Trainers...

[L7bb]

Are trainers similar to the workout (or better) than I would get in a spinning class? I have a great bike, but kids at home. If I can bike in my living room and still get a great workout, as well as increase my bike endurance while watching the kids – that is great! Will trainers increase my fitness enough so when I do get my bike outside, it will be just like I had been riding the hills and valleys around my area?

[mimitabby]

go here for a discussion happening now

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=7661

[chickwhorips]

to have more of a "spinning class" at home instead of just spinning your legs, try one of these dvds: http://www.spinervals.com/
we have the sweating buckets and that i do! they have a bunch of different dvds besides that one.

we have another one too but i don't remember which it is.

if you like dvds like that though let me know and i can look up what the other one is.

[makbike]

L7bb:

I purchased a trainer last Nov. and used it 5 - 6 days a week until April when I was able to get back outside to ride. My daily workouts lasted about 1 - 1.5 hours. I would listen to music, read a book, watch TV and simply spin and spin and spin. What I found when I was able to ride outside was that I was quite strong and my endurance was great. I think the advantage to using a trainer is simply this, you never stop spinning so your legs get a very intense workout. I did not purchase any training tapes though I did twice a week join the club for a "trainer tour." They supplied the tape, room, food, etc and we all gathered like a bunch of zombies and pedal our way to absolutely no where! What I did do at home was start with an easy gear in the beginning and gradually, about every 2 - 3 weeks bumb it up a tad so by the end of March my workouts were pretty intense. I know that this winter I will pull my trainer out, hook the bike up and again spend many mindless hours pedaling by way to a stronger season next year.

[SouthernBelle]

I have a couple of suggestions also for training tapes or, in this case, mp3s.

www.cardiocoach.com. These are interval workouts applicable also to an elliptical, stairmaster, or running.

I also use podcasts. At iTunes checkout podrunner and fitpod. These usually run about an hour and are set up at certain # of beats per minute. So, for example, if you want to work at a cadence of 90, you can find a podcast of 180 bpm. These are FREE!! You don't need an ipod. You can download itunes and play it from your computer.

OH, while you are there, check out the fredcast.

[slinkedog]

Love Spinervals, too! They really helped my hill climbing!

[L7bb]

Thanks so much everyone....you answered my questions! This forum rocks....I have learned more about cycling by reading the Women's Cycling Discussion Forums than anywhere else. And I'm HOOKED on cycling. I can't believe people don't do this more often