I can't be the only one...

[LivetoRide]

I have to agree, Owlie! I get worse hot spots on the trainer than the road (hot spots have always been a thing for me while cycling) and and I can't stand the trainer for more than an hour. This year I've been doing my inddor riding at the LBS's indoor trainer times, and riding with friends does help with the boredom.

I second radacrider's suggestions and I have to add that I'll sometimes get off the bike a time or two and stretch. For me, it helps with breaking up the time and it helps with my tight hamstrings.

[OakLeaf]

It's no different from riding in the flatlands ... if there are no elevation changes and no turns, you never change your position on the saddle and it gets uncomfortable pretty quickly.

Lots of LBS's have group trainer/roller sessions in the wintertime, helps break the monotony anyway, and you get to ride your own bike instead of those ill-fitting things they have in the gyms.

[ibike2]

I agree - Trainers are NO FUN!!

If I can make it to a 1/2 hour without getting off, the 1 hour is usually alot easier.

Do you ride in the same gear the entire time?

[malkin]

On rollers, I think the element of imminent danger keeps me engaged and requires little muscle shifts to keep balance, but still it's not like real riding.

Listening to music is even a trick, because if I get too involved in the music, it's a crash for sure.

[Tri Girl]

you're definitely NOT alone on this one. I have ridden my trainer for 2 hours once this winter (and had a huge saddle sore to show for it afterward). My limit is about 1 hr and then I want to strangle myself.
I wish I could love it more. Definitely better than the spin bikes at the gym, but hardly by a huge margin.
It's a necessary evil, I'm afraid. Even tho it's supposed to be 60 degrees today, I get to a certain point of winter that even THAT feels cold (well, that and the wind is supposed to be 30 mph).

I want spring/summer back...

[Jo-n-NY]

This is my 8th winter riding the trainer. I do it now just to keep my legs in some kind of cycling shape so when March or April roll around I have not lost all my leg fitness. I try not to think about it ahead of time and keep in my mind I will ride for 30 minutes which usually ends up being more. Kind of mind over matter since 30 minutes while watching tv isn't all that bad.

I always ride longer when my friend joins us and my bike shop will resume spin on our trainers sometime this month now that the holidays are over. That ends up being a real push session.

Just keep in mind you don't want rubber legs when you hit the outdoor pavement.

[Selkie]

I confess to having survived 5+ hrs on the trainer (Spinervals Hardcore 100). I usually ride more than an hour/90 minutes at a time on it, but I'm always doing Spinervals while on the trainer. Don't enjoy it half as much as being outside but I don't want to lose my cycling fitness over the winter. I've found that slogging it out inside on the trainer makes me a stronger rider and improves my technique. Credit goes to Coach Troy, though. Without Spinervals, which provides ready-made workouts, I couldn't put in that sort of time on the trainer.

In addition, I'm still able to swim throughout the winter, which really helps, and this year, I've rediscovered a love of Powerstrike (I have several of the DVDs).

I understand why people are loathe to ride on a trainer, though. Winter's a good time to crosstrain---try rowing, kickboxing, focus on weight training, etc. I really can't wait for warmer temps/clearer pavement. There is so much salt still on the roads that I'm putting off riding outside until after a good rain washes some of it away.

[HillSlugger]

It's no different from riding in the flatlands ... if there are no elevation changes and no turns, you never change your position on the saddle and it gets uncomfortable pretty quickly.

Lots of LBS's have group trainer/roller sessions in the wintertime, helps break the monotony anyway, and you get to ride your own bike instead of those ill-fitting things they have in the gyms.

I discovered this summer how truly hard it is riding in the flatlands, but at least there is some capacity for coasting and the bike moves around under you to move the pressure points around a little bit.