I see the “bike handling” comment mentioned as a benefit to rollers from some users. As long as we define “bike handling” WRT rollers as “holding a line” predictably, and maybe ability to “swap lane position” in a 12" range (if you even bother to play with that like I do), then I’m OK with that claim
Rollers do nothing for cornering or more active line selection beyond a narrow range. That is where the rubber really meets the road when we go outside, IMO. I’ve seen too many people claim that their roller use makes them superior to rigid trainer users (who they seem to blame for early season pile ups since they forgot how to ride a bike outside without training wheels). It’s nonsense.
I love motion rollers and they can be a real hoot compared to other options, and they do have notable benefits. But they are not some holy grail that places their users in a new category of handling skill compared to rigid trainer users. That is a myth in my eyes.
Absolutely right. Rollers are just a different kind of training, not better, not worse than static trainers - just different.
In a perfect world an ambitious cyclist would have workout on both.
For me personally I dont put focus on high wattage / peak performance workouts - i just dont do this anymore. For that my Kickr was great. I sold it as I was looking for more of Z2 and a bit more fun… that I found in rollers.
Three options, that doesn’t sound very minimal to me…
My now happy setup is basic aluminium rollers with a resistance unit, and a powermeter on my bike. Not good for sprints or for zwift, but enough for me to do everything else.
Love the ease of getting set up (I train in the kitchen and can’t keep the bike setup on the trainer), and I feel riding is more natural then on my cheap smart trainer.
Agree about the bike handling, not sure what it does for that. Also think the emphasis of having to keep concentration or your core engaged for stability is very overstated. Once you’re relatively comfortable on them (which can be within days), it doesn’t take any more focus than riding on the road. Yeah grabbing a bottle or letting go off the bars takes practice, but it can be learned. Don’t think you’ll need to stop every 10 minutes for that.
I know I’m crazy, and that most users would think 2 of any trainer option would be overkill. But like bikes, they have their pros/cons and can server a real purpose that differs from others. I’m lucky enough to have access and space to go a bit overboard and it sure is nice to have the options.
To be honest, I agree. If I had a proper room to keep everything set up, I’d buy a good direct drive smart trainer too. And keep the rollers, or maybe even build a motion platform for them.
The floating systems make it 10% easier. Running tires at 30psi makes it easier. Using a roller rig that fits your bikes wheelbase perfectly makes it easier. Running a really rigid frame makes it easier. Expecting to confidently grab a bottle??? You end stopping every 10min to towel off at least.
In any case, it’s not any easier to spend hours on the trainer. A good strategy might be to go back and forth every 20min.
That might be your experience, mine is different. I did stopp for towel and water earlier. Some weeks later I dont need to any more, it works out well during rides. More difficult than on static trainers, but still very possible, and by far not impossible. Also standing up and riding out of the saddle is very possible and I do it regularly, something, what is very difficult on classical rollers.
Pricewise maybe, but my unit offers three resistance levels and more than enough watt. As mentioned before, rollers are not the right gear for high wattage/intensity workouts. For everything else I find it very useful and super fun.
I have Kreitler with its additional air fan.
The fan not only adds resistance at different levels, but the fan itself is great for getting the wind in your hair.
Riding rollers is a very different experience. They are hyper sensitive to balance and steering. So, you definitely become a better rider, riding straighter lines from micro body movements as well as steering. I started in a doorway, with both hands on the frame, graduated to elbows, before having the courage to have both hands on the bars; gear changing, standing, accelerating, all require care. I use a crate either side to get on/off, have seen quite elaborate setups of inbuilt platforms.
Elite Arion Basic rollers user here, had them for 5 years with the only issue being a rumbling bearing in the middle roller. WIth the right gearing and tyre pressure can get up to Threshold fine but any higher and the cadence becomes unnaturally high. It does take some practice but within a few months single hand, single leg, out the saddle and no handed riding is all possible and it makes a great challenge for your easy recovery rides. . Also can’t beat the feeling of a track bike with rock hard tyres on rollers, its magical !
I just purchased Crown Rollers. Very easy to ride compared to the only other set of rollers I have used. I had developed hot spots on my butt from only using my kickr mounted to a inside ride eflex so I wanted to switch up what I use each day. So far no pain on the rollers. I would recommend.
