? Time on ROLLERS compared with Time ROAD RIDING? Effectiveness comparison?

[Bigbananabike]

Hi
On recent nights I've spent about 1 hour 20 mins doing 30 kilmetres at 90 + revs on my rollers - the winter weather in Auckland has kept me off the road.

I find it really is a good workout for me. Covered in sweat, legs aching(especially hamstrings and 'nads feeling like they've been punched by a Sumo wrestler!
If I ride the next day I feel pretty 'flat'.

It's a replacement for a road ride I'd do over a reasonably hilly 50 - 65kms.
From that I'd usually know I'd had a ride but I wouldn't be nearly as stuffed as I am from riding the rollers.
The next days ride is normally fine.

My question - although, subjectively(I don't have a HRM - yet) I feel like the rollers were a harder work out(can freewheel, but then no hills to ascend and winds to battle) and I've read that apparently an hour on the trainer/rollers = 2 on the bike on the road, is it really better than time on the road?

I realise it would be best if I was doing intervals etc on the rollers - but I can't be bothered - yet. I also know it would be better to use a HRM and I'm getting one soon.

 

[Sillyoldtwit]

Hi
On recent nights I've spent about 1 hour 20 mins doing 30 kilmetres at 90 + revs on my rollers - the winter weather in Auckland has kept me off the road.

I find it really is a good workout for me. Covered in sweat, legs aching(especially hamstrings and 'nads feeling like they've been punched by a Sumo wrestler!
If I ride the next day I feel pretty 'flat'.

It's a replacement for a road ride I'd do over a reasonably hilly 50 - 65kms.
From that I'd usually know I'd had a ride but I wouldn't be nearly as stuffed as I am from riding the rollers.
The next days ride is normally fine.

My question - although, subjectively(I don't have a HRM - yet) I feel like the rollers were a harder work out(can freewheel, but then no hills to ascend and winds to battle) and I've read that apparently an hour on the trainer/rollers = 2 on the bike on the road, is it really better than time on the road?

I realise it would be best if I was doing intervals etc on the rollers - but I can't be bothered - yet. I also know it would be better to use a HRM and I'm getting one soon.

I don't know if you've taken a look at my "It's killing me.." thread, but you will see I do most of my hard work indoors in the local gym; not on rollers but on a trainer - same difference I should imagine.
But it was your last sentence that intrigued me. Why would you want an HRM? When I'm doing my intervals, be it FT, VO2Max or AWC I cover up the HR indicator because I find it's a distraction. When I used to watch it, if my HR went above 150 I would ease off a bit thinking I was overdoing it. Now,as I said recently, I take a peek after the interval. One day this week, at the end of the interval my HR had gone up to 167. If I'd been watching my HR, I would probably have eased off long before, thereby not getting the full benefit of the interval.
Basically I don't understand why some people keep talking about training with an HRM as it appears they don't really tell you what is going on in your ticker anyway.
On my Sunday rides in the mountains, I don't have an HRM and just blast the hills etc. until my body says no more please. A power meter would probably be a better buy as I could compare the wattage with what I know I'm capable of in the gym, but at the moment a power meter is out of the question.

Just my 2 farthings worth! TYSON

 

[Albert 50]

I don't know..........
Just my 2 farthings worth! TYSON

only half a penny......at least most donate 2 pence worth of advice

 

[keith grand]

I don't know about the time comparison between the road and the rollers. I can however tell you that 75% of my training is done indoors on rollers with a resistance unit attached. Long hours on the job and late night rides. This was my first really dedicated season over 2800 miles since mid February. My pedal stroke feels awesome and bike handling/balance is great. I have never felt stronger and don't think I have missed much by not being on the road other than the scenery. Overall ride for ride I would call it even if you can handle the boredom riding your bike to nowhere.

 

[Bigbananabike]

I don't know about the time comparison between the road and the rollers. I can however tell you that 75% of my training is done indoors on rollers with a resistance unit attached. Long hours on the job and late night rides. This was my first really dedicated season over 2800 miles since mid February. My pedal stroke feels awesome and bike handling/balance is great. I have never felt stronger and don't think I have missed much by not being on the road other than the scenery. Overall ride for ride I would call it even if you can handle the boredom riding your bike to nowhere.[/QUOTE
===========================================================
Hi. Thanks for the answer. Good to know that someone can race a season mainly using rollers to train on.
That boredom thing is a toughy though....
Also I find it hard on my arms/hands as there is no air pressure or change in position to give them a rest.
Hope the rest of your year riding goes well

 

[Jono L]

I don't know if you've taken a look at my "It's killing me.." thread, but you will see I do most of my hard work indoors in the local gym; not on rollers but on a trainer - same difference I should imagine.
But it was your last sentence that intrigued me. Why would you want an HRM? When I'm doing my intervals, be it FT, VO2Max or AWC I cover up the HR indicator because I find it's a distraction. When I used to watch it, if my HR went above 150 I would ease off a bit thinking I was overdoing it. Now,as I said recently, I take a peek after the interval. One day this week, at the end of the interval my HR had gone up to 167. If I'd been watching my HR, I would probably have eased off long before, thereby not getting the full benefit of the interval.
Basically I don't understand why some people keep talking about training with an HRM as it appears they don't really tell you what is going on in your ticker anyway.
On my Sunday rides in the mountains, I don't have an HRM and just blast the hills etc. until my body says no more please. A power meter would probably be a better buy as I could compare the wattage with what I know I'm capable of in the gym, but at the moment a power meter is out of the question.

Just my 2 farthings worth! TYSON

Wouldn't the easer answer be to watch your HR but not take it easy if you go above 150. That way if you push it to 167 and feel good you know your in top form. If you just go all out without any data then you can't compare it against other sessions, then you don't know where you forms at, or if you've recovered from the flu, or if your training is actually working or etc...

 

[limerickman]

Hi
On recent nights I've spent about 1 hour 20 mins doing 30 kilmetres at 90 + revs on my rollers - the winter weather in Auckland has kept me off the road.

I find it really is a good workout for me. Covered in sweat, legs aching(especially hamstrings and 'nads feeling like they've been punched by a Sumo wrestler!
If I ride the next day I feel pretty 'flat'.

It's a replacement for a road ride I'd do over a reasonably hilly 50 - 65kms.
From that I'd usually know I'd had a ride but I wouldn't be nearly as stuffed as I am from riding the rollers.
The next days ride is normally fine.

My question - although, subjectively(I don't have a HRM - yet) I feel like the rollers were a harder work out(can freewheel, but then no hills to ascend and winds to battle) and I've read that apparently an hour on the trainer/rollers = 2 on the bike on the road, is it really better than time on the road?

I realise it would be best if I was doing intervals etc on the rollers - but I can't be bothered - yet. I also know it would be better to use a HRM and I'm getting one soon.

Personally I prefer the road, to the rollers.
We have a similar climate to NZ here - and during the winter I have to force myself to get out on the road in poor conditions.
If I opt for the rollers, psychologically I don't feel as if I have done a training session afterward.
This is highly subjective - but for me I can't do more than one hour on stationary bike.
Whereas I would find it easier to do three hours on the road, than one hour on the stationary bike.

Of course, riding round in the rain/sleet/snow isn't great - and cleaning my bike afterward makes a 4 hour road session become 5 hours.
But I still prefer the road.