Peter Signorini wrote:
> "Brendo" wrote:
> > My wife and I just bought a magnetic gel roller trainer. Given that we are
> > newish riders (<150km)from a non riding background, how would we get the
> > most benefit from the trainer?
>
> Throw it in the back corner of your garage (that's where most of these
> things lie) and ride your bike to work. On the weekend or after work go for
> ride in the great outdoors and enjoy the sunny/windy/rainy/calm weather of
> your town's delightful autumn.
Not today they wouldn't have! Urgh ... but yes, get out and ride your
bikes, spinners are really only useful as part of a structured training
program (IMO) - without some sort of plan you will very quickly lose
interest in riding. At least, that's my advice, others here may
disagree
> > Do we just jump on and thrash about for 30min or an hour, and then go for
> > a 'real' ride on the weekend, or is there a better way to do it?
>
> Despite some statements from a.b. riders about the spectacular miles and
> speeds they put in on their trainers, most secretly know that these torture
> devices were first invented by Baron von Drais de Sauerbrun to punish those
> members of the nouveau riche who described his Draisene as "a machine whose
> time has passed"
Not that many people here would put in much time on a spinner - it's
the most boring thing in the world without a plan. And even with a plan
it can suck.
That's the key, have a plan.
If you want to do some racing, and some real miles (50km is a warmup
) then you need to work your way up to it. Join your local cycling
club, read some books on structured training. As lots of questions and
be skeptical about the advice you receive from everyone. I suggest one
of the better books is Joe Friel's "The Cyclists Training Bible", but
there's many of them. Consider coaching if you get keen - some clubs
will have club coaches that can help you for free, others will
recommend or suggest professional coaching which may be less expensive
than you think if you shop around - I have a conflict of interest, I
have a small cycle coaching business, so please take that last bit of
advice with a grain of salt.
Spin trainers are a necessary evil in very cold climates, and if you're
doing specific high intensity interval work, but as a subsitute for
real riding they're a long way from being ideal. I run a weekly spin
training session over "winter" with the club I'm a member and coach at,
so I feel a little qualified to make suggestions in this area