jshelly

Decided to fork out for a trainer and a bunch of Spinerval videos this winter and I truly cannot believe how difficult the workouts are.

There is something to be said for a trainer pushing you as opposed to going it alone. I am seriously too easy on myself when out on the road.

I couldn't even finish the first spinervals dvd, I felt like tossing my breakfast on the basement carpet. Strange thing is I am looking forward to the challenge.

Like most have already stated - big thumbs up on spinervals.

dploy

Yea I tried a Spin Class just to see what all the rage is about - I almost puked.

caelismadison

I'm going through the same thing. I tried to say in shape last winter, my first winter being from Florida, and it didn't last long on the trainer. I've joined a spin class and I'm planning on starting the sufferfest videos soon.

sjvcycler

spinnervals are pretty hardcore lol. They do make you suffer at times. If you do them enough you won't feel that bad climbing. I noticed the difference from indoor training on my last ride.

palesaint

If you can't finish a spinervals DVD, you're not out of shape - you're just pushing yourself too hard. Follow all the cadence recommendations and ramp it up when told to, but don't obliterate yourself in the process. Same with gym spin classes - the instructor might be yelling at you to crank out 110%, but I can tell you that while you are killing yourself to put out 500 watts, the regular attendees are putting out a fraction of that - while laughing at the new guy who is about to detonate.

There is certainly a time and place for hard intervals. But you've got to know how to pace yourself also.

hshearer

I've noticed the same thing with Spinnervals... I push even harder. That's great as long as you are still able to finish the workout and have recovered in time to do your next workout, too. However, I find that the effect only works the first time I see the video, when I don't know what's coming next. As I learn what to expect, I pace myself better, and end up working at the level I would when I do self-directed workouts (which is still plenty hard).

The downside (to me) with Spinnervals is that I end up watching a bunch of people riding trainers... while I ride a trainer. The Spinnervals that came with my trainer was located in a car dealership, of all places. How boring is that? I'd far prefer to watch something else more interesting while using a timer to dictate the intervals. That way, I enjoy my time on the trainer more, and will likely put in more time, or at least suffer less. I've actually looked forward to watching some things on the trainer. My favourites are helmet-cam videos. Try racedayrush.com for some free ones. I haven't tried them all, but it looks as though they even have some with a spin instructor talking you through the footage.

tubapro

I've been getting a good workout using spinervals as well. I have the uphill grind and another climbing one (I forget). I recently got rid of my old school cycling computer and bought a sigma 2209 for the cadence and heart rate monitor. It's been really useful. My cadence is much slower than what I thought. I usually get caught up in figuring out who is cheating in the video and riding easier gears.

sjvcycler

Work up to them. Don't go all out every time like they tell you. Take at least a day in between them. I learned the hard way and over trained last year. What I do now is Alternate during the week between a video and just spinning and watching tv. On the weekends I'm going to try to get in at least one 50 mile ride. That works for me. I pulled the computer off my bike. Its better just to be able to do the workout and then work on cadence later. Once you use cadence enough you'll know what over 90 feels like.

fishermba2004

They get easier. I started last winter doing 30 minutes of the endurance spinervals. By the end of winter, I was doing the 2 hour workout using the same average wattage and taking breaks to do 60-90 second wall sits.