Safety issues with rollers

John Budnik said:

Is this a case of Kreitler just covering their ass?

It seems that at least 90% of all product manuals are written by lawyers these days. They stop just short of telling people not to actually use the product.

John Budnik said:

I was recently reading thru all the paper work that comes with Kreitler Rollers, that I should have read when I bought it, but didn't. In there is a warning stating that you should never ride on the rollers with your feet locked into your pedals. This apparently is a safety issue. I've been riding these things on and off for almost 30 years. I can't even fathom why you would ride without your feet locked in. Am I missing something? It seems like one of the main benefits of rollers is in building your spinning technique. Without out being clipped in, that's one less reason to ride rollers. Is this a case of Kreitler just covering their ass?

I'd like to take a stab at answering your question but legal counsel advises me that the use and or operation of rollers is an inherently dangerous activity which could result in serious injury, serious death, mutilation, blinding, cognitive impairment and/or loss of or loss of use of limb or limbs. Furthermore you should never, and I mean never, start a program of fitness activity and or weight loss without first consulting with your doctor and completing a full medical examination. This examination should include but not be limited to ECG stress test, blood and urine analysis and a complete psychological evaluation. Listening to music or watching the TV while using or operating your rollers could cause a distraction and something very bad might happen to you. Oh and always wear a helmet (ANSI certified) when you're in the basement thrashing away on your rollers.

I'm with you bro'. Sounds like legal CYA. Cannot imagine using with being clipped in. And seems kind of pointless to switch over to a pair of flat pedals (how are you supposed to pedal if you're not attached to the pedal). You've survived 30 yrs, you're prob all set for another 30.

By the way - I use rollers too and am interested if you use rollers exclusively for indoor training or whether you also use a trainer (perhaps for hard training and the rollers for easy spinning). Just looking for ideas.

I only wish I would have had the foresight to put down some outdoor carpet when I graduated from the doorway to the garage floor. Front wheel got off, unclipped, left foot took off for left field in a graceful slide, ass somehow lands on front wheel giving it a nice wobble, laughter ensues(I can laugh at myself). Do I have a case?:o

Markz

pwebster said:

By the way - I use rollers too and am interested if you use rollers exclusively for indoor training or whether you also use a trainer (perhaps for hard training and the rollers for easy spinning). Just looking for ideas.

I use the rollers for all my indoor riding. I have the wind trainer attachment for my rollers and that works real well. But to tell you the truth, I use the rollers for a second workout each evening, so I use it more for technique and as an active recovery after my daily ride. So I never do really hard workouts on it unless riding ourdoors is totally out of the question. As for the non-roller type trainers, I've never really had much use for them. Especially when they all went to the mag & fluid resistance units. I like the wind units a lot better, since you can very clearly hear how you're pedaling. Of course my wife probably has a a different opinion about all that noise.

Markz said:

Do I have a case?:o

If you'd had the foresight to install a video camera instead then you might have a case for America's Funniest Home Videos. 😄

The $10k prize would have gone a long way toward fixing that wheel wobble. Maybe they should mention that in the product manual. 🙂

The belt broke when I was riding (when else would it break?) and I thought I would just coast to a stop. Unfortunately, the wheels need to be spinning for one to keep balance. But I was in a doorway so it wasn't too bad.

I heard that a toilet bowl cleaner warning label once said, "Not safe for any use."

Has to be just legalspeak. I started riding rollers with clips and straps (2 straps on each foot actually) and never had any problem other than once while watching a football game. Over 3 hours I imperceptibly drifted to one side and midway through the fourth quarter was sacked for a large loss of pride.

Squint said:

The belt broke when I was riding (when else would it break?) and I thought I would just coast to a stop. Unfortunately, the wheels need to be spinning for one to keep balance. But I was in a doorway so it wasn't too bad.

I heard that a toilet bowl cleaner warning label once said, "Not safe for any use."

I've got a new low in this category. I wiped out today on a magnetic training stand. I clipped my rear wheel in and noticed that it was a tiny bit loose, but nothing alarming, so i ignored it. :o

I finished my ride with a super high-rev sprint interval and I was really going at it. The amount of torque and general mayhem caused the bike to break lose, and the next thing i knew, i was resting face first on the wall.

Oh well, it was a good ride.

So riding with no hands, clipped in, water bottle in one hand and the remote in the other is probably frowned upon?

I'm going to H*ll.

about 20 years ago three of us were doing a long roller session in a basement. we would finish off each relay of the workout with a long, hard sprint.

well, i 'sprinted' my track bike off the left side of my kreitlers and the rear wheel got trapped between the roller and frame...and potato-chipped instantly as i fell towards the wall.

i still 'risk' pulling a jersey off over my head while riding with the cleats locked in (how else would we ride?). i'll see ya in hades, spunout!