CTS or Spinervals - worthwhile training vids?

Triathlon Forum
1

Opinons re CTS or Spinervals to use on the trainer during the winter.

Before I get blasted for not “just getting my butt outside riding”, know that I live north of Toronto, CANADA where even if you could brave -20, plus wind chill, you would have to negotiate an average of 5-10 cm of snow. So, your thoughts please… Thanks.

2

Check out The Sufferfest on iTunes or at www.thesufferfest.com

My friend Dave put together free video podcasts for indoor cycling using race footage–much more interesting to watch than people riding bikes in a room! (recommended to start with #4 or #5 as these are his latest using feedback from viewers)

3

I’ve been using a mix of the Robbie Ventura Real Rides, CTS and Spinervals. The one I hate the least is definitely the Real Rides series. None of them are fun, but these are just a bit different than a coach just barking training levels at you. The cycleops site has previews of each video so you can take a peek.

4

I have a couple of the CTS videos and one Spinerval. I know lots of people swear by Spinervals. I like the CTS videos better. The Spinerval one I have (and remember which one) is just a 3 hour long session of someone calling out gear ratios which I can never match. I’m a very strong cyclist so it must be my trainer :wink: but I end up losing interest pretty quickly since I can’t do what the video is asking me to do and, frankly, I don’t think most other people can either so the whole thing seems fake. Plus, I don’t want to ride my trainer for 3 hours so I end up either quitting early or randomly starting in the middle somewhere. I know other folks feel differently but for me the whole thing just ends up being pointless.

The CTS workouts are about an hour long which is perfect for me. The effort levels on the intervals are called out in heart rate ranges (or power if you have it). I find myself consistantly doing the whole workout at a very high level of effort. So, at least for me, I get a much better workout with the CTS videos.

5

I started using the Spinerval dvd’s last winter and liked them a lot. Better than just sitting in the basement cranking out mindless mileage while watching a movie. They actually made me push myself a lot harder than I would normally. There are lots of different versions out there. I mostly used the aero base builder and then in the spring used a couple of the time trial versions. This winter I’ve started using the “Runerval” run training equivalent. Same deal. Push me harder than I’d push myself.

Brad

6

My legs are feeling the workout from yesterday. 3 hours of ‘Tough Love’ Spinerval. I’d like to say that it’s a bit more than some guy just yelling out gear ratios. It works specific things with both technique and power, plus it keeps it interesting. To maintain cadence in the correct gear you have to work your butt of while riding a fluid trainer, but that’s the point.

If someone complains that they get bored, then good luck to them for the rest of their training.

By CTS I assume you mean the DVD that comes with the Saris Fluid Trainer. I haven’t tried that one out yet, but I’m sure it’s similar.

7

another vote for www.thesufferfest.com

these are AWESOME! i just wish there were more of them. Did one this morning actually.

8

another vote for www.thesufferfest.com

these are AWESOME! i just wish there were more of them. Did one this morning actually.

+1

9

thanks
I will try one tonight
i hope not to suffer ;-o
.

10

Sufferfest is a great one. So is Dropping the hammer. But I seriously think that Have Mercy the Sequel might be the hardest I have ever worked on a bike outside of a race and Mt. Palomar.

Spinnervals are GREAT

11

I like the endurance films “Rides” series the best.

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  • 1 for the sufferfest video’s. Very well done: Race video footage, clear workout plan, and excellent music choices to correspond with effort levels. They work best on itunes as a podcast, but you can download them as well.
13

Spinervals have been good for me, but then again so is any DVD of a race (Hawaii race coverage, Olympics, etc) as well as things like Paris-Roubaix (try keeping the cadence up in a big gear with O’Grady).

14

These are fantastic. thanks for the link.

15

I live in Banff (-35 and four feet of snow!) so I feel your pain. I have both sets. They’re ok. My favourite is a racing highlight video of Lance Armstrong’s “Big Six”. When he sprints, I sprint. When he climbs, I climb. Good for tempo too as it’s exciting for two hours. Good views of the racers from behind - makes you feel like you’re right there with them.

16

Definitely thesufferfest.com, it saved me this winter after not being able to make it to a CT studio
.

17

deff prefer race videos or spinervals, the CTS ones are boring as snot.

we mixed it up with indoor rides all winter at a local shop and no one liked the CTS ones, well aside from me and another guy making fun of it the whole time…

18

Spinervals for me… Yes, 3 hours on the trainer sucks, and they are hard. That’s the point. I adjust the gears to match what effort I was prescribed for the workout anyways.

19

I also nominate the spinnervals DVDs. Good stuff and makes you sweat xtra.