Recumbent on rollers?

Captain Dondo said:

Then I got to thinking: does anyone ride rollers on a bent? that would be a true challenge (at
least for me, as I'm pretty balance-challanged.)

I've witnessed Juerg Birkenstock warming up for races by riding his Birk Comet on rollers.

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
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"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:bpfok2$1n81iv$1
@ID-120318.news.uni-berlin.de:

Quoted message said:

Captain Dondo said:

Then I got to thinking: does anyone ride rollers on a bent? that would be a true challenge (at
least for me, as I'm pretty balance-challanged.)

I've witnessed Juerg Birkenstock warming up for races by riding his Birk Comet on rollers.

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================

I got my Cinelli rollers out this weekend and repacked the bearings in preparation for a winter of
riding my Presto. I've found that placing a small mirror (8"x10"😉, on the floor about 8' ahead of
the front wheel gives me enough feedback to (most of the time) stay relatively centered. I think the
roller experience has a lot to do with how smoothly I ride on the pavement.
--
Dave 98GTW [email hidden] (remove nospam to reply directly) Presto, Presto II, Screamer

Captain Dondo <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I dusted off my old rollers the other day. I got up on them on the wedgie and managed to stay up
for about 5 minutes after a few tries.

Then I got to thinking: does anyone ride rollers on a bent? that would be a true challenge (at
least for me, as I'm pretty balance-challanged.)

-Dondo

Dondo

Yes it is quite possible to use a recumbent on rollers. I ride my Strada on rollers very frequently
without endangering my life. You might want to do a search for "rollers" to get some specific
suggestions that will help in the learning process. And yes there is a learning process, but with
the assumption that it will take some time, you can learn to ride them.

I find the initial effort well worth the time to learn. I have tried both fluid trainers and rollers
and much prefer rollers. While the challenge with any indoor training is boredom, it is less of an
issue with rollers because you are actually riding a bike with many of the same sensations as actual
riding. Rollers also put less stress on your frame.

One of the most important benefits is that you really do become a better rider. Your sense of
balance and oneness with the bike is increased and that means that once back on the road you can
more easily handle those situations where you encounter slippery/wet riding conditions. And at the
same time you really develop a smoother spin and if you dont, your bike tells you that you are not
spinning in circles.

The negative comment that I have heard regarding rollers is that they dont help develop strength and
are perceived as being too easy. I think that this comment comes from those that have not actually
ridden them. I am an average rider and have never had that problem as you can shift into whatever
gear provides you with sufficient resistance.

Other than my Strada, the rollers have been my best cycling purchase ever.

Pat Mc

About six months ago I was asking the same question and saw some rollers on eBay and got 'em. I
ride a Burley Hepcat and at first, it was a challenge. Make sure you have something to hold onto
when you first start your roller training, because you'll need it. After about 30 minutes, it
becomes second nature.

I ride with a 2'x2' mirror in front of me, angled down so I can see my wheels and stay centered. I
also ride with a fan blowing on my body- not to simulate wind resistance, but to stay cool, because
you WILL sweat like a hard ridden horse and will need the wind to cool you down. On wet and cold
days, I think this is the best way to train, and won't wear your tires or over-work your frame.

Chuck

Captain Dondo said:

I dusted off my old rollers the other day. I got up on them on the wedgie and managed to stay up
for about 5 minutes after a few tries.

Then I got to thinking: does anyone ride rollers on a bent? that would be a true challenge (at
least for me, as I'm pretty balance-challanged.)

-Dondo

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by landon2
I also ride with a fan blowing on my body- not to simulate wind resistance, but to stay cool, because
you WILL sweat like a hard ridden horse and will need the wind to cool you down. On wet and cold
days, I think this is the best way to train, and won't wear your tires or over-work your frame.

I thought the idea of running a fan to simulate wind resistance while you are stationary on rollers was a hilarious concept, so I had to write and say thanks for the laugh. I also ride a HepCat, BTW, and I love it.

Why do rollers not mess up your tires compared to the indoor alternative, (which is a resistance trainer)? I guess I don't really know how these training aids work.

PreciousBbird said:

Why do rollers not mess up your tires compared to the indoor alternative, (which is a resistance
trainer)? I guess I don't really know how these training aids work.

I'm roller-challenged, but....

Most indoor trainers have a small diameter rotor that the tire rests against. The bike is clamped
tight and the rotor is cranked (screwed, whaever) into position so it's pushed against the tire. If
you generate any sort of power, you need to have the rotor cranked down hard against the tire - for
me to the point of having some serious tire deformation. This can't be good for the tire. And since
the trainer typically clamps the rear axle, some have concerns about the stress on the frame.
Whether trainers actually stress the frame more than road riding has been the topic of flame wars.

Rollers have two large rotors that the wheel rests against. The pressure aginst the rollers is
supplied by the weight of the bike+rider, much the same as road riding. The bike is not clamped in
any way, so there is no stress on the frame (no more than in regular road riding).

Rollers are said to be better for those reasons for the bike.

They do improve bike handling; when you first get on rollers it's a challenge to stay up even for a
few seconds. After some practice, you can stay up for as long as you want.

I've never been able to generate the sort of power on rollers that I can with a fixed trainer. I
fall off. So I use stationary bikes most of the time, but this winter I've decided to go the
roller route.

-Dondo

--
What am I on? I'm on my bike, o__ 6 hours a day, busting my ass. ,>/'_ What are you on? --Lance
Armstrong (_)\(_)

Captain Dondo <[email hidden]> wrote in news:bpfkku$5nho$1 @news3.infoave.net:

Quoted message said:

I dusted off my old rollers the other day. I got up on them on the wedgie and managed to stay up
for about 5 minutes after a few tries.

Then I got to thinking: does anyone ride rollers on a bent? that would be a true challenge (at
least for me, as I'm pretty balance-challanged.)

-Dondo

I dusteed mine off last weekend and repacked the bearings to get ready for the indoor season. I ride
my Counterpoint Presto with a small (8"x10"😉 mirror out in front for feedback and I built a platform
that straddles the rollers' frame from side-to-side so I've got support for my feet that's at about
the height the road would be. Riding the rollers definitely contributes to smoothness and control.

--
Dave 98GTW [email hidden] (remove nospam to reply directly) Presto, Presto II, Screamer