Weekend Snow and Bike Trainer Info

Friday was supposed to be my rest day, instead I ran for 30 minutes for about 3 miles.  This needs to improve, I would like to get down to a 7 minute mile, but I'm not sure how feasible that is, especially after a swim and a bike ride.

Unfortunately, Saturday was out of the question since nature decided to dump 18 inches of snow on us.  I spend most of, if not all of Saturday shoveling two feet of snow out of our driveway.  I got a good forearm, shoulder, and back workout.

Sunday ended up being a pretty lax day, did some remaining shoveling, and slept a lot.  That evening, Christine and I visited Maple Ave Restaurant for dinner, one of our favorite places to eat in Vienna, VA.

(CycleOps Fluid2 Trainer)

Lastly, I've been on the lookout for an indoor bike trainer, but I have no idea what to look for.  So, I reached back to my teammates in Team in Training, and received tremendous assistance.  One of the run/bike coaches Leighton and another teammate Mark provided great feedback on what to look for in a bike trainer.  Thanks to Leighton and Mark for providing a lot of the info you are about to read below, here you go, for anyone interested:

• Wind - provides resistance through a fan.  
• Pro: Least expensive option; resistance progresses with your speed for realistic feeling of riding on the road. 
• Con: Noise, limited resistance
• Cost: Can be purchased for less than $100
  
• Magnetic - uses a magnetic flywheel to provide resistances.
• Pro: Quieter than WIND trainers; adjustable resistance options.
• Con: Resistance has an upper limit.
• Cost: Can be purchased for $150-$200+
  
• Fluid - combines a magnetic flywheel with fluid-filled chambers. Resistance increases as your cadence (how fast you pedal) increases.
• Pro: Near-silent operation w/ progressive resistance; most realistic road-feel.
• Con: Most expensive type;  In some models, there are reports of leaking caused by the expansion and contraction of fluid
• Cost: Can be purchased for $200-$400+

The most consistent feedback I've received so far is, go with the Fluid trainers.  The CycleOps Fluid 2, pictured above, comes highly recommended if you can afford it.  Additionally, keep in mind that there are some accessories you may consider such as: a mat to place under the bike, a leveling stand for under the front tire, and a "bike-thong" which is a chamois cloth that helps keep some of the sweat that will be pouring off of you from getting on your bike.