If we liked breathing stale, recycled air, we’d all take up a sport like wrestling or indoor fly-fishing. But we love the feel of a gale on our faces. We cherish the smell of cow manure filling our nostrils with its almost tangible grittiness. We hold scared the privilege to breathe in diesel fuel while doing hill repeats up l’Alpe d’Huez.
But such whimsy is not for every day. Occasionally, we find ourselves faced with the prospect of an hour of solitude upon the wind trainer or rollers, where our sport is transformed from a glorious experience of powering ourselves along with only Nature for company to one where a ride of 30 minutes is barely tolerable, 45 seems like a lifetime wasted, and 60 minutes is more than most of us can even consider enduring. 60 minutes on the trainer at a leisurely pace or a 4 and a half hour death march up a barren, heat-riddled climb? I’ll take the 4 and half hours every time, thank you very much.
We all have to do it, and there are even some redeeming qualities to be had. You get better at Rule #5, for one. You develop a more magnificent stroke, for another. Whatever the redeeming qualities, we all have our way of coping. Jeff in PetroMetro returns with his view on how to make it suck just a little bit less.
Yours in Cycling,
Frank
—
Either due to life-threatening weather or poor scheduling of life’s lesser priorities (see Rule #11), we Velominati spend a little time each year riding indoors. Whether one enjoys a ride on rollers or a trainer, and no matter if one methodically spins (as all good recovery ride specialists do), grinds out intervals, or practices ways to improve one’s magnificent stroke (scrape the mud off your shoes, scrape the mud off your shoes…), death-by-boredom is always a possibility. I’m not one to go for videos, or read books, or hook up to a computer. Call me old fashioned. I like to meditate on the V with only the voices inside my head screaming for mercy from the pain of a complete lactic acid meltdown.
Or, sometimes I like a little music.
Back in the Dark Ages, I used the yellow (sweatproof) Sony Walkman to play my favorite homemade training cassette tapes. But in our modern days of inexpensive digital storage, and with the brilliant invention of the “shuffle” command on my iPod Nano, I have some seven hours of musical motivation to keep my indoor sessions lively and loud.
I thought I might start a little conversation regarding favorite training tunes. Now, I know ALL of my fellow Velominati strictly adhere to Rule #62 when riding outside. And of course, we prefer strict adherence to Rule #9, but, as I stated above, shit happens.
While I have eclectic taste, I don’t fancy Al Green, Buck Owens, or Duke Ellington when loving a Rule #5 beatdown. No. I tack to the loud and fast. My preferences are punk and “classic rock”. (It was just rock when I first heard it.) So here’s a little flavor of my indoor training selection, in no particular order.
Hate to Say I Told You So“”The Hives””from the album “Your New Favourite Band”
Tick Tick Boom“”The Hives””from the album “The Black and White Album”
American Idiot“”Green Day””from the album “American Idiot”
The Rock Show“”Blink 182″”from the album “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket”
I Fought the Law (Live)””The Clash””from the album “The Clash: Live at Shea Stadium”
Batman Theme“”The Jam””from the album “In the City”
Communication Breakdown“”Led Zeppelin””from the album “Led Zeppelin”
The Real Me“”The Who””from the album “Quadrophenia”
Rock Around the Clock“”Ten Pole Tudor””from the album “The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle”
Of course there are many, many others. But I offer these few picks-to-click to perhaps start a little discussion and get some musical ideas for my next indoor shopping spree at the V and Dime.
A-Merckx
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View Comments
@Chris You could get the headwind fan, although it makes a hell of a lot of noise.
The reason for the float is so that there is that little bit of give when you are standing and you dont feel that the bike is about to ride off the front of the rollers.
I also thought it would make the suffering a little less so.
@Buck Rogers
You must have some skills Buck to be able to hit it hard while standing that long. I can do it for short periods, but not very hard.
@Buck Rogers I traded the 3" for the 2.25" and they have a little bit more resistance but I can still spin them out if I really go for it.
@seemunkee Don't know about skills!
I still have a HELL of a time trying to go no handed. I can drink and wipe sweat off and ride standing or sitting and sprint and watch videos but the no handed shit and one legged spin I just cannot get down.
The hardest part for me is when getting into the standing or returning to the sitting position as the bike does want to jump forward and I have actually shot off the front of the rollers more than once!
Definitely keeps it interesting!
@Buck Rogers
Any video footage? Would you be willing to do a reenactment?
@Optimiste
Unfortunately no footage, fortunately for you I will probably end up doing it again this winter at some, dead, post-interval, time!
@Buck Rogers
Perhaps I'll work on developing that skill this winter as well. Any tips?
@Optimiste
Have a clear path in front of you.
Not sure what brand my rollers are, bought them ages ago used off of ebay, but it has two small squirrel fans that you can attach with bands to the rear roller to add resistance. Kind of a pain to do during the a work out, but while doing some of the climbing Sufferfests I'll add them on.
@Buck Rogers
I am the opposite. It may be due to the larger rollers I am using, but standing is one hell of a time for me. riding no hands seems to be fine for a minute or two on my rollers though.
@Chris I have an older style fan for added resistance. I some how came into possession of two. Not sure if they would work on your rollers but it's yours if you want.
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