How do you keep sane on your trainer?

[flatclimb]

Hello,

It's that time of the year again in most places for everyone to be on their trainers again.

So my question is how much does everyone use theirs in the off season?

And

What are some tips for keeping motivated that you use?

So far I've found that having a fan blowing in front of me helps so I can pretend I'm leading the peleton of imaginary cyclists. Also keeps me cool of course.

 

[180mmCrank]

Twice a week for 60 -90 mins

I have a Tacx Flow - with a good display of power, pulse, cad etc That helps a bit. I have a mirror? Not because i like looking at myself but I find it good to keep an eye on my posture. Then having a structured wokout - not too ADD - I struggle a bit with Gym Bunny Spin classes where you change position, pace, resistance every 45 seconds - but having 60-90 minutes with pace or resistance changing every few minutes seems to help focus. i havea bunch of such workouts - and they are not hard to come by.

I go through phases of playing music, watching videos, movies... listening to the radio or just listening to my own thoughts. I do find sometimes having nothing works as well as anything else.

The best one for me is old cycling dvd's - I have a best of Tour dvd i got free with a magazine once - it's full of classic mountain top duals. I love it.

Hope this helps - I am sure others will have some suggestions.

 

[Oldman]

You don't. You create an alternate universe of fans, video and music stimulation. The more you do it the more your friends think you are insane. And you are but you'll get fit.

 

[forty four]

Hello,

It's that time of the year again in most places for everyone to be on their trainers again.

So my question is how much does everyone use theirs in the off season?

And

What are some tips for keeping motivated that you use?

So far I've found that having a fan blowing in front of me helps so I can pretend I'm leading the peleton of imaginary cyclists. Also keeps me cool of course.

im a cali boy but lived in idaho for two years when there i assumed all racers rode through the winter so thats what i did 200+ miles a week all winter climbs etc.. in spring i found that they dont ride out as much in winter. i won all the spring races lol. i dont drive anymore for me i would rather ride in the cold than sit on a trainer simple choice for me.

 

[forty four]

You don't. You create an alternate universe of fans, video and music stimulation. The more you do it the more your friends think you are insane. And you are but you'll get fit.

yeah but you will get even more fit out on the road riding suffering alone not to mention its good for mental state.

 

[elapid]

I live in Ottawa, Canada, and spend too much time in the basement for my liking. But I still do it and put 3000km on the trainer last winter.

I find intervals are a good way of maintaining fitness and the intensity of the workout tends to make the time pass more quickly compared to a recovery or an endurance session. I typically do 2-3 45-75 minute interval sessions, one 90-150 minute endurance session, and 2-3 30-45 minute recovery sessions per week. I will get out on my cyclocross bike as much as possible, but also cross-train with skating, XC skiing, yoga and climbing.

I cannot cycle to music alone. I buy the professional road races on DVD from World Cycling Productions. I typically buy the spring classics, TdF and Giro, but I only buy them if the races were worthwhile watching. For instance, I did not buy the 2009 TdF because it was such a yawn fest. I now have a good library of cycling DVDs dating back to 2005 to get me through the Canadian winter. I also watch other cycling movies such as A Sunday in Hell, Hell on Wheels, Overcoming, Detour de France, Road to Roubaix, Stars and Watercarriers, The Impossible Hour, La Course en Tete, and the Greatest Show on Earth. And then I watch other sports (cricket, rugby, surfing) and any old DVD.

I typically watch races during interval sessions and movies during endurance and recovery sessions.

I have thought about investing in either the Tacx or Elite trainer systems with their real life and interactive racing DVDs, but have not done so yet for various reasons (costs, bugs, and non-Mac systems).

 

[Altitude]

Already time to get on the trainer again? I must be behind schedule

 

[elapid]

Already time to get on the trainer again? I must be behind schedule

2C max, 40km/h winds and snow today. The trainer was actually a much more attractive alternative.

Jens Factor 3:

I ask myself what would Jens do, and then realize why he is a hard as nails professional and I will forever be a never was has been!

 

[flatclimb]

Already time to get on the trainer again? I must be behind schedule

Well it's that time here, we've got snow in the forecast. Another thing I've been working a lot and hours are unpredictable. I used to be able to set at least a few hours a side to ride every day..now not so much. And with the trainer it's nice to know I can get a work out in at 11pm.

 

[180mmCrank]

I was told once that Christian Meier when he was living in Langley, BC would spend 4-5 hours sat on a trainer in a basement with no windows and no music just himself for company.

That would drive me crazy

 

[Altitude]

Well it's that time here, we've got snow in the forecast. Another thing I've been working a lot and hours are unpredictable. I used to be able to set at least a few hours a side to ride every day..now not so much. And with the trainer it's nice to know I can get a work out in at 11pm.

What I meant is that the off season has really just begun (unless you're racing cross). Suffering through indoor training sessions now would be helpful if I was looking to peak in February.

 

[Oldman]

yeah but you will get even more fit out on the road riding suffering alone not to mention its good for mental state.

See Elapid's response...that and it's usually tough to go hard in the dark.

 

[180mmCrank]

yeah but you will get even more fit out on the road riding suffering alone not to mention its good for mental state.

