View Poll Results: How do you feel about your trainer
I like my trainer and I race
8
8.00%
I'm indifferent to my trainer and I race
10
10.00%
I hate my trainer and I race
21
21.00%
I like my trainer and I don't race
30
30.00%
I'm indifferent to my trainer and I don't race
17
17.00%
I hate my trainer and I don't race
14
14.00%
Voters: 100. You may not vote on this poll
Why ride a trainer if you hate it?
12-16-09 | 01:24 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Portland Fred
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,553
Likes: 54
Bikes: Custom Winter, Challenge Seiran SL, Fuji Team Pro, Cattrike Road/Velokit, РOS hybrid
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 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?
12-16-09 | 03:51 PM
#6
FBoD Member at Large
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,094
Likes: 8
From: Woodbury, MN
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.
12-16-09 | 04:08 PM
#7
grilled cheesus
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,957
Likes: 5
From: 8675309
Bikes: 2010 CAAD9 Custom, 06 Giant TCR C2 & 05 Specialized Hardrock Sport
i like to eat and crush recreational souls. later.
__________________
Last edited by aham23; 12-16-09 at 05:23 PM. Reason: typo
12-16-09 | 05:01 PM
#8
Not actually Tmonk
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 17,380
Likes: 6,161
From: San Diego, CA
Bikes: road, track, mtb
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.
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.
12-16-09 | 05:21 PM
#10
I dislike the alternative of not riding much more.
My trainer is used when I am unable to ride outside for whatever reason.
My trainer is used when I am unable to ride outside for whatever reason.
12-16-09 | 05:26 PM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,116
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
I hate it, but it's useful for specific drills like Tabata intervals and simulated hill climbs (cinderblock plus huge gear).
12-16-09 | 05:40 PM
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,205
Likes: 10
From: Cobourg Ontario Canada
Bikes: ParleeZ5/Parlee Chebacco/Trek Farley/Cannondale Slice/Burley Tandem
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.
12-16-09 | 05:45 PM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 903
Likes: 8
From: Los Alamos, NM
Bikes: 2008 fetish illustre
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.
12-16-09 | 05:45 PM
#15
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,123
Likes: 4
From: Near Portland, OR
Bikes: Three road bikes. Two track bikes.
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.
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
12-16-09 | 05:47 PM
#17
I love it. And I'm on it when I have to.
12-16-09 | 06:10 PM
#19
ka maté ka maté ka ora
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,423
Likes: 4
From: wessex
Bikes: breezer venturi - red novo bosberg - red, pedal force cg1 - red, neuvation f-100 - da, devinci phantom - xt, miele piste - miche/campy, bianchi reparto corse sbx, concorde squadra tsx - da, miele team issue sl - ultegra
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.
12-16-09 | 06:28 PM
#20
Thread Starter
Portland Fred
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,553
Likes: 54
Bikes: Custom Winter, Challenge Seiran SL, Fuji Team Pro, Cattrike Road/Velokit, РOS hybrid
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.
12-16-09 | 06:35 PM
#21
A Little Bent
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 0
From: Struggling up a hillside in Vermont, USA... ..........................................
....
12-16-09 | 06:36 PM
#22
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,123
Likes: 4
From: Near Portland, OR
Bikes: Three road bikes. Two track bikes.
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.
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
