What Do You Do While On The Trainer?

I like having an NBA game on the tv or something on the radio, just for the noise factor... in all honesty once I got a Powermeter, I'm usually looking at that to see when my interval is over with.. or to make sure I'm right where I need to be effort wise

Spinnervals

Audiobooks work well for me.  The time goes by much quicker.  I get audiobooks from the library, rip them to my computer and then download them onto my ipod.

x2 on the Spinnervals dvd

Spinervals

I plan on playing Xbox360 with the kids. 

Nothing quite as motivating as when someone is shooting at you, or throwing grenades.  I've not tried it with a trainer yet but I spend the last couple of years doing it on a recumbent bike.  I'll find a way to make it work.



Edited by Pector55 2009-09-12 7:33 AM

I watch movies for aerobic-paced work of 2 hours or more on the rollers. For some of these workouts, distraction helps and doesn't interfere too much.

However, I cannot concentrate on a quality effort and pay attention to a movie plot at the same time.  So for shorter sessions and hard intervals, I use an the i-pod.  For intervals in longer workouts, I may play sports or stunt type videos while I listen to tunes (Warren Miller films are a favorite).  The added benefit of music is that I can use the rhythm to aid my smoothness, pedaling efficiency, and cadence.

i typically look at TV..

but the drainer is so draining.. just as the dreadmill is so dreadful...

necessary evils is what i tell myself..

Let me just say I'm glad it's football season.

I watch a lot of UFC DVDs as well. I figure the guy getting his head smashed has it worse that I do pedaling my sweet bicycle... How crazy would that be to compare? "Yeah you're getting punched in the face, but ME, I'm only 2 minutes into a 15 minute threshold interval..."

TV, have recorded the Tour of Missouri so have been watching that. 

I can only do that on certain types of games, anything that involves precision aiming is out of the question. Games like Fallout 3 are perfect though, you can pause the game & queue up your actions & a lot of the game is talking to other characters. I can't play GTA or similar on the trainer, I suck too badly.

When I ride the trainer I just focus on the workout I'm supposed to do. I used to watch TV or movies but found it let my mind wonder so now I just ride. I have a power meter so I watch that to make sure my cadence and power is where it is supposed to be. I think learning to tolerate the trainer is learned skill and can help you focus better. I have done 3 hour trainer rides.

I watch intellectually stimulating tv like The Hills, Real World, etc.  I watch sad movies where I cry my eyes out (it's quite a site), or I turn the lights off and pump the music.  All depends on my mood!  

Read, primarily.

Occasionally I will watch DVDs.

Very very rarely, I will do a spinerval or the like.

When my husband was riding too, we used to lay the Sims a lot. We'd so little sprint intervals when our characters were sleeping or at work and stuff.

I usually watch TV and sometimes do videos like Spinnervals.

I read books and/or magazines. I set them on a music stand.

I contemplate philosophical questions and meditate.

I usually am wearing my iPod and I have the TV on (maybe some Triathlon broadcast from ITU or universal sports) or just the comutratiner. Since I like to invest my time efficiently while on the trainer I am usually pushing hard doing intervals of some sort hence it wouldn't be possible for me to focus on watching a movie nevermind reading. I rather have a great short 1 hr workout than waste a few hours of just noodling around on the drainer watching a movie or reading my email.

I generally dvr any cycling or triathlon footage I can on TV and then watch that or UFC fights. Sometimes I have my ipod on or music blasting. I couldn't ever read because I'm drenched after about the first 20 minutes....I also don't do alot of drainer sessions though so I'd probably have it down to more of a science if I spend 3 days a week on it or whatever.

I listen to alternative rock on my Ipod.......and.......embarrassed to say sing very badly at the top of my lungs.  My kids make a point of telling me how ridiculous I sound!!

I am going to agree with contemplate, but, my contemplation is how much I hate being stuck on a trainer!!!!!I think I am angry because I can't ride today due to the weather. Though god knows we BADLY need the rain.

Dallas Cowboys football.  Not all folks from NC are Redskins fans.  I'll rent a movie and watch as well.