Help wanted: tolerating the boredom of trainer workouts

[Deleted User]

Any tips for making indoor bike workouts less mind-numbing?

 

After receiving my season plan (which looks excellent by the way, thank you Rich), it looks like I am going to be doing more indoor bike training this winter than ever before.

 

In years past I have done less winter bike training than I probably should, because I despise it. But then come race day I always wonder why the bike is always my weakest sport 

 

I know if I want to ride fast when the snow melts next year, I need to do the hard work indoors while the snow is still on the ground. I'm just looking for ways to make the indoor training a little more enjoyable.

GMAN 19030

Watch TV/Netflx/Movies.

novaavant

I do a fair amount of work on my trainer, my longest to date was 6 hours, but I do regular rides of 3-4 hours. I setup my trainer in the basement and use trainerroad for the workouts. A big fan is also a must. Next to the monitor I also have a TV that I can watch regular TV or recorded Tivo shows. Along with all that I have a stack of bins setup where I put some magazines, my phone and ipad. Simply put I rotate the distractions over time. I'll watch a little TV then check my email, read an article, stare at the floor, read a blog, stare at the floor some more etc. Unfortunately there is no real answer other than to just tough it out and know you are getting a great workout. As you do it more it gets easier but enjoyable is not a word I would ever use. Good luck.

Michael Byerts

Part of the beauty of EN is that the trainer workouts over the winter are short. Unless you are planning for an early season Ironman, you won't need to be on the bike for more than 75 minutes until late April. For the Outseason, weekday bike workouts can be done in 45 minutes if you stop as soon as the main set is done. And you will be working hard enough during the main sets that boredom should not be a problem (not vomiting may be).
That said, if you can't stomach 45-75 minutes on the trainer with nothing but the bike computer, you can (a) listen to your iPod; (b) put a TV table just in front of the bike and play movies on a laptop; or (c) move your bike trainer to the living room and watch TV while working out.

Al Truscott

 Trainer Road and TV get me through any down spots. Mindless action show - like "24" - is the best, IMO.

ezellrh

Seconding Michael's point, boredom doesn't tend to be the problem during the OS. Staying upright and getting the assigned interval done is the challenge. However, specifically during the outseason, I've found two really good distractions that keep me from focusing on my legs. 1). Self created Youtube music video playlists. Music genre's that I enjoy coupled with some eye candy. 2). Sufferfest training videos. Bike training videos that approximate (somewhat) some of our training sessions.

With all of that being said, I refuse to spend more than a hour and a half on the trainer, at any point, for any reason. It just won't happen.

Gordon Cherwoniak

I typically don't use anything other music when I an really fatigued.  For me the key is prior to the workout.  If you can keep the trainer set up and have things ready to go, shoes, short, shirt, towel, fans etc.  The more you can keep set up the less time I have to think about not doing the workout.  Having said that we currently live in a small condo and I have to take my bike off the trainer, typically if I don't get the am workout in I'll set up the bike before I leave for work. 

Also as others have said look at the EN plan and the time on the trainer.  There are not 3 hour rides usually  60 minutes gets you there for most workouts and it's just a few of the 90' sessions.  If you are crunched for time a quick warm up and the main set(s) and you can be done even sooner that the 60 minutes.  I typically try to fill the hour with 80-85%/z3 to make me stronger. 

Finally join in the out season groups that will be formed and post your daily workouts, with both successes and failures to keep you honest in you training.  This is one of the best motivators for me and I enjoy the comments, communal suffering and team atmosphere.

Gordon

Brenda Ross

I recruit friends to come over a ride with me. I might do my weekly rides by myself, but during the weekend I recruit friends. They will try and do the ride that is assigned to me, but may do their own or a version of mine. Its just great to have peeps doing it with you.

When alone, I play loud, loud, loud techno music. I never watch TV. I like having a power meter, because I need to focus on the numbers, which makes things go by quickly.

jetskr

The Sufferfest for the workout and Trainer Road to keep me honest! Seriously, the Sufferfest videos are HIGHLY entertaining and for the most part are fairly easy to swap for a scheduled workout. This doesn't work for all blocks in the OS but for VO2 and anything with 2x20min @ FTP (except tests) it works well. Other than that I'll watch most of the Marvel superhero movies, the Matrix movies, or Rocky movies are pretty good.

[Deleted User]

Great ideas everyone. I will be incorporating all of the above into my winter pain cave training. Thanks!

cgres123

Sirius radio over here and Trainer road , which helps me keep from the boredom of always watching my PT. Good suggestions listed above hopefully when you're out season is over you can get out on the road you will be surprised at how creative you can get.

Brenda Ross

Brent, as mentioned in another thread, you are more then welcome to come over and do some of your workouts with the Ottawa Sleeper Cell. Just drop me a PM if you are interested.

Dino Sarti

I watch old Tour de France videos when I am on the trainer, which is VERY rarely (Thank you SoCal). I have a lot of respect for people who use the trainer all winter. That is just a special type of mental toughness

jen2012

Since I am a Newbie to EN and hard core tri stuff, this will be my first year with a trainer. I don't yet have mine set up yet, but I do have a great small gym I belong to that has the cycle ops trainers with power stuff (which I don't have), so they were generous enough to show me how to set up a movie on the big screen in the room and I get to train there. Lots of people stop by and wonder what the heck I am doing or just to watch a the movie for a bit, so that helps break up the time. Currently on the matrix trilogy. For the shorter rides I am working so hard my eyes are glued to the clock praying for it to move faster so I can get to the easier parts.

Tom Glynn

Trainer Road, Sufferfest videos

Nate Parady

IPAD with Hulu+ and Youtube vids..

robin sarner

Roku with :::::::

netflix/hulu/amazon.

then Pandora radio for intervals.              stations including System of a Down, Linkin Park,  Metalicca.  

 

Also I have all the Hawaii ironman races on DVD.

 

I have long wire running from the tv through cable clips that plugs into my headphones.

Jess Withrow

I hated - HATED - my trainer workouts in the past and often substituted spin class (shhhh.... don't tell!). BUT - since I joined EN, I actually find myself enjoying getting on the trainer. The workouts are great, the time flies by faster than you ever thought possible when you're cranking out those intervals - especially, like Brenda said, if you train with power and head is down buried in the numbers the whole time. I bet you'll be surprised at how much you actually like hanging out on your trainer this winter... esp with the rest of us all around you on ours, too. ;-)

And music. I like my music.