Passing time on the trainer

[NoNo]

When I'm on the road, there's no limit to how long I can ride, mentally anyway. But when I'm stuck on the trainer it's another story. I don't have any cycling videos, so I usually just watch TV while I ride. But I've been finding that I get bored and am all too aware of how long I've been riding based on the commercial breaks. I had yesterday off from work and daytime TV wasn't cutting it, so I picked up my self-teaching Italian book and before I knew it, an hour had gone by! I wasn't trying to do a real hard ride, just going for cardio. Maybe I'll lose those last 5 and become fluent in Italian Got me wondering what some of you do to pass the time when you can't be outside?

[tulip]

I don't have a trainer, but I do take spinning classes. The music makes the hour fly by, so maybe music would help. I like the language idea, though, as I'm plowing through Rosetta Stone spanish these days.

Do you wear a heart rate monitor? I like them because I can focus on being in a target zone for a certain amount of time. It breaks up the workout into sections and it's not so boring.

[Susan126]

Like tulip when I ride indoors it's in one of my gym's spin classes. They are a blast! The instructors always have some great tunes playing on their ipods. They just plug their ipods into the gym's sound system in the spin room and off we go! Many times, to mix things up, our instructors will divide the class in half and we "compete" against each other. But when the side that's doing intervals or sprints is going all out the other half has to cheer them on! The instructors claim it helps to build up the lungs! LOL The hour and sometimes extra minutes (20 - 30 sometimes) zoom by quickly! I come out dripping wet wondering where the time went!

Before I joined the spin classes at my gym this winter I had been using my at home trainer but like NoNo I was bored after 10 minutes. I guess I need the "crowd" to keep me motivated. So far it's working and I've noticed on my outdoor rides on the weekends that my legs feel strong and powerful. I think it's safe to say that I owe this to my spin classes that I've been taking since late October four times a weekday!

[LoriO]

I also found I got to bored and timed crawled by when I road on the trainer in front of the TV. I do better with just my mp3 player and some good rocking music. Time goes by much faster!

[Jo-n-NY]

My limit is 10 miles with music if there is nothing good on TV. One night a week my best friend comes over and we ride trainers together watching TV. That is when it is least boring and the time flies. Sometimes we ride 12 miles.

My idea is to keep it consistant at least a few times a week. This has worked well for me during the years and once I hit the road I was in decent shape, not top shape, but at least I wasn't starting at the beginning again. I also use a treadmill this year for fitness walking and use it on the days that I don't use the trainer. Like the trainer, I walk to music if there is nothing on TV.

~ JoAnn

[NoNo]

I actually just got a HRM for Christmas, but I haven't been aiming to stay in any one particular zone. Perhaps I can try that on the days when I'm pushing harder. I really need to work on controlling that more, I spike with the least bit of exertion. I'll try some music, that generally helps when I'm on the elliptical, but my brain isn't really engaged, so eventually I go back to looking at the time. I can see how being in a gym and having people around would help move things along.

[ridebikeme]

Ohh I appreciate all of your comments ... have been there several times myself! I have been riding the trainer for the past 23 years... that's the fun of living in the Northeast HA! I have tried several different approaches,and have finally come up with something that seems to work.(at least for me) I have turned a spare bedroom into a trainer room. On the walls, I have posters of riders, races/rides that I have either rode in or plan to in the upcoming season. If I'm trying to lose an extra 5 pounds then perhaps I'll find a photo of what I want to look like... all of this of course is for motivation. I also have plenty of trophies or ribbons hanging around to keep the motivation up as well. I do NOT watch regular tv while on the triainer... it's too boring and my pace drops off to that of a snail. Instead, I will watch pro races, use training tapes, watch old cycling movies(Breaking Away, American Flyers)... nothing like seeing others on bikes as well! And finally, I have the trainer set up next to a a window... it reminds me how I need to keep working so that I'll be ready for when the outdoor season starts. The last step is to write down all of your workouts... it seems to give some credibility to all of this madness!

Like someone else has mentioned, it's great to have others join in on rides with you...much more fun and more motivating!

Keep up the good work!

[crazycanuck]

I always brushed off the idea of using a trainer as I can normally cycle year round in Perth (after the rain showers..)..Until i was injured.

Since using the trainer, i've not found it boring.. I have my MP3 player with my fave songs and just keep moving. I don't do any hard work outs on it as i've viewed it as a way to get my legs used to being on the bike. My hard workouts are saved for the pool.

I'm happy I purchased it!

[cyclechick2008]

My gym has DVD players on all the bikes. I catch up on movies. I rent one I haven't seen and only watch it on the bike. It keeps me motivated to go everyday.

Kim

[singletrackmind]

I've been googling up helmet cam rides and ny bike messenger races and stuff like that. I find some decent ones around 10 minutes long each and have them set up to go. I do have to stop pedaling to start each new one but at least I can afford it. The races are the ones that really get me moving.

I did get a free month trial at a local gym-some sort of birthday promotional-so now I'm trying spinning. By the time the trial is over it should be warm enough for the kid to go outside more.