Trainer Vs Rollers??

[JackRabbitSlims]

Opinions and comments please.

I've had trainers in the past - and I hate the bloody things! Am very enthusiastic about my training of late and get annoyed when the weather prevents me from getting outdoors for a ride.....therefore, contemplating the purchase of another trainer.
Do most of you put a "Trainer Specific Tire" on for the trainer?

Any recommendations?

Also, what about a set of rollers? - pros and cons for these guys? I understand there is a fair bit of technique with using them?

Thanks.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I like trainers over rollers because I don't have to think about staying upright. On rollers, just don't watch a race video, especially rounding corners... I find I also want to turn with the cameraman's view (not so good an idea on rollers). I'll do intervals on trainers while standing on the pedals, recovery while sitting. The standing part is a little awkward at first, as just can't get the upper body into it much. My cheap bike is a mountain bike, so I use it on the trainer with a street tire on the rear.

 

[drb716]

Opinions and comments please.

I've had trainers in the past - and I hate the bloody things! Am very enthusiastic about my training of late and get annoyed when the weather prevents me from getting outdoors for a ride.....therefore, contemplating the purchase of another trainer.
Do most of you put a "Trainer Specific Tire" on for the trainer?

Any recommendations?

Also, what about a set of rollers? - pros and cons for these guys? I understand there is a fair bit of technique with using them?

Thanks.

I prefer rollers with a fluid resistance unit. It might be a different feel at first, but after a few days, you'll even out your pedal stroke, and you'll be fine.

 

[brianf7]

Ounce you get the knack of the rollers they are great just jump on before you start a race and warm up on the rollers without any problems with wheels
jump off the rollers and on to the start line quick and easy.
for home workouts the fluid trainers are better.

 

[Oldman]

Blackburn fluid trakstand. Feels like the road for really heinous workouts when it's raining outside and you can't go hard. No skill required other than will to train and some diversionary media.

 

[ergmonkey]

I find the trainer tire to be a worthwhile purchase. The trainer never really "feels like the road" (not surprisingly, since it's a totally different type of resistance), but the purpose-built tire does at least make riding the trainer noticeably smoother and quieter in my experience.

If you have an old rear wheel to use for the trainer only, then it's a lot more convenient to just mount the trainer tire on that wheel and leave it there than it is to keep switching tires, of course.

 

[matsprt]

Trainer vs Rollers

Simple answer, both.

Set one bike up on the trainer and do your intervals. Second bike (good choice is a track bike) up on the rollers. Once your done with a set of intervals jump over onto the rollers for your recovery. Then back to the trainer.

And yes a tire designed for a trainer is a good investment. They tend to "slip" less.

 

[Andrichuk]

Also, what about a set of rollers? - pros and cons for these guys? I understand there is a fair bit of technique with using them?

Thanks.

Spend a couple hours riding on them beside a wall or something you can grab on to and it will feel like your on the road, you just wont be going anywhere....

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Cheers!

Thanks for the prompt informative replies.

At this stage it will probably just be the trainer.....any comments on the Kurt Kinetic trainers?

They seem to be well reviewed.

 

[Boeing]

real men ride on and off their rollers

I am mixed on this. Rollers keep me focused on form to a point then I lose interest. Trainers allow for a little more hands free opportunities

regardless I spend about the same amount of time on each

slight edge to rollers

and really only just spinning at a recovery tempo to keep some base.

 

[marathon marke]

25 years ago, I had a set of Kreitler original rollers. I would actually do double-centuries on these for trade shows (to show how my sponsor's energy drink would really work). I rarely used a (wind) trainer. I just got back into cycling last year, after a 20 year hiatus. Knowing the inevitable winter was approaching, I knew I had to get something for indoors. A few weeks ago, someone gave me a used Blackburn windtrainer, which I've used a few times now. Earlier this week I also got a set of rollers with reduced diameter (3") drums. The difference bewteen these and the larger size drums is immediately apparent. I might not be using my windtrainer as much as I thought.

I realize that trainers allow you to "doze off", but the very fact that I have to stay alert while riding rollers also seems to make the time go by faster. If I had to choose one, it would still be rollers, reduced diameter.

 

[veganrob]

Riding indoors sucks but sometimes we have to do it. Trainers are boring. I have the E-motion rollers. Keep me a bit more focused and they are so easy to ride on. if I was to ride on trainers I recommend Kinetic Rock and Roll. And with the extra 12lb fly wheel it is great.

 

[Boeing]

25 years ago, I had a set of Kreitler original rollers. I would actually do double-centuries on these for trade shows (to show how my sponsor's energy drink would really work). I rarely used a (wind) trainer. I just got back into cycling last year, after a 20 year hiatus. Knowing the inevitable winter was approaching, I knew I had to get something for indoors. A few weeks ago, someone gave me a used Blackburn windtrainer, which I've used a few times now. Earlier this week I also got a set of rollers with reduced diameter (3") drums. The difference bewteen these and the larger size drums is immediately apparent. I might not be using my windtrainer as much as I thought.

I realize that trainers allow you to "doze off", but the very fact that I have to stay alert while riding rollers also seems to make the time go by faster. If I had to choose one, it would still be rollers, reduced diameter.

Dude,

I am not worthy!

props

 

[TopCarbon]

I like my rollers.

I have Kreitler 2.25 diameter rollers. The resistence is perfect.

The downside is doing a workout where you have to stand. Its difficult to really go because of the threat of falling.

There are al ot of upside though. Pedal smoothness, real resistance, less stereo on the bike, ****ing hard workout

 

[kurtees]

I have to say i like rollers more than the trainers. Trainers are boring and to quote marathon marke, it allows you to "doze off"

Rollers are better since it will require you to balance the bike.. not like the trainers where you don't really have to put much effort aside from pedaling.