Rollers vs Trainer and Indoor Training

The ultimate debate between winter riding indoors. Do you go with rollers or a trainer? Most people I believe go with the trainer. With a trainer, you put your bike on it and pedal away. You do not have to worry about falling off. Rollers allow you to work on your balance and you pedaling technique. You have to keep a smooth motion to keep the bike steady.

I talked with a the local shop here in Conway and convinced me to go with rollers. I purchased a set of Kriteler rollers after demoing a set for a couple of weeks. I really enjoyed my workouts on the rollers during the winter time last year. I even had a couple of 2 and 3 hr sessions of the rollers while I was training for my first half Ironman in New Orleans. The big issue with rollers is that they are very difficult to stand up and do one leg drills which brings me to my 2011 training.

I have decided this year to go ahead and add a Kurt Kinetic trainer to my indoor workouts this year. I felt that I was missing the hard resistance efforts and the ability to work on "climbing" while training. I'm really looking to improve my times this year and felt adding the trainer to my workouts would help. I will still use the rollers at least once a week for easier rides and even some harder rides, but the trainer will help give a little more variety in my workouts.

As the winter ends and we move into Spring and summer, I will get the opportunity to head outdoors for riding, but sometimes my schedule doesn't allow for it, so adding the trainer will still allow for good workouts indoors when the sunsets later in the year.

Indoor training can be boring, so how do I handle the boredom. Well I have set a cave in my garage to allow for the training. I have a TV and DVD player to watch while training. What do I watch? I have a Netflix subscription to watch movies and shows that I can catch up on. I have also downloaded a couple of "The Sufferfest" video workouts. Here shortly, I will have a book of Indoor Cycling workouts that will add some variety to my routine when just watching TV.

With that I leave you with tricks that I can't do on rollers!

Back to Training

Well it feels good to get back to my normal training again. I had a great 2010 season, but towards the end work kept me on the road most of October, November, and December. At this time, I didn't bike any or swim any. I can tell that I did lose some of the that fitness at that time, but it will be good to get it back. I do know where I want to be fitness wise, so I'll enjoy working to get there. Just this week, I did a 20 min TT on my trainer, so in 6 weeks I can see where I progressed to. I also performed a 500 yd swim to gauge my fitness there as well.

Welcome Back to Training for the TS66.

Well Monday was the first day back for training for my next long event the Toad Suck 66 in September here in Conway, AR. You ask what is a 66, well it is 1 mile swim, 52.6 mile bike and a 12.4 run. Why they made it a 66 instead of a 70.3 I don't know, but it could be that they are doing a 33 mile race at the same time, so do one loop of the run and the bike. The great thing is that the event is in my home town so that will be nice.

Monday was meant to be a bike and then a kickball game, but the rain changed my plans. A masters swim program has just started here in Conway, so I knew it was time to get some help with my swimming. I know that I don't have the best technique, but it got me through the race. I usually finish at the bottom of my age group, so it's time to get out from there. I was able to get some good advice and I know that I have a lot to work on. Of course, no swim would be complete without someone videotaping your swim. I would like to say that I looked like a trainwreck in motion. When I get that video back, I will post here so that the world can comment. I'm hoping that in a few months when we video tape again, it will look like a much smoother stroke.

Links - Toad Suck 66, Masters Swimming in Conway

Panama City Here I come & Another DC Rainmaker Giveaway

Watch out PCB here comes RJ. I'm ready to take my week long vacation in PCB. This week has been a pretty easy week after BSLT 70.3. I haven't done much of anything. I have had a slight ache on my shin bone, so I figured it is going to be a good time to rest. I'll be relaxing on the beach next week. No biking and running. It seems kinda of strange because I've been constantly going since the beginning of the year when I started the training for NO 70.3. The break will give my body a much needed rest along with my mind.

DC Rainmaker is at it again giving away a Forerunner 110 this time. Forerunner 110 Giveaway Link. So visit check out his blog for the details of the giveaway.