Let’s Talk About Riding the Trainer
It’s been a while since we’ve done a post in our Let’s Talk series which is the opportunity for all of you to build up the content and give your thoughts, opinions, and tips.
This time around we’re discussing the bike trainer and rollers. Let us know about how you make the most of your time while on them, what you do to make it most effective, how do you like riding on them? Give us all the good stuff in the comments below.
Here’s a quick video with my trainer talk….listen in for a little voice cameo from our new donkey, Moonlight Poet.
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFqqJwZZJ9k’]
I have a love/hate relationship with my trainer. I hate thinking about riding it but I love how good I feel after. I have found that the only way I can stay focused and get a good workout is with The Sufferfest videos.
Like a treadmill I’m not a big fan. But you do need to get in those workouts on the bad winter weather days. I must have my music going nice and loud and get lost in it. This is really the only way for me to get in a decent ride on the trainer. You do get a nice sweat going after a few good rockin songs.
There are some days I can’t ride outside like: -40c, fresh snow, high winter winds above 35kph, Freezing Rain or when it is raining cats and dogs.I do not compete, I am not a strong cyclist nor a fast one but I chug along with an average over 6000 km per year @ 27 kph
To help the time go faster on the trainer I pull up my laptop table and watch Netflix. TV shows or Movies distract me just enough.
On the easy days I like to watch college basketball while riding the trainer. On the hard days I have to pop in a training video to maintain intensity. I have to find a spot where the bike can stay mounted in trainer, I hate taking it in and out.
Riding the trainer was something I started doing to improve my fitness and when I first started I’d get bored after about 15 minutes. I bought some cycling videos, actually filmed out on roads or bike trails, and that helped some. I also started varying my effort, going to higher/lower gears as well as standing for brief periods. I started paying attention to my my heart rate & breathing, trying to keep it slower and deeper. Somewhere along the line my boredom switched from after 15 minutes to the first 15 minutes.
While riding the trainer is not as much fun as riding outdoors I actually enjoy it (after about 15 minutes).
Trainer, no, not for me! I prefer to be outside. Taking in the views, sounds, smells and exploring new places. I do understand that some people like to use them for training, fitness, weight loss or in unfriendly weather. Each to thier own. As long as you’re having fun.
I ride my trainer while watching TV or movies. Sometimes music videos.
Trust me, I would much rather ride outside. But, I really don’t mind riding the trainer either. I work a lot of hours so the trainer work for me. I won’t take of riding outside in the rain or cold.