Motivation on the Turbo Trainer

gerroffandmilkit

I am lucky enough to own a good quality turbo trainer, it's an Elite Crono Fluid Elstogel Trainer.

My bike is permanently mounted to it at the moment. A quality bit of kit but I rarely use it at the moment. The main reason for non use is lack of motivation (cold garage) but I do realise that the longer it doesn't get used, the more I'm currently piling on the weight and losing fitness that I gained when I was riding regularly.

In discussion with the Mrs I have now decided to make a concerted effort to come up with a plan to get on the trainer regularly and build up the effort until I get back out on the roads. My main problem I find with training is boredom!
I've had a quick nosey on the net and there are countless programmes to follow. I'd like a simple programme, starting easy and gradually building up to a more taxing workout.

Any suggestions guys?

Pauld100

Watching cycling videos work for me - the Sufferfest ones are great and make it a harder workout than when I am out on the road!

I am thinking about investing in the trainer road thing as well, so you can see live stats on screen, whilst watching movies and they have plans for sufferfest etc. so you can see the actual effort you are making (or not).

Another thing that has worked for me is setting myself a monthly target 100 miles in my case (I can't commute or anything), so if I can't get out and about I keep the target up with turbo 'miles'.

cougie

Trainerroad.

So cheap and so many different training plans on there.

Find one that suits your goal - maybe enter a challenging sportive or something ?
Work out how many days you can spare.
Stick to the plan. You'll be amazed at what improvement decent training will bring.

DeVlaeminck

You need a reason to train, like Cougie says this could be a sportive.

There are plenty of ways to stay fit and keep the weight off that are much more fun than turbo training. Most people that use a turbo regularly are probably training "for" something - racing, sportives, triathlon etc.

You also need a way of measuring your effort - you may already have that - just a rear wheel bike computer and/or heart rate monitor is enough for many though getting set up with trainer road helps motivate others.

Also is there some reason you can't get out on the roads at the moment - I know some people don't like riding on dark evenings but I've done 70 plus mile rides each of the last 4 weekends - it's not that bad out there if you have some winter cycling kit.

www777

Hi

Train like the Manx and purchase a 3LC training DVD or download I've been using them and are brilliant, keeps you motivated. Plus gets you stronger and fitter.

dazzTurning

Check out www.turbotraining.co.uk for some ideas

Davdandy

My turbo is also in the garage,it is cold and nothing to look at apart from paint tins,the tumble dryer and all the kids bikes and scooters.But once you start you very quickly warm up,i often take my shirt off even when the temperature is almost zero.But keep you head down and put some music on,something with a good beat to peddle along to.Hard rock is a good start,non of that pop crap.

supermurph09

My turbo is setup in a cold, damp, cramped outhouse so think yourself lucky! None of that matters 2 minutes into a turbo session. Get a little fan heater, put it on when you go to get ready. Then turn that off and get on the bike. Have your iPad / laptop in front of you, maybe connected to some good speakers and then fire up a sufferfest video. No possible way you can get bored.

Mikey23

The fact that it's hissing with rain and blowing a gale outside is all the motivation I need

Smithster

Sufferfest vids and trainer road.....Highly addictive combination.

Hollow-legs

+1 To traineroad and sufferfest videos!
I have been using TR since last march ,stopped using it last summer,doing all my rides outdoors .i rode faster and further than i had before after TR .

I purchased a few sufferfest videos before i joined TR ,they were great" Local hero" was one of them ,but the problem is the precieved effort scale they use ,you could just relax and not give it your best or max.
This year after starting training again on the turbo ,i tried sufferfest ANGELS synced with trainerroad workout for that video and to my FTP !!!
All i can say is WOW! it was bloody hard ,i pushed myself more , at the end fell off the bike, legs like jelly,looking for a bucket !
But i loved it? Now purchased the whole set of sufferfest videos and even after two workouts, i feel i am getting stronger ,faster,fitter quicker using the SF with TR ,I am getting new PBs on the trainerroad workouts.

I now look forward to getting on the turbo now

Smithster

Hollow-legs wrote:

+1 To traineroad and sufferfest videos!
I have been using TR since last march ,stopped using it last summer,doing all my rides outdoors .i rode faster and further than i had before after TR .

I purchased a few sufferfest videos before i joined TR ,they were great" Local hero" was one of them ,but the problem is the precieved effort scale they use ,you could just relax and not give it your best or max.
This year after starting training again on the turbo ,i tried sufferfest ANGELS synced with trainerroad workout for that video and to my FTP !!!
All i can say is WOW! it was bloody hard ,i pushed myself more , at the end fell off the bike, legs like jelly,looking for a bucket !
But i loved it? Now purchased the whole set of sufferfest videos and even after two workouts, i feel i am getting stronger ,faster,fitter quicker using the SF with TR ,I am getting new PBs on the trainerroad workouts.

I now look forward to getting on the turbo now

So true! I thought I'd always tried hard on 'Angels', but my perceived effort was obviously less before i'd tried it with trainer road. On your own, your always going to back off slightly, and even if that is only 5% it's a big luxury that trainer road doesn't give you. I got pretty fit last year after spending time on the turbo, I think there is going to be further improvement this year after using the turbo with trainer road...