Indoors at the V and Dime
If we liked breathing stale, recycled air, we’d all take up a sport like wrestling or indoor fly-fishing. But we love the feel of a gale on our faces. We cherish the smell of cow manure filling our nostrils with its almost tangible grittiness. We hold scared the privilege to breathe in diesel fuel while doing hill repeats up l’Alpe d’Huez.
But such whimsy is not for every day. Occasionally, we find ourselves faced with the prospect of an hour of solitude upon the wind trainer or rollers, where our sport is transformed from a glorious experience of powering ourselves along with only Nature for company to one where a ride of 30 minutes is barely tolerable, 45 seems like a lifetime wasted, and 60 minutes is more than most of us can even consider enduring. 60 minutes on the trainer at a leisurely pace or a 4 and a half hour death march up a barren, heat-riddled climb? I’ll take the 4 and half hours every time, thank you very much.
We all have to do it, and there are even some redeeming qualities to be had. You get better at Rule #5, for one. You develop a more magnificent stroke, for another. Whatever the redeeming qualities, we all have our way of coping. Jeff in PetroMetro returns with his view on how to make it suck just a little bit less.
Yours in Cycling,
Frank
—
Either due to life-threatening weather or poor scheduling of life’s lesser priorities (see Rule #11), we Velominati spend a little time each year riding indoors. Whether one enjoys a ride on rollers or a trainer, and no matter if one methodically spins (as all good recovery ride specialists do), grinds out intervals, or practices ways to improve one’s magnificent stroke (scrape the mud off your shoes, scrape the mud off your shoes…), death-by-boredom is always a possibility. I’m not one to go for videos, or read books, or hook up to a computer. Call me old fashioned. I like to meditate on the V with only the voices inside my head screaming for mercy from the pain of a complete lactic acid meltdown.
Or, sometimes I like a little music.
Back in the Dark Ages, I used the yellow (sweatproof) Sony Walkman to play my favorite homemade training cassette tapes. But in our modern days of inexpensive digital storage, and with the brilliant invention of the “shuffle” command on my iPod Nano, I have some seven hours of musical motivation to keep my indoor sessions lively and loud.
I thought I might start a little conversation regarding favorite training tunes. Now, I know ALL of my fellow Velominati strictly adhere to Rule #62 when riding outside. And of course, we prefer strict adherence to Rule #9, but, as I stated above, shit happens.
While I have eclectic taste, I don’t fancy Al Green, Buck Owens, or Duke Ellington when loving a Rule #5 beatdown. No. I tack to the loud and fast. My preferences are punk and “classic rock”. (It was just rock when I first heard it.) So here’s a little flavor of my indoor training selection, in no particular order.
Hate to Say I Told You So“”The Hives””from the album “Your New Favourite Band”
Tick Tick Boom“”The Hives””from the album “The Black and White Album”
American Idiot“”Green Day””from the album “American Idiot”
The Rock Show“”Blink 182″”from the album “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket”
I Fought the Law (Live)””The Clash””from the album “The Clash: Live at Shea Stadium”
Batman Theme“”The Jam””from the album “In the City”
Communication Breakdown“”Led Zeppelin””from the album “Led Zeppelin”
The Real Me“”The Who””from the album “Quadrophenia”
Rock Around the Clock“”Ten Pole Tudor””from the album “The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle”
Of course there are many, many others. But I offer these few picks-to-click to perhaps start a little discussion and get some musical ideas for my next indoor shopping spree at the V and Dime.
A-Merckx
Warron Zevron – My shits fucked up
and a link -just cos its awesome!
@all
I can’t believe Obey the Rules by the Welly White Boys didn’t make the list.
Download: Obey the Rules.
Cyclops – Happy Birthday Mate. Hope you get to give yourself a podium present at the AC.
@G’phant
… ‘SC’… (Damn you, fat fingers.)
After reviewing the whole discussion, I need to create a nice playlist for my V-ride next Saturday. This will be Thusis-Albula-Maloja-Spluga-Thusis (~180 km, ~4000 m t.c.), with the ~1800 m climb up to the Spluga starting after a 115 km “warm-up” :)
@grumbledook
Weird. All those Metallica covers and only one original…
I have plenty of original Metallica albums in my collection. But I found the cover versions more suitable for cycling. Funny enough, I found the best Metallica album for cycling to be their collection of cover versions called “Garage Inc.” :)
@frank
Fuck, yes! I knew there was a reason I kept coming back here.
A couple of directions:
1. Moby, “Extreme Ways;” Arcade Fire, “No Cars Go;” Broken Social Scene; Huxley Met Soda. None of which is particularly me, but it works on the bike.
2. The Hold Steady, “Constructive Summer;” Lucero; Drive-by Truckers (though songs about whiskey and women might not induce V-and-Dime, the three-guitar attack works).
