I can't be the only one...

[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.

[HoosierGiant]

I hate, hate, hate winter in central Indiana! (But then, I'm one of those people who isn't warm until it's 80 degrees outside.) I do, however, eagerly anticipate the ice-covered, grit-smothered roads because then I can use the trainer. I love, love, love my trainer!

Just spinning doesn't do it for me though, and that's where evil Coach Troy comes in. We own quite a few of the Spinervals DVD's, so I have plenty of 'poison' to pick from. The two- and three-hour workouts are my favorites -- obviously I have issues, so perhaps you might not want to trust anything I have to say. For inspiration I also like to ride during telecasts of Hawaii Ironman.

If not using a DVD, I'll do one-legged drills, intervals, or a simulated hill workout -- anything to change things up.

We own two trainers, so DH and I will ride together sometimes -- reduces the monotony and introduces a little competitive spirit. A cycling friend of ours brings his trainer/bike several times a month, and we even added a fourth cyclist once. It was a little crowded, and we had three fans running, but it was a blast!

It also helps to have a long-range goal in mind to entice me to use the trainer. We do RAIN (160 miles) every July, so I have to maintain my distance base over the winter months. We do Michigan Mountain Mayhem (130 miles of hills) in early June, and there's no way I'd be ready for that without some gut-busting workouts on the trainer.

I must agree though -- trainer miles are hard miles -- but it's oh so easy when the weather cooperates and we can hit the roads!

[Mr. Bloom]

I hate, hate, hate winter in central Indiana! (But then, I'm one of those people who isn't warm until it's 80 degrees outside.)

After a month below freezing and with snow on the ground for the last two weeks, TOMORROW IT WILL BE 61! I'm going for a ride...rain or not!

Tell Mr. HG I said "hi"