I enjoy using rollers instead of trainers. A family friend is giving me his Krietler rollers (used one time in 14 years). I currently use a set of old Americn Classic Rollers (the ones with six small rollers) that provide more than enough resistance for me. The problem with this set is that the resitance is more like a magnet trainer and not like a fanor fluid trainer in that the resistance is not very progressive as compared to cadence.
I am interesed in getting Kreitler’s Killer headwind Fan attachment for my new rollers. Does anyone have any experience with this fan attachement? Does it offer progressive resistance? How noisy is it? Do you like it?
I have Kreitler Rollers with a Killer Headwind Trainer unit. It is a Killer alright, even if that little dog is dead (Killer, the little dog Mr. Kreitler had in his overalls when he was alive).
The Killer Headwind trainer generates tons of resistance. The version I have has an adjustable intake that allows you to vary the resistance level from hard to ball-busting.
The thing sounds like a 727 taxing in your basement. If you live near an airport, bowling alley or above ground nuclear test facility they may call to complain about the noise. It is pretty darn loud.
They do work great though. It is arguably the best “old school” non-computerized trainer. When you can climb out of the saddle on the rollers with the resistance fan all the way open you know you have it down. Don’t let your cat come near the fan. Ever see video of a guy get sucked into a jet engine on an aircraft carrier? I am afraid that is what would happen to one of my kittys if they came near the thing when I was riding. Luckily, the noise is so loud they are usually cowering under the bed until the 727 flies away.
I wish there was a mix of Comuptrainer and resistance rollers. Maybe there already is - use the rollers with a power meter in the hub or crank.
So the fan attachment is loud. Does it offer progressive resistance? I take it that it does. My cyclocross season taught me that I need more work on pedaling (powering) through the spongey mud and grass portions of the courses - not so much spinning the cranks as smoothly grinding.
I highly recommend the resistance unit on the rollers. When following a regular conditioning program with them during the winter I have come out into the spring season very strong.
My wife uses the Troy Jacobson clamp in style trainer.
I ride rollers w/the headwin fan with my PT all the time. When I have the inlet to the fan fully closed, it takes about 180 watts to sit steady at about 21 MPH and 250 watts to sit steady at 25 MPH and 280 watts will keep you around 27 MPH. If I open the fan inlet about a 3rd of the way, The same 180 watts has me at aobut 15 MPH & 280 watts will get me near 22 MPH. With the fan inlet fully open, 280 watts will keep me about 12 MPH. I have not tried to get near 20 MPH w/the fan fully open, but I am sure that if I got there, it would be WAY above my CP30.
The fan is quite noisey compared to my fluid trainer, but not so loud that I need hearing protection. If I lived in an apartment, I would not want the person upstairs riding it while I try to sleep.
I am seriously considering purchasing a set of Kreitler rollers as well, but can’t decide on the model to get. With all the combinations of Dyno, Poly, Myte, and Lyte, which model would be best for durability and level of resistance? Thanks-
Your hilarious reply re the kreitler 727 / kitty digesting headwind device is worthy of BSNY. I’m bidding on one and will smile every time I train with it. Thank you and keep on writing. And riding.
I am seriously considering purchasing a set of Kreitler rollers as well, but can’t decide on the model to get. With all the combinations of Dyno, Poly, Myte, and Lyte, which model would be best for durability and level of resistance? Thanks-