Trainer vs Rollers?

[Plakespear]

Looking to buy one or the other. How much of a workout are rollers without a resistance unit? I know they are better for form and handling skills, but what about strenght and endurance?

[Tap]

i'll put it this way....rollers are great for working on balance and cadence (and offer a great workout), but you have to be "on" all the time so you don't fall. I got a Trek Mag+ trainer and have been pleased with it. Plenty of workout and i can zone out or take my hands off the bars without fear of falling off.

[Woodee]

Kreitler rollers with Killer Headwind are the best of both worlds, but be prepared to pay $$$

[SkiingBear]

I love my Cycle-Ops Fluid trainer. Change the resistance by shifting your gears...simple. Being locked into it makes it a lot easier to mess with the DVD player (fast-forwarding though the hardest part of the workout is totally my style )

[The Suit]

How much of a workout are rollers without a resistance unit? I know they are better for form and handling skills, but what about strenght and endurance?

I've been riding rollers since I was a teenage racer 25+ years ago. I've tried trainers from time to time and don't really like them. To me, pedaling on a trainer feels unnatural. I don't think it helps me pedal efficiently, and I don't enjoy the feeling. I also felt like the trainer was tough on my bike. I'm sure it's not really a big deal, but once again I didn't like the feeling.

You can get an excellent cardiovascular workout on rollers. I don't have any problem hitting my max heartrate in just a few minutes. You'll build leg endurance as well, but probably not any strength (assuming you don't have a Killer Headwind or similar unit).

You shouldn't underestimate the benefit of learning how to pedal well. Spinning for a half hour at a cadence of 120 RPM does a lot for your efficiency.

I rode in a roller race once in the mid-70s. The guy who won raised both arms overhead in a victory salute while still pedaling at nearly full speed. You know you're smooth when you've learned how to do that.

If you do get rollers, get the smoothest ones you can afford. My Kreitlers are almost 20 years old and still work perfectly.

[Plakespear]

I'm leaning towards rollers now. I can probably rig up some sort of resistance device if I think they aren't giving me enough of a workout. But I think that despite riding seriously vor 15 years, my pedaling could use a lot of work.

[Lunch]

I have both but always go for the rollers first. As someone mentioned, it's sort of a matter of feel and type of workout. After a while, you really don't have to concentrate that hard. I'm not at the victory salute level but am still pretty comfortable on the rollers.

Having said that, I might add that some of the worst crashes of my life have been in my kitchen.

[Cornholio]

Just FYI, there's more info here:
http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...hlight=trainer

I ended up with a fluid trainer, which I dig. I swap with a buddy who has rollers every once in a while, and can see how it would be awesome to improve your spin. I have to concentrate all the time on the rollers, though, and sometimes I just dig watching TV or whatever.

[InspectorGadget]

... I might add that some of the worst crashes of my life have been in my kitchen.

^^^ ^^^

Rollers are a great workout and you have to ride smoother - see above.
I'd buy a fluid trainer over a mag trainer.

[bagtagley]

I like rollers for spins and typical workouts, but I always had trouble when I tried to do intervals and sprints. I agree that it forces balance, but to me the rollers are completely different than actually being on the road. It's true that you don't typically have to pay attention after you get used to it, that is until you hit peak heartrate and start to see black spots.

I guess it depends on how hard you plan on working. Rollers are definitely more fun, but sometimes it's nice to just put your head down, close your eyes and crank it.

[The Suit]

I like rollers for spins and typical workouts, but I always had trouble when I tried to do intervals and sprints. I agree that it forces balance, but to me the rollers are completely different than actually being on the road. It's true that you don't typically have to pay attention after you get used to it, that is until you hit peak heartrate and start to see black spots.

I guess it depends on how hard you plan on working. Rollers are definitely more fun, but sometimes it's nice to just put your head down, close your eyes and crank it.

If you work up to it, you should be able to do very, very hard intervals on rollers. They're not muscle & strength building intervals, but more of a "spin 'til you puke." kind of thing.

[chezewyz]

rollers are vastly superior training tools. you get stronger and your balance on the bike improves more than it would from riding equivalent road miles.

I know roadies who can stand, sprint in a big gear, remove their jerseys, eat, etc. while riding rollers.

I can stand and pedal softly, sit and sprint in a big gear, and drink from a water bottle... but no standing sprints, no removing a jersey

if you really want to pound those all-out leg-only styled efforts that fluid or other trainers give, there are MANY options for Kreitlers. you can get a wind generator that is a b!tchin' road load/headwind simulator to vary your loads more than your derailleur alone. you can get a fork stand to make it possible to comfortably stand and sprint without any worry of riding off the rollers... or, as I used mine, to do solo leg work for post-ACL recon. rehabbing

[gonzo]

ordered this beauty today, with the resistance thing. this is going to make my bedroom so fun!

cycleops aluminum roller

cycleops resistance thingie

[wintermittent]

this is going to make my bedroom so fun!

Careful. Your first time will probably end prematurely and very abruptly. Wear a helmet.

[Crinkle]

but sometimes it's nice to just put your head down, close your eyes and crank it.

sorry i am fixated on this comment, awe and shock are more like it.

[gonzo]

got my rollers a couple days ago and have put 20 miles in two rides on it. really really cool. already way better at it than i was before - haven't taken a digger yet (knock on wood). it's a lot like riding down a 3 foot hallway...

resistance unit can installed upside down, which was annoying.

[gonzo]

i took a digger

[PaSucks]

Well that shoots to shit the theory about knocking on wood.