[Oneway]

Mine is better than yours!
No one ever wins these areguements; that's what winter is for. We just stop argueing and go outside.

Computrainer, Tacx, Cycleops, Kinetic, Blackburn, 1-up, Minoura, Traveltrac, Performance, Walmart and some youtube gizmo with an alternator from an '87 Buick, rollers, magnetic, friction, fluid, motor, wind, water, fire, ice, blood, toil, tears and....wait.

We should state our claims and post our goals and circle back every month to see how we do through the winter and how we like our trainers in the heart of darkness (winter).

I'll start:
Tacx Google Earth link is a breakthrough.

I upload a GPS of my regular rides and not only ride them but can see 4 different views from road level to 10,000 feet. Their videos have always been the best but being able to watch myself on my favorite rides will get me through the winter.

But wait, there's more! I can plot out a coast down the Himalayas or a circumnavigation of Doego Garcia and Tacx will take me there.

I'm sure this is so cool I'll get 550 miles, heck 1000 miles on my trainer between November and March, more than double last year. I rode 1928 miles, 263 were on the trainer, the rest in cold, slush and cold. My second prediction is I'll be older, third is my March weight will be 5 lbs less than last year, 195 lbs.

I predict I'll reach at least one of the 3.....

[Industry_Hack]

Someone sent me a little black box that attaches to my bike and then my computer, and when I'm on my trainer, I can race other cyclists using some software.

I sold my trainer, never used the software, and still have all the components (wires, box, etc.) floating around somewhere. Why? Because I can't stand indoor training.

[Oneway]

If I lived near the equator, days stayed long, no slush and icy roads and actually enjoyed putting on booties over my shoes I might not use a trainer. If I am focussed on a training regime I way prefer Mother Nature (and man made roads). If I am slouching in a couch, drooling, shoveling grease, salt and sugar into my mouth and burning my retinas with nearly random photons forcing my brain to fire off 3 or 4 synapses an hour, trainer games look pretty good.

Do you play video games? Why not exercise legs instead of just one's thumbs? You did acquire a trainer and try the box. Why?

I do find some of the videos and google roads interesting and the prospect of competing against a few riders or myself several thousand miles away "video-game" entertaining. Interacting with others over the net has the potential to add motivation along the lines of my Saturday group ride. I have to blather an excuse about leaving my bike shorts at the cleaners to others to get out of the exercising.

[Industry_Hack]

No video games. I lived in SoCal, where we had no off season. Then I moved to Australia, where it was still mostly possible to ride year-round. But now I live with five months of snow, and I'd rather take a BMX (or even a single speed) out in the snow than ride a trainer.

When I was a hardcore roadie, I could do it. Just not any more. The trainer was used for fitting, and someone sent me the computer kit to evaluate. Sadly, I never did.

[Oneway]

So, video games?
Compared to hard core training and the open road trainers are "difficult".

Spin classes seem to do it for some.

The thought of driving 10 miles to change clothes in a locker room, voluntarily follow the herd to a brightly lit, music blaring stationary bike with a “comfort” saddle and then chit-chat with fellow bovines drives me to choose booties and sharing snow narrowed roads with 2 ton smog belching beasts with salt streaked windshields who would be blinded by oncoming headlights if they weren't distracted by texting.

Pass the popcorn. Is this the right clicker?

[Industry_Hack]

I'm just going to ride in the snow more this year.

[funetical]

Originally Posted by Industry_Hack

No video games. I lived in SoCal, where we had no off season. Then I moved to Australia, where it was still mostly possible to ride year-round. But now I live with five months of snow, and I'd rather take a BMX (or even a single speed) out in the snow than ride a trainer.

When I was a hardcore roadie, I could do it. Just not any more. The trainer was used for fitting, and someone sent me the computer kit to evaluate. Sadly, I never did.

Still wrote the article though didn't you?

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by funetical

Still wrote the article though didn't you?

No. I actually want to contact the company and see if they're cool with me giving it to someone else that can evaluate it. Or I could buy another trainer and actually try it out.

[shiboleth]

Check it out at roadlessmonocycle.com. This is an almost perfect simulator of a bicycle and their are a few things the user can fiddle with to fight off boredom. BUT this is legs only. I have just started my attempt to build a seven speed airdyne which I hope will be totally kick ass.

[Industry_Hack]

I should note that I did buy a trainer for the winter, and gave up on getting it to work with my computer. If there is a regular on the forums that would like to try it and write up a review, I will see if I can send it to them. You'll need a trainer and a PC.