Indoor Training

It's a bit of an investment, but I have several cycling friends that love their computrainers. They really love the idea of being able to map out a course (say, your next triathlon) and being able to ride that route, with simulated hills, etc.

http://www.computrainer.com/index.asp

A computrainer would be great, but they are really expensive!  Spinervals are good DVDs for biking using a regular trainer.

I just bought my trainer today - but forgot to ask about these. I assume the LBS carries them? And that they come in different training formats?

Woops, yes, that is what I was referring to, thanks.
I think there was a thread a little back that talked about favorite DVD's for cycling.... will go hunting for it. And then back to LBS to spend more $.

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I have just the opposite problem. Around here the outdoor training in fall and winter is far better than summer (100+ degrees on a daily basis). Unfortunately I'm also from the midwest (Milwaukee) but the Navy has temporarily transplanted me to the central valley of California. I just haven't acclimated very to the extreme heat. Anyway, enough of my sob story. I have been really satisfied with the Spinerval series. I've purchased 5 of them so far and plan on getting 2 or 3 more. You can buy them at your LBS or order them online . . . . you may even want to check ebay.

i'm looking forward to the winter. i get so hot and sweaty running and biking. the pool i go to is heated, so the winter is going to be great.

i do have a question though. what is a spinning class? i would assume it has nothing to do with thread, and i've seen it used before in other threads. is it where everyone is on those fake bikes and gyms? and why would you need a class to ride those?

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ah. yes. lifecycles do suck. my gym has TV's that turn off if you start going to slow. so you have to keep cycling to keep the TV going. or maybe they just turn off after a while. not sure.

Lara_SD is right on about spinning.  For me, the benefit of a spinning class is an effective instructor to lead you through hills, sprints, "tunnels" and different riding positions.  The group dynamic is good, too.  I look to do a combination of spinning classes and spinning on a trainer in my basement with the aid of these "spinerval" DVDs or another similar tool.

nashbar and performance bike seemed to have sales on Spinervals pretty frequently. I seem to recall them as low as $20. So if you are willing to wait, that is an option.

There are new spinervals coming out in the next few months: www.spinervals.com

They also have treadmill workouts, called runervals.

IRT the spinning classes, I thought it was akin to sitting on a Lifecycle for an hour, boy was I wrong. I go 3 time per week on top of my regular workouts. The instructor (I refer to her as "Bike-zilla") puts the class thru a killer workout, hills, sprints, hill sprints, various muscle building drills ect... She is also a good coach, insuring that the bike is set up correctly, good posture and all that. I have improved considerably on the road since I started, and my base endurance seems to have come up quite a bit too. In my humble opinion, it is worth checking out if you have the chance.

Love my computrainer! With the kids it's sometimes the only opportunity I get to ride. I got mine on ebay barely used. Have you checked there? I don't even know what they cost new but mine was well worth it.
Jen

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Some of the classes are pretty original, with strobes and techno music and they vary in length.  I can tell you I get a straight muscle workout I don't get on the road.  I am very pro spin....  Plus, when you on the road there is no instructor who may feel like you aren't trying hard enough and yanks up your resistance and shaming you in front of the class.  I call a particular instructor of mine "The bike Nazi." I subvocalize some pretty nasty things about her skinny ass, but I always go back. 

Do we know the same person????

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