Road Bike Racing - Winters in the Midwest . . . and riding trainers . .

Both Suck!

but seriously, I don't even know what I am going to do about racing this year. My Blackburn Trackstand trainer sucks, I don't have any desire to ride it, and it is too damn cold to go outside. And for all that may want to call me a wussy for not riding when the high is in the low 20's . . . I don't care. My first "A" race doesn't come until July, so I will have plenty of time to build a base and prepare (I think, but am not sure). I am also using Friel's book to plan my year and don't begin base for another few weeks, but this weather is really beginning to piss me off. I guess I am just SO frustrated that I can't even get on the bike outside at this point. And did I mention my trainer SUCKS! UUUGGGGGHHHHH! Sorry for the rant :)

Some folks don't ride their trainers because they're too boring.

Some folks don't train when it's too cold out.

Some folks don't train when it's too dark out.

Some folks don't train when it's raining.

Some folks don't train when it's too windy.

Some folks don't train when their favorite jersey is in the wash.

Some folks don't train when 'American Idol' is on the t.v.

.....and then they wonder why they get their a$$es kicked in group rides or races.

Bob

(P.S. Everyone knows that training sucks. Racing is FUN!)

Some folks don't ride their trainers because they're too boring.

Some folks don't train when it's too cold out.

Some folks don't train when it's too dark out.

Some folks don't train when it's raining.

Some folks don't train when it's too windy.

Some folks don't train when their favorite jersey is in the wash.

Some folks don't train when 'American Idol' is on the t.v.

.....and then they wonder why they get their a$$es kicked in group rides or races.

Bob

(P.S. Everyone knows that training sucks. Racing is FUN!)

+1
Last night I really didn't want to get on the trainer, but then I told myself the other guys are training and to get my lazy arse going!

but seriously, I don't even know what I am going to do about racing this year. My Blackburn Trackstand trainer sucks, I don't have any desire to ride it, and it is too damn cold to go outside. And for all that may want to call me a wussy for not riding when the high is in the low 20's . . . I don't care. My first "A" race doesn't come until July, so I will have plenty of time to build a base and prepare (I think, but am not sure). I am also using Friel's book to plan my year and don't begin base for another few weeks, but this weather is really beginning to piss me off. I guess I am just SO frustrated that I can't even get on the bike outside at this point. And did I mention my trainer SUCKS! UUUGGGGGHHHHH! Sorry for the rant :)

You'll get used to the trainer.

if the high was in the low 20s here i would be outside riding my bike in an instant. however the highs here for past couple weeks have been in the low single digits with snow and ice everywhere...so no go. ive been putting 10 hours a week on the trainer, first race ever in a little over 2 weeks now. im excited!

You'll get used to the trainer.

I've been on mine 2 hours a night, every night, this winter. So complaints like this make me smile, shake my head, and nothing more.

Yeah....my shorter sessions are 1.5 hours (1 hour if I'm doing a recovery spin), and I've gone up to 4 hours. I usually seem to average around 2 to 2 .5 hours for the most part.

http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2005/113-2/crybaby.jpg


Bike racing is a hard mans sport, suck it up or just ride for fun.

Yeah, Ohio sucks right now. If I hated it that much I would pick up and move.

Riding the trainer isn't so bad. Set the laptop up to watch cycling.tv or the latest episode of Heroes and I'm good to go.

This is my first winter on a trainer. I don’t hate it at much as I thought I would but I don’t like it all that much either. Yesterday was double time: meaning every minute felt like two. No fun.

I ride half an hour every day. I hit it hard and have a hard time walking afterwards but I refuse to do more than 30 minutes. I’m not trying to build, only maintain, and if I add more time to my regime I’ll start looking for reasons not to go downstairs. 30 minutes is easy, I spend that much time goofing on BF anyway, and since I usually don’t ride much when it’s as cold as it is, I’m already ahead of last year.

What I like best is it turns on my inner furnace on a cold winter day. Standing naked in the basement putting on my shorts, now that’s cold.

This is my first winter on a trainer. I don’t hate it at much as I thought I would but I don’t like it all that much either. Yesterday was double time: meaning every minute felt like two. No fun.

I ride half an hour every day. I hit it hard and have a hard time walking afterwards but I refuse to do more than 30 minutes. I’m not trying to build, only maintain, and if I add more time to my regime I’ll start looking for reasons not to go downstairs. 30 minutes is easy, I spend that much time goofing on BF anyway, and since I usually don’t ride much when it’s as cold as it is, I’m already ahead of last year.

What I like best is it turns on my inner furnace on a cold winter day. Standing naked in the basement putting on my shorts, now that’s cold.

maybe mayonnaise has the right idea. what if, next year, you build your base in the fall when the weather is good and then simply try to maintain that fitness through the dark days of winter. seems like we're all trying to build during the hardest part of the year and only a handful of us are really getting enough time in the saddle.

for me, i'm still riding outside, but at 15F in morning, i can only tolerate so much. i would love to just pound out a short session and be done with it, but i set my schedule up so that i need to build base right now. maybe that's not the best way to go about it.

I would strongly advise you to stay off your trainer.

See you at the races!

14 straight days below freezing. Spent the last 2 months sick. Just rode for the first time in about 6 weeks. 2:15 on the trainer. You'll learn to love the trainer.

14 straight days below freezing. Spent the last 2 months sick. Just rode for the first time in about 6 weeks. 2:15 on the trainer. You'll learn to love the trainer.

I can't remember the last time it was above 20 here. Today, when the wind died down on my way to class, and it was 15*F outside, I felt warm. Seriously. I want to cry.

