Cycle trainers or rollers???

I use Kreitler rollers myself. Never even ridden a trainer. I like them, but here's a few thoughts (just my opinions) 1: you can't rest much on rollers, you have to keep pedalling, or you fall over. So there's no coasting. You have to go down a few gears and spin, in order to rest at all. But they develop a great stroke! 2: they can be dangerous to get the hang of. You pretty much need to place something on each side of you(couch, table, something to fall into) until you know what you are doing, or you fall all the way to the ground, and can get hurt. I've been riding them for about 2 winters, and can ride no-handed and all that, but I still ride them in the walkway to my kitchen, between two counters, so that if I get tired and ride off the side of them, I only fall a foot or so, then I have a counter to grab. 3: unless you have a special attachment, you can't really stand off the seat. It's too much stress on the front wheel and just doesn't work(for me anyway). But I think rollers feel more like actual riding to me.

[quote="Dr.Hairybiker"]1: you can't rest much on rollers, you have to keep pedalling, or you fall over. [QUOTE]

If you can ride rollers, you can ride anything.

Wow, no handed on a set of rollers! Wouldn't even try or think about doing that

yeah that does sound scary 🙂

There's nothing worse than having to explain how you broke your arm crashing your bike in the living room...

Ahh, it's not really hard to do. It's only hard the first time you try it. I would never have tried it, but a buddy said that he could do it, so I figured I'd try it. Once you get the hang of it, you can do it all day, as long as you're pushing a pretty good gear. Plus it's a good rest for your arms and shoulders.

Spudz - if you have the $$, spring for a Computrainer. I don't know how one does 2x20 LTs or VO2 ints on a set of rollers. With a Computrainer you just set the watts, watch the TdF dvd, and get going.

Cheers mate, i had been wondering about that. My wife bought me a Polar 720i for a pressie (bloody awesome!!!) and I was wondering how I would incoperate that with the roller...

I train on rollers for 2 1/2 hours a day - four days a week during the winter. I don't buy the theory that you can't train or develop on rollers. I have ZZZing rollers (www.zzzing.com - great, great, rollers by the way) with small drums, and you have to work hard on those small drums. I train on a converted $150 yard sale racing bicycle, 5 speed, with a 53 chainring up front and a 11 - 21 rear cassette that I made up. I also use 700 x 28 tires @ 90psi instead of thin, high pressure racing tires. Between the gears, tire size, and roller diameter you work your butt off. I got rid of the small chainring up front. I also stand on the rollers and this develops wonderful climbing skills because it makes you put your head forward, focus, balance, and again, you get so damn efficent in your circular pedal roation that it becomes an art.

Dave539 said:

I train on rollers for 2 1/2 hours a day - four days a week during the winter. I don't buy the theory that you can't train or develop on rollers. I have ZZZing rollers (www.zzzing.com - great, great, rollers by the way) with small drums, and you have to work hard on those small drums. I train on a converted $150 yard sale racing bicycle, 5 speed, with a 53 chainring up front and a 11 - 21 rear cassette that I made up. I also use 700 x 28 tires @ 90psi instead of thin, high pressure racing tires. Between the gears, tire size, and roller diameter you work your butt off. I got rid of the small chainring up front. I also stand on the rollers and this develops wonderful climbing skills because it makes you put your head forward, focus, balance, and again, you get so damn efficent in your circular pedal roation that it becomes an art.

man, dont know how you do it standing. I surge to much when i try and stand and end up surging myself off the rear drums...

I'm on my second day of riding rollers, and I can tell you... even though they take some practice, the end result is nothing but pure effort... which is what you're looking for. The more effort you put out, the better your results will be (in theory anyways!). Rollers have my vote.

Kingspudz said:

I was just wondering what advice you'd give me on trainers. I had a trainer before and it kinda bend my frame a bit not much but enouhg to upset me. My brother wants to get me a roller but i have never used them. Can you give me your thoughts on which you would buy?

Thanks

For beginners it`s good to start with ordinary shoes that you can catch yourself! Anybody started like that?