dragracer

Been too cold to ride the last few days so I brought the bike in and put it on the trainer. Man it's just so damn boring trying to stay on this thing for any amount of time. Ten minutes and I've had enough. It's not that I can't do it, it's just that I have no motivation when I'm on it. I don't have any scenery to look at, I don't have any dogs to dodge, I don't have to watch out for idiots in cars. There's just nothing...... except pedaling. I tried it in front of the television, but that's no better. What can I do to stop the boredom??? Help!!

djbowen1

i am the same way, i look at the clock after a while and i cant believe it's only been like 10 freaking minutes when it feels like an hour. i tried tv no difference, i tried music no difference, i heard that watching bicycle racing on tv helps, i think i am going to get the 04 tour 4 hr dvd set for xmas.

Ohio Trekker

Trainer is MY time. It's the only time when I am at home that my family knows better than to interupt me. The peace and tranquility of not listening to kids, or DW for that matter for an hour or so at a time is pretty motivating. I use the time to watch TV or DVD's that I have a stack of to catch up on since I have been riding so much. Only had to do it 4 times so far this year, but in the past used to do it all winter with no problems, back then it was music that kept me going but music has kinda changed in the past 10-15 years LOL. Contemplating moving the trainer to my home office where I have surround sound, maybe I could play the scene from Matrix where he's flying over the city over & over & over & over again!! ;-)

To me its sorta like hill climbing, once you beat the psychological aspects, the rest just falls into place. I will grant you there is nothing like watching the scenery go by, but at the same time there's nothing like being able to enjoy that scenery passing by come spring when you have maintained your ability through the winter.

Maybe those of us who are climatologically challenged should do a cyber-trainer-TDF type thread, and see who's done it by spring! :-)

roadfix

If I can't ride, I run. Over the years, I've wasted money on trainers.....ended up giving them away. I just need to get outdoors for any kind of physical activity.

George

djbowen1

does running benefit cycling at all, dont you sort of "lose you legs" until you get back on the bike and ride again.

roadfix

To me, cycling is all about fun. I do not earn a living by racing bicycles. Riding rollers for an hour is boring! But I do like to stay in shape and be physically active, therefore I usually cycle 75% and run 25% and some consistent weight training in-between. Works for me and I'm never bored.

George

georgesnatcher

Even though its cold why can't you ride? When I lived in NY as long as the temperature was 20 degrees or warmer I would ride. I just dressed for the weather. Within 15 minutes I was warmed up enough that the cold was not as issue.

roadfix

YOU ANIMAL!

claire

I went to a spinning class a couple of weeks ago, thinking it would be good for the winter when I can't do long rides anymore (I still use my bike for comuting and various errands throughtout the winter as much as I can). I went with a friend because I thought it would be less boring if we can chat. Well, the problem is: they put on loud abnoxious music, so nobody talks to anybody, people look like they're not having fun at all... It's completely opposite to riding a bicycle, which is usually very quiet and has an important social aspect (at least for me). Maybe I went to a bad class, maybe spinning can actually be fun and interesting, but I didn't like it at all! So I'll go ride my bike on the snow, that'll be good intense exercise!!

RegularGuy

I use a trainer through the winter. I always dread getting on it for the first time. It feels like surrender. The trainer is boring and time spent on the trainer just making the wheel go around is time wasted. I use the Spinervals videos which give some structure to my trainer time and motivate me to work hard.

jedi_rider

Get winter clothing and ride! Nothing like the great outdoors. Granted, the clothing can be expensive, but think of how much more biking you can do during the winter.

The only time I get on the trainer is if the road is too wet and the oil gets to the surface...well, maybe the occasional 45minute recovery ride, too.

alexs

i thought about buying a trainer, but instead i've started doing hill repeats on my way home of my commute. so instead of tacking a 1-2 hour ride after work every evening, i tack on 30-45 minutes of hills. it means i spend less time riding while it's dark and cold out, but i think it's actually helping my fitness more than the 1-2 hour road rides were. and i'm outside the whole time.

digger

Ok Ok, I have said before in a previous post that I hate trainers and treadmills. But I use em, gotta or I'll get fat.

I run on the treadmill for 30 minutes and ride the trainer for 30 minutes - chops the whole thing up a bit so I don;t get too bored.

While running on the treadmill I watch TV, usually something pretaped. This I use as a warmup to the trainer. Start off and walk fast for 5 minutes, Light jog for 20, cool down a bit with another fast walk for 5 minutes.