One of the things people should do when they first start riding rollers is to practice a few simple drills:
ride with one hand on the bars
ride with no hands
reach for a bottle
etc etc
It takes only a few days to learn these skills and they are really helpful, as well as giving you something to do on easy steady rides.
Yesterday I rode a 3x30 lasting 2 hrs and didnt get off or stop at all despite drinking 2 bottles, using a towel from time and time and even blowing my noise probably 20 times! My fan really makes my eyes and noise run in the freezing cold garage so I quickly learned how to reach for a tissue from the work surface near me and blow my nose at 275w I can even reach forward over the bars and do quick and simple controls of TR with the trackpad on my laptop!
The concentration thing comes with time but having ridden the rollers several times a week since the end of Nov I now dont need to concentrate in the slightest and often find my mind wandering off and coming back a few mins later into SST intervals.
The thing that takes me the most effort is adjusting tyre pressures and the resistance setting (magnetic Saris alu roller bar) so my preferred cadence will hit the target watts, but after a couple of attempts its fairly easy to replicate - 11 gears and tweaks to tyre pressure will get you within 1-2w easy enough.
I recently bought a set with the “smart” resistance unit. I really like them although I am a true beginner on rollers. On two of my earliest rides, my rear tire made its way over to the belt. Since the tire and belt roll in opposite directions it didn’t end well (for me - and the belt). I will now be learning how to replace it much sooner than expected.
Is this just something you learn not to do? I am now scared every time i start drifting to the right on the drums.
That sounds like bad design, or really bad luck. I have a non-smart resistance unit with a belt, but it’s so far to the side that I don’t think I could touch it with the bike, without also falling off anyway.
I think you get better at not drifiting around so much - I’m not very skillful riding them, but think I could ride some half the size without issues. However, there is probably also an element of having to pay attention to what you do on rollers, and not ride too close to the edge.
sorry . . . it was not very evident it my post but i was replying to @Bhofstra since he was talking about replacing the resistance belt on insideride’s e-motion rollers. i purchased a “smart” set of those along with the floating fork stand (which i have not tried yet). the power is known to be off quite a bit so i use favero assioma pedal power meters to actually provide proper power readings and control the resistance.
other than hitting the belt and grinding to a halt on those two early rides, i (and my back) have really enjoyed them. i am currently using them with zwift (free ride and workout) and sufferfest.
I use Elite Arion “Digital Smart B+” rollers, say that ten times fast…
I’ve found that on longer intervals my heart rate starts to drop off, indicating that the effort is getting easier. I did Mary Austin last night and powered through it. A year ago my notes were “hard hard hard” which means I suffered immensely.
I suspect that the power/resistance in my rollers is falling off the longer the interval is. Could it be heating effect on the electronics?
The only way to verify this is by adding a power meter to the bike. But my wife thinks I’m crazy as it is.
P.S. Have done 20 sessions on these rollers and love riding them. No stretch breaks while pedaling, but I can now easily lean back on the bike and stretch for a water bottle on the windowsill. Playing games sliding the bike side-to-side during recovery intervals is fun too! I need to get a pair of trainer tires to make it a little more quiet though.
I came from a hydraulic unit that worked well. Only now though do I realize how much mental effort it was to stay on target power though. I am very pleased with the smart unit.
Also, the resistance seems to “band” the speed of the rollers. What I mean is, at a given speed, a certain minimum wattage occurs. The smart unit is able to add or drop only so much to that. So when the target power level starts decreasing, I may find that the rollers CAN’T decrease any more at the given speed. I’ll need to drop a gear (slowing down the rollers) so that they can then add resistance to get back on target power. The same thing happens going to higher resistance, if I’m spinning an easy gear (and don’t have much speed in the wheels) the trainer will add as much as it can - but not get to target power. I’ll need to add gearing to speed up the wheels to get the trainer in a window for it to add resistance to get me on target power.
Edit: Jan 2023
I added a single arm crank power meter. The trainer was indeed losing resistance as a block progressed. The power meter now leads the resistance from the trainer. The power line is far from flat, but at least the resistance over a long block is consistant.
Bumping this thread. Deciding between the InsideRide and TruTrainer. Both very expensive but TT is $2100 all said and done, wow.
Planning to use this to get more seat time on my race bikes (gravel, XC) which I never really ride except for racing since all my buddies ride road mostly. Anyone else use one?
You left you the “ideal-” part… 