How hard is your trainer?
238
Member
736 days
Kwschs posted 47 weeks ago.
The trainer will definatly kick your but. I have a cyclops that does also. Think of this for the better. Don't worry about speed, but rather about power.
I guarantee if you spend 5-6 days a week on your trainer for an hour straight working hard (180+ watts), your biking will improve significantly over 2-3 weeks time.
Visit my blog, and store, I sell the Coolest Tri T-Shirts, And have weekly Tri giveaway's!
1041
Member
839 days
TryScott posted 47 weeks ago.
My rides outside average about 18 mph for the 40 mile+ rides, and on the trainer I'm around 14 mph for 45 min.
3891
Member
1723 days
Anton posted 47 weeks ago.
Do you guys have a fan blowing air on you when you ride inside? Are you drinking and eating like you would on the road? Do you have the roller cranked down too hard against the tire?
Trainer rides can be hard but if you may have to adjust your gearing to stay in the zones you want to be in. ie: I find it hard to ride in the same gears I use outside...inside I'm spending more time in the small ring.
The trainer is a often over looked tool to help build strength and speed and endurance and...disclipine.
Some folks just don't see the benefit like you guys do...they can't bring themselves to train really hard inside.
"If e wishes to sweem in dangerous waters, oo are we to deny im?
-Chef Skinner
http://antonspath.blogspot.com
713
Member
668 days
jhudalla posted 47 weeks ago.
I'm getting in about 120-130 a week on my trainer for the past few weeks. I'm riding a mag though (getting a fluid jet pro for xmas) and so far the biggest thing I think I'm developing is discipline. I'm in the 4th week of a 20 week program leading up to OCEANSIDE! and though the time hasn't gotten too intense yet (9hrs/week) I'm feeling good about race day. BUT to answer your question, the mag (I have a terd nashbar) doesn't seem to give me much resistance at all. I have it cranked all the way to the highest setting of resistance and yes, the wheel is definitely cranked on the trainer. I'm averaging 20mph over 2hrs... Looks like I'm gonna get my butt kicked by that fluid.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
2255
Member
702 days
TriSooner posted 47 weeks ago.
Anton wrote:
Says he who did, what, 24hours on one? :) I wouldn't gauge progress or level of fitness by a trainer because no matter what the data say, it isn't the same as riding outside. I would give the numbers and perceived exertion level the same credibility as numbers from a treadmill run. As Anton suggested, I don't go too hard on my (Fluid 2) trainer. (I'd rather run outdoors.) Unless you have a very early Spring tri, think about using a trainer only to keep from losing your edge and put the intensity in your run.
Some folks just don't see the benefit like you guys do...they can't bring themselves to train really hard inside.
713
Member
668 days
jhudalla posted 47 weeks ago.
TriSooner wrote:
I wouldn't gauge progress or level of fitness by a trainer because no matter what the data say, it isn't the same as riding outside.
Agreed. Riding a trainer is more for mental toughness than anything else imo.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
164
Member
741 days
derek5 posted 47 weeks ago.
Quote:
Tri Sooner said:
Unless you have a very early Spring tri, think about using a trainer only to keep from losing your edge and put the intensity in your run.
I disagree completely with this. I get the most fit from running, but riding on the trainer is key to having muscle endurance by the summer. If you have the option of riding outside then ride outside during the winter, but if you stay disciplined and ride consistently on your trainer you will be a much stronger rider next summer. Staying focused is the key during the ride. You can make a trainer ride easy if your not focusing on pedal stroke, consistent power output, and things like isolated leg drills. MPH are not as important. Outdoors for an hour I can sustain 23mph at around 75% of my max heart rate, but indoors on the computrainer I can only sustain about 20mph for an hour. My power output is the same, but mph read differently when you have a resistance flywheel. For example: you don't ever coast on a trainer.
434
Member
1163 days
fastdog5 posted 47 weeks ago.
TriSooner lives in TX. For those of us who can't ride outdoors year-round, the trainer is a necessary evil. We've strayed a bit from the OP's question...yes, imo the trainer is harder than riding outside. Don't worry about mph as measured by your computer or your HR; you have to just ride for time & go by perceived effort. Hit it 2-3 times/week to maintain your cycling fitness over the winter. I got away from it last winter & paid dearly for it in the spring.
370
Member
427 days
Gsal posted 47 weeks ago.
my trainer kicks my ass all over the place. It hurts, but its worth it.
"You can never be too rich or too skinny."
-My doctor
98
Member
469 days
peterwong posted 47 weeks ago.
Perhaps my trainer is a dud, I have a trek Fluid 2, but I get a harder beating outside than on the trainer. I suspect that this is because I ride on the road and I have a tendency to want TRY to keep up with the cars, which means giving it a whole lot, where as on the trainer, there aren't any SUVs coming down on my a.ss.
333
Member
662 days
chekmarks posted 47 weeks ago.
well i may be the only person in the world who likes being on the trainer. i never get to listen to music when i train, except the trainer. the weather doesn't matter. i can't coast. i feel like i get a way better workout in 80 minutes on a trainer than i do 80 minutes on the road.
641
Member
1026 days
KitKat posted 47 weeks ago.
f1oored wrote:
I did a 10-mile all out indoor time trail today just to have something to compare to later and I only averaged 18.1mph. I know I can ride faster than that outside (at least I could last summer) but maybe I'm just out of shape.
