Bike trainer?
ephiemarie
Posts: 264 Member
We have a decent bike trainer (Kurt Kinetic Rock & Roll), but we've barely started our midwest winter and I'm already kind of bored with it. I've been doing intervals (3 min spin to 1.5 min sprint/resistance), but I'm looking for more ways to mix it up. Any specific programs you'd recommend?
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I just bought the Rock & Roll and did the Spinervals DVD that came with it. The hour went by surprisingly fast.0
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If you have a speed/cadence sensor and an ant stick you can always sign up at www.trainerroad.com0
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Alas, no speed/cadence sensor.
But I DO have a birthday coming up next month...and Christmas....0 -
FWIW... I care solely about time spent on the trainer - it's the single biggest thing I can do to improve mental toughness during the offseason. Push through the boredom, push through the sweat, push through the fatigue and good things will come.0
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Man Scott, I totally forgot about Trainer Road. Had heard about it over the Summer, but now that I'm having to work the indoor trainer, had totally forgot about it. Thanks for throwing that out there! Just signed up.0
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Used trainer road for the first time today. Did the 20 minute test, which is actually a 1 hour workout with a 20 minute stress test in the middle. Kicked my butt. It is designed to dial in the software and gauge your fitness level. Seems to have worked well. Looking forward to starting some of their training programs. Thanks again Scott for reminding me about it.0
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Used trainer road for the first time today. Did the 20 minute test, which is actually a 1 hour workout with a 20 minute stress test in the middle. Kicked my butt. It is designed to dial in the software and gauge your fitness level. Seems to have worked well. Looking forward to starting some of their training programs. Thanks again Scott for reminding me about it.
No problem. 20 minute power tests are always fun.
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My husband bought the Garmin speed/cadence sensors, but I have a barebones Garmin Forerunner 10 that doesn't interface with that technology. Need to figure out a way to use hubby's watch but log the data in my own accounts.0
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ephiemarie wrote: »We have a decent bike trainer (Kurt Kinetic Rock & Roll), but we've barely started our midwest winter and I'm already kind of bored with it. I've been doing intervals (3 min spin to 1.5 min sprint/resistance), but I'm looking for more ways to mix it up. Any specific programs you'd recommend?
Go check out the suffer fest.
It can be quite... fun.0 -
ephiemarie wrote: »My husband bought the Garmin speed/cadence sensors, but I have a barebones Garmin Forerunner 10 that doesn't interface with that technology. Need to figure out a way to use hubby's watch but log the data in my own accounts.
I think that will be difficult. Not sure if this is the only, or easiest way, but you could do this if you have two computers. Always sync him to one and you to the other. You could swap the Ant+ usb stick between computers accordingly. So your order of operation would go something like this:
1. Install Garmin agent on computer #1 & #2, registering computer #1 to your hubby's Garmin account and computer #2 to your Garmin account.
2. Hubby works out and syncs to computer #1 when finished
3. Clear workout history on watch
4. Remove Ant+ usb stick and put into computer #2
5. You work out and sync to computer #2
6. Clear your work out history on watch and go back to #2
The other option is do like I did and get a 310XT. I got mine for $99 on Craigslist. It is an excellent watch that syncs with all the normal stuff. Mine is synced to my heart rate monitor, speed sensor, cadence sensor, and foot pod. If you don't want to break the bank (i.e. $400-500 for the latest greatest watch), a used 310XT may be a great option.0 -
Thanks, ShawnTX! Always good to have techie friends
My husband has the 310XT watch actually--that thing is ginormous but he loves it! He syncs his Garmin data with the Ant+ usb onto his work laptop, and I use the wired usb charger/upload cable for my watch on my desktop. I think we can work it out OK and will give it a shot tomorrow night. 0 -
Could you not use trainer road with your husbands ant stick and your speed and cadence sensor?0
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I bought my first bike in 20+ years in August, and the Rock and Roll trainer in October. The sufferfest hour went by surprisingly fast all things considered. I recently purchased inRide, which is nice for data and has a few workout programs built in.0
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The Sufferfest
Prepare to suffer greatly. Prepare to be really fast when the next tri season rolls around.0 -
Trainer Road + Netflix makes 75 minutes go by pretty quick0
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Trainer + Netflix / Hulu makes 1 leg drills and super long sessions seem like nothing. If you are looking for programs, I usually just mix it up with long rides, intervals, 1-leg drills, and high resistance drills. When I first got my trainer, NOTHING helped with the boredom. I forget who mentioned it above...but just tough it out. I did that the first year now I don't mind it as much and watching movies/TV during helps pass the time,0
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I second what daj150 says above - Just tough it out. Last year was my first year with trainer and I hated every minute of it. This year is not so bad. I just watch some kind of action movie on Netflix and that keeps me going. It all pays off in the spring when you can get back on the road!0
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I get audio books from the library and ONLY listen when I am training. Also, I set a goal for cadence, heart rate or speed for different time intervals and put that with me on the bike, so I have short goals to achieve.
