Why ride a trainer if you hate it?
 

One of the recurring sentiments that gets echoed is that people hate their trainers. If that's the case, why ride it? It makes a little sense if you like racing enough, but I get the sense that people get on them purely for fitness even if they hate it.

I don't use my trainer a lot, but I get on it for the same reason I go for real rides -- because I want to. Sometimes, I just enjoy a more focused experience in a controlled environment. If I didn't like it, I'd do something else. After all, cycling is supposed to be fun.

If you don't like your trainer, why do you use it?

I use my trainer so I won't look like the Michelin Man come spring. As much as I dislike indoor riding I hate being fat even more.

I do spin classes during the winter, but not a trainer. I run through the winter, so that keeps me pretty fit.

I like the trainer for the first 30 minutes, don't mind it for the next 30, then hate it for anything after that.

I like being on the bike no matter what. Being on the trainer allows me to be on the bike, at anytime of the day, any season. Nuff said.

If the road is/were available I'd always be there. But sometimes, due to time constraints, weather, etc. getting out isn't possible....so the trainer BARELY SUFFICES AS A CARDIO FITNESS TOOL. Nothing else. Still a LOT more fun than running.

i like to eat and crush recreational souls. later.

I hate my trainer and I race.

I use is stubbornly every time I visitng home from school about 1-2/week to do some short and painful 2x20's intervals.
It's not fun, I hate doing it but it leaves me feeling very gratified. Weird.

I feelt that if I did not race, I would be less inclined to use it, as irrational as it is.


EDIT: I also use it to warmup for crits but I don't mind doing that.

Sounds like you need to race

I dislike the alternative of not riding much more.
My trainer is used when I am unable to ride outside for whatever reason.

I hate it, but it's useful for specific drills like Tabata intervals and simulated hill climbs (cinderblock plus huge gear).

I hate my trainer. But I hate loosing the fitness I've worked for even more.

I don't mind my trainer helps kep my riding fitness over the winter so in the spring I can hit the road close to how I left it.

The trainer absolutely pales in comparison to outdoor riding. It's not a thoroughly enjoyable experience. However, I don't hate it. It scratches my bicycle itch just enough to keep me from going bonkers when there's snow on the ground and I do race so it helps me out there. Saying I'm indifferent to it is pretty accurate.

When I rode only recreational, I bought a $200 fluid trainer and proceeded to never use it. When I started racing, I hated the trainer, but needed to get in shape by the spring, so I used it. By now, starting my third season racing, I am fairly indifferent to the trainer. Not as fun as real riding, but more convenient, especially when the days are short and I cannot get out in daylight after work.

I dont get chased by dogs as often riding a trainer indoors as I do while riding my bicycle outdoors. Thats one good thing about my trainer.

I love it. And I'm on it when I have to.

As Ted King recently said...

"Discipline"...



Although he was talking about pumpkin pie...

i don't love it, but i like how riding my trainer has added structure to my day now that winter and short days have set in. monday-friday i'll ride early am, and late pm for a total of 1-1.5h each day. some intervals, some recovery. weekends with clear roads and above -5C will get me out on the roads (unless i'm skiing). otherwise, some offroad riding or trail running sat-sun.

It is clear from this survey that trainers are more popular with Freds than with Road Nazis. I never realized trainers were a Fred thing, though I've always liked mine just fine.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...tirringpot.jpg....

How odd. If I weren't racing, I'd give up mine in a millisecond. It's why I started racing in the first place. I couldn't actually justify "exercising" to myself if there were no competitive goal attached.

Its not so much that I hate the trainer or rollers, its the indooor riding. Its all worth it once I'm back out on the roads in the spring

I get off at 5 and it's dark at 5:30

It has grown on me.

My room probably full of rubber dust though.