My husband, also a triathlete, wants to create a pain cave in our (unfinished, totally scary, unheated in cold climate) basement. For those with a setup like this, any suggestions on a few gifts that would facilitate that? I’d like to go with a few gifts at moderate cost rather than one bigger/more costly gift because I think it would help to get him started and then look at better equipment. He’s got a bike trainer. Maybe a mat for underneath? He also likes to do a lot of stretching pre and post run, and would probably take advantage of some basic strength training. Thoughts on a set up for that - anybody use the TRX system or something similar? Stick with bands and some barbells?
I skipped the mat and went with a cheap area run from Lowes/Home Depot. Serves the same purpose but was way cheaper. I have rollers right next to my trainer, if’ he’s interested you can’t be Kreitler rollers. My wife’s treadmill occupies its share of floor space as well. My Coup de grâce was hanging an old flat panel TV, adding a laptop, chromecast, and bluetooth ear buds so I can watch or listen to whatever I want, as loud as I want, as early in the morning as I want, without waking anyone up. Having the visual and auditory stimulation is key for me to spend maximum time down there.
Stripper pole? Ya know, for stretching and the like…
I have a similar set up – 1920 bungalow with unfinished basement. Scarey, but, I love it! Great pain cave.
I have the TRX system. Love it. Mounted it to the exposed over-head beams. I have a basic bike trainer mat on the floor under the bike with the TRX over it. I move the bike and keep the mat in place. Fantastic for stretching. I also have a weight machine. I went to Home Depot and bought a rubber floor covering for under it. It comes in squares that fit together like a puzzle. Much cheaper and better than basically the same product you can find in sporting goods stores. I would look for a rubber floor system like that and the TRX. Maybe get a bosu ball, which is nice. Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/...rainer/dp/B0079KL9OU
EDIT TO ADD: The flooring I have is similar to this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Groovy-Mats-Grey-24-in-x-24-in-Comfortable-Mat-100-sq-ft-Case-GYCMGY/204714323
I used this company, http://www.softtiles.com/, for the floor. They were very helpful with any questions but not sure if they were cheap than what JSA said he uses.
I bought enough to go under the bike, treadmill and dip/pull-up station plus area to do stretching.
It has been great over my cement floor.
This is great, thank you!
Something for entertainment. I can’t workout while watching tv, but my husband got a really nice radio/iPOD docking stereo. The sound quality is great - even when it is loud (which I like). Other than that, a mat for stretching/core work, and a few barbells.
What do you do for heat? I can see a trainer ride generating enough heat to keep you happy, but what about working on the TRX or doing pre/post stretching, etc. in the winter? It is a fairly big basement so I’m not sure a space heater would be very efficient.
What do you do for heat? I can see a trainer ride generating enough heat to keep you happy, but what about working on the TRX or doing pre/post stretching, etc. in the winter? It is a fairly big basement so I’m not sure a space heater would be very efficient.
My furnace is in the basement. Technically, there are no open vents in the basement, so, it is cold, but, not brutal b/c the heat will “leak” from the furnace. It is usually in the lower to mid 50’s during the winter, which is perfect workout weather. But, in your case, I think a space heater would work. You only need a section warmed up.
Get him a Gimp.
Big ass shop fan (I easily warm up my 10x10 paincave from 60f to mid-80s during a 60min trainer ride).
Barbell/Dumbells + Weights + Bench.
Big 3’x3’+ mirrors, especially if it’s dark.
Barn stall mats (1/4 of the price of specialty gym flooring)
There is also a generic TRX knock off you can buy on Amazon called Woss trainer, gives more budget for other things.
I’ll second JSAs endorsement of the TRX, as well as the foam puzzle piece floor mats.
This stuff is great. You can buy it in 6 or 8 piece packs for something like $20 probably at Target, Walmart, or any big sporting goods store, and when a piece gets torn up or worn out, you can just lift and replace that piece instead of a whole area rug or mat. You can also just cover the area you want, or eventually expand and cover an entire room.
I would recommend a cheap flat screen on a swing arm mount with a built in DVD player. You can get one for around $100. I need more than just music when I’m on the bike or treadmill and I sometimes like to pop in an Insanity or P90X video to do something other than sbr.
My wife has told me to move my pain cave out of the combined office, guest room, library, overflow toy storage area, and extra pillow/blanket storage area. That leave me only three options 1) grow a pair and push back on my wife’s unreasonable request 2) move my treadmill and trainer into the garage or 3) move the trainer and treadmill into a shed.
#1 is out for obvious reason. I like my testicles.
#2 doesn’t work since the garage houses the stable of bikes and at least one car, plus more toys.
#3 seems like a good option. I have the space for it in the side yard. I’ve got electricity pull over to the area where I would put the shed. I just don’t have unlimited space for it. Has anyone put their pain cave in a shed? If so, what are the dimensions?
A few things that are nice to have are some of the smaller sand filled balls that you can pump air into, they are great for rolling on for your back, a cheap self massage.
The bigger balance balls, great for the core and your balance.
Something for stretching, calves, hamstrings
A pair of the push up bars with wheels, great for stretching out the abbs and core work.
I think someone mentioned the stretch bands, those can be combined and can be used to work on your swim stroke on dry land.