Originally Posted by
ericm979
"miles" are a poor way to track your training load. That said, I post my mileage total every year when those "what was your mileage this year" threads roll around. But if my software didn't make it easy I wouldn't bother figuring it out.
Use time to track your training, not miles. 10 miles up an 8% grade is a lot different from 10 miles on the flat. 10 "miles" on a trainer could be very easy if you set the resistance low.
But if you keep track of your miles, it's your choice whether you count trainer "miles".
It is very flat here in Allen County Indiana, there are a few small hills north and southwest of Fort Wayne; east of here was known as "The Great Black Swamp" in the 18th century...very very flat. I'd probably bonk going up an 8% grade. So my time on the trainer is just about as flat as most of my rides.
Good point about using mileage to measure training load. My log does show significant improvement in avg. time over the last four years, about a 3-4 mph increase. I've found group rides greatly increase my avg. time (helped I'm sure by the peloton) and I'm forced to push myself to try and stay with the stronger riders.