Front wheel support for Rollers?

davidcambridge1
davidcambridge1 Posts: 275
edited November 2009 in Road buying advice
I just bought some Tacx Antares Rollers, I have not yet used them, but I was wondering whether it is necessary for the front wheel support, would it be better to learn on the supports, and then just use them normally, or are they just a waste of money??

Comments

  • e999sam
    e999sam Posts: 426
    No support needed on rollers just balance.
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    Set the rollers up in a hallway or somewhere where you have support available both sides. Put the bike into a fairly high gear (big ring at the front, middle-ish of the cassette at rear) - you need to be pedalling at around 15mph before you feel reasonably stable.

    ...it also helps to focus on a point directly in front of you.

    ...and practice. :D

    The front-wheel support is unneccesary.
    Cycling weakly
  • JohnnyAllez
    JohnnyAllez Posts: 785
    WHS^^^^^^^ I was up and riding on mine in 5 minutes, bit wobbly for the first half hour but it sure concentrates the mind. DON`T clip in your pedals/shoes until you`re ready. I used my training shoes just pedalling on top ogf the SPDs for a while. No worries now :)

    As an aside to this - I lent my mate my set of rollers the other day, as he was moaning that the weather was crap and he couldn`t get out (and me being a greedy git had my turbo to play on instead). Anyway, he comes into work the next day with a cut hand, bent finger etc, moaning about how hard the rollers are to ride, how he couldn`t get going on `em and had come a right cropper numerous times until he`d said "sod it" and given up :cry: I called him a useless twat etc and after quizzing him on why he was a useless twat it turned out he had been trying to ride the rollers with the FRONT wheel on the DOUBLE rollers, and the BACK wheel on the SINGLE :shock: No wonder he couldn`t get going :roll: Would have been funny to watch though, makes your eyes water just thinking about how you would do that :D
    Jens says "Shut up legs !! "

    Specialized S-Works SaxoBank SL4 Tarmac Di2
  • davidcambridge1
    davidcambridge1 Posts: 275
    Ok, thanks for the advise guys, it has been very useful, and probably saved me £50!
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    ...a couple of other tips I'd thought of:

    Don't use your brakes! (if you do at speed, you'll see why! :shock: ) - okay to use them to keep things steady while getting off/on though.

    Try to pedal as smooooothly as possible. :D

    Once you get going, a fan is useful!
    Cycling weakly
  • John C.
    John C. Posts: 2,113
    Don't swerve to miss the cat :oops: I did, it's the most my other halfs laughed in years :lol:
    http://www.ripon-loiterers.org.uk/

    Fail to prepare, prepare to fail
    Hills are just a matter of pace
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    John C. wrote:
    Don't swerve to miss the cat :oops: I did, it's the most my other halfs laughed in years :lol:

    PMSL!!!!!!!!!! :lol::lol::lol:
    Cycling weakly
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    Ensure you have it set to the right length.

    The length should be slightly longer than the wheelbase of the bike, i.e. the front roller should be slightly in front of the front wheel so you're riding 'up' it slightly, rather than the wheel directly on top of or even worse in front of the front roller - if it's like this the steering is very unstable
  • davidcambridge1
    davidcambridge1 Posts: 275
    Thanks for all the tips guys! It arrived this morning, and I had a quick go on it this afternoon, only 10 miles, but it is awesome!

    It is really good fun, but that is porbably just the feeling of a new toy, and I am pretty sure that I will get bored of it and stop doing it, so does anyone have any tips on forcing myself to use my rollers??
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    davidcambridge1 wrote:
    I am pretty sure that I will get bored of it and stop doing it, so does anyone have any tips on forcing myself to use my rollers??

    Get in to a routine - even if it means 15 minute sessions every day before breakfast or whatever. Set them up in front of the TV when your favourite programme is on instead of sitting down. ;)

    I would write down some numbers after every session so you can actually see fitness improvements. This should increase your motivation to get on the rollers and beat your personal records.

    Average speeds are useless when out riding on the roads because of wind/hills/stopping/etc but on rollers, if you keep the resistance the same (most don't have it at all), it becomes more accurate. For example - Every so often, do a good warmup, then go flat-out for a specific ammount of time (5-30 minutes). Record the distance travelled and watch it increase over time as you get fitter. :D
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    Glad that you're 'up & running' :D

    I use my mp3 player with mine (can't see the telly where I have them set-up :cry: )
    As Bhima says, try & get into a routine of using them regularly (daily if possible) then longer timed sessions a few times a week.
    Cycling weakly

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