Lifeline Turbo Rocker Plate ponder... Do they really improve comfort and allow longer rides?

I keep looking at https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lifeline-indoor-cycling-rocker-plate/rp-prod198574 in the CRC sale, it's ~£162 less a bit of TopCashBack, in the sale that ends in a few days.

I'm toying with buying this rocker plate, in the hope of improved comfort.

I turbo most days in the winter, 30-75mins typically. Since my ~3 hour bucket list ride up Debigh's "Road To Hell" in early Oct '21, I've only done one outdoor ride of ~1.75 hours! Come spring, I hope as usual to be doing a few 2-4 hour rides most weeks, but as I can only bare up to ~75mins turbo sessions before I'm severely saddle sore, those first few rides are going to be one hell of a shock to the system at this rate.

I bought a Selle SMP Extra saddle at Xmas, in the hope of improved comfort and longer turbo rides, but I'm still struggling to find a setup that works for longer than 75mins.

Are these rocker plates a massive gamechanger for comfort?
================
2020 Voodoo Marasa
2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
2016 Voodoo Wazoo

Comments

  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,667
    I have a TurboRocks rocker plate. It is a huge difference and worth every penny.
    I can spend >2 hours with no problem, whereas without it I'm struggling at an hour. It really has been a game-changer for me.
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 12,010
    edited February 2022
    I've never used one, but my Neo has a touch of left to right sway built into it, so maybe that is why I find it fine.

    I rode for 3hrs 50 minutes on Sunday on a very varied workout, with zero discomfort - I did make sure I was getting up out of the saddle every 20 minutes or so though as a precaution.

    I have tried as close as possible to copy the setup from my comfy road bike onto my turbo bike, and use exactly the same saddle.
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • Defblade
    Defblade Posts: 142
    I did a redneck rocker plate. Chopped up a camping mat from Sports Direct (7 or 8 quid), stuck a few layers under the main unit of the trainer, and some rolled layers under each leg - took a bit of "fine tuning" (cough) to get it right as the weight isn't the same side to side, but not touched it in a year or more after getting it right. I already had a higher block for the front wheel.

    I went from an-hour-is-time-to-get-off to two-hours-is-fine. I don't really ride longer than that in the garage anyway.

    My plan was to buy a proper plate if I liked the redneck version, but it works so well I just haven't bothered... or even thought about it much!

    Pictures not really taken for the rocker, and it's all been moved around now, but you should get the idea:



  • Thanks for inputs so far, still dithering and delaying on the sale's final day, wondering if that ~£160 could be put to better cycling use on something like https://www.merlincycles.com/vision-team-35-disc-clincher-road-wheelset-179495.html (I dithered on that ~£400 Prime 50mm wheelset bundle I posted the other week and they went out of stock).

    I do use my turbo a lot, but I used to be able to do ~2 hour rides and even managed one just over 3 hours, albeit I've put on ~6Kg since Feb '21.
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • Defblade
    Defblade Posts: 142
    As I said, my £8 version works pretty well.... sales will always come around again. If, like me, your budget is there-but-not-unlimited and needs careful weighing... then I always look for ways to try before I buy - or at least the cheap version, or second hand... https://ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=turbo+trainer+rocker+plate&_sacat=0

    In this case, the cheap version was enough and so that's a couple of hundred quid to spend on other cycling stuff (and boy, do I spend it ;) )