I’ve been contemplating getting some rollers.
My question is as follows:
I ask this because as much as I like trainer rides, I still feel the need to do some outdoor riding to activate and work on all those little muscles we use in cycling. So I’m wondering if I can get almost all the way there with rollers…
You are getting closer. The challenge with the rollers, is they offer minimal resistance. It would be akin to riding a a flat road, with no wind or even a bit of a tail wind!
I find them to be a nice alternative to the resistance type trainers to break up the monotony.
I’ve been contemplating getting some rollers.
My question is as follows:
I ask this because as much as I like trainer rides, I still feel the need to do some outdoor riding to activate and work on all those little muscles we use in cycling. So I’m wondering if I can get almost all the way there with rollers…
I ride rollers exclusively. My last workout I was performing set of 250 watts and had no external magnetic resistance on them so resistance is fairly good (in fact my riding speed compared to outside is lower for any given wattage)
It is closer to outside and is easier on my brain. Pedal big fat crappy squares and you will be all over the roller. Pedal with a smooth pedal stroke and you will ride a pencil line.
I’ve been contemplating getting some rollers.
My question is as follows:
I ask this because as much as I like trainer rides, I still feel the need to do some outdoor riding to activate and work on all those little muscles we use in cycling. So I’m wondering if I can get almost all the way there with rollers…
spent the last three weeks solely on rollers due to the cold and the snow. The set of minoura rollers was $150; the resistance unit was $80; shipping was $30 i think. Best $250 i’ve spent.
with the resistance unit, threshold intervals are doable, and I can hit my outdoor watts without too much trouble when i have a fan blowing.
I’m a recent convert to rollers, but no, they do not compare to outside, certainly not if you do a lot of climbing. I use the rollers to work on balance, bike handing, pedal stroke, and focus. I do find it easier on the butt then the fixed trainer. YMMV
No, they’re not a good substitute for the road. Yes, they are closer to it than a trainer.
I don’t have a resistance unit on my rollers, so I place a towel under the drum (I have a power meter) and mostly use them for easier recovery rides. They definitely break up the monotony, keep your mind in the game and make time go faster.
I do get numb/tingly hands for a few hours afterwards, which doesn’t happen on the road or my trainer though.
PS. Was able to get on my rollers today without using any type of support. Win for me!
Regular rollers? Not so much.
Inside ride e-motion rollers? Nearly identical to riding outside on a flat and very smooth road.
Regular rollers? Not so much.
Inside ride e-motion rollers? Nearly identical to riding outside on a flat and very smooth road.
How are these different than the $250 dollar minoura ones? I do not think I want to spend $800 for rollers…
Regular rollers? Not so much.
Inside ride e-motion rollers? Nearly identical to riding outside on a flat and very smooth road.
How are these different than the $250 dollar minoura ones? I do not think I want to spend $800 for rollers…
You are missing out. They are outstanding
M~
I have both mag-resistance rollers and an kurt kinetic (not the rock-and-roll). I’ve devoted the last 8 weeks to following the sufferfest plan, which has a mix of sufferfest workouts and outdoor rides that can optionally be done indoors in case of bad weather. Observations:
Unless you get the inside-ride rollers, doing a standing, 10/10 efforts is very difficult. The sufferfest workouts all have lots of attacks and jumping out of the saddle, and that is not really possible on rollers.
They are great for everything else. I’ve done FTP, VO2, 1 on/off stuff just fine. My mag-resistance versions are pretty loud though.
Having both is nice, as a recovery spin on rollers feels like a dream and doing things like high cadence, no hands, one leg, one-leg/no hands make otherwise boring hours interesting.
Also, I’ve found I can put out about 10 more W for ftp intervals on the rollers vs. trainer, I’d guess because the bike moves a bit back and forth vs. the body having to brace for the movement.
Regular rollers? Not so much.
Inside ride e-motion rollers? Nearly identical to riding outside on a flat and very smooth road.
How are these different than the $250 dollar minoura ones? I do not think I want to spend $800 for rollers…
Or you could just hack together a homebuilt version. Some spare 2x4s or 1x4s, some rollerblade wheels, a few bungee cords, a few hours, done.