On the trainer I listen to music. This is the 'meat' of my exercise routine. I really hammer, or try to anyway. Energetic music that I prerecorded.
My prerecorded music consists of, but not limited to:
Ray of Light - madonna
Because We Can - from Moulon Rouge soundtrack
Breathe - Prodigy
Some stuff from the movie Matrix.
Does your Mother Know - Abba

I find that this music keeps me motivated.

Something else I do, but I am embarrased to say, is.....I 'pretend' I am an instructor giving a spin class. I am not a spin class instructor, BUT I attend spin class once per week (I find them great and motivating). So, at home I climb on my trainer and start to give a 'pretend' spin class, listening to my music. Usually when my wife is not at home, as I do quite a bit of.....screaming:
"come on, come on, lets go!"
"pick em up and drive em down!"
" Don't slow down!, keep moving!"
"Tension on, stand an spin, keep your hips from bouncing!"
"Up your tension more, slow down the legs, pick em up in the rear!"
"Sit and spin HARD!"

Like I said my darlin doesn't know I do this, if she heard me, she would be concerned. :-)

Go to a spin class, get some techniques, come home and use these same techniques and shout at youself.

Look man, whatever works ok!

Digger

P. B. Walker

I had the same exact problems as you mentioned. Going for 20 minutes the trainer was almost a nightmare.

Then, I found watching TdF DVDs helps me stay on the trainer longer. I ordered all the TdF DVDs from 1999 to 2002, and planning on getting the 2003. I got the extended versions. There were some instances where I was so into watching the race, that I didn't even notice I'd been on the trainer for almost an hour. Plus it's good motivation when you see Lance storming up a mountain.

Good luck.

SipperPhoto

yer scaring me man... She'd probably freak if she walked in on that... but then.. I've been known to get into the trainer, and once when I ran out of water I hucked my bottle to the other side of my garage... just about the same time my wife walked in... she looked at me, puzzled, then shook her head, and walked away...

Trainers will make you go clinically insane if you stay on them long enough !!

JEff

mascardr

I also have a hard time on the trainer. A couple weeks ago I signed up for a spinning class not even knowing what to expect. It was the hardest workout I have ever had on a non moving bike. I just loved it. Music was good, only thing is, two ladies in the class talked about personal issues and thought everyone in the class wanted to hear. Next class I chose a bike on the other side and classes are great. Instructor focuses one day on hill climbing and the second day on speed and endurance. I only intended to take the first session but plan on atttending the class the whole winter.

Avalanche325

You're right. The trainer can be pretty boring. I still like the workout though. It is easier to quit when you can jump off at anytime and be home.

Try this, it helps a little. Instead of riding for a certain amount of time, go for a certain distance. (I can hook my computer up to the trainer). That way, I can push myself to go fast rather than just grind the time away.

deliriou5

Running does help... it won't help your cycling specifically, but it will help maintain (and even build) your aerobic endurance base. Back in the day when I only had time to ride once a week, I was able to lengthen my rides by around 5 miles a week, no problem.

Also, I lose weight when I run, and I gain weight when I don't.

dragracer

Yeah I have my computer pickup on my rear wheel so it works when I'm on the trainer. Also have cadence which is nice too. It's still boring.

I really want to try and stay in halfway decent shape this winter so I'll stop whining and JUST DO IT. Maybe if I get a fan and let it blow in my face It'll feel like I'm riding down the road. LOL

Buzzbomb

I don't like spending time on the trainer, so I maximize the results and minimize the time by doing a highly structured workout. I do interval training. I'll do 4-6 weeks (3x/week) of 3 minute intervals (at a barely sustainable, constant pace,) with 3 minutes of rest (easy spin), 5 reps, then do 2-3 weeks of 4 minutes of work with 2 minute rests, 5 reps, then a week of 5 minutes of work, 2 minutes rest. This has made me a LOT faster. My basement has become a torture chamber, after some workouts I don't know if I can get up the stairs, but it beats spending hours at a stretch on the trainer, and the results have been very noticeable. I used to run for weight control as well, but since I have been on the interval program, I find that weight gain is no longer an issue.

digger

Well, it works, I sweat, I'm tired after. I guess it is the same kinda thing (screaming/yelling) that powerlifters do. They get the weight up there man and it helps me do 30 minutes on the #$@%#$ thing.

It's not so bad once you get used to it. I recommend it!

Digger