Bike Roller Issues

DentMan06

Hello gang. First time poster, long time viewer. I am having some issues with a Minoura Moz roller trainer and was hoping someone could help. I've searched high and low and can't get the clear answer I am looking for. Here goes:

Purchased a brand new Moz roller since we moved to Alaska. I wanted to be able to ride in the winters, so I thought a trainer would be my best bet. I received it in the mail, assembled per instructions (being a Japanese company though, their English version was decent at best). Once it was completely assembled, I tried to ride on it to test the assembly and see if all was well, which it wasn't.

It seems a bit hard to pedal. At first, I figured it was because I needed to build up momentum. Quickly, I figured out, it wasn't that. It is just too damn hard to pedal! I am waiting for my pump to get shipped up to me from back home, so I have to rely on a micro-pump which I think might be the issue. Do you guys think that I am correct in thinking the tire pressure is the issue? FYI: when pedaling the bike without me on it, it seems to be able to pedal fine on the roller. Also, the rollers themselves, when spun by hand, have zero issues rotating.

Thanks for your help in advance. I appreciate your time!

ben@31

This is just a guess but could it be the rollers are not free to rotate? Could the frame be put together too tightly and is squeezing the ends of the rollers so they are restricted from rotating? Or the roller bearings are damaged?

One way to test this out is to disassemble the roller and rebuild it again, being concious not to over tighten any bolts. Try a different bike on your rollers, then the different bike with a different rider, then you try sombody elses roller to disprove its not your bike at fault but your roller.

dynamicbrick

Logic dictates that if it spins freely without weight on it (i.e. you), but has huge resistance when weight is on it, then something's fouling or bending under the weight.

Assuming you don't weigh 400lbs and you are literally bending the thing, it's reasonable to suppose something went together wrong. As Ben says, take it apart and put it back together again.

declan1

Low pressure in your rear tyre shouldn't prevent it from moving fast as you describe.

As said above, try taking them apart and rebuilding. It seems like maybe the roller axle is bending slightly and not allowing free movement.

gloomyandy

Check the rollers are not catching on any carpet etc under them...