spoke50

I use a recumbent trainer a lot during the winter months and here are a couple of my observations. I do intervals a couple of times a week on the trainer and it’s my theory that the bent tends to isolate certain muscles better than a regular trainer. I could be wrong, but when you’re mashing on the bent you can use your back to push down harder on the pedals. Your whole body can stay relaxed and your legs do all the work. It may just be me, but I feel like my power has increased by doing intervals this way.

Another thing I’ve noticed is when I get into a certain heart rate zone I can move my hands to the upright position and spin a lot easier than when my hands are down by my side. It could be a blood flow issue or maybe just the forward position opens up your airflow better. Either way it seems that this goes against the idea of spinning in the drops. I’ve heard that a more upright position does help your breathing, which I guess is why everybody climbs on the hoods.

Any thoughts?

TurboTurtle

"..it’s my theory that the bent tends to isolate certain muscles better than a regular trainer." I would totally agree - but it's the wrong ones if your goal is to faster on a standard frame.

"Your whole body can stay relaxed and your legs do all the work." This is what your technique should be on the standard frame and why you should be working on it rather than the 'bent.

TF

TF

spoke50

I can see that training on a standard frame would be important for form. You do want to practice a relaxed upper body position to conserve energy. I guess it's the same old "free weights" vs "weight machine" argument. You hear all the talk on here about "gyming" during the winter season so it seems that mashing at a high level on the bent would produce a similar result with the addition of the cardio excersize at the same time.