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Not quite quit no, but I don’t use a trainer and don’t want to get one. I do almost all my training outdoors.
BUT I did pick up some rollers last year off here for £20 tho and I actually use them at least once a week and like them. Feel they’ve improved my riding too, could barely do it at first.
If I had a garage or something maybe I’d get a turbo, but I’ve already got enough bikes I don’t ride and plenty of winter kit. Plus it’s good for me to get out properly.
Few mates have even offered me their old ones for free but I still say no.
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BUT I did pick up some rollers last year off here for £20 tho and I actually use them at least once a week and like them.
I have a set of rollers that I barely use, but it would be good to get confident on them for race warm ups (mainly track at HHV). Do you use a powermeter with them, or just RPE? How structured are your sessions?
Why?
AI FTP potentially too high after a few weeks off due to sickness (although it did come down a fair bit). But generally I just can't motivate myself to ride in 10+ minute blocks indoors. I used to find TR a novelty and have used it successfully previously.
Fuck that.
Yep
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At first just trying to ride on them for 30 minutes was enough of a workout for me.
Can see my power and cadence etc but I totally ignore the power. At the start I did look up some sessions to do that mainly focused on cadence reps. Now I just stick a playlist on shuffle and when a fast song comes on I try and keep my cadence above 120 for the whole song. That’s as technical as I get! Rest of the time I try and hold 100. I switch it up between gears. I find lower gears are actually in some ways harder to maintain smooth pedalling.
It’s weird, my heart rate stays pretty low but I come off sweating and knackered and I can feel it in my muscles the next day for sure. I did manage an hour the other day, but usually do 40-45 mins. This sounds lame but honestly sometimes I just practice one handed, no hands, and drinking out my bottle and putting it back etc. I know this will sound ridiculous to some people but I honestly think it’s doing me good.
Its just my backup when I really don’t want to get out or can’t for whatever reason or am short on time. I don’t make it too structured, if I enjoy it there’s more chance I’ll do it and it’s better to do that than do nothing.
I put them away in the summer.
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So, likely too hard, too soon for that one session but in general, you need to have a reason to ride them, really, otherwise you may as well just sandpaper your eyeballs or something. I use turbo because I know I need to do some training for events but I don't want to ride outside most lunchtimes because it's shit, risky, not very productive (insert all the reasons). Turbo is good for time-crunched training.
If you want to ride them, I'd dial it right down and ride something like 30min easy while watching something (ie. super chill to just get in the habit of getting on turbo) OR keep it 30min but make it challenging enough you can't concentrate on watching something. Painful enough that it seems to be over quick.
If you just can't be arsed with it though, no harm in doing something else.
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I fucking hate stationary training with a passion, and have avoided it for many, many years successfully.
When lockdown kicked in and no-one was sure if you were meant to ride outside, I decided to learn to ride the rollers I bought a few years previously, and maintain a modicum of fitness that way. I found using the rollers more stimulating that regular turbo training, but it was still dull as hell. As soon as I thought it okay, I switched back to riding outside, then crashed and broke a rib so it was back to the rollers for a month or so whilst it healed.
Haven't touched them since.
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Turbo has been class for me. First time using it this winter. I can understand the hate for it but keep it around an hour, maybe slightly over. Watch something you'd be sat on the couch watching anyway on the days/evenings you cant/dont want to go out. 3 evenings a week for me generally. (Or a SS Deliveroo shift to spice it up, some steep inclines in Edinburgh and the added hatred of people wearing the bag keeps you humble)
I think the benefits will be substantial come spring.
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I was in the same boat (fucking hated turbos, would rather go out and freeze to death) and I've totally changed now. I think being hit from behind combined with WFH so no more commuting means I just find the bang for buck, convenience and safety of turbo sessions much more appealing.
Or, 30 years of dealing with cunts on the roads finally got to me?
crashed and broke a rib
Have you considered cycle training? #dontlean
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I havent been on a bike of the road for a long time now.
I'm far less likely to get knocked tfo when I'm in my office.
Though I don't discount the possibility completely, of course.
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When we got hit by the Great Flood of Layhams in 2021, a driver went past me at speed and absolutely soaked me with the wave she created. I don’t think she was impressed when I asked her if she always drove like a cunt when I caught her at the crossroads at the top.
Her kids learned a new word though.
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My work hours mean i dont get out on weekdays much (too dark, bad urban area for riding) , so the compromise was indoors before or after work and longer outdoor rides on the weekend. About 80% of my riding time is indoors. As my goals are still to increase fitness for summer and events, there is motivation to get on and do the 1-1.5hrs a day. I actually prefer it for training purposes, you dont have to deal with drivers, bad roads, traffic stop and go and you can go as hard as you want for as long as you can. It cant replace outdoor riding/skills dev but it is the most time efficient work out imo.
Like the other poster said, you need to have a reason to get on, a plan to follow, a goal to achieve. Getting on and spinning doesnt work for me. Putting trainer on ERG and doing a z2/intervals with a good tv show on does. Getting on zwift and tackling one of the climbs with a smart trainer works, chasing virtual friends down too. Dont just stare at your stats ans clock for an hour, that will put anyone in the asylum!
It cant replace outdoor riding but for some of us, its the next best thing. Set yourself up for success, set goals, test your setup for what works for you (music, tv, fans), make a plan and stick to it. Thats what worked for me anyway.
Ps this is for winter only. During the summer, my trainer use drops significantly and I try to get out for morning rides instead.
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big noob question here, what’s the widely accepted percentage ranges for HR zones? Finding some different numbers from different sources.
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Cycling Fitness / Training Advice
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@DFP
Has anyone 'quit' indoor training? Even with the roads covered in ice I can't bring myself to set up the trainer and do a ride.
Did an easy TR sweet spot ride on Friday which I kinda hated and all I've thought about since is that I could buy a new MTB fork for what I'd sell my Kickr for.
The worst is the anxiety that I should be training with it, as it sits dusty in the corner. I'm a member of a cycling club and when the roads aren't covered in ice can and do regularly attend mid-week training sessions, as well as sessions at HHV.
Anyone else come back from this and enjoyed/been motivated to train indoors, or do I admit it's not for me?