Rollers

[rockpig]

With winter approaching I started looking at a turbo trainer but then thought about rollers instead. Apparently they're more like riding on the road. Planet X have a good deal on a basic set, £89 with free delivery.

OMFG, how difficult is to balance on them? The front wheel has a mind of its own. I set them up in a doorway and managed about 3 seconds when I wasn't clinging to the door frame. It's pretty hilarious really, spent a lot of time laughing.

I'm sure I'll get better after a few more attempts and my bike handling and core strength should both improve. I just need to avoid wetting myself laughing in the meantime.

 

[screenman]

I started with rollers as the turbo had not been invented back then, however I much prefer using a turbo now. When you can change your top whilst riding the rollers you will know that you have them pinned.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

I also started with rollers and actually enjoy riding them, although I've not done so for a while. By keeping the front end loose, by that I mean don't sit there rigid like you're on some kind of white knuckle ride, sitting at a smooth rhythm, you'll soon crack it. I later bought a turbo for structured efforts and then more recently a RevBox from Infocrank. Awesome piece of kit the latter, I've found I'm able to put structure to a workout like never before on rollers.

 

[kapelmuur]

I had rollers which I couldn't balance on for weeks until it suddenly clicked. However I didn't have the mental stamina to ride them for more than 30 minutes.

So I sold them and got a VR turbo, now I can ride video routes in places I will never go in real life without getting bored.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I'd say riding your actual bike, on an actual road, is always the best option. Then I'd say a smart ( direct drive preferably) turbo if you must, then rollers as an absolute last resort. I know a lot of folk who go for the turbo as soon as the first day of Autumn arrives, and refuse to go out on an actual road until the first day of Spring arrives. They are clearly not 'pro' enough, and need to adhere to 'Rule #5', and 'Rule #9'.

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/comment-page-8/

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Or ignore the stupid overdone beyond a joke "rules" of the velominati and get rollers/turbo/both and get some useful riding done

 

[e-rider]

With winter approaching I started looking at a turbo trainer but then thought about rollers instead. Apparently they're more like riding on the road. Planet X have a good deal on a basic set, £89 with free delivery.

OMFG, how difficult is to balance on them? The front wheel has a mind of its own. I set them up in a doorway and managed about 3 seconds when I wasn't clinging to the door frame. It's pretty hilarious really, spent a lot of time laughing.

I'm sure I'll get better after a few more attempts and my bike handling and core strength should both improve. I just need to avoid wetting myself laughing in the meantime.

rollers are less boring for me - turbos are painful in every sense. I'm sure you have the hnag of it by now - the fact that you could only manage 3 seconds to start with might suggest that your riding 'style' might have had room for improvement!

 

[PhilDawson8270]

OMFG, how difficult is to balance on them? The front wheel has a mind of its own. I set them up in a doorway and managed about 3 seconds when I wasn't clinging to the door frame. It's pretty hilarious really, spent a lot of time laughing.

Check the set up too. The front wheel axle should be at the rear of the front roller.

 

[S-Express]

Check the set up too. The front wheel axle should be at the rear of the front roller.

Um, the best place for the centreline of the front wheel is on top of the roller

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Um, the best place for the centreline of the front wheel is on top of the roller

That makes it more twitchy. Moving the wheel back on the roller (or the roller forward of the axle), will make the front wheel much more stable.

 

[S-Express]

It's already perfectly stable on the top though. Generally speaking though, top of the roller is the correct position.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

It's already perfectly stable on the top though.

Not stable for the OP though

Generally speaking though, top of the roller is the correct position.

Generally speaking several manufacturers disagree.

 

[rockpig]

Thanks for all the replies/tips. I'm now able to ride with hands on the handlebars for 30 mins at a time. Finding it pretty hard work though. Having to constantly keep pressure on the pedals feels like I'm constantly riding uphill.

I'd much rather be riding on the road but when I get home and it's dark I can still do a session on the bike. Come the weekend though I'm back on the road.