Long Rides on the Trainer: how do you survive?

Scott Giljum

Due to various circumstances, I will have to do some longer rides (3 hours +) on the trainer.  As I am sure most will agree, this is such a mind numbing activity that staying motivated through the whole deal can be a challenge.  I wanted to see what folks do in this situation to help ease the mental drain to try and come up with something that will work for me.  Thanks for any input!

rlh2000

Netflix. Lots of netflix. I found TV shows better than movies, personally. My limit though seems to be about 3.5 hrs.

Stephanie Hartmann

I put my trainer in the garage. I get out there early and sometimes play some music (ipad and speakers on a shelf), I watch the day begin in the neighborhood. It gets light out and people walk by with their dogs etc.

If I'm inside, I start with a real workout, Carmichael Training DVDs or something from my training plan, and then I will watch TV and just coast (burn fat). I'm a huge sports fan so I can watch LPGA golf, or hoops during the season, baseball is tougher to get excited about. I love it but I don't really watch until after the all-star break. Chicks soccer is on right now, but the timing has been off for riding.

And besides, you have all sorts of data to pay attention to, right?

Al Truscott

If you were outside, wouldn't you be stopping every now and then for things like a nature break, refill bottles, getting lost, even a long traffic light. And you do some coasting every now and then, right. No reason you have to be pedaling *every* second. Building in short breaks and effort changes gives you something to look forward to. If you're watching a game or live TV, do something different (spin easy, hammer, stand, whatever) when commercials come on.

Derrek Sanks

I just finished a 4 hour trainer ride because of al day heavy rains/t-storms. It was my longest ride ever on the trainer. I used an endurance workout on Trainer Road. I do better when I have a something telling me how long and how many watts to maintain. I occupied my mind with Netflix watching 4 episodes of Breaking Bad. I also took 2 two breaks, the longest was 10-12 minutes where I refueled, bathroom, and changed shirts. I was on my aero bars about 80% of the time.

ezellrh

Zwift, Sufferfest videos, custom youtube video mixes, 5 minute bathroom / stretch breaks every hour. I've had limited success with TV viewing. Dramas / plot driven stuff (which is what I like to watch) doesn't really make me fired up to turn the pedals.

I do have a 'motivation cork board' with pictures of my favorite pro's hammering their bikes at eye level in case I lose the plot. Sometimes that makes me get serious again.

Its a tough ask, find you own personal mojo and get after it

robin sarner

roku.  ironman videos.    Pandora stations.

think of the logistical time you are saving indoors.

crhurd

Did 5 hrs today on trainer. I watched Paris-Roubaix 2015 on YouTube, that made the first 3.5 hrs relatively easy. It got hard after that. Watched some Anthony Bourdain No Reservations.

I have found war series (The Pacific) and tapes of Ironman or Cycling events help me keep my motivation up.

Agree with the small breaks: bathroom, more bottles from the fridge.

I also live with my phone next to me: Amazon shopping, EN dashboard checking, texting, Facebook.

Dino Sarti

My record is 60 minutes. It was terrible. I rehab'ed a broken collar bone for 4 weeks riding 60 at time everyday....

Paul Hough

I am a huge fan of Spinervals and have Coach Troy's 4 longest DVDs, including 2 at 3 hours long, 1 at 4 hours, and another over 5 ½ hours. Following the DVDs and sharing the misery with others on the TV keeps me going. And Coach Troy will tell you on some of those that if you start a workout, you finish a workout. There is no coasting on my drainer. I start out with a full stock of liquid support that will hold me for at least 2 hours, and my wife - aka, the world's best sherpa - checks on me and brings fresh drinks and ice to get me through it. Unless I have to hit the bathroom which is rare the way I sweat, these are nonstop sufferfests.

Scott Giljum

I appreciate all the feedback! I have worked in breaks but always felt a little bit guilty for it (type A all the way baby!). I will give a few things a go and see what works. Thanks all!

Sue Chapman

Pretend you're training for a Knighthood of Sufferlandria attempt. Pull 2-4 videos (depending on your needed ride time) from the Tour of Sufferlandria - if you have them (ISLAGIATT for sure) and use them with trainer road. 10 minute break in between.

Of course, the Tour de France is starting on July 4 - record those and ride while watching them.

Nate Parady

i'm also a believer that there is a factor of a certain magnitude on the trainer versus outside. i.e. 3 hours on the trainer is equal to like 3:30 outside.

jimmy augustine

For my mid-week early morning 1hr interval sessions, the trainer is my go to choice. But lately I have come to actually like the trainer for weekend sessions also.
I spent a ton of time on the trainer over the past 6mos this spring getting ready for IMCoz and Galveston 70.3. It seems to be an acquired taste. I rode as long as 4.5hrs on the trainer and didn't really mind it. By the time the weather turned I got to where I prefered 3hrs on the trainer to a ride outside. Netflix helps till the workout intensity gets too hard then I need music.
It is just super convenient to have no lost time, all my bottles on the table next to me. No cars or rabid deer.
But I will say that by never riding outside (I think I rode outside 2 or 3 times prepping for BSLT 70.3) my bike handling skills did diminish. I forgot what wind felt like. I rode in aero enough but I forgot how it felt to have to look up the road.

Scott Alexander

I can - and do - multiple 2-3 hour runs on the treadmill every year, but cannot stand more than 90-120 minutes on a trainer; even in the deepest darkest times of winter!

I do what I call "CSI intervals", where I watch a crime procedural show (CSIs, law and orders, nciss, etc) and do harder work, like intervals, during the commercials. That's the only way I can tolerate the "drainer".

Stephanie Hartmann

I agree Jimmy, I like having all the "stuff" there. I used music today, because I was by myself in the garage. I open the door, point myself out, turn on the fans and music and GO. I watch the neighborhood wake up, freak out the people walking their dogs etc. 3 hours today. I ran 30 minutes slow before I got on. And yes, remembering to keep one's head up is important. Tough to execute though!

I don't like to watch TV when I train, but I do like music. I still haven't clipped on my aerobars but plan to sometime today. Inbetween naps maybe.

Dawn Cass

I use trainer road to keep me honest on effort, and load up on movies or TV series. I seem to eat up series due to indoor training. Find something interesting that you can't wait to see what happens and the time will go.

scott dinhofer

4x what everyone else here said, build in some short breaks. Big fan of Ironman videos, netflix or a series stored up on DVR, i need to get back on the trainer to catch up on Orange is the new black & house of cards