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I *hate* riding indoors... and now I have to :(

LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
I configured my new bike to be able to ride ANY time. I bought studded tires. I don't care how bad the weather is (for the most part). Last weekend, I rode in light rain and 30°F weather just for fun.

But I just realized, I can't be 30-40 miles from home until our baby is born.

I would be so pissed if I missed the delivery of my son.

My wife is so very awesome, but I think this is one crime she wouldn't truly forgive.


FOCK!

Any advice on buying a trainer? :( I'll put my single-speed on it since I'm not using for winter commuting.
 
OGRipper

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,653
1,128
NORCAL is the hizzle
How about multiple laps of a relatively short circuit outside? Figure out a loop that is never more than 10 miles away, so you can get home in a hurry. Boring, yes, but the "paternity criterium" is better than staying inside.

If you need to do it, however, yes go with rollers rather than a fixed trainer. Rollers really help develop better balance and a smoother pedal stroke.
 
Biscuit

Biscuit

Turbo Monkey
Feb 12, 2003
1,768
1
Pleasant Hill, CA
OGRipper said:
How about multiple laps of a relatively short circuit outside? Figure out a loop that is never more than 10 miles away, so you can get home in a hurry. Boring, yes, but the "paternity criterium" is better than staying inside.

If you need to do it, however, yes go with rollers rather than a fixed trainer. Rollers really help develop better balance and a smoother pedal stroke.
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word.

Changing directions, intervals, and timing yourself on your paternity laps can keep it pretty interesting.
 
LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
MMcG said:
What about Rollers instead of a trainer?
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Tried them, not for me. I don't mind falling off of them as I did before. That doesn't bother me, but I lived alone then and didn't have expensive stuff.

Now if I fall, I could hurt my wife, one of our pets, or break something other than skin or bone.

:)

OGRipper said:
How about multiple laps of a relatively short circuit outside? Figure out a loop that is never more than 10 miles away, so you can get home in a hurry. Boring, yes, but the "paternity criterium" is better than staying inside.
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yeah, I'm scouting out a route that will keep me no more than a five mile radius of my home, but haven't found one yet.
 
syadasti

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
LordOpie said:
Tried them, not for me. I don't mind falling off of them as I did before. That doesn't bother me, but I lived alone then and didn't have expensive stuff.

Now if I fall, I could hurt my wife, one of our pets, or break something other than skin or bone.
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I doubt anyone who regularly rides rollers falls off them frequently - I know I don't.

Its like those Indo balance boards - sure you might shoot the board across the room the first time but once you learn your balance its a non-issue.
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
LordOpie said:
Tried them, not for me. I don't mind falling off of them as I did before. That doesn't bother me, but I lived alone then and didn't have expensive stuff.

Now if I fall, I could hurt my wife, one of our pets, or break something other than skin or bone.

:)



yeah, I'm scouting out a route that will keep me no more than a five mile radius of my home, but haven't found one yet.
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Put it in a doorway to learn, that way you really can't fall over.
That was a trick from my old boss when he was a junior learning to ride them...
 
LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
But it's not about learning. I've gotten up to 20 minutes riding on rollers without crashing

It's about the fact that I'm an idiot and at some point, I will lose focus and crash :D I didn't mind back then.
 
ire

ire

Turbo Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
6,196
4
LordOpie said:
very cool.

Do you think they sell many considering it's $1000+?
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LOL, the price has kept me away :) I've wondered the same thing. It would be awesome to ride with ppl over the net, thats a relatively new feature and I bet it will increase sales.
 
BrokenChain

BrokenChain

Monkey
Oct 26, 2001
315
0
NWCT
LordOpie said:
very cool.

Do you think they sell many considering it's $1000+?
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My boss had the Tacx trainer last year, and wasn't all that impressed with it. When he was supposedly riding a 6% grade he said it felt like much less. He bought this a couple weeks ago, and is much happier with it. The resistance feels much more accurate, and it's $300 less than his Tacx to boot. I also believe that there are far more training DVDs for the Axiom vs the Tacx, to help make it less boring
 
bluebug32

bluebug32

Asshat
Jan 14, 2005
6,141
0
Floating down the Hudson
Bicycling has some good recommendations for trainers in this month's issue. I've read that Chris Carmichael likes Blackburns. I've used Minouras, Blackburns and Cycleops. They all seemed fine and didn't cost much (under $200). I didn't really like the rim-drive trainer I had for awhile.

