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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

Jay says:

Jan 21 2014 at 5:51 pm

Where does "It is dark and unsafe to ride outside when I do have free time at this time of year" fit in to your lists?
frank says:

Jan 21 2014 at 5:54 pm

@Jay

Where does "It is dark and unsafe to ride outside when I do have free time at this time of year" fit in to your lists?

Lights. Also, the lists are stated to be examples, and as such are not categorically complete.

I think a cursory glance will get you a solid idea of what types of situations are deemed appropriate and which are not.
ChrissyOne says:

Jan 21 2014 at 6:49 pm

I just put new tires on my bike, so I'm going to go have a dark, unsafe ride. Wish me luck!
Barracuda says:

Jan 21 2014 at 7:34 pm

@frank

@Chris

Besides, whilst I'm not a pro, there's no reason why I can't approach my training in as pro like manner as possible, it's more likely to get results than fannying around. I all for the Graham Obree method of reducing the variables down to the rider - that way if I don't go as well or better than last time or as planned, I've only got myself to blame. Can't see how that is in any way Anti V. They're not meant to be a substitute for getting out on the bike but they are complimentary.

Beautiful.

@Ruud

@Chris points taken! (certainly about not leaving kids alone in the house); it's personal, which is why I took care to phrase in personal terms-from the (admittedly little) experience I have with these things, I hate them!

The point is that the trainer is an excellent training tool in addition to riding on the road. It is not meant to replace it under any circumstances.

Reading all the way through to the end of the article would be a lot to expect; I'll start condensing everything down to one paragraph to make sure you lot don't nod off before you get round to hoping onto your Jump To Conclusions Mat.

Who are these heathen's who dont read the full article ? We need names , and now !
unversio says:

Jan 21 2014 at 8:16 pm

@Puffy No data on my rides. Can't imagine letting the data take me for a ride. "Programmable or controlled" -- something has gone awry.
frank says:

Jan 21 2014 at 9:41 pm

All this discussion brrought into sharp relief today how much fun it is to ride in the morning on the fixed and rigid trainer and in the evening on the freedom of the road.
Efe Balli says:

Jan 22 2014 at 12:39 am

@ErikdR

Nice post, monsieur Franque. I've often thought that it would be great to rig that contraption up in such a way (air ducts? chain transfer?) that the big fan ends up wafting a firm breeze into the face of the rider. Wouldn't that - literally - be cool?

Nice post, monsieur Franque. I've often thought that it would be great to rig that contraption up in such a way (air ducts? chain transfer?) that the big fan ends up wafting a firm breeze into the face of the rider. Wouldn't that - literally - be cool?

I've thought the same. At least having the fan mounted toward my butt instead of the side would really help me cool down.

Man, even the wind from the wheel helps a bit.
Chris says:

Jan 22 2014 at 12:43 am

@frank There have been discussions in the past on this site about The Things That Are So Obvious That They Don't Need To Be Set Out In The Rules; surely kit that fits would be one of them? Those sleeves/arm warmers are as baggy as @ChrisO's granny tights.
Chris says:

Jan 22 2014 at 12:50 am

@Puffy

@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).

You'd hope it's amazing at twice the price of the Lemond trainer.
ChrisO says:

Jan 22 2014 at 1:02 am

@Chris

@frank There have been discussions in the past on this site about The Things That Are So Obvious That They Don't Need To Be Set Out In The Rules; surely kit that fits would be one of them? Those sleeves/arm warmers are as baggy as @ChrisO's granny tights.

Mate, can we help it if manufacturers seem to think there are a bunch of fat bastards out there buying cycling kit.

Oh, wait...