Bike Trainer

Indoor bike trainers, not just for winter anymore!  

Time saving training 

There comes a time in a triathlete’s life where reality comes crashing down.  This usually manifests itself as jobs, family, community, and other interests.  The pool already steals away extra time in travel, changing and showering just to get in the workout. Running is not too bad, since you can leave from your front door most days. But, trying to fit in the biking too becomes difficult. Time on the bike is what shapes a good biker especially since half of the race is the bike leg.

Many riders find it hard to find a way to squeeze in that hour here and there on the bike. Another trip to the gym for a spin class or loading the bike in the car and driving somewhere to ride can kill the workout all together. Not to mention the fact that some people have to do some riding during the dark hours of the day.  That is where an indoor training can turn things completely around for many people. 

Finally, being able to crawl out of bed before the kids wake up, your boss starts breathing down your neck and be half asleep on your bike in your PJ’s within 15 minutes is a possibility.  How about mid day nap time riding for those tri moms? And of course the tri family’s definition of movie night always involves at least one parent on the trainer!  Seriously, a good quality bike trainer can dramatically increase a person’s access to training time. This holds true all year long because commitments don’t disappear in the warmer months. Although, if I had one wish…

Effective training 

Trying to make the most of the time you do spend bike training can be tricky.  Sometimes, when the weather goes bad, cars get in the way, the terrain is too hilly or too flat, or riding buddies are going way too slow, getting the right bike workout in can be frustrating. This is where being in a more controlled environment can be a huge asset.

Most pro’s will do their most important hard training workouts on an indoor trainer for this very reason.  Even though 99% of the triathletes are age groupers, time is just as valuable or even more so.  When you finally have time to get in that hard day then that is usually the only window of opportunity you have to get it done. 

Investing in a trainer can make sure that the right workout gets done at the right time and in the right way. You are able to go as hard or as easy as you want for as long or as short as you want.  Want hills? Want flat? It is all up to you.  Not to mention the weather is always just right and a good movie is just a remote away. Come on, who wouldn’t want to do a hard day while watching Miracle, Remember the Titans, Tour De France footage or Triathlon race videos.  There are also many good chick flicks for those long easy rides. Just bring the Kleenex box!

Playing it safe 

The most dangerous of all 3 triathlon sports is without a doubt biking. There are many risks one takes when going outside on the roads.  Every year I know someone who has been hit by a car while training. And every year I hear of some one local who has not survived one of these crashes.  Not to mention the countless crashes while training and racing that only involves poor bike handling. This of course doesn’t mean that we all should sit inside when the opportunity presents itself for a great training ride in great weather with friends, but riding inside is not going to injure a person. I prefer to stack the odds in my favor as much as possible.

The right trainer for the right price 

In order to most thoroughly enjoy your indoor trainer experience, you need the right trainer. The right trainer will be quiet enough to watch movies, give you the most road like feel, have the capability to handle hard and fast workouts, simulate hills and allow the rider to coast and stand up.  A great trainer will also have power readout capabilities and be reliable over the long term.  The expensive variety that fits these criteria (except coasting) with a lot of other bells and whistles is the computrainer. But, with the almost $2000 price tag, most people can’t or won’t by it. 

The best affordable alternative for about $300 ($50 extra for the optional power unit) is the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine.  This is the trainer used by USA Cycling and many pro riders.  It is everything you need for the right price. It also has an added benefit of actually helping bikers smooth out there peddle stroke and being slightly harder than the road itself.  After a winter on this puppy, the flat road feels like a downhill.  Not to mention that hard days on it really help out the old bike split in a race.  The other bonus is that the company stands behind their product and has done a great job building a very solid, long lasting and durable unit. You can check it out at  www.kurtkinetic.com.  

For those that are looking for easy ways to add in more bike time, get just the ride they need, stay safe and not break the bank, then the Kurt Kinetic Road machine is calling your name.  It most assuredly will provide many years of great riding!    

Debbie Perry-USA Triathlon certified coach, Strength Trainer, Certified Sports Nutrition Advisor (CSNA) and 3 time All-American Triathlete.