For Trainer Users Only

Colorado Bicycler said:

For Trainer Users Only

Now that we are getting into colder weather, I am curious as to the
frequency, intensity and length of usage of your trainer - either so
far this year, or what you plan on during the winter months (at least
in the northern hemisphere).

So,

1. How many times a week do you usually use your trainer - if
bicycling is not possible, given your circumstances?

2. How long is your individual session on your trainer - an hour, 30
minutes, 2 hours, etc.?

3. How intense is your training session - easy, as hard as you can
make it, whatever?

4. Do you use any training aid, such as Spinervals or Carmichael
tapes/cd's or videos of Tour de ??? or other things?

5. Do you use your trainer at home - do you do it in a gym with a
LifeCycle or other arrangement?

6. What about Spinning Classes and rollers. Are you using those for
your indoor training needs? Why?

Again, this is for folks who DO use trainers.

(now I can hardly wait for all the folks who feel compelled to give
their gratuitous, non-relevant comments - those "macho" types who NEED
to tell us they ride all winter long in 40 degrees below zero during
blizzards, those who have to tell us that trainers are boring and they
would never use one, those who live in warm climates and never need
trainers, and NEED to tell us about it, etc., etc.)

We don't have a trainer, but are thinking of getting one, simply because
a trainer is $200 - $300 and a gym membership is around $500 a year per
person. So, I have a couple of extra questions for the serious trainer
users:

7) How easy/hard is it to switch bikes on a trainer?

8) What trainers are MTB compatable, or do you need to switch to a slick
tire for the winter?

9) How stable are they?

W

Colorado Bicycler said:

For Trainer Users Only

Now that we are getting into colder weather, I am curious as to the
frequency, intensity and length of usage of your trainer - either so
far this year, or what you plan on during the winter months (at least
in the northern hemisphere).

If I'm not going some where why in heavens name am I going to get on a
bike?

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

Quoted message said:

If I'm not going some where why in heavens name am I going to get on a
bike?

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

See, it has already started! Some folks just can't resist totally
ignoring the question!!

:o(

"(now I can hardly wait for all the folks who feel compelled to give
their gratuitous, non-relevant comments - those "macho" types who NEED
to tell us they ride all winter long in 40 degrees below zero during
blizzards, those who have to tell us that trainers are boring and they
would never use one, those who live in warm climates and never need
trainers, and NEED to tell us about it, etc., etc.) "

The Wogster said:

7) How easy/hard is it to switch bikes on a trainer?

I have a set of rollers. Very easy to switch bikes given they're just
sitting on it.

Quoted message said:

8) What trainers are MTB compatable, or do you need to switch to a slick
tire for the winter?

I used my MTB bike on the rollers. The tires were sort-of knobby and it
was very very loud. Fortunatly, the TV volume goes way way up. It was
also a very hard workout. The friction of a low pressure tire (60psi)
on a small drum is much higher then I expected.

Rich

Quoted message said:

If I'm not going some where why in heavens name am I going to get on a
bike?

For exercise.

Duh.

Quoted message said:

Colorado Bicycler said:

For Trainer Users Only

Now that we are getting into colder weather, I am curious as to the
frequency, intensity and length of usage of your trainer - either so
far this year, or what you plan on during the winter months (at least
in the northern hemisphere).

If I'm not going some where why in heavens name am I going to get on a
bike?

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

Well, with biking season pretty much over in Northern areas, some of us
don't want to give up all that hard earned muscle tone, and all those
extra pounds lost, and a trainer with 20 - 40 minutes a day of riding,
would go along way towards building for next years riding.

W

Rich said:

The Wogster said:

7) How easy/hard is it to switch bikes on a trainer?

I have a set of rollers. Very easy to switch bikes given they're just
sitting on it.

What brand/model do you have?

How do you keep the bike from falling over when it's on the rollers?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

8) What trainers are MTB compatable, or do you need to switch to a
slick tire for the winter?

I used my MTB bike on the rollers. The tires were sort-of knobby and it
was very very loud. Fortunatly, the TV volume goes way way up. It was
also a very hard workout. The friction of a low pressure tire (60psi)
on a small drum is much higher then I expected.

So would a higher pressure slick on the back would be a good investment
for the winter?

W

Rich said:

Quoted message said:

If I'm not going some where why in heavens name am I going to get on a
bike?

For exercise.

Duh.

Trainers rank right up there with treadmills in terms of boredom, unless
of course one places the device near their favorite entertainment device.

The Wogster said:

Quoted message said:

Colorado Bicycler said:

For Trainer Users Only

Now that we are getting into colder weather, I am curious as to the
frequency, intensity and length of usage of your trainer - either so
far this year, or what you plan on during the winter months (at least
in the northern hemisphere).

If I'm not going some where why in heavens name am I going to get on a
bike?

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

Well, with biking season pretty much over in Northern areas, some of us
don't want to give up all that hard earned muscle tone, and all those
extra pounds lost, and a trainer with 20 - 40 minutes a day of riding,
would go along way towards building for next years riding.