Yup, been doing rollers at home in my unheated garage in the mornings....unfortunately it's been so cold that my DVD player barely plays any of my Tour DVDs.....I like watching the mountain stages and my DVD player seems to know this and it freezes on those chapters and pops forward to the flat stages.....

On another related note....I was driving through Beacon Falls yesterday right after work and passed a guy riding his Cannondale....(sigh) Nothing is more guilt inducing than to be thinking about cycling outside and then passing someone who's doing it. As I write this the temps are in the mid 20's......I may try a ride outside later but to tell you the truth it's not the temps I'm worrying about, it's the greasy sandy roads......we still have many patches of side roads here that have icy strips down the center and at the edges.....:mad:

It could be worse. I've only ridden outside maybe 1 out of every 8 days due to my 5 month old daughter. My wife is off on Wed, Sat, so those are really the only days I have to get outside. Then I feel bad about really long rides, so most of those days I'll do a "two a day" trainer ride so I can spend time with them.

I pretty much started on the trainer in October and it really didn't get cold here until the end of January.

:(

I can't remember the last time it was above 20 here. Today, when the wind died down on my way to class, and it was 15*F outside, I felt warm. Seriously. I want to cry.

lol! Monday I drove to work it was -10*F, yesterday it was 15 degrees here too and it really did feel almost "warm". 5 months there will be a 100* change in temperature from the wind-chills we have now to the 95* in late July. No wonder I get sick all the time :(

Some folks don't ride their trainers because they're too boring.

Some folks don't train when it's too cold out.

Some folks don't train when it's too dark out.

Some folks don't train when it's raining.

Some folks don't train when it's too windy.

Some folks don't train when their favorite jersey is in the wash.

Some folks don't train when 'American Idol' is on the t.v.

.....and then they wonder why they get their a$$es kicked in group rides or races.

Bob

(P.S. Everyone knows that training sucks. Racing is FUN!)

I might complain about the trainer, but I ride it anyway.

I might avoid some days outside because of the wind/temperature combination, but I ride outside most days.

I might take safer routes at night, but I ride after dark all the time.

I might have to take extra time to clean the bike after a ride in the rain, but I still put in the hours nonetheless.

I might ride into a headwind on the way out, but I know it definitely makes me stronger.

I might not wear my favorite jersey on training rides, but I know it will be clean on race day when I am finishing at the front of the pack.

I might not train when the STL Cardinals are on tv, but then again I will have put my time in on the bike at that point anyway.

. . . . and I never wonder why I get my arse kicked in group rides or races because it simply doesn't happen (not too bad anyway).

(p.s. the rant was a rant. During my season I am on the bike for many, many hours. Training can suck at times, but the pain is worth it, and on race days it is always evident who spent their time preparing for the race season. And you're right, racing is a blast!)

As for the original post, that came after a long night of drinking and was a little bit alcohol induced. Either way, I found the variety of replies entertaining. As of now I am still in a bit of a transition phase in my training and spending many hours on the rode at this point isn't a necessity. My cyclocross season ended in the middle of December, and I am still spending quite a bit of time on the new cross bike I just finished building. Which, by the way, has been perfect riding trails through the park. The snow and ice we have gotten in the last month has also done a lot to improve my bike handling skills. For any that haven't raced cross or tried it, I would definitely recommend you give it a try for some off-season training. This was my second season racing cross and it was a blast. Getting to the point though, with a decision made already about what power meter I am going to buy, I do need to begin to look at a new trainer. Any suggestions? The Blackburn is obviously not cutting it and I want something that simulates the feel of the road a little bit more. Cost is an issue, I can't spend more than $300 to $400 dollars. Thanks for the help!

I moved my trainer a couple times last week. That is, I moved it out of the way getting my bike out to ride outside. 20 hours on the road last week, rain and shine. But, temps haven't dropped below 35F.

Anyway... finished with breakfast. Off for another five hour day. Have fun on the trainers!

As for the original post, that came after a long night of drinking and was a little bit alcohol induced. Either way, I found the variety of replies entertaining. As of now I am still in a bit of a transition phase in my training and spending many hours on the rode at this point isn't a necessity. My cyclocross season ended in the middle of December, and I am still spending quite a bit of time on the new cross bike I just finished building. Which, by the way, has been perfect riding trails through the park. The snow and ice we have gotten in the last month has also done a lot to improve my bike handling skills. For any that haven't raced cross or tried it, I would definitely recommend you give it a try for some off-season training. This was my second season racing cross and it was a blast. Getting to the point though, with a decision made already about what power meter I am going to buy, I do need to begin to look at a new trainer. Any suggestions? The Blackburn is obviously not cutting it and I want something that simulates the feel of the road a little bit more. Cost is an issue, I can't spend more than $300 to $400 dollars. Thanks for the help!

I would have said Fluid2. I have one and it has been very good. However, someone pointed out in a another thread that the 1up is configurable - you can set the flywheel so that it'll simulate different types of resistance. Point being that you can do SEs on it - high watts at very low RPM. You can't get that on the Fluid2 (at least I can't I can't do 400w at 50 rpm - it's impossible). Check this page out:
http://www.1upusa.com/1uptrainerpowercurves.htm

If I was in the market I'd probably do the 1up.

I have had and used the 1up for my first trainer. It rocked! If anything the resistance was overbearing at times, though as mentioned, you can change the position and number of ball bearings to alter the resistance. I highly recommend it.

(at least I can't I can't do 400w at 50 rpm - it's impossible)

You could use your brake to supplement the resistance.

You could use your brake to supplement the resistance.

you can also place a towel against the roller to increase resistance.

Trainers? Midwest weather? Saw that the temperature would be a brisk 27 degrees today, so made it a nice 4 1/2 spirited group ride. Now add another hour to clean the bike, but it was very much worth it.