Training & Nutrition - The conquer the trainer thread.

Enough whinning about the trainer people, if you think it's going to be tough it will. Lets start getting positive. No your not going to be able to sit on the trainer your first time for 2 hours without getting a sore bum, it does take some getting used to and you can do it. If you can do 4 hours without watching tv or listening to something you are one sick individual. Some will say you only need 45 minutes a day on the trainer, but for those of use who feel the need for more or have to put in base miles in march and its now colder than it was in February!

After a month on and off the trainer doing :30 minutes to 2 hours, my bum finally broke the 3 hour mark comfortably. Heres what I did:

Set the time goal.

use any tv or music youtube pro cycling videos are my best drug

supplement this with changing your pace/gear every 5 to 10 minutes, EX: I like to start in the "recovery" cog and up shift every 5 minutes

Two 5 minute breaks of the bike at 1 and 2 hours to stretch and refill water/eat.

I also recommend starting the ride without any media distraction and see how long you can go before you get bored since it is nice to not get totaly dependant on media. This way you can focus on how your pedaling form and breathing or meditate or ponder deep thoughts.

I now invite one and all to post your latest acheivements, goals, and tips however big or small.

Cheers.

I did 1:40 on the trainer today (no breaks). Cadence was between 103-108 the entire time. Had the hockey game on (BOS vs. NY) and fortunately for me there were 3 fights to watch in the time I was riding...Sweat through the entire shirt and halfway down my shorts/underwear.

Honestly depending on where you live.... the trainer can be good and bad.

I live in so cal, and it was 85 degrees out today.. (Yeah, be jealous :P). I still used the cyclops for about 35 minutes as a warmup for my 2 hour ride outside.

In my opinion as it nears closer and closer to summer time, the trainer should be used less frequently. Just my 0.02$

I hope you get a flat today FujiKid. ;)

I hope you get a flat today FujiKid. ;)

Hey hey! Not nice!


*Soaks up the 85 degree weather like usual* :D

Music video and trainerroad.com. Laptop is monitoring power output whilst I have a music DVD played through a regular TV. 3Hrs is the max time in the saddle so far.
http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/22805

I failed to conquer my trainer. Took all of five hours to get a response to my CL ad when I sold it. That was still more time than I spent riding it. ;)

Music video and trainerroad.com. Laptop is monitoring power output whilst I have a music DVD played through a regular TV. 3Hrs is the max time in the saddle so far.
http://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/22805

Are you trying to get base miles on this workout?

Are you trying to get base miles on this workout?

His heart rate looked right for a base ride (maybe a little low).
Cadence looked too low on that ride.

Are you trying to get base miles on this workout?

The real intent of this workout was improve endurance and strength. Mid to High Z3, SST kind of. I find more intense training is easier on the mind, rather than just spinning in Z2.

His heart rate looked right for a base ride (maybe a little low).
Cadence looked too low on that ride.

My LTHR was 149 back then, with a FTP of 236. I was pushing ~210 Watts so that makes it high Z3 low Z4. HR was also in Z3.

I alternate between my collection of Sufferfest Vids (I have 6 of them) on my fluid trainer and a spin session on my rollers (45min - 1 hr max).

Did revolver today: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/155445180

I'm more of a masher than a spinner - much more comfortable at 90'ish cadence. Anything over 100 is an big effort for me.

the trainer helps me more than anything. I have watched gone in 60 seconds all the way through before and then I have crawled off after 30 minutes. Depends on the mood. It sheds the weight off me and I need to be on it now as I am 15 pounds heavy and spring is coming.

I max out at 90 minutes. Not because my bum hurts, but becasue more than that feels excessive. If I feel the need to go longer, I will find a way to ride outside. I'm usually on the trainer at least four days a week (November-February, March I get the itch to be outside), minimum 60 minutes at a time. TV and music are distracting for me. If I get sucked into TV or music, my HR and cadence get out of whack, so I basically meditate and focus on my heart rate and cadence. I ease the pressure on my derriere by breaking my workout into four sets. Between sets I've been doing 35 and 40 situps for a total of 150, and recently I started doing 10 pushups per set as well. I start the first set in an easy gear and upshift every five minutes. Gear selection during the second and third set varies according to the objective for that day. Fourth set starts in a high gear and winds down to an easy gear.