My fiancee and I moved into a new house last weekend and it has a perfect room in the basement to set up as our training room (we both are avid multisport athletes so we are in complete agreement as to what the room should be used for!)
We’ll probably start setting stuff up this weekend so I’m looking for pictures, suggestions, decorating ideas etc. of how any of you have set up a dedicated room for training at home. Of course pictures would be best.
Right now we plan on putting in two bike trainers, a treadmill, small weight bench, and a Concept II erg (I’m a former high school and college rower), and of course a tv and dvd player for the long trainer rides.
Two things I’m particularly interested is the most cost effective way to mirror a wall and the best looking way and most practicle way protect the carpet in the room. The room has plain off-white house carpet and I want to put something down to protect it from bike grease, weights, shoes etc. I’ve seen a few different mats etc. at various stores but I’m not sure what will work best.
Pull up the carpet and put down the mats. It is easy to do and will save you so much clean up time in the future. I’d put up some Bogart posters, he was cool.
I use a Computrainer in my unfinished basement and I built a a mobil base for it using a solid core door. I bolted the CT to it and I use a Kreitler fork mount in front when not using my race bike. I made an add-on for the Kreitler so I can position my computers keyboard and mouse directly in front of me: between the brake levers when using my road bike. I can use it for the CT or surf, check email, etc which I hate to do but sometimes it’s the only way I can train and not neglect my job. Underneath I mounted 6 lockable casters I bought at Home Depot. I have the Computrainer computer unit mounted off to the side of my handlebars on a stand that I built from plans on their site using copper tubing. All the wires are zip tied and run underneath the platform. The fan to cool the CT is solidly mounted on there as well. Switching bikes is a breeze. I can train, do bike maintenance, lube the chain without worrying about the floor. And its mobile so I can wheel it to other locations if needed. The door is very heavy but it does not creak or flex at all.
I put my tv and computer on a large wooden shipping crate that measures about 8 feet long, 3 feet deep and 4.5 feet high. I also took 2 bathroom mirrors from a recent renovation and just propped them up there so I see my front view. I don’t have a mirror for side view. Have fun with it!
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention one advantage to having a computer or TV in front of you is that I connect my digital camcorder to them so I can see and record (either on digi tape of my pc’s hard drive) my position from the side, rear, etc. while working out. I can watch my tour videos while in between intervals, then switch to camera view so I see my form and position during hard efforts. All the while recording the entire workout. I do that during the winter typically or when I change bike position.
first of all I would say don’t feel like you have to have the entire thing decorated from the get go. through time you might have posters or blown up pictures from events that you’d like to put in there.
for the mirror, my husband was able to secure a large mirror from a house renovation. it was very cheap and he just bolted it right to the wall. i’m sure you might be able to find a similar deal at an auction or the trading post…even the newspaper adds. you’d be amazed what people sell.
the main part of your investment should be the floor. there is no way I would have carpet in my workout room…get that stuff out of there. it will be a mess in no time and carpet is the least thing you need to consider when you’re training. the sweating, erg, etc will just make it disgusting. you’d be better off laying down an inexpensive vinyl floor (the stuff that comes in a giant roll and you just cut it to form the room), and then getting proper mats for your weight equipment and where ever else you need it. In my city there are alot of gyms that are going up and going out of business. check that out in your area as you might be able to get some matt flooring on the cheap.
the most difficult thing I experienced was with the erg…it moved alot. so I ended up putting a 60 lb weight on it’s foot so that it wouldn’t move. our floors are painted concrete.
with a mirror and a floor like this you’re not going to be in deep for money and it will be enjoyable. take your time with the posters…you don’t have to do it all today.
as for the DVD and tv–wouldn’t simple tv stand from Wal Mart work?
Sure TnT. I’ve been meaning to take pics for a while. I can host them myself but thanks for the offer. I’ll try to get them up later today since I have some time.
It’s not glamorous but it gets the job done. A couple things that are not in pics are:
I use windows fan with two blades and mount it behind the CT resistance unit.
My stand for my computer has seen better days so I replaced it with a stack of boxes. They work much better.
The fork mount is not bolted to the base because of the different wheel base lengths between tri and road bikes and also b/c I want the option to raise the front wheel to simulate climbing position.
I found with the fans, tv, CT, and heater in the winter I started to trip circuits. I had a couple extra cicuits installed for llike $100.