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I use a bkool trainer, but I would not recommend it today, as it is a closed system and I prefer to have all my workouts in one place (garmin connect or strava). If you don't care about that, it is still a relatively inexpensive option to get interactive workouts on the trainer.0
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I print out my workout then stream cycling videos to the tv from youtube. There are a bunch of motivating things. My favorite are watching old episodes of really tough bike races like Paris Roubaix or Tour de France big climbs. SOmehow it helps to see people hurting worse than me. Kona works too. 0
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The Sufferfest
Prepare to suffer greatly. Prepare to be really fast when the next tri season rolls around.
I just learned they offer a monthly subscription for $10 USD and you get access to all the videos. I am trying it for this month. I did A Very Dark Place last night. I'm really hoping you are right 0 -
I finally used my husband's speed sensor for the first time last week.
Um, let's just say I have some serious work to do! That was quite an eye opener. I think Trainer Road might be out of my budget, but I'll check out The Sufferfest.
Thanks everyone!0 -
ephiemarie wrote: »I finally used my husband's speed sensor for the first time last week.
Um, let's just say I have some serious work to do! That was quite an eye opener. I think Trainer Road might be out of my budget, but I'll check out The Sufferfest.
Thanks everyone!
Trainer Road is only $10/month. Of the two, I view it as a more valuable training tool because of the metrics you get and the structured workouts. It is nice that it also can be overlaid over any video you might want to play (including Sufferfest). I tried both and ended up ditching the Sufferfest as it just wasn't for me. I would at least try both for a month and see which one you prefer.
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(nevermind...answered my own question)0
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ephiemarie wrote: »I finally used my husband's speed sensor for the first time last week.
Um, let's just say I have some serious work to do! That was quite an eye opener. I think Trainer Road might be out of my budget, but I'll check out The Sufferfest.
Thanks everyone!
Trainer Road is only $10/month. Of the two, I view it as a more valuable training tool because of the metrics you get and the structured workouts. It is nice that it also can be overlaid over any video you might want to play (including Sufferfest). I tried both and ended up ditching the Sufferfest as it just wasn't for me. I would at least try both for a month and see which one you prefer.
I checked it out and from what I saw you need speed and cadence sensors? They are on my wishlist but I don't have them at the moment. Hoping to get them in April.0 -
3dogsrunning wrote: »The Sufferfest
Prepare to suffer greatly. Prepare to be really fast when the next tri season rolls around.
I just learned they offer a monthly subscription for $10 USD and you get access to all the videos. I am trying it for this month. I did A Very Dark Place last night. I'm really hoping you are right
Yes! They really are the best way to up your cycling game, especially during the cold months when you don't really want to be outside. Personally I use these workouts all year long. About 50% of my spring, summer, and fall riding is on the trainer using these workouts. I really only get my bike outside for weekend long rides.0 -
There's also this: http://zwift.com/0
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I've been using the trainerroad software with a wahoo kickr trainer and absolutely love it. I also own all of the sufferfest videos and import those directly into trainerroad and put up on my tv in front of the bike. You can also find tons of cycling videos on vimeo or youtube for free of charge and building a custom ERG file to go along with it is quite easy if you can't find a pre-made one you like. I import everything to strava since trainerroad doesn't currently import to MFP.0
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3dogsrunning wrote: »
I checked it out and from what I saw you need speed and cadence sensors? They are on my wishlist but I don't have them at the moment. Hoping to get them in April.
Yes, you will need those, but they are extremely valuable to your training. I picked up both as a package deal on Amazon. They run between $60-70 for the pair. Ideally, everyone would love to have a power meter, but they are still pretty expensive. For $70 + $10/mos. you can train a lot smarter and get estimated power on Trainer Road, depending on the trainer you use. Pretty darn good bang for the buck. For myself, I have seen amazing results using these tools. I'm in the same boat as you but in regards to a power meter. On my wishlist, but probably won't have one until sometime this summer. Saving my pennies.
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Is a cadence sensor a necessity? I only have a speed sensor right now, and I've been using that data for simple interval workouts. Well, technically, my husband has the sensor, but whatever. What's his is mine. Should I convince him he also needs the cadence sensor?0
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