Rollers

ollie51
ollie51 Posts: 517
edited October 2013 in Road buying advice
If I wanted to do efforts at FTP and maybe a little above, do I need to stump the extra cash to get one of these with a resistance unit: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tacx-galaxia-rollers/ instead of one of these, without of course: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tacx-antares-pr ... g-rollers/ ?

Thanks

Comments

  • overlord2
    overlord2 Posts: 339
    I don't think rollers are designed for that kind of work out. I use mine for warm up or for 'core' work. You can't "rock out" on rollers. Think of rollers as cerebral cycle training.
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    no issue using rollers for FTP or just over efforts - remember its about you're gearing really. If you want more resistance then get rollers with SMALLER diameter drums than those Tacx.

    I use Cycleops alu rollers and if you take 5-10psi out of the tyres you'd be amazed how much more resistance you get. I can do intervals at 300-320w easily enough on those using just a compact and there is still potential to push a bigger gear before I'm spinning out.

    The issue is really about doing intervals at an effort where you just cant really control the bike at the very end of the interval and either back off or risk falling off eg absolute b&lls out efforts!
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • GGBiker
    GGBiker Posts: 450
    You need these

    http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/TRS ... um_rollers

    Resistance unit built into the rear drum, you don't need to adjust it at all, just use your gears to go from easy spinning to as much resistance as you could want. Nicely made as well. I got them for £200 I think, they'll probably have a sale on them at some point.

    My previous rollers were tacx antares, noisy, low resistance, not much use other than spinning. To get up to 250w I needed to be in 50x11 at a cadence of about 120.
  • edten
    edten Posts: 228
    Bigpikle wrote:
    no issue using rollers for FTP or just over efforts - remember its about you're gearing really. If you want more resistance then get rollers with SMALLER diameter drums than those Tacx.

    I use Cycleops alu rollers and if you take 5-10psi out of the tyres you'd be amazed how much more resistance you get. I can do intervals at 300-320w easily enough on those using just a compact and there is still potential to push a bigger gear before I'm spinning out.

    The issue is really about doing intervals at an effort where you just cant really control the bike at the very end of the interval and either back off or risk falling off eg absolute b&lls out efforts!

    +1 and I also do VO2s on mine. They're good for pretty much all workouts. You can even sprint on them out the saddle, something you cannot do on a trainer - though tbh I have only done that for for fun rather than specific sprint training. I have Kreitlers with the headwind fan which has been a fantastic set up, though not the cheapest option.