Here's a very quick run-down of the ones I use (I hate them all).
At Home:
My least favorite is the trainer. Maybe because I spend the most time on it. It's hard to be motivated for a good workout. On the upside I can watch some good races while I train. I taped (recorded to disk) all of the 2006 TDF (The one with Landis) and even though Landis is a dirty cheat, that comeback was still awesome.
The treadmill is not bad. Every bit as boring as the trainer (I don't have any "running" dvds), but I can actually gage how I will run outside based on the treadmill. No idea with biking and the trainer.
In the Gym:
Spinning is actually pretty fun in a disco sort of way. I have to challenge myself not to be a bike snob, though. The instructor usually has awful form (very asymmetrical spin, like someone galloping down stairs). They say things like "Now we're going to sprint for 60 seconds, then we'll kick it up a notch. C'Mon!!!"
Yeah ok. First of all, who sprints for a minute? Nobody, that's who. But I typically get a better workout spinning than my trainer sessions. The instructor is a good motivator. You have to meet at the scheduled time though, so it's not always an option. The stationary bikes in the general cardio area are worthless. I especially like the stationary recumbants. Seriously. Those are about half a step up from one of these:
One of my favorites (that also sucks) is the stair master. This one turns my legs to stone in about 15 minutes. Nice. It is sort of a hill-climbing workout and can be very difficult.
One of the very popular ones that I just don't get is the elliptical. I used to do this one exclusively when I just did weight training. I'm not sure what's going on there. It's like the Gazelle, but not as cool. It never seemed to matter how hard I went, I rarely got my heart rate going very high. It also didn't really mimic any real life activity. Oh, and it can go backwards for a new challenge! Says so right on the machine.
One that I don't use, but I think might be the best of them all is the rowing machine. I'm just afraid that cable is going to break and snap me in the eye. No thanks. Also, it doesn't have any real-life application for me. If I find myself at some Ivy league college, and they need a guy, I could fill in. Not likely to happen.
I don't really care for winter.
8 comments:
On a trainer, with a really good couple of climbing stages to watch with the iPod going with some really kick ass tunes, ie "Social D, Live at th Roxy", if you can't train indoors to this your just fuc*ed. Otherwise I have gotten outside four of the last five days, the cold keeps you awake and its not really that bad. Its just weather.
If I had time, I'd still be outside almost every day. But I don't and I can't. Boo.
Trainer is the best workout, rollers are best for an hour or two of steady spin. Treadmill ... never ever. Yuck. I'd go run in a foot of snow before getting on a treadmill.
PlayStation 2 is probably the best training tool, though. I'm a very good football player because of it.
interesting. I had wondered if real runners despise the treadmill as much as I hate the trainer. I think even more so. You never see real runners on treadmills. I will look into the PlayStation or xbox. My trainer is on its last legs, so maybe I can justify a new training tool. I'm not a fan of the Wii. Too much moving around. The games look like crap, etc., etc.
Shim, that is almost the exact scenario I set up for the trainer. I don't have any Social D, though. I must rectify this soon. I don't suppose Tenacious D will work in the mean time?
Fred, your "Best of Britney Spears" album works just as well. Keep using that.
Oh, and I hate the trainer, have never used a treadmill and have yet to do any indoor work yet this winter. My bike and trainer are sitting there, but I just can't force myself to hop on.
And my belly grows ever so slowly...
Munson. "Best of Britney" is the only way to train. As soon as you return it, I'm there.
Sorry. I've been away.
Jump rope.
Cheap and good.
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