littleArnold

I try my hardest to get 100 miles in a week of biking, but when I can't get 100 miles in on bike due to bad weather I substitute my miles on stationary bike. Like this week we have had 4 days of rain. So I rode on stationary bike for 4 days, 20 miles on stationary bike each day.

I really don't like the stationary bike in the gym, but I will do it when I need to burn calories and outside it is thunder storming. The stationary bike actually is harder for me just because it is so incredibly boring and I just love being outside so much. I much prefer biking 20 miles on a very scenic bike path then biking 20 miles on a stationary bike, I get so bored so easily on the stationary bike. I spin on stationary bike 90-100 rpm and outside I do about 90 rpm.

Any other bikers incorporate stationary bike training in their routine?

DrIsotope

I broke my right hand on the 4th of March, and absolutely could not support weight on it. The $10 I spent on Zwift kept me sane during the following 7 weeks. Adding the video game aspect to cycling makes it a whole lot more livable than spinning on the trainer, staring at the wall for an hour. That said, I had enough hand strength to get back on the road on April 13th-- and haven't touched the trainer once since. If it was raining cats and dogs, I'd rather brave that than sit on the trainer.

Zwift is pretty cool, though.

I-Like-To-Bike

I would prefer riding 20 miles in the rain (or cold) on a bicycle as long as I dressed for the weather rather than get bored silly riding the equivalent on a stationary bike.

Homebrew01

I used a "trainer" in my basement. It attaches to the rear wheel of my bike. I then set up my computer and watched bike races I had already downloaded.

Machka 

This ^^

Only I do "commercial intervals" where I watch a TV show I like and ride easy during the show, then ride as hard as I can during the commercials.

kickstart

No, I don't "train" or exercise just to exercise, and have no desire to.

I commute daily by bike plus recreational and running errands on the weekend averaging 100+ miles a week, have a physically demanding job, and acreage to maintain, so I don't fret over the occasional "lazy" day.

SylvainG

Yeah, I use this: AFG 7.3 AU Upright Bike | Canadian Tire during the Winter months. It takes less space than my bike and does an OK the job. I wish I could switch the seat to my bike seat though but the bracket isn't standard. Wouldn't have paid full price on it thought, got it at 66% discount.

I do like Machka on my treadmill because it's too noisy to watch a show and run at the same time. On the exercise bike though, it's quiet so I do ITT for the length of the show and skip the commercials :-)

RunForTheHills 

I had to use the trainer last fall when I was recovering from a running injury. I used an online virtual program called Zwift to fight the boredom. I hooked my laptop up to a TV in front of the trainer. It uses an ANT speed sensor on the bike (or a power meter if you have one) to simulate you riding through a virtual world.

Zurichman2

I have a set of rollers in y basement that I can last for about an hr. in my basement. It's still pretty boring.

Zman

wolfchild

I don't use stationary bikes, too boring...There are a lot of different ways to exercise which are more fun and more effective then stationary bike.

clydeosaur

During the week (in winter time) I have no time to get out before dark. I put the roadbike in a fluid trainer. I do training videos, structured workouts, etc..to get me through the weekdays. Works great for the small investment.

jimmie65

Sure. I love driving the few miles to the gym so I can jump on the stationary bike (or treadmill) and pretend I'm getting somewhere.

12strings

I could never do "20 miles" on an indoor trainer or gym bike...but J do use both regularly when I can't get outside...I do a 20 minute I interval workout that is a bunch of 30 second sprints with 30 seconds of rest. Only about 5 total minutes of rising hard, but I'm wiped out at the end, and it really gets me fit fast.

Retro Grouch 

Whoa! I'm thinking those could be some long intervals. I'm picturing myself at the bursting point and then they show one more commercial.

Machka 

Yep ... I've been there! Wondering how on earth they can manage to show so many commercials and surely we should be back to the show by now!!! OH NO! NOT another commercial!!

wolfchild

It's impossible to do "real intervals" in front of TV and "use commercials as your stop watch", because the timing of commercials is very inconsistent...Intervals should be done using a stop watch...Why would anybody distract themselves watching TV during intense exercise instead of being focused on the workout ??

Machka 

Obviously you wouldn't understand.

rickyk76

I travel 100% of my time for work, so M-F, the only way to get any "miles" under my belt is to use the stationary bike at the gym. It's awful and nowhere near as effective as actually being on my bike, but at least I'm strengthening my legs through pedaling. I use it as my aerobic workout after doing my weight routine.

SylvainG

I was told by a Myokin coach last Winter that 30 sec / 30 sec or one minute / one minute ITT are more geared toward sprinters than bikers, which should do 3 minutes high intensity / one minute low intensity ITT instead. It made sense to me so that's what I did.

CrankyOne

My riding is very similar to @kickstart. We ride for local transportation (work, groceries, coffee, hardware store, etc.) and occasionally do some purely recreational rides. That generally provides sufficient daily activity. I do enjoy occasional fitness/training type rides on my road bike though.

I have a TACX trainer that I'll typically use maybe a dozen or so times a year if the weather is bad like a stretch a couple of years ago when it never got above -5f for a couple of weeks. I mostly ride with their videos like the city trips or classics race courses like Flèche Waloon or Amstel Gold and usually just a quick 20-30 minute ride before showering in the morning.

caloso

30s on/off is a classic CX/crit interval, so I don't really understand that statement.

ahanulec

I guess I'm in the minority, but yes I do use a stationary.

The gym is climate controlled and dry. I use them often.

I might get flamed for this but spin class are great too.

Trevtassie

Hah, yeh, if you used Australian TV adverts for the high intensity bits you'd die, we have the highest percentage of ads in the world.... seriously. We are up to 20 minutes per hour, not including station promos...

Machka 

Good spin classes are great too.

Reynolds 

I occasionally use my bike on a trainer, but gym stationary bikes are very different (and worse) IMO.