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Reverence: LeMond Revolution

The LeMond Revolution

I read recently that a number of Pros like to ride the turbo for an hour or so before having breakfast in the morning to jump start the old metabolic system. Which means that now I ride the trainer for an hour in the morning before breakfast. I think the Pros probably do it to lose weight, and I do it partly for that reason but also to burn off the hangover which comes as a result of my status as a semi-professional drinker.

I used to ride an old Tacx trainer, but I found riding the device only slightly preferable to shoving bamboo shoots under my fingernails. Then I got a LeMond Revolution and now I actually look forward to my morning sessions. I’d been interested in the LeMond Revolution trainers for some time, but it wasn’t until I discovered that the device is based on a direct-drive trainer that Greg’s coach built for him in the 80’s that I decided to embark on my new morning ritual at the mercy of one. After all, if it was good enough to help LeMan become a Tour de France winner, then surly it was good enough to help me get less fat and become less of a weakling.

The first thing you notice about these little numbers that you remove the rear wheel from your bike and mount the Revolution in its place. This means no wheel slippage on the mag and what amounts to a remarkably pleasant ride feel. The second thing you notice about the trainer is that its bloody hard to spin up; I start crossed in a 53×26 and can hardly turn the pedals at first, but there is no way I’m shifting into my little ring on a trainer on account of my not being a giant sissy. The third thing you notice is that it’s actually fun to ride; I turn on some old Cycling movies and before I know it, I find my buzzer going off indicating the hour has already passed. I had no idea riding a trainer didn’t have to suck.

But lets be clear: we are road cyclists, and we ride on the road. A long ride in the cold wind and rain is preferable to even an hour on an indoor trainer. But trainers do represent an important training tool and as such should be a part of every Cyclist’s arsenal. I’m on it every morning, and as the season looms I’m looking to it more and more for intervals and power work. Not to mention that as I prepare for my Hour ride on Festum Prophetae, I’m training Obree Style on my Revolution.

Before we get too carried away with this indoor riding business, let’s review some examples of acceptable reasons to ride a trainer:

Strength and/or interval training.
Pedaling technique work.
Hour Record simulation training.
Pre-breakfast rides to help lose weight, assuming you still hit the road after breakfast.
Recovery from injury.

Examples of unacceptable reasons to ride a trainer:

Its raining outside and you don’t want to get wet.
Its cold outside and you don’t want to get cold.
Its windy outside and you don’t want to get blown around.
Its cold and wet outside and you don’t want to get cold and wet.
Its cold and wet and windy out and you don’t want to get blown around while getting cold and wet.

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Revolution/”/]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

unversio says:

Jan 21 2014 at 4:08 pm

@frank

... "but one thing I love about the LeMond is" it's endorsed by Greg LeMond

I concede. "Crank it up" duhzuhnt inspire one either. The LeMond is a beautiful machine.
unversio says:

Jan 21 2014 at 4:34 pm

@Angling Saxon

You can put a Campy/Campag cassette on one, I presume?

Campa incorporated.
Puffy says:

Jan 21 2014 at 4:45 pm

@sthilzy

Check this out for track school!
Keirin racer school in Japan

Now THATs what I call cadence training! It was so fast the bloody film had trouble keeping up with it!
xyxax says:

Jan 21 2014 at 4:49 pm

Tonight's program: The kids in bed, my wife on the trainer and me on the rollers, in front of some crap TV. Who says romance is dead?
Puffy says:

Jan 21 2014 at 4:56 pm

@Ron

In the saddle at 5? Damn, I thought I was tough getting up at 5:51 and taking the dog for a walk...

0500? Pft! Weak! Out of bed a 0400, in the saddle at 0430, breakfast at 0700-0730, back in the saddle for the commute (easy) 0800, in the office at 0830.
frank says:

Jan 21 2014 at 4:56 pm

@roadslave

Did you really just post a bunch of jibberish that I had to delete for you before posting a screenshot of bankrupt power data, all while talking about Looking Fantastic?

If anyone is struggling to define irony, I think that's a great place to start.
scotjonscot says:

Jan 21 2014 at 5:00 pm

@frank

@scotjonscot

I'm sorry, but when the high is -26C, I'm on the trainer. No, on second thought I'm not sorry.

Gord Gallant has put you to shame.

Oh I've taken the ice bike out for kicks in temps as low as that, but I don't count that as a real ride. My cap is off to Gord for having the frozen balls to commute in it.
Puffy says:

Jan 21 2014 at 5:01 pm

@unversio

What's up with this Wahoo Kickr?

Mentioned in my post above. Electronically variable resistance. Can allow you to ride virtual routes, or aid your intervals by forcing you to produce set watts for a set duration. Easily progammable or controlled on the fly. I believe DCRainmaker has an excellent review (despite being a Triathelete).
frank says:

Jan 21 2014 at 5:06 pm

@Gianni

@Barracuda

@Harminator

Also if you live somewhere with shit roads, hostile drivers and poor air quality, indoors starts to look like a better option. I'm clocking plenty of roller time these days and its mind numbingly glorious. I don't wear my old shit either. I kit up like a V hero in my spare room. My socks are perfect.

And when I drain a bidon I give it the hookers and blow...

Nothing quite says "get the fuck out of my way !" like that picture - awesome.

and his socks are perfect. Good on ya, Harminator.

Harmy, you make a fucking excellent point, one for another article altogether. Maybe even a Rule. We all know we kit up immaculately for our one pleasure, not to please others. To look good, in the immortal words of my literary idol Paul Fournel, is already to go fast.

The trainer is no exception and I kit up in full V-Kit, cycling cap, white ladies, and white socks for every session. Have some fucking self respect people; you're not watching the Super Bowl for fucks sake so there's not excuse to wear sweat pants and a dirty t-shirt.

(If you live in Seattle or Denver and are watching the super bowl in a few weeks while riding the trainer, you are granted an exception to wearing sweat pants and a dirty t-shirt provided you get puking drunk and spill guacamole all over your already-dirt t-shirt.)
frank says:

Jan 21 2014 at 5:08 pm

@Angling Saxon

You can put a Campy/Campag cassette on one, I presume?

I wouldn't ride one if it meant I had to ride Shimano, and Greg wouldn't make one if it meant the same.

(All new LeMond bikes are built Campa-only, BTW.)