Great Lakes - You and Your Trainer.....

It is time. We have "Did you ride today" and "Why didn't you ride today" threads. I am seeing trainer efforts being posted in the "Did you ride today" thread and think they need their own spot.

So, along with you daily trainer efforts maybe some pics of you trainer set up. What movie or music are you jamming out to. What keeps you going through the cold Midwestern Winters.

Me and my trainer have yet to get know each other. He is still all boxed up. I actually have never been on a trainer. This winter will be different though. I am in training for the 2009 BFNIC European Vacation :D.

Get to training.

Later.

It was Matrix Reloaded this morning. I did close to an hour, still trying
to get used to it. Also need a new fan. What is the BFNIC vacation?

Aham, I was thinking the same thing, we needed a seperate thread for trainer riding, way to go!

I will have to figure out how to load a pick of our setup in the near future.

I hate the trainer but I hate the cold weather more. I bike about 3.5 miles each way to the metra station for my commute using a really crappy bike that I dislike riding dressed like a terrorist.

I despise the trainer. That is all.

later

The trainer? http://www.freedomcrowsnest.org/forum/images/smiles/hmm.gif

I've got one, but it's kind of a last resort for me. Some one at work was was asking me about
trainers because she didn't know where to put her trainer. I suggested that I've ridden mine in the garage with the door open, on the front porch (ride in the sun, out of the wind, and it's pretty nice), the basement by a window, TV, or Stereo. I've ridden in the pitch black (try that for something different! You have little idea how long or how far you've gone ... it's just you and your mind.)

http://www.freedomcrowsnest.org/forum/images/smiles/muaha.gif

I've heard of guys parking it xx feet from the floor drain and riding until the pool of sweat
reaches it. Talk about a workout! http://www.freedomcrowsnest.org/forum/images/smiles/whip.gif

Never did any Spinning Tapes, or computer sims. That might be fun.

I still need to set mine up, although I have been on the Nordic Track a few times already.

I hate the trainer, but have been on the treadmill with some regularity in recent weeks.

As for the viewing during the suffering:

Currently at about Stage 8 or 9 of the 1991 Tour de France on VHS from ABC and ESPN late-night coverage. Lemond is in yellow, but Big Mig is looming after a 44 mile TT win. I've got about 8 or so hours of it on tape. If I have to watch another Skin Bracer commercial (by Mennen!) I may vomit on sheer principle. Sam Posey is 10 times better than Al Trautwig as the host and Liggett/Sherwin were way more on top of their game back then. LeMond, Roche (missing his TTT start time), Delgado, The Tashkent Terror, Indurain, Hampsten, Bishop, Bauer, Fignon, Chiapucci, et. al. Great stuff.

Last inspirational video out of the VHS box was Slapshot. Great stuff.

After the 1991 Tour, I think I've got the 1991 Tour du Pont on a tape somewhere. And I think the 1992 Tour de France, as well. Just praying the tapes won't break from 15 years of neglect.

I don't like riding in the dark very much. It is dark when I leave for work and dark when I return. So any riding during the week is on a trainer (Kurt Kinetic). I have some Spinerval dvds. They make it tolerable, much better than just watching a movie or TV. They each last about an hour.

Hello:
this time of the year i am on the fluid trainer EVERYDAY for at least 1-1 1/2 hrs starting with medium intensity ending up at high intensity.
need to lose about another 18 lbs and be in a whole lot better for next season to kick some young butts.

I hate the trainer, but have been on the treadmill with some regularity in recent weeks.
As for the viewing during the suffering:

Currently at about Stage 8 or 9 of the 1991 Tour de France on VHS from ABC and ESPN late-night coverage. Lemond is in yellow, but Big Mig is looming after a 44 mile TT win. I've got about 8 or so hours of it on tape. If I have to watch another Skin Bracer commercial (by Mennen!) I may vomit on sheer principle. Sam Posey is 10 times better than Al Trautwig as the host and Liggett/Sherwin were way more on top of their game back then. LeMond, Roche (missing his TTT start time), Delgado, The Tashkent Terror, Indurain, Hampsten, Bishop, Bauer, Fignon, Chiapucci, et. al. Great stuff.

Last inspirational video out of the VHS box was Slapshot. Great stuff.

After the 1991 Tour, I think I've got the 1991 Tour du Pont on a tape somewhere. And I think the 1992 Tour de France, as well. Just praying the tapes won't break from 15 years of neglect.

challange..........?

later.

