Training & Nutrition - rollers or trainer ??? pros and cons

I am trying to decide and would like to hear your opinions and experiance with either

I have both. Buy rollers. They will keep you more interested. Both are boring but a trainer is brutally monotonous.....especially if your computer is mounted on your front wheel.

I have Performance rollers with a fluid resistance unit. That's a great combination and all I need. If I didn't have the resistance unit, I'd want to have both rollers and trainer. Rollers make you smoother and are less boring, but plain rollers just don't generate enough resistance to gain strength. Before I got the resistance unit, I used to depressure my tires down to about 50. That helped, but not enough. I haven't tried the roller units with the tiny rollers. They're supposed to provide more resistance. I can ride out of the saddle on the rollers, but I save sprinting for outside.

I have Performance rollers with a fluid resistance unit. That's a great combination and all I need. If I didn't have the resistance unit, I'd want to have both rollers and trainer. Rollers make you smoother and are less boring, but plain rollers just don't generate enough resistance to gain strength. Before I got the resistance unit, I used to depressure my tires down to about 50. That helped, but not enough. I haven't tried the roller units with the tiny rollers. They're supposed to provide more resistance. I can ride out of the saddle on the rollers, but I save sprinting for outside.

Carbon fiber boy, what resistance unit did you get and where did you get it from? how does it attach to the rollers? This seems to me like the best way to build up strength and endurance.

Thanks

I am trying to decide and would like to hear your opinions and experiance with either
Trainer pro: no chance of falling
Trainer con: good chance of falling asleep

rollers are fun... after warming up i stuff a towel under one of the rollers for the desired resistance...

Rollers are my choice, but I combine them with frequent outdoor rides (not always an option) and weights.

Last year I was only on trainers for testing purposes (10mile TT, spintest, etc.), the entirety of my training was on rollers doing high cadence work. I also had two nights a week in the gym doing core and strength workouts, one day a week doing another activity (generally skiing), and a few week long training camps in fairer climes/

I have both also, if you shop around you should be able to find good deals on both. The trainer is great for maintaining/building your conditioning i.e. long sessions while watching a movie or ball game; the rollers are great for riding skills, they'll improve your balance and smoothness. Absolute best is to keep an old bike on the trainer and use your good bike on the rollers.

I really like my rollers. I'm pretty new to road biking, but it hasn't been too hard to get used to them. I bought the Nashbar Reduced Radius Rollers and I love them. They're discontinued though, which worries me a little bit.

I think if I wasn't a poor, married college student, I would like to have a trainer and rollers. I had the choice of one or the other, and I chose rollers because they not only give you a good work out, but they help to perfect your technique. I am really glad I chose rollers, for what it's worth ($0.02?).

You should be able to get either rollers or a trainer for under $150 or $200. If you get rollers, get aluminum drums. I've heard horror stories about plastic drums. Good luck, and try to get outside this Winter, in addition to your indoor training.

+1 on keeping your beater bike on the trainer and ride your good bike on the rollers.

i just got performance rollers and LOVE them, not too hard to ride and it keeps my technique in tune

Carbon fiber boy, what resistance unit did you get and where did you get it from? how does it attach to the rollers? This seems to me like the best way to build up strength and endurance.

ThanksBeen away for a bit. It's a Performance unit that they used to sell to go with their rollers. I haven't seen it in their line for a while. It's the same resistance unit that's found on this:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=20981&estore_ID=1418
except that a pulley replaces the wheel drum that's on this one. A bracket attaches so that the pulley is driven by the rear roller using a little belt. I'd ask them about it.

This unit is a little pricey but comes with magnetic resistance:
http://www.insideride.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=36

Although it's easy for me to say because I've got one, I don't think I'd be satisfied with a roller set that didn't have resistance. It's so great to be able to work the legs at climbing resistance and at a steep climbing cadence. I'd really like to have two of those Performance resistance units on my set.

Been away for a bit. It's a Performance unit that they used to sell to go with their rollers. I haven't seen it in their line for a while. It's the same resistance unit that's found on this:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=20981&estore_ID=1418
except that a pulley replaces the wheel drum that's on this one. A bracket attaches so that the pulley is driven by the rear roller using a little belt. I'd ask them about it.

This unit is a little pricey but comes with magnetic resistance:
http://www.insideride.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=36

Although it's easy for me to say because I've got one, I don't think I'd be satisfied with a roller set that didn't have resistance. It's so great to be able to work the legs at climbing resistance and at a steep climbing cadence. I'd really like to have two of those Performance resistance units on my set.

thanks for the info. I did e-mail them and they said they didn't have any left and do not plan on bringing the unit back :(

oh well, im still enjoying keeping my cadence high which is a workout alone

im wondering if i could somehow make a unit like this...

thanks for the info. I did e-mail them and they said they didn't have any left and do not plan on bringing the unit back :(

oh well, im still enjoying keeping my cadence high which is a workout alone

im wondering if i could somehow make a unit like this...

not cheap, but I imagine it could be fitted to any set of rollers

http://www.kreitler.com/product.php?section=product&item=accessories

I would imagine any roller resistance unit that worked via pully would work with most rollers.

-D

not cheap, but I imagine it could be fitted to any set of rollers

http://www.kreitler.com/product.php?section=product&item=accessories

I would imagine any roller resistance unit that worked via pully would work with most rollers.

