Bike Training Indoors

will u be going to a gym or using your own equipment?  many people try to get their cadence above 80-90 at the least...i avoid the indoor cycle but many here use it with success to get them prepared.  some of the traininers have preset programs, try your first maybe for 20min and see how you feel, keep the resistance light enough to get 80-90rpm. then just gradually add more minutes.

Ron - I am at the gym. I did 8 miles in 22 minutes and I did not push it. I had it on a manual (flat) program at a resistance of 6) i did not look at cadence, I was looking at RPM. is it the same thing? Anyway, i am hoping the weather gets better and I will buy a bike computer. I am going to get an inexpensive Kmart model but it has 14 function and i am hoping cadence is an option. but i still have a few weeks indoors + rainy days of course.

As for bike computers I would stay away from ones at the big chain stores. I have put a few of these on kid's bikes and they are made cheap, poor wires, poor clamps etc. They are only 5-10 bucks more at bike shops. Or you can usually get one on clearance at nashbar.com or performancebike.com for sometimes half price. my 2 cents. Good Luck. I train indoors on a cheap magnetic trainer and I find it passes my time to read books, takes a little getting used to to hold onto the book and the top bars but it can be done.

There is nothing wrong with indoor cycle trainers; it is not quite the same as riding a bike on the road, but it does the job. If you have a fully automated machine, you can try alternating between the aero workout, mountain workout, racing workout, and a manual workout. During a manual workout, I visual the course I will be doing in my upcoming tri and gear up and down as if I am racing along it. And, of course, concentrate on your cadence (rpm's); that is just about the most important factor in cycling. Try to find a machine that has toe clips on the pedals to give a better spin.