I'm sure this has been asked a hundred times... sorry. If there's a good existing thread, please direct me...

How many miles should I give myself credit for while riding on the trainer?

I realize there are trainer/computer combos that remove the doubt. I don't have that. I have a simple setup where I use my bike's gears to vary resistance. I have chosen to give myself 16 mph credit for time spent on the trainer. For me, a typical training ride on the road is 18 mph solo, 18.5-19.5 mph with others, and a typical rally is 20-21 mph. I don't race.

So is 16 mph realistic?

Just track hours, instead of miles...

I've spent hundreds of hours on the trainer...and ALL of us that have done that KNOW it ain't nothing like riding for real.....

So I'm with Argent....I just track time now......

considering today they are calling for mild temps but winds from 18 to 25.....the stand would be WAY easier...

The only way that you can track "miles" on a trainer, is if you can adjust the resistance to equal riding on a flat road. For example, if you ride on the road at 16 mph at a HR of 120, adjust the resistance so that 16 mph on the trainer results in a HR of 120.
If you can't do this, you will have to track hours.

Who's paying you?

It was knotty philosophical questions like this that led me to stop tracking miles, hours, whatever. The only number I pay any (a little) attention to is the one on the scale.

The only way that you can track "miles" on a trainer, is if you can adjust the resistance to equal riding on a flat road. For example, if you ride on the road at 16 mph at a HR of 120, adjust the resistance so that 16 mph on the trainer results in a HR of 120.
If you can't do this, you will have to track hours.

That's how I did it -- equivalent heart rates. I know it's only a rough approximation.

Another vote for hours. I just track them both separately and total hours. True, riding a trainer is not the same as the road. Still, in some ways, it's actually better and more efficient (you have absolute control over the work-out - without traffic, stop lights, and coasting, you can get your work-out in faster).

Another vote for hours. I just track them both separately and total hours. True, riding a trainer is not the same as the road. Still, in some ways, it's actually better and more efficient (you have absolute control over the work-out - without traffic, stop lights, and coasting, you can get your work-out in faster).

I wonder sometimes if trainer time is better than road time. I ride the trainer a fair amount in the winter. Come springtime I stick better on group rides initially, but may fall back some at the end of summer. I don't use the trainer much during the summer. Maybe everyone is just getting in better shape, or maybe there is something to riding the trainer (kinda single speedish-NO coasting).

Another vote for hours. I just track them both separately and total hours. True, riding a trainer is not the same as the road. Still, in some ways, it's actually better and more efficient (you have absolute control over the work-out - without traffic, stop lights, and coasting, you can get your work-out in faster).

I wonder sometimes if trainer time is better than road time. I ride the trainer a fair amount in the winter. Come springtime I stick better on group rides initially, but may fall back some at the end of summer. I don't use the trainer much during the summer. Maybe everyone is just getting in better shape, or maybe there is something to riding the trainer (kinda single speedish-NO coasting).

I just document time (hours) in the training log.

That's a decent point, although my HR for a given effort is always a bunch higher indoors, without the wind to cool me and stuff. I don't have gimondo fans or a garage...

Credit is in direct proportion to the size of the sweat puddles on the floor when you are done.

Credit is in direct proportion to the size of the sweat puddles on the floor when you are done.

And the size of your sweat puddles are in direct proportion to your lack of ventilation. :rolleyes: If you are sweating "puddles," you need a better fan. Unless, of course, on your outdoor rides you frequently find puddles under you at stoplights.

I wonder sometimes if trainer time is better than road time.

From the perspective of kilojules burned, the trainer offers more bang for the buck 99% of the time. I can do 800 Kj an hour on the trainer. That pace is very difficult outdoors, with the exception of a long climb or time trial. Why? Because outdoors 10-20% of the ride is spent not pedaling at all. Indoors, there is no coasting.