Mayonnaise

How many times during the week do you ride your trainer in the winter? How many minutes each day?

Do you suffer through it or do you find you kind of like it, or parts of it anyway?

And just for fun, how much do you think it benefits your riding come Spring?

bdcheung

The only days I'm outside are the Saturday team rides. Other than that I'm on the trainer for at least an hour every day, some days harder than others. I suffer through it, because I know it'll pay off later.

Just for fun, I plan on winning my first race.

Machka 

Right now I'm riding my trainer for an hour a day 4 days a week.

I'd ride more days a week, but I work full time during the day and I'm not home in the evenings 3 days a week because of work or night classes.

I will be increasing my time at least one day a week soon, and I will start doing commercial intervals one day a week soon too.

Do I suffer through it? Nope. This year I'm riding for fun, so I've set my trainer up in a better place in the house, and I watch interesting things on TV while I ride.

Considering that my first event of the season goes April 21st, riding my trainer will be a significant benefit!

JC 911

I like to read for fun and for health. I'm not big on keeping numbers or racking up huge mileage on rides. With that being said, I read about 2-3 times a week on my trainer for about 45 minutes with some intervals. I try to get in one heavy day of lifting on legs at the gym a week (squats, lunges, curls, extensions, etc.) and then ride both days on the weekend.

miket

I'm set myself up with some crazy winter gear this year, so I only use the trainer if it is below 30 degrees, or if it's too dark outside. I average 2-3 indoor rides/week in the winter, and never over an hour, or I'll die of boredom. An hour is just long enough to catch an episode of The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Big Love, or Rome. HBO keeps me sane... unlike those Spinervals videos.

blonduathlongrl

I run 6 days a week and ride outside as much as I can but lately on the trainer, Im one of those who cant stand the trainer, I dont enjoy it, there is nothing fun about it, my butt hurts on my bike when Im on a trainer, I need to paint my wall cause peach is driving me crazy now, I feel like Im getting no where, wait Im not... I do it about 4 times a week for an hour, longest hour of my life, I totally hate the thing, there.

Machka 

You've got a book stand set up on your trainer? Got any photos?

VegaVixen

Have just started trainer riding due to unseasonably cold weather. For now, riding only indoors.

Every day:

First five miles at high but comfortable cadence, with a burn interval over the last 0.25mi of each mile; next five miles a smooth ride at high cadence. Repeat these two five-mile segments over the next 10 miles. I have a computer on-board to monitor speed, distance, cadence, and HR.

I'll modify this regimen as weather allows me to ride outdoors more.

I enjoy it, especially the intervals. I challenge myself to keep getting faster, or I shift into smaller sprockets during the intervals, or I try to extend the interval by starting earlier or going over into the next mile. I log my rides on the computer to mark progress, which makes it more interesting. Not to mention the reward of an ice-cold beer is just in the next room.

Assuming I can get back out soon on the road as well, I think this regimen supports my training for spring.

onkey

weather dependent.

this week i road on the trainer 3 times and outside 2 times. i'll probably ride on the trainer sat/sun becuz of the ice and snow.

i usually ride for 40mins - 1hr

onkey

mmm ice cold beer afterwards. thats the best part

Mariner Fan

My indoor trainer regime.

1) Put bike on trainer
2) Walk by it from time to time and curse it.
3) Occasionally ride the bike and hate every minute of it.
4) See #2

cat4ever

5 days per week
1.0 to 3.5 hours per ride
I suffer because I have/want/need to. Riding the trainer is no big deal, but the scheduled workouts are hard.
It better benefit or next winter I'm going to get fat and lazy instead.

Machka 

What a way to ruin a good workout!! You make the effort to burn all those calories ... and then you drink them all back.

https://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20zj.html

blonduathlongrl

blonduathlongrl

is one beer really gonna ruin his work out? let the men have some fun

cslone

4-6 days a week. No less than 45 minutes, no more than 120.

CrimsonKarter21

I'm riding 30 minutes a day on my rollers every day now. I spin at an unusually high cadence in a very easy gear.

dogpound

my indoor trainer regime:
put on as many clothes as possible
go outside and ride.

I gave my trainer away.

Zen Existence

Ditto, curious.

Machka 

Yup ... the thing is ... I hear all the time:

"I workout all the time, and I hardly eat, but I can't lose weight and I can't figure out why not"

Well, a good portion of the time is that people don't count liquid calories. They'll count anything solid, but not even think about the liquid ones.

Many, many years ago I was putting on a bit of weight and decided that I wanted to lose a bit. I made one and only one change to my diet. I dropped all beverages with calories ... I quit drinking regular coke, I dropped the sugar from my coffee (and never did take cream), I stopped drinking fruit juices ... no beverages with calories. Instead I drank diet drinks, black coffee, and water. Meanwhile I kept eating the same amount I'd been eating all along.

I lost 5 lbs in a week.

If a person normally drinks one little can of beer a day, and then stops, that person will save themselves over 1000 calories a week.

FrankBattle 

Since I don't race. I look at life on the rollers a bit more lovingly. I almost love it.

That's what I keep telling myself as I suffer through every agonizing minute I'm on that thing. That it's a set of rollers, I guess helps, then I have music, t.v. and on occassion, a wife to look at on the bowflex while I'm sweating like a hog thinking about how much extra food I can consume and still be at my target daily caloric intake.

Besides, when the new frame .. with the new wheels meet each other in March, I will be ready to do them justice.

Yes, I love rolling, I'm convinced .. I think.

FrankBattle 

I've seen book stands in Bike Catalogs .. check on Colorado Cyclist's site or Performance.

Just saw one recently, can't remember where though Lotta help I am

CrimsonKarter21

Go to Nashbar

Hipcycler

30-40 minutes....
10-12 miles....
4-5 times per week.

Anything more just strains my hip, and I do not believe anything more is really any big benefit come spring either, when the REAL riding starts again for those of us in the great white north. As I type this it is heading down to about 10-12 below with a wind chill of 25-30 below.

Oh joy.

I can't wait until we buy a radio station in Fort Myers. I'm gonna put infor a transfer there faster than Vino can climb!

VegaVixen

Then I'd better have more than one, 'cause I'm 5'10" and 123lbs of cyclin' muscle!