I’d love to get feedback from anyone who has used both InsideRide e-motion and the KickR e-flex. I have a Kickr but having the flexibility of Kickr or rollers also has an appeal (albeit at a higher price point)
I have not used the official Inside Ride E-Motion rollers, but built a DIY setup that mimics them:
I have been using the E-Flex for a few weeks, and now with some mods. Here is my rather long review (with a short summary at the start).
Super short summary, I love them both, but I see the E-Flex as the best option as a single, do-it-all choice between the two.
- This assumes you already have a Kickr and are mainly looking to add some freedom of motion without the associated extra level of difficulty that comes with rollers.
Thanks Chad. Which do you use more now? I first had rollers and enjoyed them but now have the Kickr since the addition of smart trainers.
So the complexity of rollers isn’t a concern.
I haven’t used my rollers actively in over 2 years. I have been using various smart trainers, coupled with DIY rocker plates mainly since then. I got an SBR Rockr Pro over a year ago and used that a ton. I’ve used the E-Flex lately for testing and really like what it offers. I think it’s probably the best bang for buck motion for anyone wanting the full Roll (left-right) and Surge (fore-aft) motion degrees of freedom, when you have a Kickr.
I have had both the Inside Ride E-Motion rollers (with the feedback module) and a Kickr Smart on the E-Flex stand.
I sold my Kickr to run the rollers exclusively. My wife rides next to me in the basement and she prefers the Kickr/E-Flex combination.
The week she added the E-Flex stand, she rode an indoor century, starting at midnight on New Year’s Eve (the Italian National Team started it on Zwift, just happened to be midnight here…)
Next to her on the E-Motion rollers, I was done at 55 miles. The workout is that much harder on the rollers, as far as core usage, ride stress, and pretty much no coasting.
Her setup: Specialized Amira, Di2x10 Dura Ace. Clip-on aero bars, no wheels, no calipers. Wahoo HR and cadence, all Bluetoothvia the Kickr.
My setup: Cannondale Black Lightning, 2x10 Ultegra, Zipp 404 tubulars with VeloFlex Corsa tires.
Previous setups: 2xKickr Snaps (OK, not great). 2xProForm TdF with iFit (sucked). 2x no-name wheel-on magnetic trainers.
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How did the roller flight happen? I am curious !
First season structured indoor training here.
Got annoyed by pain after 1hour rides on the kicker.
Got Eflex.
Helps somewhat, but not 100%. And also boredom on z2 and sweet spot rides is still there.
Tried inside ride rollers three times x 1 hour recently at a local cycling club and fell in love … it’s an entirely different and more engaging experience. Kickr, even with Eflex, feels too rigid for me and much too “muscular” whereas rollers feel “complete” as a bike ride should be … (kind of like squatting versus isolated leg extensions at the the gym). Couple that with no ERG and you’ve got a mentally and physically more engaging workout …
At least that’s my take … as soon as I get mine I will post back with fuller take.
Markem,
I 100% agree that Inside Ride E-Motion rollers are the best indoor experience, especially with a power meter and the feedback resistance unit. Pro’s: It’s simply riding outdoors, indoors. Gradient transitions are smooth. Hills are hills, and the workout, to me, was 5x more realistic and 25% harder than being perched on an exercise bike, even if that bike was mine, on a Kickr/E-Flex. Different bikes “ride” differently, and gearing actually means something. Con’s: You need a power meter to talk to the resistance unit, and the height made getting started/stopped and in/out of the pedals tricky, and the pairings can be finicky (hint: iPhone).
I do not have good balance, so the rollers, for me, are presently hazardous. The first flight was expected. The second had my leg going between the steps of a folding stool, and just missed breaking my lower leg. The third, with the fork stand, had me getting sideways at the rear and pitching off when a pedal caught the safety bar. It’s just me. While the fork stand works great, it does reduce the experience to a stationary bike somewhat.
I’ll keep my Inside Ride setup, but I’ll build a platform about the size of the mat, so that instead of the rollers being 5” higher than the floor, they will be just below floor level. And then I’ll bolt rails to each side for safety. Just not right now.