-D

the idea crossed my mind but i need to figure out if it will mount on my rails... if not i suppose i could always make something so it will or just put some weight on the unit to keep it from moving, also can't remember if there are grooves on the side to put a pulley band

Huge trainer problem - noise and vibrations. Even though I have one of the quietest models out there, I've only dared try it once. The vibrations reminded me of a train rolling past. My neighbours can hardly be expected to put up with it.

Now I don't know what to do with it... :(

I use both. Trainer for resistance workouts, usually with a training DVD. I use rollers for base, pedal stroke, and indoor recovery days. You can increase resistance on rollers up to a point by letting some air out of the tires.

I used to have both, then I sold the trainer and kept the rollers. I also have an adjustable resistance unit on the rollers for tough workouts.

Make sure you don't watch action movies or ball sports while riding the rollers.

I used to have both, then I sold the trainer and kept the rollers. I also have an adjustable resistance unit on the rollers for tough workouts.

Make sure you don't watch action movies or ball sports while riding the rollers.

which rollers and resistance unit do you have?

which rollers and resistance unit do you have?

Minoura. I got it a long time ago.

wurd

thanks for the info. I did e-mail them and they said they didn't have any left and do not plan on bringing the unit back :(

oh well, im still enjoying keeping my cadence high which is a workout alone

im wondering if i could somehow make a unit like this...

Reduce your tire pressure.

Reduce your tire pressure.Yes, reducing tire pressure helps a lot. Try about 65 lbs.

To the person who is bothered by the noise from his trainer: Get very smooth tires and put the trainer on a foam mat or a couple of thick rugs.

Yeah, I've never heard of anyone describing why rollers or a trainer should be the "first" off-bike training device. I guess, the real determining factor in selecting one or the other would be the particular emphasis you want to work on in your training.

Trainers allow for certain "all-out" riding techniques that are hard to perform on rollers. Rollers provide a "real-ride" experience that requires keeping all the "balancing" muscles working. A trainer just can't do that.

On the basis of a statement like "YOU HAVE TO RIDE WELL - BEFORE YOU CAN SPRINT OR CLIMB WELL" I would suggest rollers.

On the other hand, if you are a veteran rider, you should already know what kind of workouts you need. ..

Therefore - the answer is:
[
"IF YOU HAVE TO ASK ABOUT GETTING A TRAINER - YOU MUST GET ROLLERS!


If you don't need to ask, then you already know the answer..........Logic is swell - ain't it?

On the basis of a statement like "YOU HAVE TO RIDE WELL - BEFORE YOU CAN SPRINT OR CLIMB WELL" I would suggest rollers.

On the other hand, if you are a veteran rider, you should already know what kind of workouts you need. ..


If you don't need to ask, then you already know the answer..........Logic is swell - ain't it?

If you are a veteran rider most likely you also already own both...

I'm looking to get a new set of rollers so my wife can have her own. Which one of the two that performance sells is the best to go with Travel Trac or Minoura?

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat.cfm?subcategory_id=4121

To the person who is bothered by the noise from his trainer: Get very smooth tires and put the trainer on a foam mat or a couple of thick rugs.

That was me, I think.

And I'm not bothered by it. But the thunderous rumble it gives off is certain to piss off all my neighbours. Completely smooth tyres, plus 2" styrofoam and thick rugs under it. Still sounds like a freight train passing through my flat.

I'm looking to get a new set of rollers so my wife can have her own. Which one of the two that performance sells is the best to go with Travel Trac or Minoura?

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat.cfm?subcategory_id=4121

i've had the Minoura rollers for about a year and a half now, and they work just fine. the drums roll very smooth. if i had to change anything, it would be to make the rollers smaller in diameter to increase resistance, but its not that big of a deal.

one issue i do have that really isn't a fault of the rollers, is that my tires tend to make sort of a screeching sound due to the tackiness of the tire rubbing against the aluminum drum. they are fairly new tires that i haven't used outdoors very much. it would seem that if i were to put baby powder on the drums it might reduce that noise, but then again, i don't want to slide off the rollers. :eek:

^^^ Thank you for your reply. ;)

I'm looking to get a new set of rollers so my wife can have her own. Which one of the two that performance sells is the best to go with Travel Trac or Minoura?

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat.cfm?subcategory_id=4121

i have travel trac and love them. No complaints, very sturdy. Just wish there was a resistance unit for them. I just let the air out like many posters already said

I just bought the travel trac rollers from Performance. After riding on them for about 3 minutes, sweating through the shirt I had on and getting short of breath, I came to two conclusions: 1) Rollers are hard to use but I am going to figure out how to ride these things; and 2) by the time I figure out how to really ride on these things, I will have become a much better cyclist. and thinner too.

I just bought the travel trac rollers from Performance. After riding on them for about 3 minutes, sweating through the shirt I had on and getting short of breath, I came to two conclusions: 1) Rollers are hard to use but I am going to figure out how to ride these things; and 2) by the time I figure out how to really ride on these things, I will have become a much better cyclist. and thinner too.

LOL, same, first time i used them i was bouncing off the walls and sweating myself out trying to straiten the wheels!!!
they're actually quite fun though, i've used trainers and these babies beat out the trainer.