Computrainer vs PowerTap w/ rollers?

adjoas said:

Hey folks, A basic question: I've just joined a team and have to really amp up my training. To date, I haven't used an indoor trainer of any sort. My coach is recommending a Computrainer, but I wonder if I a PowerTap & rollers would offer similar or better benefits: watt-based indoor training plus the bonus of better balance & improved pedaling technique from the rollers? Obviously, getting a PT would also help my outdoor riding. Many thx for your wisdom. - Adam

I agree.

Now, if you have so much money that you don't know what to do with it, I think the best combinason would be a Tacx iFortius, or iMagic with a Powertap or SRM powermeter.

I own a Tacx Flow and probably will upgrade it to iMagic next automn.

adjoas said:

Hey folks, A basic question: I've just joined a team and have to really amp up my training. To date, I haven't used an indoor trainer of any sort. My coach is recommending a Computrainer, but I wonder if I a PowerTap & rollers would offer similar or better benefits: watt-based indoor training plus the bonus of better balance & improved pedaling technique from the rollers? Obviously, getting a PT would also help my outdoor riding. Many thx for your wisdom. - Adam

If you're looking for more serious training intensity with rollers, go with the Kreitler 2-1/4" rollers. With the smaller diameter rollers, you can put out serious wattage.

In my opinion, rollers are much less boring than trainers with a nicer feel.

JustCurious said:

If you're looking for more serious training intensity with rollers, go with the Kreitler 2-1/4" rollers. With the smaller diameter rollers, you can put out serious wattage.

In my opinion, rollers are much less boring than trainers with a nicer feel.

I have been ridding my race bike with my powertap wheel on the rollers for a month or two now and i'm loving it. Notice i said race bike. It's a great way to invest in a good bike and keep it in good shape yet still be able to use it. The rollers negates damage and wear and tear from pot holes, dirt, crash's, scratch's, car's.... etc.. right now i just keep some generic tires on there, but raceday i'll swap on my fav tufo's.
Then do most if not all your outdoor trainning and group rides on a trainning/beater bike, and throw on your PT wheel on the rear for your major group ride each week to make sure you're progressing on the roads aswell as you are on the rollers.

This will require you to buy a second receiver for your power tap, but the powertap computer can be used as a regular computer on your beater bike with just a regular wheel magnet when you don't have the powertap wheel on there. It'll also record time, distance, speed, HR, and cadence(pro), which can then be downloaded to the computer which is great for helping you keep track of all your trainning year round.

I have both smaller and large dia rollers, but i prefer the large diameter rollers, just a personal preference, they're more of a challenge and i preffer the larger contact area for the tire. But i will say it's easier to pull off no hand roller ridding with smaller diameter rollers if you want to be able to show off :P
EDIT: i just checked and the drum spacing on my 2 sets of rollers is actually different, so that's probably what's causing the handling difference.:o

One last recomendation, be sure to get a set of rollers with mag resistance unit-i learned that lesson the hard way, pushing 53x12 at 110+rpm trying to hit 320watts lol...

adjoas said:

Hey folks, A basic question: I've just joined a team and have to really amp up my training. To date, I haven't used an indoor trainer of any sort. My coach is recommending a Computrainer, but I wonder if I a PowerTap & rollers would offer similar or better benefits: watt-based indoor training plus the bonus of better balance & improved pedaling technique from the rollers? Obviously, getting a PT would also help my outdoor riding. Many thx for your wisdom. - Adam

I have Kreitler large-drum rollers, 1Up trainer, and PT Pro (bought in that order, over a few years). If I had to buy everything again, I would reverse the order. The PT is just so useful for quantifying training load and progress.

In addition to helping technique, rollers do not clamp the rear axle and thus avoid the strain that trainers put on the chainstays and seatstays. As mentioned before, smaller drums and/or resistance units are a must if you want to use your rollers for anything besides recovery. For comfortable wheel speeds, my 4.25" rollers top out at roughly 80W.

I suggest PT Pro + trainer, e.g. Kurt Kinetic fluid or 1Up. Depending on how good a deal you get on the PT, you'll come out a few hundred dollars ahead of the Computrainer. If it's the off-season for you and riding outside is not an option, I'd give rollers a look. It has been my experience that rollers help keep my form from degrading in the absence of real riding, but offer less in terms of improving technique.

Folks, just wanted to thank you for your advice. I went ahead and bought a PT SL on ebay. Next up: the rollers. Hope to get rolling by late next week! Best, Adam

adjoas said:

Folks, just wanted to thank you for your advice. I went ahead and bought a PT SL on ebay. Next up: the rollers. Hope to get rolling by late next week! Best, Adam

Aswell as a resistance unit, try and get a set of rollers that comes with the front fork stabalizer, it'll help do your map test's, or it's just nice to slap it on once and a while so you can relax and not think while doing an easy workout.

Or just also get a cheap trainner, or borrow your friends for map test's.

Check these out. www.insideride.com

I bought a set two weeks ago. Absolutely incredible. They allow you to "float" and move forward and back to mimic a real road feel. These ARE NOT traditional rollers. I'll never fear riding inside again.

http://www.insideride.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=36

chrispopovic said:

Check these out. www.insideride.com

I bought a set two weeks ago. Absolutely incredible. They allow you to "float" and move forward and back to mimic a real road feel. These ARE NOT traditional rollers. I'll never fear riding inside again.

insideride.comindex.phpOpen ↗

Seems like something i could easily adapt my existing rollers to with a couple of peices of metal tubing, some wheels, and some industrial strips of rubber. It'll make a great fall project 🙂

Krazyderek said:

Seems like something i could easily adapt my existing rollers to with a couple of peices of metal tubing, some wheels, and some industrial strips of rubber. It'll make a great fall project 🙂

But why bother when you can just buy them for... ONLY $795 :eek:

wilmar13 said:

But why bother when you can just buy them for... ONLY $795 :eek:

Wow the Supertrainer looks really cool, but I am guessing it doesn't have a price listed... if you have to ask...

wilmar13 said:

But why bother when you can just buy them for... ONLY $795 :eek:

I apoligize for highjacking the thread... but after watching the videos for the E-motion rollers I am impressed with how simple they are, yet how well they work. Imagine the wow factor you would get if at your next crit you were warming up in the parking lot sprinting out of the saddle and riding no handed. Intimidation factor may be worth the price of entry alone 😄 .