Robbie
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I got my rollers around July last year but of course only really started using them in September. I have gotten a lot better (far less wobbles and bumbs) but little accidents do still happen. Important is that you set your wheel base correct for stability and I put my trainer in a hall. And I wouldn’t ever get back to a direct drive trainer
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That gives me encouragement. I’m not giving up. The workout is just so much better, and different bikes produce different rides. I can put my touring bike on them and get dialed in (bar end shifters). Huge!
Are you in Aarhus, by any chance? When I was in Karjup, people told Aarhus jokes.
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nope, my username is an acronym. Any don’t give up, check wheel base and make sure at least one shoulder is close to a wall
Thanks. Best to you.
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10+ years on inside ride rollers and it’s been a long time since I’ve had an unplanned dismount. I did use a raised platform for a bit (my wife’s workout step), but have long since given that up. It’s not any harder than jumping on my bike outside at this point. My balance isn’t great either and not particularly athletic or coordinated, but I haven’t given the rollers a second thought in many years. It’s just muscle memory I guess. Keep with it and it will become an afterthought.
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Thanks. A former pro said to put a mirror in front and look at that.
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I made a platform for mine (about a 1/4" above the top surface of the rollers, then 1/2" thick wood) and found that it increased my confidence. I was not able to start without a wall without the platform, but I can start without a wall with the platform, however I still have the rollers next to the wall so I just cheat and start spinning with my shoulder on the wall anyway. But getting off the rollers feels just like getting off a bike outdoors now. Just stop spinning and step off. The platform is wide enough that if I did fall, I’d have a solid landing with grip tape to put my foot down on, without fear of going off the platform.
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I use an exercise step on alongside my rollers. On the other side, I have sturdy chair turned backwards that I can grab the back of it like a handrail.
I haven’t crashed yet. 
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Hey y’all
First ride with inside ride e motion rollers at home.
So much funner than kickr.
Doing long vo2 intervals (did Raymond) is harder and more mentally engaging than on a trainer
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need to keep mental focus despite suffering to stay on rollers. Same for drinking, can’t just sit up during interval, grab a bottle and drink and loosen up form in the meantime. This cultivates toughness
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forces form work… trying to hit higher cadence (100+) on the vo2s was hard because my bike was bouncing (indicating my pedaling form sucks and my quads were dominating), and swaying (need to focus on relaxing the arms and upper body and keeping core tight to stay straight)
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workout as a whole was harder because my ftp is relatively low (218) so I couldn’t do 40% recoveries as this was too low a wattage. My recoveries were 50-60% which affects work interval difficulty. I feel it in the legs this morning more than usual.
These are not complaints, rather comments on the experience, and in my case, positive “organic” elements of the biking experience as a whole that I appreciate. I view these elements as having been “neglected” by the trainer experience.
Rollers feel ao much more dynamic and also no butt pain like the stupid trainer… lack of time but I really wanted to stretch out cooldown to a 30min z2 spin by pure feeling . but it was late and the kids were sleeping … whereas on trainer but my butt and even sometimes (hip/leg/knees) would hurt.
I don’t think they are for everybody but I think for some people they are a better fit … in my mind it’s like at the gym. Some people like isolation exercises (leg press on the machine) and some people like full body work (squat). Probably advantages to both but i guess people will have a general preference for one style or the other.
I’ve always preferred squats. Rollers <3. Bye bye kickr + eflex!
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Update: z2 is so fun on rollers ! In contrast I wanted to kill myself on the kickr during z2
People looking to remove boredom z2 and z3…. ROLLERS!
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Yes but I suggest you don’t sell, at least your kickr unless you have multiple bikes with nice fast tyres. Sometimes you get a flat or something goes wrong with shifting that way you can at least still continue doing workouts in erg (or you end up wanting to do eracing in the higher zwift leagues which mandate the use of certain approved direct drive trainers)
Hey @ArHu74 thanks for the tips !
However just the thought of riding my kickr with only the legs pushing, no movement, no core involvement makes me sick to my stomach 
Hah, a bit extreme, but honestly rollers have been an epiphany.
I’m willing to live with the risk of a broken bike, and I don’t Zwift race.
And liberate a bit of cash for some other bike stuff 
Good tips though, thanks man!!