You could always ride your trainer out in the yard - in the dark, rain, snow, cold (delete or add as applicable)

 

[usedtobefast]

because it feels good when you stop.
bike racing is a sufferfest, so train yourself to 'Really Suffer'
like festivus, but suffervus. happy holidays

 

[brianf7]

I use Trainer Mic it is a programe that hooks up the bike to your computer microphone fitting it shows power speed cadence but better you can hook up on the internet and have a race with someone on the other side of the world.
Not perfect nor fool proof but fun
http://www.trainermic.com

 

[180mmCrank]

I use Trainer Mic it is a programe that hooks up the bike to your computer microphone fitting it shows power speed cadence but better you can hook up on the internet and have a race with someone on the other side of the world.
Not perfect nor fool proof but fun
http://www.trainermic.com

Anyone else used this? Does it work?

T

 

[lostintime]

Embrace the cold. TV, radio, computers .... it's all junk to pacify us. It doesn't work for me.

At the least, I take my rollers outside and ride there. This year I'll be riding on some rails-to-trails even in the snow. It's dead flat.... but so is any trainer or rollers. I'll be outside, where we are supposed to be. No road chemicals all over me and the bike either. Riding indoors is pure hell... Get a cross bike, or anything you can get some knobbies on and find somewhere you can ride safely.

 

[marathon marke]

Embrace the cold. TV, radio, computers .... it's all junk to pacify us. It doesn't work for me.

At the least, I take my rollers outside and ride there.

LOL I thought I was the only one crazy enough to do this! My new neighbors are in for a surprise.

This year I'll be riding on some rails-to-trails even in the snow. It's dead flat.... but so is any trainer or rollers. I'll be outside, where we are supposed to be. No road chemicals all over me and the bike either.

Good point about the lack of road junk. But our R-T-T are also used by XC skiers.

Riding indoors is pure hell... Get a cross bike, or anything you can get some knobbies on and find somewhere you can ride safely.

I have rollers and a stationary trainer, but ONLY as a last resort.

 

[Clearly Unstable]

I was told once that Christian Meier when he was living in Langley, BC would spend 4-5 hours sat on a trainer in a basement with no windows and no music just himself for company.

That would drive me crazy

1+ but I turn the light out and just embrace the pain in the dark. No traffic, no wind, just a perfectly controlled work out. I love my time on a trainer. 3 hours is about my max tho.

 

[David Suro]

+1 for riding the rollers out on the porch

I prefer "mental preparation" for trining rides in the form of some medicinal herbs that help calm the brain. I find it is best to get dressed in riding gear, pump the tired, set-up the rollers, then begin mental preparation right before hopping on the bike.

Spin sprints on the rollers are a great way to improve cadence and pedaling efficiency. I warm up for 5 minutes then do repeats of 30 seconds at maximal cadence followed by 90 seconds of easy spinning. Changing cadence to increase the physical challenge helps maintain what is left of sanity.

Music definately helps, too. I prefer silly 80's pop when on the rollers. A guilty pleasure. Winding up the cadence to a point where it really hurts while blaring Culture Club, the Go-Go's, Musical Youth, or Dexy's Midnight Runners is a good time, for sure.

 

[94condor]

Suffering in front of the TV

In the Bay Area the weather isn't bad enough to resort to indoor stuff - even though it is raining all this weekend - but when I lived in London I would occasionally load up old recordings of the Tour or anything else I had taped off Eurosport (back in VHS days, mind). Not only was it the only time I would ever watch them, but I would go harder when the race was going uphill and so on, to break up the monotony.

 

[JRTinMA]

I bought a Computrainer a few years ago, it made indoor training so much more fun. Different courses and any race or climb in the world you can think of available on the ol' interwebs. I picked up a cheap 32 inch Samsung and put that just above my PC monitor. I can ride for a couple hours and not go nuts.

 

[craig1985]

I live in Ottawa, Canada, and spend too much time in the basement for my liking. But I still do it and put 3000km on the trainer last winter.

I find intervals are a good way of maintaining fitness and the intensity of the workout tends to make the time pass more quickly compared to a recovery or an endurance session. I typically do 2-3 45-75 minute interval sessions, one 90-150 minute endurance session, and 2-3 30-45 minute recovery sessions per week. I will get out on my cyclocross bike as much as possible, but also cross-train with skating, XC skiing, yoga and climbing.

I cannot cycle to music alone. I buy the professional road races on DVD from World Cycling Productions. I typically buy the spring classics, TdF and Giro, but I only buy them if the races were worthwhile watching. For instance, I did not buy the 2009 TdF because it was such a yawn fest. I now have a good library of cycling DVDs dating back to 2005 to get me through the Canadian winter. I also watch other cycling movies such as A Sunday in Hell, Hell on Wheels, Overcoming, Detour de France, Road to Roubaix, Stars and Watercarriers, The Impossible Hour, La Course en Tete, and the Greatest Show on Earth. And then I watch other sports (cricket, rugby, surfing) and any old DVD.

I typically watch races during interval sessions and movies during endurance and recovery sessions.

I have thought about investing in either the Tacx or Elite trainer systems with their real life and interactive racing DVDs, but have not done so yet for various reasons (costs, bugs, and non-Mac systems).

You make me glad that I live on the Gold Coast. Sure it gets cold (by our standards, and yes it does drop below 5 degrees ), but you can still get out and ride, you may need some warm clothing, but that is about it.

 

[Boeing]

I cant go more than 45 min ever. Rollers or trainer

music, sport center.... all just tempo for base too

Fortunately the climate we live in here allows for night rides. although chilly they are not freeze outs

 

[hiero2]

How do you keep sane on your trainer?

Sane? Why would you worry about that? Meh, rollers don't bother me!

MUAAAHAHHHAHAhahahahahahahaaaaaaa. !

hehehe.