I can't be the only one...

[Owlie]

...who thinks riding on a trainer is harder and more uncomfortable than the road, right?
I'm fine for three hours on the road/trail. Fifteen minutes on the trainer is about my limit. Part of that I can put down to not having ridden since it got cold, but gah! I'm getting saddle-related discomfort and overheat way too easily. I must remember to get out of the saddle occasionally and open the window before I start.

Okay, done whining now.

[radacrider]

Nope, I can't do more than maybe 45-50 minutes, which includes warm up and cool down periods. To survive:

• Use a fan
• Drape a towel over the handlebars to catch sweat
• Only used trainer to do intervals - 3 minutes top hard effort, 3 minutes cool down effort, repeat about 5-6 sets
• Used for single leg spinning practice, switching legs

Could never do just pushing gears, no amount of tunes or TV could keep me on the trainer.

[yetigooch]

I agree, trainers are hard to ride on. I think it's the sheer boredom of not going anywhere that's tough. When riding, the scenery, the wind in your face, etc makes riding longer easier.

[Mr. Bloom]

I keep a Y membership for wintertime use...at least it offers a hubbub of interesting people to break the monotony of "stationary motion". I've never to taken to either of my trainers...

[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.

[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!

[ridebikeme]

Like Selkie, I have spent many hours on the trainer. I have also been riding a trainer for 25+ years... it seems to be life in the state of Maine.

With that said, I would definitely use a fan to keep you from over heating... and perhaps two if you should feel that you need it. If you have a room, basement, garage that is a bit cooler, then perhaps that would be more comfortable. With the shop offering trainer classes for awhile now,; I've noticed that people are way more comfortable if the room isn't above 55 degrees. It may be a bit cool to start, but it isn't long before you are warmed up and needing a fan.

Now for the motivation piece... some people watch tv/movies etc... Some use training DVD's . Personally I can't use tv, because I find myself pedaling too slow. I do watch lots of pro races on DVD'S, and lots of training DVD'S. I also have set my trainer in a room where there are lots of trophies, medals, and those will guilt me into riding. ( and yes there are days that I need that HA!)You can do the same thing with great photos, race numbers etc... I find the first half hour is the hardest, but it gets better after that. Do you have a goal for the upcoming season? Race? Tour? Charity ride? Those can be the carrot at the end of the stick for motivation as well. Write down in a log or the computer, how long you rode, time, how you felt,sleep the night before, and other things going on at the time... are you working late? Didn't get enough sleep? How's your diet? Writing things down can be a way for you to track yourself, but also it tends to give people that extra encouragement that we all need from time to time. And lastly, play games with yourself on the trainer... how long can you stand? Pedal with one leg? etc... Do you have any friends that you could train with from time to time?

Good luck with your training! If you are able to stay on the trainer over the winter, you will be grateful in spring, and be rewarded for your hard work!



http://chasecyclery.blogspot.com

[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"

[arielmoon]

I totally agree. I detest mine. I much prefer the rollers but even that is not like the road. I am looking forward to some weekend riding with warmer weather!!