If you're using a SS, you may want to look into ones with more resistance or that you can control remotely. I generally just set a certain resistance and then pedal and shift as I work through intervals, sprints, etc.

Sure the trainer blows, but it is good for really refining the skills you want to work on. With an Mp3 player (which I'd never listen to while riding in traffic), it's easy to get into a nice steady groove. Plus it'll make the time you do have outside that much sweeter.
 
LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
BrokenChain said:
My boss had the Tacx trainer last year, and wasn't all that impressed with it. When he was supposedly riding a 6% grade he said it felt like much less. He bought this a couple weeks ago, and is much happier with it. The resistance feels much more accurate, and it's $300 less than his Tacx to boot. I also believe that there are far more training DVDs for the Axiom vs the Tacx, to help make it less boring
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also cool, but I can't drop $700 :(
 
Cant Climb

Cant Climb

Turbo Monkey
May 9, 2004
2,683
10
LordOpie said:
also cool, but I can't drop $700 :(
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get a Kurt Kinetic.....we have a 4 month old at home and i got one back in August. I can get a great workout in 30 minutes when time is short (which is almost always)... It is worlds better then my old performance travel trac...

If you want my old Travel Trac you can have it....it still works....
 
J

JoeRay

Monkey
Feb 19, 2004
228
0
In Squalor
I haven't even been near a bike for eight weeks now. Three weeks before the delivery and 5 since.

And at the rate I'm going now back at work I spend more time catching sleep rather than riding. But good luck, maybe you just need to be more motivated then me.

I hope to be able to race a bit in the second half of the summer road series after Christmas, I'll be aiming for a B grade ranking not a A where I'd have my a$$ handed to me.
 
douglas

douglas

Chocolate Milk Doug
May 15, 2002
9,887
6
Shut up and Ride
My minoura gets the job done

link


edit: I recommend the "Optional Remote Lever -change your resistance level with convenient remote control installed on your handlebar "
 
LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
So does the one douglas linked to or any other work with 120mm spacing? I borrowed a friend's and I couldn't bolt my SS in.
 
dhmike

dhmike

Turbo Monkey
Dec 20, 2006
4,304
43
Boise Idaho
trainers suck , i have had one in a closet for over a year with out using it. i'd go with rolllers even though i know you said you don't like them opie.
 
LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
dhmike said:
trainers suck , i have had one in a closet for over a year with out using it. i'd go with rolllers even though i know you said you don't like them opie.
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Again, it's not that I don't like rollers, it's that they don't serve my purpose -and- I'd eventually kill a pet.

Purpose: I've enjoyed the muscle benefit from riding my single-speed and I think I'd benefit more from doing out of the saddle intervals on the trainer.
 
Cant Climb

Cant Climb

Turbo Monkey
May 9, 2004
2,683
10
LordOpie said:
Purpose: I've enjoyed the muscle benefit from riding my single-speed and I think I'd benefit more from doing out of the saddle intervals on the trainer.
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yeah, on the trainer you can stand up and hammer like a spaz or stand and climb til you slump over......i actually find riding the trainer relaxing....
 
syadasti

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
Cant Climb said:
yeah, on the trainer you can stand up and hammer like a spaz or stand and climb til you slump over......i actually find riding the trainer relaxing....
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You can ride one handed, trackstand, or out of the saddle on rollers once you have the technique down.

I took these photos of myself while riding in sandals on little road SPD pedals even:





 
A

aktallguy

Monkey
Aug 31, 2006
117
0
Puget Sound, WA
If I'm stuck inside on a trainer I'd rather be watching a movie than a computer screen of a road!! :-O

I have a 10k loop near were I live that works out very well when I want to get some miles in without going very far. Some planning and a few days of riding almost all the streets near your house should give you a decent route. I even found a route that lets me get a few short hills in.
 
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