Training & Nutrition - Cycleops vs road biking with HRM

I just got a Cycleops fluid 2 trainer. I also got a Heart rate monitor.
With a given bike, is there data comparing trainer speed and cadence with road speed and cadence, using HRM as a gage?

I doubt that they are really comparable. On an indoor trainer you have completed eliminated about 1001 of the elements that you have to deal with on road, from different asphalt friction to WIND to the effects of roads, etc.

Many say that you can get a much more complete workout on a trainer (and that 1 hr of trainer time can be equated to 1.5~2 hours of riding time). If only riding a trainer staring at the wall was not sooooooo boring!

I doubt that they are really comparable. On an indoor trainer you have completed eliminated about 1001 of the elements that you have to deal with on road, from different asphalt friction to WIND to the effects of roads, etc.

Many say that you can get a much more complete workout on a trainer (and that 1 hr of trainer time can be equated to 1.5~2 hours of riding time). If only riding a trainer staring at the wall was not sooooooo boring!

Pete:
The reason I started this thread is as follows:
I have a flat Prairie path which is 22 miles round trip. There are a bunch of stop signs where I need to slow down but most of the time not stop. Peddling hard on a 30 lb. Trek Hybrid with 700 x 25 tires, My PR is 60 minutes.

Now I bought this Cycleops 2 and find my-selves struggling at 16 MPH and 100 RPM. My HR goes to over 140 after half an hour and I sweat like a pig.

So I wonder what that all means?
:(

It means that you are working hard and getting into better shape! You did not mention where your HR goes on your bike ride...

Usually you will work harder on a trainer (exactly for the reasons you mention - no stop signs, no wind, etc), and the resistance on a Cycleops (so I am told) is quite effective. So keep at it on your trainer and you will see improvements on the road.

I continue to say that it is difficult, if not impossible to compare your performance on road and on a trainer. Compare like with like! Hope this helps.

And happy riding, both indoor and in the real world!

It means that you are working hard and getting into better shape! You did not mention where your HR goes on your bike ride...

Usually you will work harder on a trainer (exactly for the reasons you mention - no stop signs, no wind, etc), and the resistance on a Cycleops (so I am told) is quite effective. So keep at it on your trainer and you will see improvements on the road.

I continue to say that it is difficult, if not impossible to compare your performance on road and on a trainer. Compare like with like! Hope this helps.

And happy riding, both indoor and in the real world!

Pete:
The weather in Illinois is not cooperating this weekend. No chance to try the HR Monitor on the bike except the boooring trainer. Thanks for your comments, it helps.

The "mph" figure on a trainer is complete fantasy - ignore it. I can ride all day on my rollers and it's unusual that I get more than an inch from where I started. There's no mph there. 22 mph average over a real-world course on that bike is excellent.

The "sweat like a pig" thing is different -- you need a fan.

The "mph" figure on a trainer is complete fantasy - ignore it. I can ride all day on my rollers and it's unusual that I get more than an inch from where I started. There's no mph there. 22 mph average over a real-world course on that bike is excellent.

The "sweat like a pig" thing is different -- you need a fan.

lws:
If I understand you right, Trainer to Road cannot be correlated?
Yes, I will get a fan Today. The sweating is ridiculous.
Thanks.

I have a Fluid 2 trainer as well, and it is quite effective. It is excellent for intervals, and has made a big impact on my road performance.

If anyone gets bored on the trainer, get a few Chris Carmichael DVDs and it'll solve that problem. The Time Trial DVD really kicks your butt....it's good stuff. The mtn bike one is good too, although I want to get the two climbing DVDs. Should be a very productive winter.

lws:
If I understand you right, Trainer to Road cannot be correlated?
Yes, I will get a fan Today. The sweating is ridiculous.
Thanks.

Not directly. It's better to concentrate on things like HR versus speed anyways as you MPH is dependent on so many more factors when on the road.

I just got a Cycleops fluid 2 trainer. I also got a Heart rate monitor.
With a given bike, is there data comparing trainer speed and cadence with road speed and cadence, using HRM as a gage?

Can't really correlate the speed between the trainer and the road. But, I have a Kurt Kinetic for indoor work and used a HR monitor for both racing and training. So, I used the monitor this past weekend at a cross race to see what numbers I get then I will use those numbers for the trainer.
So, I spoke to one of guys on my team who is a coach and he gave me some trainer intervals to work on.

I have a Fluid 2 trainer as well, and it is quite effective. It is excellent for intervals, and has made a big impact on my road performance.

If anyone gets bored on the trainer, get a few Chris Carmichael DVDs and it'll solve that problem. The Time Trial DVD really kicks your butt....it's good stuff. The mtn bike one is good too, although I want to get the two climbing DVDs. Should be a very productive winter.


Thanks for the post.
I just came back from back to back centuries on Wisconsin R to T.
The trainer is supposed to make me a better long distance biker if that is possible.
I did the 100 miles in 6 hours on lime stone, hybrid bike (over 30 lb.), 700 x 38 tires.
There was a little help from wind.
I like to use the trainer and HRM to improve that a bit if possible. What do you think?
(training for a big tour in spring 2006)

Not directly. It's better to concentrate on things like HR versus speed anyways as you MPH is dependent on so many more factors when on the road.

Thanks for the post and I understand.
I do not have access to a sports doctor. I just bike a lot. I am also 63 and mildly concern of overdoing things.
On one hand, there are bikers of my age on this forum who race and there are others who urge caution.
My HRM showed 170 on one considerable effort. I was fishing around if that is excessive. I have always pushed my limits and I am not aware of any health problems.
So my limit is pain and exhaustion and false nutrition.
Any comments?

Can't really correlate the speed between the trainer and the road. But, I have a Kurt Kinetic for indoor work and used a HR monitor for both racing and training. So, I used the monitor this past weekend at a cross race to see what numbers I get then I will use those numbers for the trainer.
So, I spoke to one of guys on my team who is a coach and he gave me some trainer intervals to work on.

Thank you for responding.
Are you willing to share that information? Unfortunately I have no access to such bikers. There is plenty of info on this forum but that takes a lot of sorting out.

Well, what I learned from the two races is that my threshold is around 164 bpm. So, the coach said that go hard for 30 seconds then slight backoff the effort and hold it for 5 minutes. Recover then repeat.
However, this type of interval work is for cross, which emphasizes high intensity for short periods of time (< 5 minutes).
Remember, everyone has a different threshold so the my numbers may not be applicable. If you really want to find out what your threshold is then find someone who has some coaching background and ask that person about doing a Conconi test.

Well, what I learned from the two races is that my threshold is around 164 bpm. So, the coach said that go hard for 30 seconds then slight backoff the effort and hold it for 5 minutes. Recover then repeat.
However, this type of interval work is for cross, which emphasizes high intensity for short periods of time (< 5 minutes).
Remember, everyone has a different threshold so the my numbers may not be applicable. If you really want to find out what your threshold is then find someone who has some coaching background and ask that person about doing a Conconi test.

Thanks, good enough.
:)
There are books on that subject and I will have to read them. :(