W

Whatdaya mean biking season over in northern areas? I was out on the
bike yesterday and would be again today, except I don't ride in the rain.

In the almost hopeless likelihood of getting this post somewhat back on
track, I will post my own answers to the questions I posed and those ow
Wogster. (I foyu ar enot using or contemplating the use of a trainer -
please, post on your own thread, "Why I Hate Trainers." I have already
started that thread for your personal convenience.

1. How many times a week do you usually use your trainer - if
bicycling is not possible, given your circumstances?

I try to use something daily - if I can't ride my bike, then I use
either my trainer at home, or use the traiing bike in the gym.

2. How long is your individual session on your trainer - an hour, 30
minutes, 2 hours, etc.?

I try to go an hour each session.

3. How intense is your training session - easy, as hard as you can
make it, whatever?

I use a heart rate monitor to attempt to get my heart in about the same
range as when I bike.

4. Do you use any training aid, such as Spinervals or Carmichael
tapes/cd's or videos of Tour de ??? or other things?

I use a couple of different Spinerval tapes - I find they give me a
structured, intense workout (depending on the tension I use) and make
the time go much faster.

5. Do you use your trainer at home - do you do it in a gym with a
LifeCycle or other arrangement?

I have a trainer at home and a gym membership.

6. What about Spinning Classes and rollers. Are you using those for
your indoor training needs? Why?

7) How easy/hard is it to switch bikes on a trainer?

It is possible, but requires some machinations - not exactly easy, but
not difficult. More time consuming until you get it learned. The
pretty easy.

8) What trainers are MTB compatable, or do you need to switch to a
slick
tire for the winter?

I think any most trainer is MTB compatible. I would use a slick

9) How stable are they?

I find mine to be extremely stable.

Oops - missed one question:

6. What about Spinning Classes and rollers. Are you using those for
your indoor training needs? Why?

I have never used rollers nor taken a Spinning Class, but wouldn't mind
trying either or both.

I feel compelled to answer, even though you seem quite the ass.

1. As often as I can't get out and ride, lately once a week.
2. 60 mins with 5 min warm up, 5 spin rest in the middle and 5 min warm
down.
3. As hard as possible riding intervals as I don't have to worry about
making it home afterwards (which answers question 5 too)
4. I've a mate who's an Olympic coach in Houston who gives me some
excellent advice and training programs.
5. Home.
6. From what I've seen of spin classes (yes, never tried one for real)
they seem to suck.

I do use a trainer, but as a necessary evil as nothing beats getting
out and riding. And you'd be amazed how the right clothing allows you
to ride all year, go ask a Norwegian. Plus when you post a request for
opions in a public place, guess what, you're going to get public
opions.

The Wogster said:

What brand/model do you have?

Nashbar.

Quoted message said:

How do you keep the bike from falling over when it's on the rollers?

If I'm on it, pedal fast. If I'm not, I lean the bike agaist the wall.

Quoted message said:

So would a higher pressure slick on the back would be a good investment
for the winter?

Probably. If I use mine this winter I'll buy a slick for the back tire.
Although right now my wife's treadmill is in the living room where the
rollers used to be.

Rich

Thanks for your response, Marz

Joe Canuck said:

The Wogster said:

Quoted message said:

Colorado Bicycler wrote:

> For Trainer Users Only
>
> Now that we are getting into colder weather, I am curious as to the
> frequency, intensity and length of usage of your trainer - either so
> far this year, or what you plan on during the winter months (at least
> in the northern hemisphere).

If I'm not going some where why in heavens name am I going to get on a
bike?

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

Well, with biking season pretty much over in Northern areas, some of
us don't want to give up all that hard earned muscle tone, and all
those extra pounds lost, and a trainer with 20 - 40 minutes a day of
riding, would go along way towards building for next years riding.

W

Whatdaya mean biking season over in northern areas? I was out on the
bike yesterday and would be again today, except I don't ride in the rain.

I said pretty much over, not quite over, but there are more and more
days like today, when although it wasn't cold, it was windy and rainy
all day. I expect in another week or two we will be looking at cold,
rainy/snowy and windy days, and then I'll give up all together, for the
winter.....

W

On 6 Nov 2005 10:00:23 -0800 in rec.bicycles.misc, "Colorado

Bicycler said:

See, it has already started! Some folks just can't resist totally
ignoring the question!!

this is usenet. get over it.

It is so sad that it is impossible to have an on-topic, decent
discussion on USENET.

Thought I would try one-more time. I am interested that attempting to
have such a discussion brings so much resentment. Says something about
the resenters!

Colorado Bicycler <[email hidden]> wrote:
:> It is so sad that it is impossible to have an on-topic, decent
:> discussion on USENET.
:>
:> Thought I would try one-more time. I am interested that attempting
:> to have such a discussion brings so much resentment. Says something
:> about the resenters!

Maybe it says something about you, since you can't seem to manage to take
what you need and leave the rest. Usenet is not for everyone...

You bring 'resentment' on your self by being antagonistic in the first
place. Don't go and poke the sleeping dog if you don't want it to bite
you.