I think wattage is the only way to gauge difficulty of trainer vs outside. MPH doesn't say anything since conditions and resistance is different. Lol, do you coast on your trainer?
**Pain is weakness leaving the body**
*Smile, it does a body good*
178
Member
835 days
wirebook posted 47 weeks ago.
KitKat wrote:
I think wattage is the only way to gauge difficulty of trainer vs outside. MPH doesn't say anything since conditions and resistance is different. Lol, do you coast on your trainer?
That's correct. MPH is functionally meaningless on a trainer. I know - we all want to 'compare' to outside, but really it has no technical value. I can sustain say 200w on my trainer - but based on resistance (either via gearing or a load generator) that can either mean 14MPH or 25MPH.
I think a trainer is an incredibly valuable tool - winter or summer. You simply won't get as consitant of a training ride outdoors as you can on a trainer. I use mine 2-3 days a week year round (in addition to a long ride per week).
-Ray
Tri Blog: Http://dcrainmaker.blogspot.com
713
Member
668 days
jhudalla posted 47 weeks ago.
++ the comments that don't discount the trainer sessions. I read an article on Andy Potts (while it may be disinformation for his competetors) he trains almost exclusively on a trainer for the same reasons mentioned above: consistency and repeatability. He does however use power as well. IMHO, I like riding the trainer.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
3891
Member
1723 days
Anton posted 47 weeks ago.
chekmarks wrote:
well i may be the only person in the world who likes being on the trainer. i never get to listen to music when i train, except the trainer. the weather doesn't matter. i can't coast. i feel like i get a way better workout in 80 minutes on a trainer than i do 80 minutes on the road.
That makes two of us.
I love a long ride outside, the long climbs...the fast descents...the wind whipping through my hair. ;) But for unbridled suffering with no cheats, breaks or sucker rests...it's the trainer. I love it and the toughness it builds.
"If e wishes to sweem in dangerous waters, oo are we to deny im?
-Chef Skinner
http://antonspath.blogspot.com
121
Member
649 days
spomeroy posted 47 weeks ago.
wirebook wrote:
KitKat wrote:I think wattage is the only way to gauge difficulty of trainer vs outside. MPH doesn't say anything since conditions and resistance is different. Lol, do you coast on your trainer?That's correct. MPH is functionally meaningless on a trainer. I know - we all want to 'compare' to outside, but really it has no technical value. I can sustain say 200w on my trainer - but based on resistance (either via gearing or a load generator) that can either mean 14MPH or 25MPH.
I think a trainer is an incredibly valuable tool - winter or summer. You simply won't get as consitant of a training ride outdoors as you can on a trainer. I use mine 2-3 days a week year round (in addition to a long ride per week).
+1 on this. I find the trainer is much more unforgiving and focused. Example. Go outside and with your Power Meter, go sustain 200w for exactly 30minutes. Unless you happen to live maybe in Kansas or Arizona I doubt any rider would be able to find road conditions that allow for that.
On the downside trainer time does nothing to improve bike handling skills. Unless you are on rollers
cheers
S.
307
Member
526 days
J.Michael posted 47 weeks ago.
Anton wrote:
That makes two of us.
I love a long ride outside, the long climbs...the fast descents...the wind whipping through my hair. ;) But for unbridled suffering with no cheats, breaks or sucker rests...it's the trainer. I love it and the toughness it builds.
For my unbridled suffering with no cheats, I do a group ride on my fixed gear. Talk about no cheating. No coasting. No changing gear. No wussing out.
I also ride a pretty darn big gear. (50x15 or 50x16 on flip flop)
“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”
— Winston Churchill
15
Member
611 days
cambaker000 posted 46 weeks ago.
I'm one of unfortuante souls without a power meter. I keep an eye on mph but only as a gauge against percieved effort; I try not to think about it in terms of what I'd be doing if I were outside. I focus on heart rate, cadence and time as my measured metrics. In my mind, I can relate a sustained effort at a given heart rate and rpm to what I'll be doing in the summer at a race.
There's little doubt of how hard you worked if there's a pool of sweat under the front wheel and you have trouble climbing the stairs out of the basement afterward!!
755
Member
911 days
Socket posted 46 weeks ago.
I just ordered a fluid trainer, now just waiting on delivery. Can't wait to kick my own @$$ in the comfort of my attic. Now just to set up some video to go with my audio setup and I can spend countless hours actually on my bike instead of the exercise bike at the gym.
Alright I have a question for everyone who is using a bike trainer this winter. (For those of you in places where it's warm all year, keep it to yourself!)
How hard is your trainer compared to actual road riding?
I have a Cycleops Fluid 2 and it kicks my butt. On an easy 30mile ride outside I can average 17mph without lots of effort. A 17mph average on the trainer for half that distance seems like a lot more work. I'm not sure if it's just the fact that I'm inside or if the trainer really has more resistance than road riding.
I did a 10-mile all out indoor time trail today just to have something to compare to later and I only averaged 18.1mph. I know I can ride faster than that outside (at least I could last summer) but maybe I'm just out of shape.
So tell me what trainer you are using (if it has settings which one is it set on)? And do you think it's easier or harder than actual road riding?
“If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character...Would you slow down? Or speed up?” ~Chuck Palahniuk~