Textbooks are the perfect size to support your front wheel. Plus the sweat stains are a great way to intimidate other students. |
I've done a few things that have helped me break up the monotony on the trainer. I've focused more on interval training, without building up much of a "base" of long, slow distance miles like I used to do. I also use a power meter, so I can see where my numbers are compared to the previous week. It only took me three weeks of training to surpass my numbers from last year...which says more about bad I was last year than how good I am this year. Most important, however, has been streaming media content online. The only truly boring part of riding inside is when you're between intervals or warming up. The Daily Show and Colbert Report, which are free online, are my go-to distractions. They're usually 20 minutes long or so, which is perfect for a warm up.
One redeeming attribute of the trainer is that it allows you to push yourself to the point of being completely cross-eyed and drooling on yourself without risking an accident on the roads. To put out that sort of effort outside simply isn't safe. I'm not necessarily into pushing it that hard this early, but it does give you something to break up your ride.
I'll end with two trainer movie recommendations: Hoop Dreams and More than a Game. Both are documentaries about basketball. They've got all the necessary parts to good sports movies, existential "why we do it" type of stuff, reliving the glory days, and over-invested parents and fans. Both movies keep you on the edge of your seat. Even though I don't follow pro basketball, or like it that much, it's nice to branch out to other sports and see that no matter how different the game, so much remains the same.
-Brian B
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