Well, I see it differently. I have a very light leveling spring force, and riding my rocker actually requires balance input from me as the rider.
I can lean the bike easily when seated and standing via handlebar, seat and pedal inputs.
It boils down to setup. Many people start with a high leveling g force. A rocker is an odd thing at first, but with some practice, it becomes more natural. Get down to a low leveling spring force and it gets even better.
I love motion rollers, but they are super tricky for high end intervals. I had several close calls when pushing myself into the dark spaces. I would like to try a fork stand like the InsideRide version. Looks interesting to me.
A rocker gives most of that freedom but maintains enough stability to be a real advantage over motion rollers.
As much as I want to get the feel to replicate real riding, I know it’s not totally likely. I think we can get close, and I think that is actually good enough. Rollers, as good as they are, aren’t perfect either.
What I wanted when I made my first rocker, was some freedoms of movement, kinda like road, and more stable than rollers. A rocker is a good blend of freedom and control.
And overall, any movement is a notable improvement over a rigid trainer for many riders. Rigid is not right for sure, IMHO.
Thanks for the feedback on the Minoura. The prices for me here in the US are pretty much the same. I kind of like seeing the resistance adjustment on the Minoura.
Agree with you the instability of rollers makes them unsuitable for hard workouts, that’s why I leave the floating fork on permanently. The combined motion of rocking and front to back float feels as good or better than motion rollers, without the twitchy-swervy issues.
As for a rocker plate VS the floating fork…all I can say is when you try it, you’ll realize all the benefits of a rocker plate are still there, including the need to ride balanced. The only real difference is the leveling force you mention is applied thru the handlebars, so it’s intuitive and directly linked to pedal effort, independent of springing. It simplifies what rockers do and there’s no learning curve to get it to respond right. That was made clear when my wife just hopped on and started rocking out of the saddle first time.
Yes, much cleaner and simpler than their previously photographed and demo’d prototypes. I have never tried one, but imagine it would be interesting. Aside from sprinting, the Neo moves enough for me that I do not feel otherwise uncomfortable or strange compared to outside. Curious if a rocker plate makes indoor sprinting more natural
This is probably old news for you all here, but since I’m relatively new to indoor training I’m just discovering the topic. I’ve found that I have a hard time riding for more than an hour on the static trainer. I take the same bike outside and ride 90+ minutes with no issue. I’m going out of town this week, but already making a shopping list for when I return! Thanks, @mcneese.chad!
Anyone have a list of commercially available setups to compare? I’m typically the textbook definition for a DIY/Maker (much to wife’s disappointment at times), but I’m so time limited lately, looking to buy something that ‘just works’ without needing to fiddle. Found various links and a few options googling around, but not many.
Chad, What was your source for the foam used in your video build?. I followed that and used some foam window insulation. My first ride, all i did was flop back and forth from one side to the other.
I had some surplus ECH & EPDM closed cell foam from my workplace. It was reject material we use to make suction cups. I didn’t source it, and would take some effort to track down.
I have moved away from using that foam and use inflated balls now. They offer better overall feel, infinite adjustments, and are easily sourced. I will add links to some I use and a few others I know some people really like.
I also got the following pump that makes minor adjustments easy and trackable.
I found some floor mats at Loews made of EVA foam for $20. I tested the set up and much better than this morning. I have 2 hrs planned for tomorrow. Will report back.
