Road Cycling - Trainer Entertainment

So, what do you do to entertain yourself juring those endless trainer rides?

I just bought the Bullwinkle and Rocky tapes. They are good for about 45 mintues, each. The morning news on weekdays is also pretty good. Becomes terribly repetitous, though. Can only watch the '91 Paris-Roubaix so many times.

Someone needs to start a VHS tape/DVD library that we can subscribe to and rent tapes and DVDs that are bike oriented for our trainer rides. Are you listening Joe? Might be a money maker that would support the forum. Rent for $2 plus shipping for two weeks.

So?? What are you doing while on the trainer. You can only watch the same tape so many times.

"So, what do you do to entertain yourself juring those endless trainer rides?"
good question

CDs/music work better for me; fast driving heavy bass and drum kind of stuff
I'm a visual artist so I train where I can stare at work I need to complete...nice to be able to work and train at the same time.

your rocky and bullwinkle sounds nice :), of course watching old tour/race footage is good too

anyone use training tapes? good investment?

Porno.



Just kidding. I like to read.

wacked out old-school tv programs...ala doctor who, or anything i enjoyed watching while a kid(cartoons : p). Allows me to be distacted enough to not mind the time, and focused enough to train hard

my favorite sporting event, my taped tour tapes from various stages, spinerval tapes, or the best:
zoning out in pitch black darkness with only my cat like quickness to sustain me. it really sharpens the senses.

I've been watching episodes of a fun Anime series - Ramn 1/2. And my GF bought me the DVD of "Run Lola" (or "Lola Rent" in the original Dutch title) which is perfect to cycle to.

I would love to get some Spinervals DVDs but have been having trouble finding a supplier who will take European orders without exorbitant charges or ridiculously complicated ordering procedures! Any tips from any European cyclists who've ordered Spinervals DVDs successfully?

How do you guys read for prolonged periods of time? I get a headache from the text blurring from body movement/bike shake. I found that if I rest the book on a stand not connected to the bike, it's fine - but cumbersome. Maybe I need to work on my pedal stroke.

Otherwise, I watch movies I download. Preferable fluffy stuff that doesn't require your full attention to follow, like action, comedy, or other Hollywood like films.

Stero, and Cable / VHS tapes. I put a TV down stairs and my ride times have increased from one hour to 1.5 - 2 hrs. I figure if I am going to watch TV anyways I might as well do it while I ride. I have 2003 Tour taped from OLN ~ 12 tapes full, Giro and some of the spring classic coverage. Oh ya most of the summer sports zone segments from OLN. I'm not going to get bored this spring.

i just picked up the 2002 ironman dvd definately motivating

I video taped the century I'm training for (which will take place in Sept). I'm watching the video so I won't have to waste time navigating while I'm out there and to know when to expect the big climbs (>10K ft. of climbing for the whole route).

Regardless, it's still a bit boring.

-mark

Lately I've been watching the NFL playoff games. The Rams game had me pedaling pretty hard...I was so angry with them! So after they gave up I decided to throw my hopes onto the Packers! Again I was disappointed, but pedaled mightily while they slowly lost their Super Bowl chances...who's next? I guess the Colts.

In the am I have been watching a combo of morning news and espn. Morning news is excruiciating - obviously set up for folks who have the TV on for 10 - 15 mins as is cycles (pun intended) though the weather, traffic, who got murderd, weather, traffic, etc etc ... I have an old stereo I am going to try to wire up for the basement - maybe tunes will be better in the am.

I did watch the NFL playoffs this weekend and that was great - no boredom!! Packers broke my heart, but that's a whole other story!

I have the Trainright series...do those. Rotate them and do the climbing workout (strenght) three times a week. Strength one day, cadence (time trial or crit) the next.

You guys don't just spin the pedals without some type of workout plan, do you?

You can't get faster and stronger unless you go to anaerobic land for a visit on a regular basis.

I have the Trainright series...do those. Rotate them and do the climbing workout (strenght) three times a week. Strength one day, cadence (time trial or crit) the next.

You guys don't just spin the pedals without some type of workout plan, do you?

You can't get faster and stronger unless you go to anaerobic land for a visit on a regular basis.

I'll check out trainright, thanks.
dunno about the others but I don't just spin plan-less; I've got a few of the training books with suggestions for sessions (techniques, intervals et al). tapes/dvds would be nice immediate input while training.

MP3 player turned up loud :)

On interval days & strength days the tour tapes go in and I pretend I am in a break away or climbing against the best in the world. It's easier to feel a lot of pain when you see others doing the same.

Music gets my attention..Put on some hot Johnny Lee Hooker and you are flying.
I would think porn would be distracting.

Either a new magazine or book I've been wanting to read, or NETFLIX!

Lately I've been renting from them the entire Sopranos seasons, each DVD has 3 episodes, each good for almost 1 hr.

For me either above makes the time go way faster than music or diving into my own thoughts...

BTW, I've consistently noticed by now that when I'm interested in either the TV or reading material, my HR stays a few points lower than if I'm just trying to get through the session.

for the social advocate/news junkie you can you go to
http://www.pbs.org/frontline go to the previous episode listings and watch them on-line while you cycle.

Action movies! The more action the faster the spin! Rest during the dialog and rock during the fights! Also crank the volume.
Favorites:
Blade 1&2
The Road Warrior
Matrix
Terminator 1&2
Raiders of the Lost Ark (Series)
Star Wars (Original Series)
Wrath of Kahn

I watch TV (movies, music videos, news etc. [no porn on at the time I ride]). I usually find that I don't watch too much because I also downloaded the workouts from www.Tacx.nl. I have their trainer and the workouts are geared for it, but I am sure with some inovation they can be used with other trainers. The workouts are great and range from about 35 to 60 minutes. Believe me, if you do one of them you are ready to take a break at the end!! They are really challanging workouts and they throw different things at you so you don't just sit and spin at 100 rpm for ever and get board with it all.

I haven't gotten any "training tapes" yet, but have been considering it. I am planning to get one of the TDF tapes or one of the other race tapes with Phil Liggit's comentary.

When I ride the trainer in the morning, I just put the radio on NPR and listen to the news. The rundown at the top and bottom of the hour is exactly 6 minutes long so that makes for a good long interval. Or sometimes I'll ride one story hard and then ease up when the topic changes.

Check this out! It hooks up to your Playstation2. Maybe they will make a few games specifically for this device.
http://www.cateye.com/news.php?news_id=20