I can't be the only one...

[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.

[loopybunny]

...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.

Werd...

I was thinking that same thing yesterday. There is no natural shifting of position while on the trainer (like you'd shift when climbing) and I become very uncomfortable very quickly.

[rubywagon]

I just spent a very painful 45 minutes on the trainer. Why do I always feel like I'm going to barf, like I am working so much harder on it? Awful, yet not as bad as not riding at all.

[marni]

since I got a trainer, which I requested, for Christmas, I was relieved to see some positive comments among all of the negative comments. I did an hour the other day and didn't find it too boring, but that is probably because I did the same thing which I do at the gym to work on cardio which is to plug myself into a podrunner intervals podcast, close my eyes and go with the music. I will probably eventually find a way to set up a portable dvd in the garage so that I can do some spinnervals along with the race day video which came with the trainer.

I requested the trainer because due to life changes, I no longer have three or four days free to ride outside. I go in for a training 2x a week, as does my FIL wihci takes up four mornings leaving me one weekday plus the weekend which is usually occupied with chores, taking care of dad etc. Add to that the fact that the weather around here has been really terrible and was terrible all this summer and I am hoping that the trainer will allow me to add an hour of extra work on the short gym days and inbetween things on the weekend.

Time will tell, but one of my new years resolutions is getting the last 15 pounds (for a grand total of -140 pounds) off and keep it off. Since I am reaching the age (63) when the energy seems to drop and muscle loss begins, I am fighting that as a double edged sword as well.

[Miranda]

Think I bought my trainer around xmas 2007. I have ridden it twice maybe. Was just sayin' to someone, I'm going to set it back up again. Just for maybe some shorter spins.

I have a couple DVDs. Yes, you need fan. Rollers would be better, but I fear crashing on my bad wreck shoulder. I'm not getting re-injured "inside", of all things lol.

I teach Spinning at a couple gyms. My current winter schedule is 6 classes a week. I have a lot of students that are outdoor riders and runners this time of year.

I know the spin bikes are different, but there are positives....

When I am riding as a student, I enjoy just closing my eyes, getting into the music, and picturing my favorite road. Sometimes I tune everything out, and just focus on my pedal stroke. No cars, dogs, etc. You have company, and hopefully a motivating great instructor.

I love teaching.

[malkin]

Crashing on (off?) rollers isn't like crashing for real.
You haven't got any momentum, because you aren't moving, so you don't really come down hard like you do on the road.

There's some awkwardness and a tremendous clattering, but really it's about like standing in the garage straddling your bike and then dumping the bike over, except that everything is a little higher, because of the height of the roller. The extra height is in an advantage, because it gives a bit more time to clip out. I've never gotten actually hurt falling from the rollers, a few scrapes, a bit of embarrassment, but that's really it. I always ride in the hall, with the wall quite close on the right. I rarely need it, but I know it's there and I can touch it if I want. The few times I've gone off, I've gotten a foot down and the bike just has tipped over and I end up straddling the bike and rollers and with a little reorganization, I'm good to go.

One time I was in the bath when Brewer crashed off the rollers in the hall and it sounded like the roof had fallen in, but he was laughing, and just got back on.

We've ended up with skid marks on the wall a few times, but they clean off rather easily.

[OakLeaf]

Also a hole burned in your carpet, and/or a flat spot in your tire (btdt)


Been a long time, but I don't think I came off but maybe three times learning to ride rollers. Still, if I had an unstable joint, I might be leery too.

[Catrin]

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"

I think that the roads today in Indiana are going to be full of cyclists. I am SO looking forward to it!

[limewave]

On the trainer you tend to sit in one position for a longer time than if you were outside, it makes it more uncomfortable. You also never get a chance to coast.

Our LBS has computrainer set up with 4 bikes. It's free for club members. I do that once a week. It really helps having friends to ride with. We usually do a 25-30 mile course.

Starting next week I'll be doing group trainer ride with another club taught by one of the local pro's. That should be fun (more fun than riding alone in my basement anyways).

My last ride of the week (I try to get 3/week), I watch a movie and pedal easy. I'm trying to increase my time on the bike. I have yet to do a 2 hr trainer ride.

[pll]

This is the first winter I'm seriously trying to use a trainer consistently. I find it much harder than riding outside, as many of you have mentioned. I have been watching some movies and I also bought the Suffer Fest videos, which were recommended in another thread.

Since the summer, I have been trying to increase my cadence, but I still cannot keep it up above 90 for more than 15 min without an effort that leaves me breathless. Any advice on how to improve on that dimension? Some kind of interval work, perhaps? Not being able to maintain a high cadence makes it hard to follow the Suffer Fest workouts.

Anyway, this morning I was thinking that it would be great if someone came up with wiring/sensors that enabled people to use the trainer with simulations (say a Wii cycling game). Found this, which is not exactly what I had in mind, but it gave some hope: http://usbrider.com/index.htm Wouldn't it be cool if a game console was able to pick up on cadence and gear changes for a game? <of course, being a bit of a luddite, I don't own any game consoles...>

[chicagogal]

I second everyone who said it is so much better to ride indoors with friends/family. Longest trainer ride for me was 3hr 45min, on a computrainer at the LBS. I get in a 3+ hr ride once per week all winter. No way I could do that at home alone. 4days per week total on the trainer for a combination of intervals and endurance rides. Great gains can be made, so it is totally worth it come spring.

[jelee1311]

I do hate the trainer, I feel kinda like a hamster on it. It does allow me to focus and do intervals I wouldn't do outside so I work harder on it. I havnt used mine much this winter but I plan on doing a few days a week after the new year. I have rollers and havnt learned the magic password to make it so I can ride for more than a few mins with out falling off them (even in a hallway). Crashing on them still hurts but is very funny!I plan on mastering rollers by next winter. My DH likes to prove it can be done by riding no handed showoff. I guess trainers and rollers are better than not riding at all but I still don't like them.

[LivetoRide]

I was wanting to ride today but I just got back from a quick trip to Cincinnati tonight! The plan is to do a short ride with some friends tomorrow but the weather isn't supposed to be nearly as nice. Hope you all that got to ride had a nice time.

[Owlie]

I did half an hour on the trainer today--I put an episode of The Thin Blue Line on and just pedaled, with a break to grab water. Whew. It's a problem when you're squirting yourself with water...I had my fan on full-blast too.

I'm wondering if trainer riding means that things that are comfortable on the road aren't and vice versa. Some of the muscles immediately around my knee weren't happy (and this was at a relatively low resistance), and I'm finding that on the trainer, I'm more comfortable in the drops than I am on the hoods. On the road, it's the opposite.

Equally, though, it could be a function of fiddling with saddle position...

[Bike Chick]

I hate the trainer too and DH and I both have one set up in the basement with training DVD's, a fan, towels.......I just have to make myself go down those steps and get on the bike 2-3 times a week. It's sort of like running on a treadmill---UGH! They are both great for training when you can't get outside; better than nothing.