Training & Nutrition - Gumby Legs

If I exercise on my trainer, in the basement, long enough (about 45 min) to make it so that my legs feel 'rubbery' when walking up the stairs, does this mean that I had a good workout?

Even after a 2 hour ride at a moderate pace, my legs don't feel like they're into jello (like they did years ago when I first started).

There's somthing about the fluid trainer that seem to wear out my legs faster.

...does this mean that I had a good workout?



yes

Thanks!
You have a BS in Science, so I will take that as a fact :o

Heh.....I have a CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer, and the first thing I noticed when I started using it versus riding outside, is that it's not a mere "walk in the park" that some people make trainer efforts out to be. Well, if you put any kind of effort into it, anyway. Sure, outside you have hills and such (which you can simulate on a trainer), but you can also coast outside :).

Your best bet is to get a heart rate monitor so you can see what zones you are riding in, and not kill any progress you make by overtraining. Can't ride hard all the time.

With that being said......I have made great improvements by dedicating myself to 1-2 interval sessions per week this winter. I have found the Chris Carmichael series to work very well (for me). I'd like to try the Spinervals series, but currently being out of work, I can't go spend a few hundred bucks on some DVD's :D. If you want to try a real leg (and lung) burner, try Carmichaels' Criterium workout....but only if you're already in fairly decent shape and won't give yourself a heart attack.