rydabent

I live in the snow belt, and simply dont like to ride outside when it is cold. I am one of the fortunate people that among the medical perks I get in retirement is a gym membership. Since I am a bent rider, I use the bent style exercise machine. However, and as 99% of the people know a stationary trainer indoor is boring to tears, even tho the trainer I use has a TV screen.

What I have found great is to have someone with you that you can converse with. In my case I have met up with a couple of guys that love to talk politics with me WITHOUT getting all offended or upset. When we get to discussing current events, the time has gone so quickly that a couple of times now, I have ridden half again more mileage I intended.

DiabloScott

I like to evaluate the...fitness ... of the women club members... in a totally non creepy way.

nomadmax 

IMO, the best way to pass time on any indoor trainer is intervals. You become focused on intensity during the ON periods and wishing for more time in the REST periods.

Mitkraft

Gerryattrick

Oxymoron alert!

Unless you are a woman as well.

I-Like-To-Bike

I am fortunate to be able to pay without complaint for my gym membership at the local hospital, and also don't mind riding my bike in the winter. I combine both by riding everyday to the gym to swim in the heated pool. The bike ride is 12 miles r/t.

Listening to audio books while riding my bicycle makes the ride a pleasurable activity rather than boring workout drudgery.

TimothyH

Pray

Machka 

If I'm going to be on a bike at the gym, it'll be in a spin class. Otherwise, I prefer to use the treadmill or rowing machine at the gym and ride my trainer at home.

protojoe

I have the same problem with the dreadmill and bike trainer. What I think works best for me is to tune to something like "Law and Order". Its seems like I can always find a rerun on. I'll get interested and want me stay with it until the end of the episode. I sometimes use the commercials to do some speed work.

Cyclist0108

I'm trying to decide if it is worth joining a gym. When it is not raining here in the winter, it is usually mild enough to bike outside. The idea of breathing a bunch of exhaled, sweaty air and having a bunch of people sweating and secreting all over stuff that I touch is off-putting.

canklecat

I enjoy my solo indoor trainer time. It's hard for me to concentrate on one thing at a time. So the only time I watch TV or movies uninterrupted is during trainer sessions. Otherwise my attention is divided between the TV, computer, music or news on the radio, etc.

I use 30-45 minute TV shows for interval training (mostly raucous sci-fi), and movies for 90 minute or longer base sessions.

When a friend gave me his old Cycleops after my shoulder injury in May I figured I'd get bored quickly. But it's actually maintained and improved my conditioning despite injuries, illnesses and surgery this year.

But I get bored with training videos and rigid goals. So I do makeshift fartlek training based on repetitive schtick and tropes. While I'm watching sci-fi every time a character spouts a sci-fi cliche I sprint for 30 seconds. Some sci-fi shows are exhausting. Like Andromeda. So terrible, yet so good for interval training.

zacster

I enjoy my home trainer enough that I don't feel I need something to pass the time. I bought a Kickr Core a few months ago and once I get going I feel like I can go for hours on it with Zwift. When I tell myself I'm just doing a half hour session to loosen up, I always end up at 45 minutes before I even think about stopping. When I plan for an hour, I end up at one and a half. When I do The Sufferfest instead I do the selected workout and I'm cooked when it's over, so I never go over my time. When I first bought my Fluid 2 years ago though it was a different story. If I made it to half an hour it was a lot.

So what was the difference? It isn't the trainer. The thing that keeps me interested is the metrics. Even before I bought the Kickr I started using my Fluid 2 and tracking everything through Zwift and The Sufferfest. Even though I'm not training for the TdF, nor am I even that strong in comparison to others, but just seeing that improvement, the power I can put out and keep putting out, keeps me interested. That is much more important than staying entertained.

joesch

podcasts and here are some suggestions Best Podcasts of 2018: New and Returning Shows to Listen to | Time

Greenhil

rydabent

While indoor trainers by themselves are boring, they do serve a purpose. Over the last two years I have only gained about 5 pounds over the winter riding the bent trainer. In the years before I gained approx 15 pounds. Then in the spring now when I go out for the first time, it is almost like I have lost very little leg strength.

KraneXL

Caption Planet Fitness have monitor in view of their cycles so that's the only time I get to watch the boob tube and catch up on all the gossip and fake news.Yah. Fortunately with the plus size girls at Planet Fitness that's not a remote issue.

bargeon

I notice people frequently watch cooking shows on the TV at the gym. ​​​I wonder if people watch exercise videos while they cook.

tigat

Made my morning!

wphamilton

Trainers are good for waiting for a treadmill to free up.

prj71

Head phones and heavy metal / hard rock music.

Otherwise get a fat bike for winter riding. You won't be as cold as you think.

rumrunn6

at the gym when I am at a station for a long time, like the stair climber, stationary bike or treadmill, I've been known to binge watch old TV shows or corny movies. nothing I really have to pay attention to, but at least it's my choice & not the sometimes crappy TV the gym has going like game shows or soap operas

KraneXL

Not just the cooking but people gorging themselves with the finished products. The last type of show that should be playing at PF. I don't understand that.

Carbonfiberboy 

Ah, just get over that. Contact with more and different bacteria strengthens the immune system. It's good for you. Americans have, IMO, a creepy need for cleanliness. Just be an animal like anyone else.

We joined our first gym in '79, members ever since at some gym. We mostly lift weights, but have done spin classes which were OK. It's fun to get out, make and see new friends, and in general have a good time while hurting ourselves as much as possible.

Carbonfiberboy 

Yes, all that really helps. I didn't train through one winter, years ago, and took a vow to never repeat the experience. Over 50, it's too quick to lose, and too painful to get back. On the trainer or spin class, I focus hard on my weak spots and make my legs hurt. You would not want to try talking to me. I seldom have enough breath to speak in complete sentences.

Cyclist0108

I had my first day there, today.

Wife is an immunologist/virologist.