate throughout the week. If I'm unable to bike outdoors I have a few videos that keep me entertained. So my advice is get enough to be able to rotate them. JMO