Which Spinervals for a desert isle?

[fixedgeargirl]

You know, you're cast on a desert isle and can only take one Spinervals DVD with you, which would it be?

I am asking b/c I got a trainer, dropped the gym membership, and have limited funds to put toward this. I guess I am asking what is the best Spinervals for all-around bike fitness? I would hope to grow my collection eventually, but wonder where to start. TIA, ladies !

[Veronica]

Probably No Slackers. It seems to have the most variety. It's not my fave - that would be Zoot Challenge.

V.

[Selkie]

Hillacious. Fun and tough. This one has really helped my hill climbing---I'm "chicking" guys on hills much more frequently since I've been doing this one.

Of course, the old standby favorite, Have Mercy (the original). You can break that one into mini-workouts since it's 2 hours long. Loads of variety, too.

[Veronica]

I guess I need to do Hillacious this afternoon. I've had it for two weeks and it's still in the shrink wrap.

V.

[allabouteva]

Where do you get these DVDs? I'm not sure my LBS carries them. I'd have to get them through the 'net, as I live downunder.

[SadieKate]

http://www.spinervals.com/

I like both Uphill Grind and No Slackers. It's kind of a toss up. Ok, give the edge to Uphill Grind just because it's easier to gear down if I want an easier work out but harder to convince myself to work harder if ECT isn't there to abuse me.

[Selkie]

SK---No cheating on your gears! Those hard parts of UHG (haha, what an accurate acroynm) are only 4 minutes long!! Do you have Hillacious? Now there's a quad burner :-)

[SadieKate]

Why not? If you only have the one tape, you have to "cheat" on your gears to have the appropriate variety to your workout day by day.

[Veronica]

SK---No cheating on your gears! Those hard parts of UHG (haha, what an accurate acroynm) are only 4 minutes long!! Do you have Hillacious? Now there's a quad burner :-)

Hillacious has an awful lot of rest after each interval. I had to really keep an eye on my HR to make sure it didn't drop too far in the four minute rest sections.

I do like the simulated rolling hills.

V.

[slinkedog]

I think Hillacious needs to be on my birthday list. I still can't do No Slackers, especially since I SAG'd on the Cindy.

[CR400]

Actually I'm partial to the time trial DVDs. I also have uphill grind and Big Gear strength.

[Selkie]

Why not? If you only have the one tape, you have to "cheat" on your gears to have the appropriate variety to your workout day by day.

Girl, I was just teasing you!! Actually, a friend of mine does the tape using her puppy (granny) gear when she wants a recovery workout.

[VenusdeVelo]

It's hard to say which one, because he has 2 types...he has sets of DVDs that are for (off-season) aerobic and endurance (base) building training and then he has DVDs more geared towards getting ready right before the season starts where you are doing more true interval sets (harder, ~85% MHR) and anaerobic work. Ie, once you've gotten your aerobic base set, you can work on the next level. This is not the same as his differentiation between "Fitness" and "Competition" -- I find I mix alot between his Fitness and Comp series of DVDs.

So if you want all around, works for more aerobic -- try his newer aerobic training DVDs (Aero Base Builders, there are 5 of them, one is a compilation). Most are 1+ hour in length and there are alot of sets you can tailor to your liking. Otherwise, if you want routines to challenge you beyond base aerobic training, try some of the others like Lean and Mean, Sweating Buckets, No Mercy, Uphill Grind etc.

Lastly, I just tried his Irongirls DVD, and if you want a good cycling (aerobic, up to lactate threshold) and strength circuit combo in about an hour, it's great and challenging. You do need a set of dumbells and a ball, along with your bike of course. A very good all-around type of workout.

Or, look for a great sale !!!

[traveller_62]

I think "Have Mercy" is a good choice because you can get either a one or two hour workout from a single DVD and it has a good variety of intervals.

You might check EBay --- might be able to get some used DVDs or VHS tapes more cheaply than new.

[madisongrrl]

Lastly, I just tried his Irongirls DVD, and if you want a good cycling (aerobic, up to lactate threshold) and strength circuit combo in about an hour, it's great and challenging. You do need a set of dumbells and a ball, along with your bike of course. A very good all-around type of workout.

Or, look for a great sale !!!

Yup, its a good full body workout. I usually mute the tv cause I'm not a fan of Coach Troy's banter and turn up the ipod and it makes for a good, fun aerobic workout. I've found stability balls as cheap as $10 at Walmart and they have some pretty cheap dumbells also. I, for the life of me, can not rock 10lb weights like some of those Ironchicks do. I'm in the 3-5lb range....especially at the end of the workout because my arms are toast.