Training & Nutrition - First week on a Trainer.. thoughts...

well I got a new Minoura Mag Trainer for Xmas, after reading all the pros and cons of a trainer here in the forums... I mostly wanted one to keep my strength and endurance up in the winter months, since it is too dark to ride when I get home, and with the El Nino coming this year, I figure on it being fairly wet a good portion of the time...

So far, I like it, the only downside is the boredom... I turn on my radio, and a fan, and just start pedaling... the first few times I wussed out after 30 minutes or so... last night though I had a breakthrough... if I pedal for the first 30 minutes.... get off the bike for about a minute or so, stretch, maybe adjust the tension on the trainer, I get back on and feel like I can go for another 20 or 30 minutes easy... last night i did a total of 45 minutes, and could have probably done more, but it was starting to get later and I had a few things to do before bed... I remember when i was first starting to get back in shape, i had the same sorta thing with running... the first mile or so was sheer pain and work, but after that I could run for 3 or 4 more miles without any problems... Is this a normal thing ?? Am I gonna have to work thru the 30 minute wall everytime ?? I've been trying to work mostly on base miles, with adding a few intervals here and there.. mostly thru the choruses of the songs...

Any else have a problem with "the wall" ?

Jeff

Originally posted by SipperPhoto
Any else have a problem with "the wall" ?

Jeff

Yup - riding the trainer is boring. However, I turn on the idiot box and play a little game to break up the staleness. I try and ride a steady pace while seated. Then, on every commercial TV break, I get up our of the saddle, and pound the pedals for 2 minutes.

I also pedal with one leg, change gears and shift around on the bike. This seems to help somewhat.

Hi Jeff,

When I start a ride on my trainer I am in my smallest gear and I listen to a mp3 player of my favorite music. After each song I increase the gear and cadence. After about 15 minutes I find I'm warmed up and can really increase the gear and cadence and hold it for an hour. After about an hour the mental boredom factor weighs in and I have to quit.
Happy New Year!
Yvonne

Training videos, like the Spinervals series, go a long way toward relieving boredom.

Company helps too. My bike club holds weekly trainer rides at the LBS during the winter.

Originally posted by SipperPhoto
I turn on my radio ...
I've tried the radio and TV but get bored or distracted too easily.
So I bought an MP3 player and download the songs I want to hear. I vary the "tempo" of the music. Start with something sort of slow to warm up. Then mix the music for fast rides, sprints, recovery, etc. And there are no commercials. :D

It takes some getting used to riding in the garage, basement, LR, BR, wherever. I've finally worked up to 1 hour but most nights I do 30-45 minutes. Not a lot but it's better than 0 minutes.

Just do what works for you - music, TV, games, cycling videos, ...

So far, I like it, the only downside is the boredom... I turn on my radio, and a fan, and just start pedaling...

Truly, truly try the Spinervals.com videos. At least that is the answer for me. The 45 minutes just slides right on by - a whole lot of interval training, variance in cadence, ratios, and appropriate rest periods. The Clydesdales is a good starter. Justs the frequent changes makes the time go by.

To make it harder, I just set the tension up on the trainer.

Do Spinervals. The time flies by when I do those.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18419&highlight=trainer+workouts

I like to use the training videoes and like to just do my own thing while watching a movie.

The Atkins diet ain't easy. I've been on reduced carbs for three days, but I went to a party last night with buffet. Pecan pie and key lime pie attacked me, and I relented. Tomorrow will be a better day! :mad:

just pop a TdF tape in the machine,
it will keep you spinning.
Agree also that Spinervals, Cyclerobix etc.
are good for passing time (and training ain't bad
either!).

Marty

I generally warm up about 15 minutes on a 53 x 17 gear. Resistance level close to or more than what I usually experience on the road. After that, switch to 53 x 16 and spin around 80 to 85 rpm. Throughout the whole time (2 hours) I keep my LTHR at upper 80% to lower 90%. In between hours, I eat a banana. Of course, watching the TDF 2001 10 hours version DVD HELPS a lot. I find the mountain stage coverages to be excellent since they are so long. I tried the 5 hours version DVD on 2002 TDF and it didn't motivate me to ride longer on the trainer.

Originally posted by SipperPhoto
Any else have a problem with "the wall" ?

Only when I don't pay attention
and ride off the rollers :lol:

Seriously, sometimes I think it would be nice to be
able to sit up, take a drink, stretch etc. but I still
find myself to unsteady on the rollers. Sure I can
drink, but one hand on the bar, one eye on the
front rollers so I don't ride off.
They tell me I'll get to a point where I can
ride without hands on rollers, still not there.

Marty

I rode mine last winter for about 1 month before it went to storage. It is soooooo monotonous, I just couldn't stay with it. It's an excellent workout if you can do it. RegularGuy's suggestion above sounds good, I think in a group setting it would be much more tolerable.

Heya'll..

Thanks for all the suggestions... I find that if I warm up a bit, get off the bike for 5 minutes, then go on again... I've been doing pretty good... just started mixing in some interval stuff (thanks a lot to Velo, you are da bomb !) it is still a little boring.. but I'm working on getting the time up there.. did about 45 minutes the other night and felt pretty good... just crank the radio, and turn on the fan, and roll on....

I haven't tried rollers yet... just looking at them kinda freaks me out :-)

Jeff

Here is my answer to trainer boredom



TurboVids (http://users.pandora.be/phil.stone/Library.htm)http://users.pandora.be/phil.stone/images/Galibier/galibier-shad.jpg

i alternately use spinervals, movies, football games (pedal hard interval when your team has the ball & really get on top of the gear when the play is occuring) and spin lightly when the other team has the ball.

Basketball: same type of interval, i add a gear with every possession change, spinning lightly when the other team has the ball and going harder when my team has the ball.

Sometimes i use the sensory deprevation method. i turn out all the lights making the basement completely dark, with no music or t.v. --> you'd be suprised the concentrating and smooth spin you can get by using this method.

I put a book on the handlebars and read, if I'm just doing spinning.