Not sure what is wrong with my setup but my trainer always bothers my hip. I hate the darn thing anyway or any other stationary exercise torture machine.

I'd rather run outdoors or cross country ski to keep up my fitness. I can do those all winter long.

[Just praying the tapes won't break from 15 years of neglect.]

Shhhhh ... don't spread this around, but I'll make a special offer to
anyone in the midwest (you know who you are), I have literally BOXES of VHS
tapes that I need to convert to DVD. TDF, Giro D'Italia, Vuelta, Paris-Roubaix, World Champs (like the Japan Worlds ... '86? Awesome!!), etc off of OLN, ABC, you name it. PM me and I'll make a few extra copies and mail 'em out if your library is thin. Also have XC ski racing and WRC Rally tapes if you have interest. Literally 100+ VHS tapes that I need to convert. I've got no problem sharing and shipping DVDs is cheap.

Here is my dreary michigan basement.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/theorracle/ebay050-1.jpg

I got an hour in this morning, as you can see no TV for me just an Ipod with an hours worth of songs. When its done I am done.

... with a lonely 40 watt light bulb by the stairs for light and you
can hear the snow blowing through a crack in the window sill.

"The Dungeon".

:p

... with a lonely 40 watt light bulb by the stairs for light and you
can hear the snow blowing through a crack in the window sill.

"The Dungeon".

:p

You are very close, actually its a 60 watt and I hear the blowing snow through the old coal shoot behind the rack you can see in the picture. There are no windows.

100 year old commercial buildings are great.

It is NOT time.

Here is a pic of my rig from a few weeks ago.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/Picture001-3.jpg

Here is a pic of my rig from a few weeks ago.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/Picture001-3.jpg

Darn, that is nicer than riding outside in my neighborhood. Not ready for the trainer, still running outside but another 10 degrees and I am back in. I am also impressed with the pic of the rollers without a door frame.
I am still riding the rollers in the door.
Kenal0

WOW.

Can I ride your trainer????

You gotta describe your setup.

WOW.

Can I ride your trainer????

You gotta describe your setup.

The setup has changed a bit since this picture. I will try and update it later tonight.
I am using Performance Bike's house branded Real Axiom VR trainer (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=23636&item=40-3737&slitrk=search&slisearch=true). The trainer is a cheaper and not quite as detailed as a Computrainer. Basically you buy DVD's (http://performancebike.resultspage.com/search?p=UK&srid=S7%2d2&lbc=performancebike&ts=custom&pw=axiom&pu=11704&uid=155628411&isort=score&w=real%20axiom%20dvd%20courses&rk=2)that feature different climbs and routes from different European races. The trainer comes with 2 routes and I have Alp De Huez as well. As you ride the course the trainer will increase and decrease the resistance as you climb and as you descend. It does help to keep the boredom factor down.
My Laptop (http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/hp-pavilion-zd8000/4505-3121_7-31213300.html) has a S-video output so I simply play the trainer through my Mitsubishi 73833 (http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/j/i/18326/TelevisionDetails/WD73833.html?cid=5470). The sound is played through a 5.1 Surround system (http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/3526.asp).

And yes John, you can ride it anytime your in town :)

Messy but effective.

http://www.pbase.com/ftsoft/image/53685847.jpg

Here are my updated pics.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/IMG_4952.jpg

From the seat....I am using my computer screen until I pick up a long enough video cable to reach my TV.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/IMG_4953.jpg

I just started looking at trainers, just in case I do not feel like making it to the gym for spin class.
I am thinking that the fluid trainers are the way to go, any opinions? I will also check the training forum for ideas.

But still not happy about being inside:(, it was a great summer for riding.
I finished with just over 3,000 miles. :D:D

garysol1 That setup is unbelievable, by the way I think you are my long lost dad. I just want to make sure you don't forget me on Christmas. I will email you my address.


Thanks Dad

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Hipcycler67/Cycling/Cycling006.jpg

my trainer set up.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/2067135673_4323c3a215.jpg

by the end of January it will be simillar to garysol1's most awesome setup!! :)

later.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Hipcycler67/Cycling/Cycling006.jpg

http://www.freedomcrowsnest.org/forum/images/smiles/woe.gif

That ain't training, Hip.

:p

by the end of January it will be simillar to garysol1's most awesome setup!! :)

later.

Thanks for the kind words. I must say having a nice basement finally with some entertainment does make the time go by faster.