Nice work, PetroMan!
@Cyclops
Congrats on your birthiversary and the upgrade.
Welcome to the fun side of 50. Now the only people I get mail from is AARP.
Forgot Suicidal Tendencies.
@Oli
Metallica covering the Misfit’s die my darling. And whiskey in the jar.
I had a mincey little ipod nano when I was wondering if I wanted to buy a big one (fucking hate them) and loaded it up with a bunch of random songs and the downward spiral by Nine Inch Nails. You can see how that worked out. I was an angry man when I got home.
Lots of good shit right here. Anyone tried the Nyan Nyan cat?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5PiXt6INSM
@Steampunk
Surprising – thought we could rely on you to add Bachman Turner Overdrive. (Pretty much everything, other than “Blue Collar” and “Looking Out for Numebr One”. But particularly “Takin’ Care of Business”, “Take It Like A Man” and “Roll On Down The Highway”.)
I don’t have rollers or trainers, I’ve chosen to be always on the road,
accordingly I don’t listen music while riding, but if you ask me what I like in music I say:
Rory Gallagher, Michael Bloomfield, Otis Rush, Albert King, Freddie King, Johnny Winter, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Steve Ray Vaughan, The Allman Brothers… (to be continued)
@xyxax
I know, I can’t believe that I’m getting mail from those AARP douches.
@Cyclops
@xyxax
Ahahah! I’ve just read what AARP stand for…
@Pedale.Forchetta
I also don’t listen to music on the road, I don’t like how the wind sounds against headphones in the ear canal. I also like to hear what’s going on around me (i.e. cars from behind closing in on me).
@Cyclops
The real question is: will Frænk be giving you the senior discount on all future Velominati orders? Congrats on the pending cat upgrade and 50th trip around the sun.
@G’phant
Look at you, you’re glowing orange again. Must be too much self tanner.
@mcsqueak
None taken – but you can always use to to degrease your garage floor. I have never found anything better to get rid of oil stains from concrete!
@mattb
Now I’m offended, I’ve got no garage where I live. Merckx help me, I’d like to buy a house within five years so I can actually have a garage for storage, and be able to work on my ride somewhere that’s not outside or in the kitchen.
@mcsqueak
Can’t you Americans buy houses for about $100 right now?
@Marcus
$100 Australian? That’s, like, $1,000,000 of anyone else’s dollars.
@mcsqueak
It’s my Jersey Shore look. From now on I’d like to be referred to as “The G’phant Scenario”.
@Cyclops
I’d write them a letter of complaint, but with dinner at 5 pm, then an hour of Antiques Road Show and lights out, I just can’t find the time.
I do find that I increasingly appreciate the soothing powers of talc.
@G’phant
Not Aussie dollars, I am talking real currency
@Marcus
I just bought half of Wyoming.
@xyxax
What? No time for ovaltine??
For fans of the Hives and First ave.
Tick tick boom @ First ave
You got it all wrong @ first ave
Diabolic Scheme @ First ave
It wont be long @ First ave
Hate to tell you so @ First ave
@actor1
Ha! Figured you were a dude, but never know with the anonymity of the net and all.
Self promotion here: I was at the show when Henry and the boys (and Kira) recorded that album. Don’t have the Mohawk anymore, but the memory remains …..
Humble first-time poster here. Love the site, guys. Great comments every time.
Doesn’t suffering to a song kill that song for you guys? It does me. I still have a hard time listening to R.E.M.’s “Life’s Rich Pageant” album over 20 years after wearing it the hell out riding my rollers in my parents freezing garage. Hmmmm…. perahps a little musical variety would have helped. I’m a big fan of the Inside Ride e-motion rollers and the Sufferfest videos. Awesome intense workouts, lots of great tunes which lean toward alt-rock and techno without some over-muscled knucklehead yelling at you to “PEDAL FASTER, C’MON!!!”. The rollers themselves allow for high resistance slogs or low resistance spinning. They also have the fore-aft movement of the rollers within a frame that really boost that road-like feel. Great purchase. And I bought them retail!
Again, great articles. Keep them coming!
@Otoman
Welcome! I fucking hate REM. But I won’t hold that against you. (smiley face emoiticon here)
@frank
Even The Prophet had some bounce in his stroke.
True, but he did it in style with his pinky out!
@Steampunk
Nice mention of the Hold Steady, another MSP band that has blew the walls off First Ave. I actually know those guys a bit and they’re good folks and party as hard as their records indicate. Go back and listen to Lifter Puller (the band) if you haven’t, first iteration of The Hold Steady, cool concept album shit and really good for indoor riding.
“I want Nightclub Dwight dead in his grave, I want the Nice Nice up in Blazes.”
@Marko
Yes, yes, yes: good stuff. I got hooked after one of their albums was called something like Born to Run, but without the romance and with Catholic guilt. Sounds about right. Good noise.
