Newbie question: Rollers

One of my concerns before I bought rollers was whether I could get enough "resistance" when I wanted
a resistance, as opposed to a spinning, workout. I bought Kreitler's with the killer fan. Believe
me, there is all the resistance you could ever want with that combo.

Not only can you vary resistance by changing your gears, but the fan itself can be adjusted to vary
its resistance. You can make it _very_ hard to turn your cranks, if you want. Also, because you're
really riding/balancing (which, btw, takes more focus than on the roads, and obviously on a trainer,
because steering is so sensitive) it's less boring than a trainer.

In the beginning I had trouble riding more than half an hour because my tail would get so sore. With
it taking my full attention just to stay on the rollers I didn't dare try to stand. But to get in
the longer workouts I wanted I knew had to force myself to stand to get tail relief. I had some ugly
moments but I got a handle on it. And now that I can ride as long as I want to.

I have no idea whether the skills you have to develop to ride rollers translate to being a better
road rider. And I wouldn't argument which are "better", rollers or a trainer. But if you're worried
that rollers are just for a "light workout" forget it. You can make it as "heavy" as you want.

--
Jim Rech

Van Hoorebeeck Bart said:

All riders I've seen warming up in the last 5 years, on TV, other people's pictures or with own
eyes, were using trainers.

Typically, one sees the warming up for road races only in time trials. I have only seen rollers
there, too.

Track riders seem still to use rollers. For example I saw it on pictures of this years WC as well as
in the local velodrome.

Dieter

"Dieter Buerssner" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Van Hoorebeeck Bart said:

All riders I've seen warming up in the last 5 years, on TV, other people's pictures or with own
eyes, were using trainers.

Typically, one sees the warming up for road races only in time trials. I have only seen rollers
there, too.

Track riders seem still to use rollers. For example I saw it on pictures

of

Quoted message said:

this years WC as well as in the local velodrome.

Much of the time track racers are trying to work lactate and other stuff out of the legs between
events, hence the use of rollers.

Kurgan Gringioni said:

Much of the time track racers are trying to work lactate and other stuff out of the legs between
events, hence the use of rollers.

You mean instead of trainers...? Why?

In article <[email hidden]>, Ewoud Dronkert

Quoted message said:

Kurgan Gringioni said:

Much of the time track racers are trying to work lactate and other stuff out of the legs between
events, hence the use of rollers.

You mean instead of trainers...? Why?

With rollers you can use your track bike. Trainers wear the rear tire alot.

-WG

I started riding rollers at the age of 7. I do not have a very smooth pedal stroke, to put it
mildly. I would say they help little in this regard, but they do help you learn how to ride
straight. Also, you can learn lots of neat roller tricks, like no handers, standing up, jumping off
the rollers, and if you're a master (of rollers, not the fat, old kind) jumping on to the rollers.

RB

"Ryan Barrett" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I started riding rollers at the age of 7. I do not have a very smooth pedal stroke, to put it
mildly. I would say they help little in this regard, but they do help you learn how to ride
straight. Also, you can learn lots of neat roller tricks, like no handers,

dude, with your pedal style, you can go no hands?!

Riding one handed is still dicey for me. I won't be doing no hands any time soon. It would help with
getting a drink though. Being new to rollers I expect my skills to improve this winter, but they
will never include "jumps"😉

--
Jim Rech