Regular rollers? Not so much.
Inside ride e-motion rollers? Nearly identical to riding outside on a flat and very smooth road.
How are these different than the $250 dollar minoura ones? I do not think I want to spend $800 for rollers…
In many many ways they are different. The best way to appreciate the differences is to search for insideride rider videos on youtube. You can do things (like ride totally naturally) on e-motion rollers that is simply impossible on conventional rollers.
yes, they are absolutely just fine. The large diameter rollers ar not useful because the resistance is too low. I use these top shelf ones called Inside Ride e-motion and they are great. At my 175 pound weight it’s easy to get over 350 watts w/o using the resistance unit and well over 400 by adding a couple clicks on the mag unit. I usually ride w/o the mag and find it is perfect. I have used Kreitler rollers and they are very nice but I prefer the inside ride rollers much more.
If I ride inside a lot I notice that the muscles I use to fight with the bike on the bumpy roads and my neck and shoulders get a little sore, but beyond that you could train on rollers all the time and do very well
I have contemplated this, but I like riding down country roads an awful lot and don’t have to deal with many cars when I ride
I have seen a few DIY versions online. Is there one you recommend? I’m handy enough. Doesn’t seem to technically difficult. Just don’t want to spend the time and come out with a crappy product that leads to me just buying the e-motion ones!
Regular rollers? Not so much.
Inside ride e-motion rollers? Nearly identical to riding outside on a flat and very smooth road.
How are these different than the $250 dollar minoura ones? I do not think I want to spend $800 for rollers…
In many many ways they are different. The best way to appreciate the differences is to search for insideride rider videos on youtube. You can do things (like ride totally naturally) on e-motion rollers that is simply impossible on conventional rollers.
I guess I’m not seeing it in the videos, the rollers on nashbar for example look exactly the same http://www.nashbar.com/...2_534675_-1___204672 maybe I’m missing something? I’m not concerned with being able to stand up and ride, and can do my heavy interval work on the trainer, I’m looking to see if I can replace those long 2-4hr rides that I do outside with riding rollers instead, and if I will recruit the same muscles or close too it, when riding on rollers as I do outside.
Oh I see, it has that “extra” frame under the rollers so you don’t fall off, makes it easier I guess but doesn’t seem worth the extra $600 bucks…
Here you go, you can’t do most of this on regular rollers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44RSImFy2Eg
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I’ve been contemplating getting some rollers.
My question is as follows:
I ask this because as much as I like trainer rides, I still feel the need to do some outdoor riding to activate and work on all those little muscles we use in cycling. So I’m wondering if I can get almost all the way there with rollers…
Rollers are rollers. They’re really nothing like outdoors. I wouldn’t worry too much about what ever little muscles you’re thinking actually matter as they very likely do not. I think the biggest thing involved with riding rollers (or trainers or other stationary bikes) is the brain. If you can get your head around the utter boredom and being locked into a fairly static position, you can get done what you need to get done.
You are getting closer. The challenge with the rollers, is they offer minimal resistance. It would be akin to riding a a flat road, with no wind or even a bit of a tail wind!
I find them to be a nice alternative to the resistance type trainers to break up the monotony.
It is pretty trivial to get the resistance up on rollers, not much of a challenge actually.
Trainer tires, thick tubes at lower pressures let me get to 300 watts pretty easy. If your drums are alloy then placing a couple of magnets in proximity to the rollers turns it into a mag trainer where 400w+ is easily obtainable. The magnets I attached to my rollers are adjustable (distance to the drum) on a little lever to allow me low resistance to warm up and high resistance for intervals.Towel under one of the rollers. This works but can be difficult to control over time.
I have had Emotion rollers and they are very nice.
I just saw on Ebay there was a set with ant+, Bluetooth resistance unit that does ErG mode.
Pretty nice, I just can’t justify that price since I ride outside almost all year.
I just saw on Ebay there was a set with ant+, Bluetooth resistance unit that does ErG mode.
Can you provide that link. Curious I am. Inside ride is developing an erg module currently. Computrainer for rollers if you will.