I am looking to get some recommendations for training videos that:
1) are not boring...how long can you watch other people spin?
2) Give a mixture of simulations (uphill, downhill, high cadence, low cadence...)
3) You can grow with...not geared only to beginners

I am looking for a training book that:
1) Is not geared to full-time elite cyclists (I got Burke's book out of the library and while it's very good, I don't have eight hours a day to ride)
2) Explains all aspects of riding (or if not, are there books that cover training, racing, nutrition, etc.)

About me:
I am a full-time Dad and worker bee, so I don't have oodles of time to ride. I love to ride, just started last summer. I'd like to increase my fitness level to where I could ride in competition in the spring and summer. I don't need to win but I would like to be competetive in the first year (read as: not finish last). I ride in club rides and am getting comfortable riding with people around me. I will be commuting to work once it gets a little brighter out...

...any help and advice would be most welcome.

For books, I would recommend Joe Friel's Cyclist's Training Bible. I'm like you---training when I can before or after work and third in priority behind being Dad and husband. This book is geared toward much more competitive cyclists than I have any ambition to be, but its principles are still useful.

I would also recommend PC Coach software www.pccoach.com, which is not very expensive and will track your fitness and recommend a periodized workout schedule tailored to your level of fitness and the amount of time you can realistically put in. It handles all levels of ambition from "general fitness," where you put in half an hour to an hour four or five days a week to training for a century or other noncompetitive event, to full-out competitive racing over a season.

I've tried out demos of several training software products, such as Ultra Coach (www.fitcentric.com), and I like PC Coach much better than the competition. It's professionally put together, easy to use, and actually quite useful. Customer support has been very good when I've had questions about the software.

That said, I've been using PC Coach less and less in the last few months and scheduling my own workouts using Friel's book and focusing more on enjoying the rides than on planning them around specific fitness goals (e.g., when I'm scheduled for 90 minutes of intervals on a flat loop, I may decide that it's a beautiful day and I'll take a three-hour ride over a rolling country road instead and enjoy the scenery and the wind in my face).

The Ultimate Ride by Coach Chris Carmichael (hardcover) The Carmichael Training Systems program like Lance uses www.roadbikerider.com/ur_page.htm

Fred Matheny's Complete Book of Road Training (paperback) Based on a proven year-round program for roadies with lives www.roadbikerider.com/rbt_excerpt.htm

Optimal Muscle Performance and Recovery (paperback) How to grow stronger faster from tough training and events www.roadbikerider.com/omp_page.htm

Andy Pruitt's Medical Guide for Cyclists (eBook, paperback) Professional bike fit, injury diagnosis & treatment www.roadbikerider.com/ap_excerpt.htm

The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling (paperback) The keys to success in rides from 30 to 3,000 miles www.roadbikerider.com/ld_excerpt.htm

High-Intensity Training for Cyclists 2003 edition (eBook) Arnie Baker adds new wattage data to his go-fast manual www.roadbikerider.com/hit_excerpt.htm

The Complete Book of Road Cycling Skills (paperback) Expert instruction on bike handling and riding techniques www.roadbikerider.com/rcs_page.htm

Supercharge Your Training (eBook) Special workouts for riding your best in summer events www.roadbikerider.com/sch_excerpt.htm

Plus at www.roadbikerider.com/bookstore.htm: Nutrition for Peak Performance ... Basic Bike Maintenance and Repair ... Mountain Bike Like a Champion ... Cycling for Health & Fitness ... The New Cyclist Handbook ... fast, inexpensive eBooks

Cool....thanks Fellas. The Frank Matheny book looks like waht I described, actaully. Do you own this book, K? I tried to find it Amazon and was surprised they did not carry it....

I'm surprised that Fred Matheny's book is not on Amazon, but Fred (along with Ed Pavelka) runs the RoadBikeRider.com web site, so that is the place to get these books. Right from the source.

is very good, explains the basics of racing tactics and training, though unfortunately track racing is not covered ...have been riding many years but just started racing this year and some of the other books I checked out had more complicated training regimens than I want at this point, though I'm sure they would be valuable after a season or two