Darth Steele

OK, I get it, riding outside is better for numerous reason..with that said. I bought a kurt Kinetic fluid yesterday and I used it for the first time today.

I am new to "road bikes" and want to improve. Over the summer months I was averaging between 125-225 miles per week. Now that we are in the winter months I find it very very hard riding below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (I ride around a giant body of water and the wind chill is "serious").

Anyway, I find that when I ride with my abusive (in a good way) friends that when my heart rate is around 175 I am just about at my limit and it cannot be sustained for any length of time. So wouldn't training in a controlled environment make the stronger.

my real question is, why is everyone so "anti" trainer? to me it is just another tool in the tool box to help you.

interestingly enough while on the trainer and focusing on my form I noticed that my right foot might need a "shim" as felt a little too much pressure on my right instep.

(excuse my typos)

spdntrxi

who's anti-trainer ? I'm not in love with it but if it's 40deg or less out… I'd rather be on the trainer too.

Jakedatc

boring.. couldn't do it. did 3 rides and sold mine a few years ago. used the $ to buy tights and a jacket. if it's above 35 i'll ride. in RI we usually get days that are at least sunny and not windy which makes a big difference. The snow also melts 2 days after we get a storm so the roads are clear.

also many people use it as their off season for relaxing the schedule a bit and backing off their miles.

BigJeff

I'd rather spend 45m-1h doing a workout video over using the trainer.

Current favorite series is "Les Mills Pump"... least annoying and awesome combo for lower/upper body.

Carbon Unit

I have a KK Road Machine. It is boring. I am considering a Computainer because I think it would be less boring.

datlas 

I am not anti trainer per se. I just can't get over the boredom factor. I am in awe of those who are disciplined enough to do a real workout on them. I give up within 20 minutes. On rollers I can last a little longer, maybe 40 minutes.

So personally I hate trainers but if you can put up with them, more power to you (both meanings!).

b2run

Here in Northern Ontario, the winters are long and the roads are awful. I put a movie on and chug away on the trainer for a good part of the year. It's a great tool.

uluchay

I guess it has sth to do with the wind. When you're on the road, around 70% of your effort is overcoming the wind resistance. The numbers you achieve on a roller might not reflect your real performance on the road.

Besides, I like getting out of the saddle and giving the bike a fair shake every 10 minutes or so. You can never do that on a roller.

mapeiboy

If you do nothing but intervals while on trainers you will not have the time to anything else . If you need any motivation , bathroom mirror and weight scale .

nesdog

I have no problem with the trainer on colder days. We have a library of Spinervals that are as short as 30 minutes and up to several hours. Yeah, it's a different workout. Actually, sometimes it's a nice change of pace.

thewilson 

I couldn't stand the trainer either, far to boring if you ask me. I also sold my trainer to buy appropriate winter gear and am much happier even if it's out in the cold. My rides are of course much shorter in the winter weather but the fun is still there. Just got back from a ride where it was 25°~

Homebrew01

I used to download bike races and watch them while riding. I would turn the volume down somewhat, and play techno type music at the same time. Really extended my tolerance for basement training.

hhnngg1

Trainer alone is like death, yes that's true.

Trainer setup with trainerroad, videos (either movies or sufferfest), wireless headphones, huge fan = awesome training.

Not as awesome as outside in terms of pure fun for sure, but can be even better than outdoors for those dedicated to improvement. With Trainerroad, you can get objective, reproducible TSS scores for all your workouts and track your FTP with FTP tests to confirm. No cars, no distractions, just pure, quality workouts, every time.

It does take a bit of getting used to when you start if you're used to otherwise riding outdoors, but once you get used to being indoors and hammering, it's really high yield in terms of performance and time efficiency (no coasting).

It's so high yield for me that since I'm not a criterium or tactical bike racer (I do time trials and triathlons now), I am going almost all indoors this winter-spring and based upon current improvements, I do expect to PR the bike splits come my late spring races.

