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Getting used to the great indoors, and I need some advice.

Old 02-04-17, 01:26 AM
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Getting used to the great indoors, and I need some advice.

So I started training indoors and I'm barely getting the hang of it. I've tried ftp tests twice and I've yet to finish them.
I've narrowed the causes or factors that contribute and I would like to know your opinions based on your experience.
1 I train in a room with no a/c nor heating, and I don't know if a fan would help since the room temperature hoovers between 68-72 in this time of the year
2 My mental power; I trained in the past with a dumb trainer and i could not ride more than 3-5 miles on zwift. My smart trainer has help some, and now I'm able to go for 10 miles (halfway to a full ftp).
3 my trainer (elite drivo) which seats on a bare linoleum floor keeps sliding forward about 3ft after about 20 minutes.

does anybody have any suggestions that'd aleviate the problems listed?
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Old 02-04-17, 02:09 AM
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1. Get a fan.

2. Personally, I do commercial intervals. I pick a show I like which has commercials. I ride at a moderate pace during the show, then I ride flat out as hard as I can during the commercial break. 30 or 60 or more minutes can go by in no time.

3. Put down a rubber-backed floor mat. Is the floor sloped?


And a question for you ... why can't you ride more? Mental fatigue? Physical pain? Other?
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Old 02-04-17, 10:35 AM
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Probably all three factors affect me in the time I ride I do sweat a lot, and pedaling in one place does get to me. Outdoors I'm able to ride for hours at a slow pace (15mph for 80-100 miles), but the scenery keeps me entertained.
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Old 02-04-17, 03:50 PM
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Its hard. I do my best to distract myself with the TV and/or music, but I still find it mind numbingly difficult to go for much more than an hour on the trainer. As to FTP tests, you might look into trying a different method? I know TrainerRoad offers two workouts for ftp testing. Or maybe you just need to back off the effort somewhat so that you can make it through it? Remember, going out too hard initially in an FTP test is death.

1 - Yes, a powerful fan will help, even if its still warm. Riding outside in the heat would be harder if not for the evaporative cooling, no?
2 - Tunes/TV can help the boredom factor, or perhaps a virtual environment like Zwift.
3 - Trainer Mat. Or at least rubber pads under the trainer's feet.
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Old 02-04-17, 05:06 PM
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If you've never done an FTP test it can be as mentally difficult as it is physically.

Just get used to riding the trainer for now. An FTP test that you can't do at a legitimate all out effort will be useless for setting a training plan by (just guess in that case), and it'll lure you into believing you doubled your FTP in a month from now when you're actually able to do that all out effort.

A strong fan is mandatory for me, and TV, music, Zwift, etc. are good diversions.
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Old 02-04-17, 05:52 PM
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I've never heard of a 20 mile ftp test...I've heard of 20 minutes, then calculate from there.
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Old 02-04-17, 07:06 PM
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A fan is mandatory for training indoors. A very powerful one.
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Old 02-05-17, 12:10 PM
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At your temperature, two 24" box fans. You want them close enough and turned up high enough that you have to wear cycling glasses. That'll probably fix your whole problem. Be sure to use a sweat bra on your bike. Corrosion's always a problem for bikes used a lot indoors. The trainer is supposed to be difficult and maybe hurt a little. That's how you keep entertained on it. "If it didn't hurt, we wouldn't be doing it" is the motto.
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Old 02-05-17, 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted by PepeM
A fan is mandatory for training indoors. A very powerful one.
+1. Even with multiple large fans you'll still be getting a fraction of the cooling effect when riding outdoors.

Riding a trainer takes a while to adapt to. Forget about doing FTP tests which are a challenge even when done outdoors and pick some workouts that you can get through. Start with easier workouts and increase the length intensity as you get used to it. A 20-min all out effort is not the place to start.
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Old 02-06-17, 12:32 AM
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Just completed my first 20 mile ride on zwift, I did get a mat a cheap $12 mat from the home depot and the bike only moved a couple of inches. I have not set up a fan but I will once I figure out the best location for it. I did have to grind it out on those 15% incline ramps but having other riders as rabbits help me get thru the ride.[IMG][/IMG]
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Old 02-06-17, 12:43 AM
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Just completed my first 20 mile ride on zwift, I did get a mat a cheap $12 mat from the home depot and the bike only moved a couple of inches. I have not set up a fan but I will once I figure out the best location for it. I did have to grind it out on those 15% incline ramps but having other riders as rabbits help me get thru the ride.[IMG][/IMG]

Last edited by roca rule; 02-06-17 at 12:46 AM.
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