Question: I just moved to the frozen north from a state where I could ride year-round. I got an indoor trainer but have one major problem: I sweat buckets! After 30 minutes my bike, T-shirt and carpet are soaked. What’s the solution? — Billy Joe L.
Coach Fred Matheny Replies: Sweating is unavoidable on a trainer because your body isn’t moving through the air like it is on a real ride. Thus, there’s little evaporation. Perspiration sits on your skin and builds up as you increase intensity.
All that sweat means your cardiovascular system is working hard to keep you cool instead of powering great workouts. That salty fluid can corrode your bike, too.
Solution: Get a big box fan and put it in front of a partially open window. Position your trainer so your face is 4-5 feet from the fan. Then turn it on “high” to create an artificial headwind. You’ll stay cooler, ride more comfortably and your workouts will be higher quality. You’ll still sweat, of course, so don’t forget to take frequent swigs of a sports drink.
To keep the corrosive fluid off your bike, trainer and carpet, wear sweatbands around your head and wrists, drape a towel (or one of the many available covers) over the top tube and put a plastic sheet under everything. Check at your local bike shops for available products that stretch between the seatpost and handlebar.
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