rollers

bianchimoon

Just ordered my first set of rollers from wiggle, bit of an impulse buy as there's been snow down here for 10 days and am having withdrawal symptons, want to as any other roller users who have used static trainers whether they went down the right route with rollers or regretted it,and how long before they could watch vids while rolling without coming a cropper?

thanks in advance for your replies

ozzzyosborn206

i used a mates a few time in the summer and then bought myself a set about a month back, glad i did much less of a bore then turbo. I would say no more than half an hour and you should be able to watch tele and have a drink etc. Hardest part i find is getting started, normally hold onto a wall start pedalling then let go once legs are up to speed

mrjinx

Hi I brought rollers for training and hated them! You have to have support either side of you a doorframe will do just to nudge yourself back to the centre of the rollers I didn’t do this fist off and came down with a bruised arse, after weeks of practice I could handle them without support but lose concentration and your off. Sold them and got a turbo trainer much better

clanton

I'm fairly new to rollers and I do prefer them to my old turbo trainer - though to be honets having both is nice as different drills work better on each machine.

Definitely worth doing the first attempt or two in a doorway so you have solid support either side. You will get the hang of them quickly though and once you have learnt not to panic and over-compensate for small deviations you will find them not too bad. Just when you think you are in complete control though you will come off one last time!

They really are nowhere near as bad as people make out - but the first time for me was fairly cr@ppy.

mentalalex

Rollers are Great and so is the turbo! both have the + and -.

it takes time to get used to rollers, i can happily start on them with no support, no handed is easy. just balance and core!

turbos are better for High resistance efforts, but you can still work a sweat on rollers,

AlanW

I am a recent convert to rollers, recently bought a set of the CycleOps with the ali rollers, fantastic piece of kit.

Haven't touch the turbo since, mainly due to the fact that doing an hour on the rollers is much easier to endure than an hour on the turbo.

Oddly, I must prefer riding my track bike of them than my road bike? It seems a lot harder riding on them with my road bike, but cannot quite figure out why??

58585

I did one winter on a trainer and then decided on a set of rollers - I've held onto the trainer but used it a handful of times since.
I went got the tacx parabolic type - the learning curve was pretty steep but after 30 mins I was quite confident, and it took about a week before I could take a drink without thinking about falling etc. I can manage one leg drills with no hands now and I wouldn't say I've got particularly good balance.

Using a wall for balance isn't actually that easy I found, I use a wall mounted work stand with an arm that swings out for support, once Im started I just push it out the way but it's still in range if I need to grab it - you might find a sofa or something that height that you can lean "onto" easier than leaning "against" a wall until you get your confidence up.

bianchimoon

Thanks for the reply's and advice, will drop a note here as to how i get on when it arrives - cheers

Bronzie

BTBR wrote:

Oddly, I must prefer riding my track bike of them than my road bike? It seems a lot harder riding on them with my road bike, but cannot quite figure out why??

Yes - I think with fixed there is a bit more inertia in the whole system (including your legs) which evens out the dead spots you get when riding on a bike with a freewheel.

fish156

I've changed my rollers for a similar model but with resistance. The turbo is now collecting dust in the corner

Somehow I find indoor training on rollers far less soul-destroying than using the turbo. I feel that I'm actually riding my bike, even if the scenery is a bit static. At some level, the turbo just doesn't feel like cycling to me.

birdy247

Are rollers good for getting proper cycling technique? I am trying to even up my pedal stroke over the winter. The turbo seems good, but you are fixed into an upright position. So would rollers be better for this?

Thanks

daveydave43

I borrowed some Tacx rollers for a week, absolutely fantastic. I've noticed a difference in pedalling action on the road; it feels a lot smoother.

The concentration required means that boredom is not so much of an issue.
However, I wouldn't recommend rollers for any type of interval work, for me it feels a bit unstable and like the bike would roll off the front or back.

andy_wrx

birdy247 wrote:

Are rollers good for getting proper cycling technique? I am trying to even up my pedal stroke over the winter. The turbo seems good, but you are fixed into an upright position. So would rollers be better for this?

Thanks

Considered to be much better than a turbo for technique.

On the turbo you can just switch off and mash, pedal squares, all sorts of bad habits

On the rollers, you are essentially riding a 20" strip with the possibility of falling off the side, so they improve your steering finesse and general balance considerably, and you tend to pedal all-the-way-round the stroke.

Velonutter

I have a Minoura GV100 Turbo and an Elite Varion Rollers with resistance, previously I had a Tacx Antares.

The turbo is in constant use this time of the year and I rack up about 120-150 miles a week. I sold my Tacx to my future son-in-law as he prefers rollers to the turbo and will quite happily hold 34 mph for over an hour, whereas I average on my Varion about 24-27 mph. On my Turbo I can hold 34 mph for at least an hour and enjoy that more.

So its horses for courses, I like the rollers when I want a change and can ride no handed but am not confident enough to drink whilst riding.

The rollers will deffo improve your smoothness and maintain your fitness, but the turbo will help you build power and maintain your fitness.

golfergmc

I do my intervals on the turbo and recovery rides on the rollers, I have found the rollers really improved my technique and have only been using them for a short time.

mickybhoy

birdy247 wrote:

Are rollers good for getting proper cycling technique? I am trying to even up my pedal stroke over the winter. The turbo seems good, but you are fixed into an upright position. So would rollers be better for this?

Thanks

Yes, definitely excellent for improving your pedalling technique as you do tend to naturally concentrate on the full circle motion. Also, you are instinctively using your core muscles all the time to keep balance.
Just remember - if you feel you're going to come off, pedal faster, not slower. It's a common mistake I still make. The more momentum you have, the easier it is to rectify your line. Oh, and don't look down at the wheel, try and focus ahead; it does actually work. Unquestionably a great workout during the winter, and much more interesting than turbos. Interval training ? Absolutely !

spinndrift

I'm going down the roller route as technique on the turbo is shocking - I'm worse than pedalling squares.

I was thinking of the Tacx rollers - are these seen to be decent ones as the other choice is the Elite Arions.

Anyone recommend any roller drills?

s25scd

I found Kreitler rollers 2.25 are really good.

bianchimoon

Has anyone any experience with the elite v arion with restance rollers? Positive or negative

fish156

bianchimoon wrote:

Has anyone any experience with the elite v arion with restance rollers? Positive or negative

I really rate them.
I went from Elite Ghibli (the model before the Arion) to V-Arion (those with resistance). Like I said - the turbo is now collecting dust in the corner.
Apart from out of the saddle sprints and one-legged drills, I'd choose them over the turbo any day.
The resistance is plenty for a mere mortal like me. I think a cadence of 90rpm in top is about 400W on the higest resistance setting.