Thanks for the kind words. I must say having a nice basement finally with some entertainment does make the time go by faster.

That is one OCP basement my friend!

That is one OCP basement my friend!

sniff....sniff......that may be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me...................:D

Twice weekly episodes of "My house is worth what?" on HGTV = 70 painful minutes on the "sit" bones on the trainer per week. I go outside and hike or walk on the weekends to spare myself more trainer agony. Once the snow flies it will be time to break out the snowshoes.

At least it gives me ideas about sprucing up my house and finishing the dreary basement where the trainer is ridden...if I had $50,000 to spare.

Wow. Not quite the setup in the home theater -- nor Phil's "training" set up -- but this is what I have to look forward to for the next few months. Sorta reminds me of Silence of the Lambs.
http://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1pErpzCBM9vsmO2BQr0iLTOi-I3m6B6TpfFslodzqCHU81cz7NDNEk3_tIRPbcpFaErkx1DShkceY

last two days have managed to get 40 miles done, mostly low end recovery. Saving the heavy stuff for after the holidays.

44.14 in the past couple of days on the trainer for me. I am starting to get into the trainer groove.......which is not necessarily a good thing. Hopefully I can get a few miles in on the mountain bike this weekend with leinad.

2-4 inches of snow Saturday predicted here....then sleet and ice...a mess. I have not been on the trainer yet this season....this weekend may be the first.

My trainer is still in its box from when I moved in May. May it stay in its box. I have a better box coming in the mail. That special box contains my new winter commuter tires.

You know what trainers are good for? They're good for adjusting fit, and that's it. ;)

To much snow on the road even for the mountain bikes so another hour on the rollers today. The wind has been brutal also in fact it dented/crushed a double wide garage door at my warehouse on Wednesday. It blew in the middle of the door about 18".

tonight, i met the trainer. i busted it out of the box and despite what one would think it did take me a bit of time to set it up. i mean its not like i am an engineer or something.

so, it is set up in my currently unfinished basement. no tv. just me, the trainer, the bike, and the nano. i put in an hour. if not for the 7 miles i ran yesterday i might have put in two. there is always tomorrow :).

later.

Sick....just sick.

so, it is set up in my currently unfinished basement. no tv. just me, the trainer, the bike, and the nano.

I would be in the loony bin if I sat on the trainer for an hour with out a tv and lots of distractions. You my friend ARE the man!!

Phil, you da man!

a nice little 45 minutes of me and the trainer this morning. there was throwing up involved with this session. no, not me from massive intervals, but eddie vedder (my dog). he comes downstairs, takes a look at me sweating away on the trainer and throws up. it was odd. that is all. later.

^As a dog owner once again, I say pretty good story there aham

been doing 20 mile stints on the trainer, 1:15-1:30 depending on the speed I'm trying for. Some short interval work for now, will get the hard stuff going after the 1st of the year.

one hour. just me and kelly clarkson. oh yeah, i am taking trainer torture to a whole new level. later.

I finally broke down and bought a trainer, rode 1 hour today.

Hello:
alright where did you purchase your trainer from and what type?
i need to purchase one for a LARD ASS who needs to lose some.


I finally broke down and bought a trainer, rode 1 hour today.

I bought mine at Performance bike. http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23011&subcategory_ID=4120 I also received an additional 20% discount from the web offer they had.

I took spin class at my gym today, it was way more enjoyable! They have all new bikes, and I bought some standard cleats so I was able to use my biking shoes.

I'm going to give the trainer a few more tries, but if I still feel like slitting my wrists while I ride it, it's going back.

I used to have my I-magic trainer set up in my theater until we moved to a new house. Gotta build a new theater, so for now it is back to the 20" monitor with the trainer. I used to sit the trainer on the second level......... just had to move the chairs out of the way a bit. After a while it got tiresome moving the bike in and out when we wanted to watch movies. It was very cool though. real life videos were almost like being on the road.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s219/lowracervk2/theatersell1.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s219/lowracervk2/paradigm2.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s219/lowracervk2/theatersell3.jpg

I used to sit the trainer on the second level......... just had to move the chairs out of the way a bit. After a while it got tiresome moving the bike in and out when we wanted to watch movies. It was very cool though.

I ended up just setting my bike and monitor up behind my second row. From atop the bike my theater seats just clear the bottom of the screen. I run my Trainer DVD through my laptop and keep a movie going on the main screen. Even with all of that happening 1.5 hour on the trainer is about my mental max. Great looking theater by the way lowracer.