Samfujiabq

I paid over 300 bucks for mine,used it once,it sat for a year and traded for a bike stand to work on my bike.It was only 189.00 so the LBS got a good deal.I use the bike stand all of the time,,well worth the trade to me.

the engine

I used to use a trainer for winter months, but sold it after one season. I have a LifeCycle, where I can do mountains, intervals, whatever (except stand). I still ride outside until it gets into the teens. If there are a string of rainy days, I'll do a few days on the LifeCycle, just to keep my fitness, because I hate starting a ride in the rain. (if it rains when I'm already on the road, I'm o.k. with that.

I feel an hour outdoors has significant benefits to an hour riding indoors. Pushing hard against a headwind, or climbing out of the saddle, just isn't the same. Besides, I ride centuries and 200k's year round, so not sure using a trainer during the winter months would help me get used to riding in the cold, rain and wind, if a ride should fall on a miserable weather day.

I don't hate trainers, I just don't like them.

RoadTire 

Where did you see that everyone is against it? Jeeze is this the new trend - "<fill in the blank> why is everyone against it? Just that some find it boring, but that doesn't mean they are "against it." Just doesn't turn their crank, so to speak.

bigfred 

Not all of us are anti-trainer. Some of us use them as an integral part of our training program. They are absolutely great for some forms of interval training that are nearly impossible to accomplish on the road. They're not a substiture for good road rides. But, they do an awesome job of augmenting road training.

To those who claim they've been bored by trainer use: Try a Sufferfest workout. Even Mrs. Fred enjoys them.

Dunbar

Put me in the camp who finds it totally boring. Most people don't stick to exercise that they find boring or unrewarding. Fortunately I live in a climate that allows year-round cycling outdoors.

Machka 

I like my trainer ... kind of wish it wasn't packed away in storage right now.


And the main thing I did to ward off the boredom was to do commercial intervals.


Commercial intervals go like this ...

1. Hop on the bicycle about 5 minutes before your favourite 30-min sitcom, and spin a bit and get comfy.
2. Watch the first segment of the show, while riding at a moderate pace.
3. When the commercial comes on, ride as hard as you can for the full duration of the commercial.
4. When the show comes back on, slow down, but keep pedalling, and recover.
5. Next commercial ... ride as hard as you can for the full duration of the commercial.
6. And repeat to the end of the show. Then spin a bit for 5 minutes or so to cool down.

40 minutes goes by in no time at all.

It's even better if you've got an hour's worth of show(s) you like to watch.

[HR][/HR]
Mix it up with spinning classes too. Go to a spinning class 1-2 days a week, and if possible, make an evening of it ... do the spinning class, then go lift weights walk/jog on the treadmill, use the rowing machine, and/or take a swim.

Then use your trainer, and some home weights, 3-4 days a week.

And try to get outside for a long steady distance ride or two on the weekends.

Pirkaus

45°F, get some arm warmers, leg warmer, gloves, winter hat, and a good windbreaker, or HTFU, then ride on!!!
I ride the trainer doing HIIT, and endurance videos, and did improve over last winter, and will do the same this winter.
Trainers can be mind-numbingly boring, but are a necessary evil, to make it through the foul weather times.
Pirk

spdntrxi

I got the Wahoo KICKR to fight the boredom… so far so go.. been trying to make my own kinomap videos lately to make it a little more interesting.

Adventure_Man

You see those harsh weather conditions ? They're also another tool in the tool box to help you.
Everyone's different. I wouldn't enjoy a trainer. I also jog and I wouldn't consider using a treadmill. I just get so much enjoyment from being out.

Garfield Cat

Even in Southern California, there is a place for trainers indoors. Robert Kahler's training helped a lot of riders. He runs the "Torture Clinic".

https://www.cyclingpros.com/Torture.htm

02Giant 

My trainer is set up in my detached garage, set the heat about 62*, crank the tunes and spin away. I like the idea of the commercial intervals, I will have to give it a try...with the TV volume down and the music on. I find myself watching the clock when doing set intervals, when doing them during the commercial breaks they will be completely random

buckwheat987

bad weather...so trainer...while rewatching all seasons of breaking bad on netflix....its not as good as outside but at least its bearable....not sure whats up next after the BB series.