One of the things that strikes me about training indoors is that the sounds are distinctly different from outside. Outside there is the sound of the wind, the sound of cars passing, and bike noises like the sound of the gears turning, wheels cutting through the air and the bickering/talking of riders communicating.
Inside, on the trainers the sound is completely different. There is the mega-blare of the music and the sound of the computrainers. Being an older rider, ok a more mature rider, I like the 90's sound or music with a good beat. Some of the younger riders like a dance beat: sounds like disco to me and makes me want to put on a white skin suit. The music sets the tone and the background for the other noises. It also can help or hinder a ride. One day as a joke the SPA channel was put on during a particularly hard section of a ride. Nothing is more disheartening then listing to calming music when you need power. Needless to say after the joke was sprung the channel was quickly changed.
The second most prevalent sound during a ride is the sound of the computrainer. Computrainers have their own distinct sound. Mostly it is the sound of rubber on a metal wheel. But as the rider increases speed and spools up the device to 25mph or higher the sound is unmistakable. At 25 plus the computrainers begin to sing a high pitched whine that says to all around, "I am going fast, so fast that the apparatus may blow apart; disintegrate while I am under full power; so lookout."
When I hear the whine of the computrainer under full power I always look around to see who is riding hard. I then glance at the screen to check their speed and watts. I am always amazed by how much power people can produce and how fast they can go inside. I realize that power inside and outside are very different but watts is watts and speed is cool.
That is one thing I miss when the season moves outside. The whining changes and becomes the sound of the riders whining and not of the equipment telling you you are fast. The equipment is always better.
See you on the road.
