Training & Nutrition - Do you use sound when watching videos on your fluid trainer?

I use a CycleOps 2 Fluid trainer, and it's pretty sweet. I do however, live in a small apt in LA, and I'm somewhat concerned about sound. If I ride hard, I generate a good amount of vibrational sound, but I think it's ok for my neighbors since it's consistent.

However, if I add a video/DVD on top, I have to turn it up to pretty loud to hear anything over the buzz. Do you folks have the same problem, and do you watch videos without sound?

(I was going to get Spinervals - was wondering how good it was on "mute")

Why not use headphones, since you don't have to worry about being able to hear traffic coming. ;)

How about wireless headphones?

Sweat galore makes me not prefer to use headphones if possible.

yes, but when i crank up the cottage of wattage i hear and smell nothing but pain. so go with head phones and just get the little inexpensive ones for $10 bucks. later.

Just curious, why do ride a trainer when you live in sunny L.A.? I have a trainer too, but it's 15-20F degrees outside.

The later Spinervals give you the ability to turn the music off and leave commentary on. 16.0 Aero Base Builder 1 is the earliest I have in the Competition series, and it has the music off option. I think that volume may be where that option begins in the Competition series.

In the Fitness series, 2.0 Sweating Buckets doesn't have the option, but 3.0 Enter the Red Zone does.

All of the On the Road series have the music off option.

Dunno if that would help in your situation, but the thumping beat of music would be gone. Coach Troy talks a lot during the videos, so that still might be a problem. You don't really need any sound to use Spinervals because there's adequate graphic info displayed.

The later Spinervals give you the ability to turn the music off and leave commentary on. 16.0 Aero Base Builder 1 is the earliest I have in the Competition series, and it has the music off option. I think that volume may be where that option begins in the Competition series.

In the Fitness series, 2.0 Sweating Buckets doesn't have the option, but 3.0 Enter the Red Zone does.

All of the On the Road series have the music off option.

Dunno if that would help in your situation, but the thumping beat of music would be gone. Coach Troy talks a lot during the videos, so that still might be a problem. You don't really need any sound to use Spinervals because there's adequate graphic info displayed.

Cool - thanks - that was what I was looking for.

Just curious, why do ride a trainer when you live in sunny L.A.? I have a trainer too, but it's 15-20F degrees outside.

I know it seems strange, as LA hits 38-40F at its COLDEST, so it's really perfect cycling temps throughout the winter, but darkness is much more of a problem. If you work like I do, leaving for work at 6AM, and getting home at 7PM, it's completely dark by the time you're back.

Elsewhere, I'd "HTFU" and get some powerful bike lights front/back and ride at night, but remember that this is LA - where traffic is DENSE. Doing hard tempo/distance training is pretty much out of the question, unless you feel like riding on the Pacific Coast Highway with cars going 60mph at night.

Hence the trainer. (It's actually a great workout, anyway!)

I use sound. I'm either watching a Spinervals DVD or a football game.

Use earbuds. Better yet, use acoustically-isolating earbuds (the ones that are like earplugs).

Works like a charm.

Just keep the volume down to protect your hearing.