Rollers have always been the 'dark side' for me - something I've always heard about and seen, but never actually ridden. I've read the horror stories, I've seen the YouTube vids of people looking like muppets, I've not been looking forward to the day I first rode on rollers!
Day 1 - Set up and spin. One hand on the wall, no worries. The first thing I noticed was the bike has yaw AND roll on these things (and maybe pitch if you really screw things up). We ain't in lock-and-load trainerville now toto! I lasted 5mins - all over the shop like a little kid without training wheels for the first time. Lucky I didn't have my HR on, it'd be hitting max. I was even forgetting to breathe at some points. Give me 85km/h+ chasing cars down Mt Hotham any day over the rollers at this point! eeeeek!!!
Roller rest day - Had a word to the wise (the wise being JayWoo) on our Sunday training hitout in the Dandenongs about rollers. He's old hat on the rollers, and I'm sure he enjoyed my stories of white-knuckle fear. DrWoo prescribed a 30min session on the rollers, nothing less. The theory being that 30mins is enough time for _anyone_ to get the hang of rollers.
Day 2 - Recovery day from real riding means it was time for the 30mins of prescribed fun! Latest ep of the Simpsons playing on the trainer room PC, and I was away. 5mins of wall holding and it was time to go it without assistance. After using the wall as a balance, it gave me a bit of a fright when the rear of the bike rolled up and over to the other side. A few wobbles later and "high cadence high cadence" thoughts, it was all systems go. On the tops, in the drops, tucking down changing gears, it was all happening. Then NO HANDS! HAH look mum! PRO! These things are easy!
So, if anyone has been holding off on rollers because of the horror stories, they're not at all that bad. They'll be an awesome warm-up tool before races, and a good alternative to the stationary stomping machine during winter.
lama