Recumbents on rollers

Protactical said:

I don't own roller trainers, and don't intend to buy them, but on the idle speculation front, I
was wondering if bents can run on rollers.

Having seen Juerg Birkenstock warming up for races by riding his Comet on rollers, the answer is in
the affirmative.

Quoted message said:

How severe are the ballance problems?

Ah. I haven't tried it myself, but should imagine that it takes a fair amount of practice, possibly
starting off with the bike straddling a doorway.

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
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Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.ukOpen ↗
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I am considering trying rollers, but am also concerned about balance since my bent has 20" wheels.
Is stability a factor of wheel size? Do 20" wheels offer enough gyro effect to work, or is the gyro
effect a non issue?

ks

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

Quoted message said:

I don't own roller trainers, and don't intend to buy them, but on the idle speculation front, I
was wondering if bents can run on rollers. How severe are the ballance problems? It has taken me a
few weeks of occasional trips to get comfortable on my Toxy, and i think rollers always presented
ballance issues even on standard bikes. The positive would be that when rollers first got a lot of
play, in the '80s even top riders were surprised to discover the extent of their weaving,
something that roller practice tightens. That would be useful on a bent.

previously Protactical may have written article
<[email hidden]> saying:

Quoted message said:

I don't own roller trainers, and don't intend to buy them, but on the idle speculation front, I
was wondering if bents can run on rollers. How severe are the ballance problems? It has taken me a
few weeks of

No problems at all with a trike.

[snip]
--
Giolla Decair "Missed it the moment to join in the laugh" - George Marsh

Rollers are differentiated from rear wheel trainers in that both wheels roll on a set of drums. This
is designed to help you develop a regular rhythm to your cadence as well as ride a straight line.
It's also good for leg development. You make your workout as hard as you want depending on the gear
that you're in while training. Trainers have a tendency to wear tires out quickly. Rollers don't.
It's the closest thing to riding without getting outside.

There are several good brands of roller trainers out there. A few places to look for examples are:
cgi.ebay.comeBayISAPI.dllOpen ↗
cambriabike.comtrainers.htmOpen ↗ branfordbike.comtraintoc.htmlOpen ↗

kevins said:

OK, I haven't seen "rollers" that don't connect to the frame. Can someone send me a link to info on
these? ks <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I ride a Burley Hepcat. I purchased a set of used rollers a few months ago from eBay. It was
dicey at first learning to use them, but after just a few 20 to 30 minute sessions, it becomes
second nature to ride the center of the rollers with ease. Make sure you have something to grab
onto when you first start training, because I guarantee that you will lose you balance at first.
Many like to start by putting the rollers in a doorway to get accustomed to the balance thing-
whatever works for you. Also, you'll need to get a fan to blow air over you as you train- not
because it simulates wind resistance, but because you will sweat like a pig and get really hot if
you don't have a way to cool off.

(Protactical) said:

I don't own roller trainers, and don't intend to buy them, but on the idle speculation front, I
was wondering if bents can run on rollers. How severe are the ballance problems? It has taken me
a few weeks of occasional trips to get comfortable on my Toxy, and i think rollers always
presented ballance issues even on standard bikes. The positive would be that when rollers first
got a lot of play, in the '80s even top riders were surprised to discover the extent of their
weaving, something that roller practice tightens. That would be useful on a bent.

All those tiny flats to repair ...

I ride a Burley Hepcat. I purchased a set of used rollers a few months ago from eBay. It was dicey
at first learning to use them, but after just a few 20 to 30 minute sessions, it becomes second
nature to ride the center of the rollers with ease. Make sure you have something to grab onto when
you first start training, because I guarantee that you will lose you balance at first. Many like to
start by putting the rollers in a doorway to get accustomed to the balance thing- whatever works
for you. Also, you'll need to get a fan to blow air over you as you train- not because it simulates
wind resistance, but because you will sweat like a pig and get really hot if you don't have a way
to cool off.

(Protactical) said:

I don't own roller trainers, and don't intend to buy them, but on the idle speculation front, I was
wondering if bents can run on rollers. How severe are the ballance problems? It has taken me a few
weeks of occasional trips to get comfortable on my Toxy, and i think rollers always presented
ballance issues even on standard bikes. The positive would be that when rollers first got a lot of
play, in the '80s even top riders were surprised to discover the extent of their weaving, something
that roller practice tightens. That would be useful on a bent.

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Protactical said:

I don't own roller trainers, and don't intend to buy them, but on the idle speculation front, I
was wondering if bents can run on rollers.

Having seen Juerg Birkenstock warming up for races by riding his Comet on rollers, the answer is
in the affirmative.

Quoted message said:

How severe are the ballance problems?

Ah. I haven't tried it myself, but should imagine that it takes a fair amount of practice,
possibly starting off with the bike straddling a doorway.

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

Have ridden Counterpoint Presto (SWB, ASS) and Vision R40 (SWB, USS) on rollers. I built a small
platform that straddles the rollers' frame at about the height the ground would be. Gives me a solid
place to put me feet at start/stop.

Several riding partners have commented that I ride a straighter line than anyone else they know. I
don't think that's a coincidence.

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

OK, I haven't seen "rollers" that don't connect to the frame. Can someone send me a link to info on
these? ks <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I ride a Burley Hepcat. I purchased a set of used rollers a few months ago from eBay. It was dicey
at first learning to use them, but after just a few 20 to 30 minute sessions, it becomes second
nature to ride the center of the rollers with ease. Make sure you have something to grab onto when
you first start training, because I guarantee that you will lose you balance at first. Many like
to start by putting the rollers in a doorway to get accustomed to the balance thing- whatever
works for you. Also, you'll need to get a fan to blow air over you as you train- not because it
simulates wind resistance, but because you will sweat like a pig and get really hot if you don't
have a way to cool off.

(Protactical) said:

I don't own roller trainers, and don't intend to buy them, but on the idle speculation front, I
was wondering if bents can run on rollers. How severe are the ballance problems? It has taken me
a few weeks of occasional trips to get comfortable on my Toxy, and i think rollers always
presented ballance issues even on standard bikes. The positive would be that when rollers first
got a lot of play, in the '80s even top riders were surprised to discover the extent of their
weaving, something that roller practice tightens. That would be useful on a bent.