My most painful trainer session was while watching The Last Waltz. Fuckin great rock n roll documentary. It’s a good thing I love The Band.
Blitzkrieg Bop by the Ramones or anything else by the Ramones for that matter
@Steampunk
Ovaltine kept dissolving my denture adhesive.
And get the hell off my lawn!
@Pedale.Forchetta
Are we brothers? Albert King, Otis, Allman Bros…SRV was king. Marko and I have shared some great times and good beer listening to that guy rip it up. Not my favorite musician, but definitely my favorite guitar player – and, to me, the best that ever lived. Have you heard Tightrope off the boxed set? Live? Not only is the playing unbelievable, but his tone has never been matched.
@Otoman
Welcome. Good question. depends on the mindset. Obvs suffering sucks. If it didn’t, we would call it something else, like “sex”. But suffering can feel good just because you know the good you’re doing to your body. Like eating vegetables. But mostly it sucks, but then after you overcome it and finish, you feel fantastic afterward. Truth be told, a song might be ruined for me if I quit. But never if I push through. Regardless of the result. That’s Rule #5: independent of results, how hard did you push? Beyond what you thought you could do? Beyond where your brain and body told you to stop? Then good on ya and I can always be happy about it. But if you bail and back off, then yeah, I suppose it might ruin the song. Except I’d just be furious and insist on a rematch.
Have I mentioned I’m riding Haleakala again in about two weeks?
@Cyclops, @xyxax
Stop! My side!!
@frank Have I mentioned I’m riding Haleakala again in about two weeks?
Gensis – Dance on a Volcano (off A Trick of the Tail).
@frank
That sums it up nicely. … Listening to great music you hardly hear your body begging for mercy.
Good luck for Haleakala! And if you are looking for a bigger challenge, try Paso Chungará to Tambo Quemado in the Andes (240 km and 4660 m to climb with road being completely tarmaced).
@Cyclops
Happy Birthday and good luck with the State Champs!
@Cyclops
Happy birthday champ! (State champ…)
@TheBuoy
Yep. I have about a half dozen Ramones tunes on my training mix. “Surfin’ Bird” does it for me.
@frank
Is Gianni DS’ing again? Video? When do we get a Part Deux article with appropriate over/under gambling for V-gear? And are you a sub-four this year?
@frank
Ahah, brothers indeed!
@Cyclops
even if I’m late, happy b/day!
@scaler911
during the intro to ‘annihilate this week’, hank intro’s the song w/ what is VERY apropos to this discussion of pain on the rollers: “this next song is about killing yourself to live, it’s called ‘annihilate this week'”. were you the dude yelling “let’s hear it!”
@Cyclops–don’t know you, but happy birthday anyway, my man.
I tend to go with one artist at a time, and just put the whole library for that artist on shuffle. I’ve got a few go-to artists, depending on my mood or the type of workout.
For self-induced torture sessions: Greenday. Always Greenday. I’ve got every album, and there’s maybe five songs in the whole library that don’t make you want to kick ass and lay down the V.
To get me going on those early winter mornings: The Pixies. Or maybe The Smashing Pumpkins (but only Gish, Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie; not the later stuff).
For mindless spin sessions, the one and only Johnny Cash. I’ve got over 20 hours of Cash on the Ipod, including the five albums he did just before he died with American Recordings, which I think may actually be the best/most interesting work of his career.
When I want to amplify my mid-January depression: Death Cab for Cutie. Although, their newest album is comparatively rife with optimism, so we’ll see how that plays out.
Oh, I forgot. A little bit of Social Distortion goes a long way, too. (You can tell what decade I went to college in, right?)
@G’phant
Ha! Very appropriate. I was going to throw in some Genesis (The Knife from Genesis Live, 1973) but with the intervening 30 years of prog rock backlash, I feared being banned.
Good luck on that beast.
@actor1
No, not me. My buddy (we both still think, who knows). I wasn’t living in Portland yet, and we had driven up from the little town in northern California (Yreka) where I grew up, to see the show. We were seniors and did the 5 hr drive, saw the show, and drove back home. Those were the days.
@The Oracle
Just saw those guys again last fall I think. Man are they getting old! But then, so am I.
@G’phant
Oh wait, you were quoting Frank. Good luck Frank on your Misty Mountain Hop!
Diana Ross and the Supremes: “Ain’t no Mountain High Enough”
@The Oracle
ha! i think several of us could be categorized as a brother from another mother. i was in college(s) through the late 80’s/early 90’s…
as for social d., agreed! also for more aggro/tight harmony/short bursts of rage:
AGENT ORANGE
RAMONES
MISFITS
T.S.O.L.
MINOR THREAT
CIRCLE JERKS
STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH (S.O.D.)
CRO-MAGS
THE EXPLOITED
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
J.F.A.