Bike Trainer very different from the road

[hgrill02]

Hi everyone! I got my bike trainer in today and was so excite, put it together and hoped on. Phew! It was so hard, maybe I have my tension too tight or do I want it that way? I could hardly go five minutes before stopping!

Also does anyone have any spinning training suggestions?

Thanks!!!

H

[DebW]

Some trainers have adjustable tension via a knob or dial. Some you just use your gears to change the level of effort. Start on an easy gear where you can pedal at a moderate to high cadence without wearing ourself out.

[Wahine]

Yes, using a trainer is very different from riding on the road. DebW's advice is excellent. You also need to take into account what kind of trainer you have. If there is a drum that applies resistance to the surface of the wheel, how hard you tension the drum to the wheel also makes a difference. You want just enough tension to rotate the drum smoothly without you wheel slipping on the surface.

I like to use the Spinerval DVDs but they are not easy. I also like to work on cadence on the trainer. My warm-up consists of slowly building up my RPM by 5 every minute until I can't go any faster and I'm sweating like a pig, that usually happens at 115 RPM this time of year but gets progressively better. This warm-up is a great lead in to any workout.

The other thing to keep in mind is that you do not get any coasting time on a trainer, so the general rule f thumb is that 40 to 45 min on a trainer is about equivilant to 1 hour outside in terms of muscular effort. So you should adjust your saddle time accordingly.

Try searching the web for different workouts, Bicycling mag usually publishes some trainer workouts this time of year.

have fun and mix it up or it will get really boring really fast.

[caligurl]

ya.... i hate my trainer with a passion! i think i've used it 2 or 3 times in the last 2 1/2 years!

[Wahine]

ya.... i hate my trainer with a passion! i think i've used it 2 or 3 times in the last 2 1/2 years!

Hey Caligurl,

What kind of trainer is it and would you be willing to sell it?

My hubby needs one so we can ride and watch movies together.

It so happens we'll be in LA next week.

Wahine

[Geonz]

Oh, dear... no, it's not anything like riding on the road

It *is* a lot harder - you get much more sweat per hour.

I rely on either a video (at the bike shop inside rides) or DRIVING MUSIC in the background.

[caligurl]

hi wahine... well... no doubt as soon as i sold it... i'd want to use it! it's just one of those thing! hubby's always trying to get me on it to do spinervals or carmichaels... but it has SUCH a dread factor! lol!!!!

(by the ways.... it's a cycleops fluid 2.... but as i said..... right now i'm not selling )

[hgrill02]

THanks for your responses! Good to know I was not as out of shape as I thought althought I have a LONG Way to go. Has anyone made their own spinning routine along with music? I dont think I could do it without music, and lots of options. Same was with walking for me. I have been looking online for a list of music to spin to with out buying a $30.00 DVD or cd...any suggestions?

Butt hurts after just 30 minutes on it but I'm already addicted! I can't wait to hop back on!

[RoadRaven]

Hey there hg, we have a spin bike set up in the living room.

Although I sometimes need to watch whatever is the telly 'cause that is what others are in the middle of doing, I do two things by preference.

I have DVDs of various tour stages (eg stages of Le Tour - my faves are Lance's TT in 2005 where he passed Ulrich, and the infamous stage from this year where our GEM, Floyd, made his comeback - or stages of various international women's races - my fave is the 2005 Wellington NZ stage when NZ's Sarah Ulmer thrashed everyone else)

Sometimes I will play a race DVD with no sound and put on music real loud... I am a "rock chick" and my fave spin choices include Melissa Etheridge, Indigo Girls, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Osbourne, CCR, ACDC... although sometimes something like Jethro Tull will do the trick.

At the moment I am listening to songs with a view to getting an MP3 and making a "cadence" selection to time trial to. Contrary to my opinion when I first joined up to TE, I now do not think listening to music while cycling on the road is a good plan... however, I have been doing indoor training to music and cycling to the rythym to improve my cadence.

My plan is to create a couple of of 'cadence selections' and then use them to train with, and when I have a TT race, to race with.

I have a couple of Spinerval DVDs on my wish-list due to the way they have been discussed here at TE, but I will need to order them in from overseas.

Have fun finding the best way to train indoors for you

[Wahine]

I'm a big fan of making playlists on my iPod for high cadence workouts.

Rhythm music works really well. If you like world music I would recommend Afrocelt Soundsystem. it's great fro spinning. Salsa and Mambo work well too.

[Jennyfer]

Inspired by this group (& the extra 10 lbs on my behind), I finally broke out my trainer today.

I plugged in a Netflix movie (March of the Penguins), planted my bike/trainer in the living room, and jumped on. I figured if these little penguins can trek miles across the tundra, brave the Antarctic and not eat for 4 months, then I could put in a lousy 1/2 hour on the bike.

It didn't take me long to remember why I hate the trainer so much: its BORING! I miss the road, the wind, the sun, and yes, even the hills. Apparently, I began daydreaming a little too much. Before I knew what hit me, I tipped over and was flailing on the living room floor. My son ran in to the room find out what all the racket was about and asked if he should call 911.

I picked up my bike and what was left of my pride, and hopped back on that horse. Hurry up, Spring!!

[mimitabby]

During these winter months, I try to get on the thing for 1/2 hour at least 1 day a week, sometimes two or three. I hate it too. If I can read something light, i can sit on it and pedal and read at the same time. Mostly I just sit there and watch the odometer on it and when 6 miles add up, I can't stay on a moment longer. Sometimes I get off early (escape!!!) and then go back and finish the rest of the mileage after a few minutes break. Only once was i not able to persevere for the whole 6 or more miles. It really is hard to do, but this weekend in Oregon it proved to be worth it to me, because if it wasn't for the trainer, I would have ridden twice since early november! and there's no way I could have faced those rides. As it was, i was able to do both days of riding and did great climbing both days as well.

I hate it, but it works.

[Veronica]

Spinervals really help make the trainer more exciting.

V.

[KayTee]

Those of you old enough may remember audience participation in the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Our spin group takes a similar approach with Coach Troy and his Spinervals videos. We've memorized a lot of his dialogue and dish it right back to him at strategic spots (CT: "If your legs are hurting..." Group: "IT'S B/C THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO!" etc.). OK, it's lame and bizarre but seems to help combat the boredom. We also alternate Spinervals with some Carmichael workouts for a change in pace. There are 7 of us, so we've all bought and pooled a good number of workout videos.

[Cha Cha]

Oh KayTee, I'm laughing my head off!!! I'm glad you're training toast-free though... but you're giving me the idea to watch RHPS on DVD while I"m on the trainer.

Seriously, though, I've been watching the Tour de France dvds and they are really cool. And I've also found that if I've had a lousy day, just working out the stress makes things go by faster.

Happy trails, everybody!

Cha Cha

Those of you old enough may remember audience participation in the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Our spin group takes a similar approach with Coach Troy and his Spinervals videos. We've memorized a lot of his dialogue and dish it right back to him at strategic spots (CT: "If your legs are hurting..." Group: "IT'S B/C THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO!" etc.). OK, it's lame and bizarre but seems to help combat the boredom. We also alternate Spinervals with some Carmichael workouts for a change in pace. There are 7 of us, so we've all bought and pooled a good number of workout videos.