CycleOps

realRides Ride 101 Indoor Trainer DVD

We fondly recall participating in at least one Bike Rodeo back in the day, not as instructors, but as kids. And although it's been a long time, we still remember some of the basic skills we were taught. The folks at CycleOps also value proper instruction. That's why they offer the Real Rides "Ride 101" Trainer DVD as part of the Real Rides instructional series.

"Ride 101" offers up some good advice on some basic, but important elements of road cycling. The topics range from basic handling skills to safety on the road, alone or in groups, and even general roadside bike maintenance. Each and every one of these things is something that everyone appreciates knowing, even more so when their ride partners are knowledgeable. And though it covers a lot of ground, the "Ride 101" Trainer DVD is still a training tool.

And by training, we mean that it offers an 8-week program to guide you towards some cycling specific fitness. So if you're new to road cycling, don't think for a second that whatever it was that made you sweat before you got your bike is going to help you at the Tuesday Night World Championships. What makes you fast on a bike is a plan and plenty of saddle time, and your host, Robbie Ventura, want to help you get started going fast.

There are portions of the Real Rides "Ride 101" Trainer DVD that feature on-bike video so you feel like you're in the thick of the action. These sections have a dashboard that shows you Robbie's personal data as you ride along with him. You'll see his power in watts, intensity, heart rate, pedal cadence, speed, and elapsed time as you ride along on your trainer. That said, to get the most from the information in the Trainer DVD, we recommend that you train with power, whether using a powermeter on your bike or trainers that measure power such as the CycleOps Powerbeam or Pro Indoor Cycle. You can create custom training sessions and ride to the DVD soundtrack or toggle it off and listen to your own music as you train.