Tricks for the trainer
 

It's 25-30mph winds outside today so I thought it would be a good time to dust off the old indoor trainer. After only twenty minutes I found myself looking at the clock praying that time would go by faster. It was soooo boring. I had the TV on for a little entertainment but I couldn't make myself do more than one hour. What are some tips/tricks for making it slightly more bearable?

I watch my favorite old TV shows. You want the dvd, commercials are very bad on a trainer. You can try Spinervals. And you can watch action movies. Anything
exciting. I must look funny when Matrix 2 is on. I always pedal like mad during the motorcycle chase and lean when she leans.

I do high cadence pedaling and plug in out of the saddle intervals. I can go like hell for about 30 minutes, then I'm ready to get off. I have a short attention span.

I use Spinervals DVDs. I find them to be very effective. First they are cycling dedicated, offering a specific workout that can change from one day to the other (spinning, climbing, recovering...). They are interval based so they optimized to provide you with an efficient workout within the time you are on the trainer; some are only 30 minutes, some are 70 to 90 minutes. They also have a multi-hour (5, I think) for century practice.
Time seems seems longer on the trainer but with these I have done up to 90 minutes workouts without being too bored, sometimes I watch the remaining time because I am tired and wonder if I will be able to complete the whole thing before going bonk. Make sure you drink a lot because the sweating is intense.
In hotels I sometimes use their spinning machine in front of the TV. this is really boring and I really need to be super motivated (like the week before the Death Ride) to stay long on it. On a specific DVD such as Spinervals or the Carmichael series you have a human trainer guiding you through the workout and pushing you.

I make playlists for my Spinning classes based on real rides I take, so applying music to our local rides and bringing them indoors makes them more alive when on the trainer. I have a pair of small, powerful speakers into which I plug my Nano, and then I crank up the volume and just go. When the going becomes tedious I close my eyes and visualize the road, conjure up the smells I encounter there, and try to stay focused on my goal for the session.

Last year I managed 90 minutes on the trainer, but the last 30 was challenging. I really missed being outside. I'm thinking about putting the trainer on the patio, which is covered, so I get the feel of being outside. I'll let you know how that goes.

Using either the Spinerval or CTS videos help me take my mind off the time. You get so involved into what they are telling you to do that the time flies, even when you don't want to be on the trainer after only 2 mins, like last night. But 40mins later I was done and got a pretty good workout.

But mix it up or doing just one video will get stale real quick!

I've also played the TDF and "spun" along with the peleton! That helped, until I accidentally erased them all from my DVR!! Crap!!

But honestly, you just have to get on and not look at the clock. The trainer sucks but it does help.

Good luck!

Or you can cross train, like going swimming or running?

Rubic's cube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WknKGLMs6oU

I was just at the spinervals website and I almost spent the money on a few DVDs. I've never tried one and I'm not sure I want to spend $30 for a DVD I've never seen before.

I have a youtube playlist with lots of TDF videos that I'm gonna try using.

I can't run because of a bad knee :(

I go into my own world, imagine being in a hot paceline, climbing that long, steep hill, conquering that century, going to all the places you been in record time. Soon an hour is up.

I've never said things to people in real life that I've yelled at Coach Troy...

http://www.enduranceplanet.com/photos/troy3.jpg
Can someone Photoshop a target on this picture please..?

"If you don't have to lie prone for a couple of minutes in fear of puking after this workout, you're not doing it correctly... 5,4,3,2,1 and soft-pedal for 90 seconds"

Tdf DVDs from World Cycling Productions. It's great to listen to Phil and Paul (and Bobke). Problem is, you eventually do them all.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...7/Sweatin_.jpg
C'mon People!!!

Say no more !

I have to have a specific plan before getting on the trainer or I'll stop after 5 minutes. Two good sources:

http://www.pedalpushersonline.com/?CID=974
http://www.goldengatebookstore.com/r...31&affnr=-2610

The second one has great 1 hour very specific trainer workouts.

Ditto, but even with a plan I find it extremely difficult to go for more than about 30-40 minutes.

Rollers are nice to mix it up and help with balance; keeps you a bit more engaged, but still, it's just not the same as actual riding.

We're in California, just take the bike out there and ride. There are these things called lights, which helps you see in the dark. It's the latest fad these days.

I make up a playlist on imeem or iTunes and make up my intervals based on the song. It isn't the most scientific, but it can keep me on the machine up to an hour and a half.

I did just order a good bike light though, once I get a good cycling jacket, I'll be riding at night!

+1

Cold weather gear & lights

for wet days ... take out the rain bike with the fenders.

Although, I probably wouldn't head out on a recreational ride during a downpour. Misty or drizzle is fair game.

I do commute in all weather though.

Your Jedi mind tricks don't work on me, O' Child-less Master. :winter:

I used to watch episodes of the show 24. It made the time go pretty quickly.