Turbo bores me

[Jim_Noir]

I just can't do it, I can cycle outside for hours but the turbo bores me to death (treadmill is the same, I'd run outside for hours)... tried everything including playing black ops while on it... just can't do it 20 mins and I'm bored! I used to think it was my fitness, but it's not it's just theee most borning way to cycle :S

 

[MacB]

Nowt wrong with that Jim, part of the attraction of cycling is the fact that it's fun, and useful(transport wise) as well as excercise. Stick the bike on a trainer in the garage and you've just removed the fun and usefullness bits. Spend the money on a Winter trainer instead, whether that's adding to an existing bike or an entirely new bike. I'd plump for full mudguards, dynamo wheel, lighting and some heavier puncture resistant tyres. If you're going the entire bike route then throw in disc brakes and a hub gear, or SS/Fixed. Low maintenace, always ready to go and I like riding in the dark, what's not to like. The weather doesn't matter as you'll shower afterwards whether you use a turbo or go out on the road. You'll need to give the big a wipe down sometimes but that's not onerous.

 

[Panter]

Turbo's are awful.
I didn't dig mine out at all this Year, although with hindsight, I wished I had...

It was that feeling of checking the clock, grinding away for Hour after Hour only to find that just 10 minutes had passed...
Then, of course, there was the sweat. And the pain. And the mind numbing boredom.



Funnily enough I have a friend (an extremely fit friend) who does a lot of structured turbo training by choice. His sessions are usually 4 HOURS long. Yup, you read that correctly, 4 Hours. How he does it I just don't know.

 

[Clandy]

I set mine up in front of the TV, put on a good DVD. Or I put the Kindle on the bar bag and read while training. Thirty-five minutes, twice a day, 72" gear, cadence of 90rpm. It's like a virtual commute.

 

[asterix]

Thanks for the tip! It's what I suspected.

Early last year I went out with a group some of who had relied on the turbo for their fitness. They whizzed up the hills but when it came to descents they rode on the brakes because they were out of practice at that sort of thing.

 

[Clandy]

Nowt wrong with that Jim, part of the attraction of cycling is the fact that it's fun, and useful(transport wise) as well as excercise. Stick the bike on a trainer in the garage and you've just removed the fun and usefullness bits.

It is for these reasons I use a trainer. I do all the hard work on the trainer, which means when I go out for a ride I can relax, enjoy the ride, enjoy the scenery. I'm also a photographer, so I stop often, I wouldn't feel able to do that on a training ride.

 

[Jim_Noir]

Did an hour today thanks to a free "rides" DVD from Tirathlon220 mag.

 

[2old2care]

Turbo's bore nearly everyone, I got one for rehab, I now rarely use it but I think I will use it more for some structured traiining to counter my perceived imbalance in my legs

 

[the_mikey]

I can't stand the turbo without some good music and tv to look at, it's just torture without it.

 

[monnet]

This winter has been the first for a few years that I've used a turbo. I never do more than 1hr 10. Music or TV help, depending on the session. To get the best out of a turbo you need to be very structured with it.

Before Christmas I was doing 2 very low intensity rides which meant watching TV/ films etc was perfectly viable. After Christmas I was far more intense - doing structured interval sessions, cadence work, power work etc. By not doing the same programme back to back kept everything relatively not boring. Didn't stop the sweat or pain though.

I made sure I was out as often as possible at the weekends on the roads and I didn't stop commuting. Of course now's the time to start dusting off the summer bike and mothballing the turbo so it's all fine!