Trainers suck, that is all.

You are correct. However, if you can't get outside and ride your bike, riding on a trainer is better than not riding at all.


How much better varies with the situation but somewhat better for sure.

that's a good sweat on a stationary

this forum needs a "like button"

Agreed. But I'm using Zwift this year with my trainer. And with Zwift, the trainer doesn't suck as much. An hour or 90 minutes on the trainer with Zwift isn't too bad.

I must disagree. I am with the op on this and have always found riding on a trainer boring no matter how much I tried to motivate myself. I understand that it is a good way of keeping cycling fit during the bad weather, and for competitive cyclists it is very helpful. I find exercise such as walking and hill-walking to be much more enjoyable than sitting indoors. I recently took up table tennis again, after an absence of 40 years, and find that this helps keep up the sharpness.

For my type of cycling, which is non-competitive and, outside high winter, ranges between 60 and 100 miles a week, I am happy to lose a bit of fitness each winter and regain it come spring.

YMMV

Isn't riding on a trainer better measured in minutes rather than miles?

Not trying to challenge. Sincerely asking out of ignorance.


-Tim-

I use a combination of the two, a set distance in a set amount of time.

I quite enjoy my trainer.

I use Trainer Road on my laptop plowing me through a gut punch workout, a cycling video on the big screen and the music is blasting. As a form of exercise it's terrific and might put me in better riding shape than I am in the summer.

It's different from riding outside of course. There's nothing better than springtime when I can pack up the trainer and drag my bike outside where it really belongs.

Stop exaggerating with this kind of gushing praise.

OTOH - if we described them fairly of BF we'd likely get banned.

I actually love my trainer. It motivates me to go out and ride even the coldest winter days.

You know..... it's ok to not ride the bike for awhile. It's just a bicycle...........

40 years ago, I could go all winter without riding, jump on the bike in march and knock off a hundred miles. I might have suffered, but I'd be back in full form within a few weeks.

These days I need to do some riding to maintain decent condition, because getting back what I lose is much harder, and I expect that won't change over the remaining decades (with luck).

So, I'm perfectly willing to miss days, or even a week, but I do have to ride, because I'm just not willing to fight that hard later.

No, no it's not. It's actually a cholesterol control devise. Cardiologist wants me out walking 12 miles a week, but that's just not my thing so I ride to keep my arteries clear from clogging up again. Because giving up steaks and pork chops and all the other delicious things that come off my grill is NOT an option. But the trainer still SUCKS for another 10 miles this morning.

No, it's the device that keeps me in shape and alive -- blood pressure low, BMI down, mind clear. I can't run anymore (bad knees). And if I'm off the bike more than a few weeks, I won't be riding the bike anymore, either -- again, bad knees. So, I ride the trainer to keep the knees functional and, again, to stay alive and healthy.

I said this in another thread and it was as if I had claimed that God didn't exist or insulted their wives. Some got very upset.

The truth is that there are alternatives. Cycling is not a weight bearing activity and can lead to brittle bones. Just walking is very healthy.

I was walking 45 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes in the evening about two years ago - both cholesterol and weight were as low as they had ever been. My doctor was impressed.


-Tim-

^^^^^ This.


But if, for whatever reason, cycling, including riding an indoor trainer, is the only activity that motivates people to exercise, then it's got to be OK.

In February I usually switch to high intensity napping.

I went for a ride with Dorothy Hamill this morning.

My boss really frowns on that, but I'm all for it!

I've always found the best exercise is the one you will actually do. While I do hate the trainer, I'll do it when I have to.

If only y'all were on the right coast I'd say I'd ride with y'all.

Redundancy of the day!

This is why I ride outside. Boredom never really hurts until you get on a trainer.

Man, she's aged well. What fountain is she drinking out of?

Given they did not tell me to stop running after the stress test I posted. I ran 5.5 miles on the treadmill. Trainers are ok for a short period of time but will run if given choice of treadmill or trainer.

Oh for a 60 degrees of sun and no wind in the country.

Sound's like Georgia's on your mind.

Y'all come down.


-Tim-

68 today in SC, 72 tomorrow, 75 Friday mid to upper 60's over the weekend. So no trainer miles scheduled for Friday through Sunday!