Quote:
Originally Posted by herr_oberst
What he said. I used a trainer when I was rehabbing from my hip replacement. I lasted two days. Then I couldn't stand it anymore. If you were closer I'd give it to you for free, because that's what I paid for it, and you could see how sick of it you would be. The doctor said I could ride a trainer, so I figured he wouldn't care if I rode a bike.
Get out and ride that new bike. Spend the trainer money on things you need like full finger gloves and a warm hat and tights and knee warmers.
You need to get used to traffic and wind and up and downhill.
(I just got off the bike too, only 20 miles, but I'm practicing climbing out of the saddle. I'm 60yo next month, but I still have dreams of being like Alberto Contador.)
And don't get rollers. They're tricky as hell to learn... (my own opinion, I don't have the world's best balance. YMMV)
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D@mnit, I hate climbing out of the saddle. It takes so much outta ya.
Some lanky teenager that race mtb for his HS ( I used to race with his dad when I was a kid) was out front for about 20 miles with three of his buddies taking turns riding us old men off their wheels. They keep driving the pace on all the up hill sections
. Slowly, they rode themselves into the ground
. Bastards. I was miserable (will be 53 next), nose running, big old cold spot in my chest from sucking in large amounts of cold air, it started to drizzle, now I am all wet. Can't feel my fingers and toes. If I feel like that, they must all felt the same way, but we were glued to those f@#ker's wheels and didn't let go. The pace never let up for 45 miles but us old folks didn't accelerate on the up hills but kept a steady pace. Thank goodness. Would I rather be doing this again instead of riding rollers / trainer in my shorts and tee shirts inside the warmth of my own home? Hell no.
I think its time for us to donate our almost new (all trainers are almost new because no one uses them for more then a few times) trainers to Steve. You want rollers? Hell, have at it. You want a fluid trainer (I think its fluid?), you got it. This way, you wouldn't be getting a divorce fighting over this wonderful training device. Yes, I rather ride rollers but its no fun. Please, don't watch TV, you wouldn't have time unless you have been doing it for a couple years. It does helps with "Spin", but more then anything else, help build form and makes a rider "Smooth". People think you have to drive those big gears and have your heart and lungs beating outta your chest to get stronger. True, but spinning easy gears and keeping a steady pace and cadence also help tremendously. A rider that spins can ride on forever (Comes in handy on very long boring rides).
As for rollers, learning how to use them is a bit of a PITA. You can't fall off and hurt yourself but a minor scrap, a damage ego and even a little scratch on your bike, but no big. Get out, ride and get use to the bike. It should be an extension of your body. Once you are comfortable, then think about getting on rollers. Rollers = discipline.