Training & Nutrition - Rollers or Trainer

Ok im at it again, if you had to choose one, which would you choose and why? Also, which trainer/rollers are you using.

thanks

Both.
Trainer for training in the winter.
Rollers for bike handling improvement.
I own Kurt Kinetic fluid and am looking for 4.5 in alloy kreitler rollers.

I love the KK trainer.

i dont have either, so why the heck am i responding? i dont know. but i voted trainer. i plan to pick up the KK soon. later.

I voted for the rollers, because I think it makes you work better at your riding than sitting still on trainer. You have to work hard on the rollers and then you also have to keep your balance. It will make you work better and smarter than just sitting still on a trainer.

I've got rollers and I love them, even though I don't use them very much.

I'd kill for a set of these: e-motion rollers (http://www.insideride.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=36) Check out the videos section...

-Erik

I've got rollers and I love them, even though I don't use them very much.

I'd kill for a set of these: e-motion rollers (http://www.insideride.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=36) Check out the videos section...

-Erik

+1 on the e-motion rollers.

Both.

Trainer for the days I want to watch a movie or play the PS3 and the rollers for normal training. :)

+1 on the e-motion rollers.

ya if you have $800+ to throw at one, but I'd save the $$ for new wheels.

I have seen the video before when it was posted at FriedQuads.com.

I would hope to be able to spend the money on something else first. Very good idea though.

Performance rollers with resistance unit. Can't sprint on them, or at least can't sprint on them yet, but when sprinting season comes I'll be riding outside anyway. They also don't have quite have enough resistance to do muscle tension intervals, but have enough for low cadence tempo training. I've tried a trainer, but wasn't comfortable with the bike held still like that, plus boring. When you ride out of the saddle on rollers, you can move the bike, much more natural and good training for riding in a straight line while standing.

damn, those e-motion rollers are nice

In case any of you guys think that you can't sprint on "normal" rollers, here's a chart where I've hit ~40 MPH on the rollers (performance bike rollers). These were more like accelerations, I guess, then true sprints. At 40 MPH, my rear tire wanted to start flaring out to the side, but all you do is slow down:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/Misc/40mphrollers.jpg

Craptastic Nashbar trainer. Which I absolutely hate. It's the main reason I built up a fully-fendered rain bike last winter.

trainers are so boring compared to rollers... once you get good at rollers, it's not difficult to stay balanced, but it is much more fun and feels like you're actually riding... when i want my rollers to be tougher I just stuff a towel underneath one of the rollers, add more towel layers for more "hill simulation" and then pop in breaking away or some other entertainment

I don't see the point of choosing between the two. They serve different purposes and having both is not that expensive unless you insist on the best.

I don't see the point of choosing between the two. They serve different purposes and having both is not that expensive unless you insist on the best.

this is true, but as of now i want to either get a decent set of rollers or a decent trainer and don't really have the bank for it now. I don't mind spending a lot of money as long as i know im getting a good product. but i fi cna get both that are quality pieces for a good price, thats even better :)

main reason i was leaning towards rollers was 1. my technique is horrible and 2. i don't have to deal with mounting and unmounting as im training both indoors and outdoors.

but as for the trainer, i could study my school notes, work on the computer, and build up my stength a bit better i think.

I know either way ill end up getting both, just wondering which is coming first

Rollers. Otherwise I ride outside. I invested in cold weather gear.

-D

None of the above. I bike commute too much to need them.

Have you posted on craigslist?

You can usually get used rollers for $50.00 or less and a used trainer for under $100. I could have purchased 4 used rollers for $50 or less and 6 used trainers for under $75, when I posted up about it 2 months ago on our local craigslist site.

I'm looking to get one only because I become a bigger p**** with the cold every year. Also I'm moving to a new area with a lot of hills, and not sure how I feel about the possibility of black ice while flying down a hill. So I'll only be using it in the winter and on rare occasions in the summer, during a really bad storm for example. And even in the winter, if the roads are clear and it isn't REALLY cold, I'll still probably just ride outside before work in the mornings.

I hate training indoors period, so I'll probably be REALLY bored on either. So I'll def have the TV on while I'm training.

So what do guys think I should go with?

Hi,
casual cyclists should start by getting a trainer and a couple dvds from Spinervals.
I suggest the first one to be Sweating Buckets. After you try that, you will have a handle on what they are like and what their rating system means.

Nashbar has a fluid trainer that has a very nice rep, and it's almost always on sale. I use a Kurt Kinetics, but there are a lot of nice trainers out there now. Just pick the flavor that suits you.

If you are competitive, jump straight to the Kreitler rollers. If not, you can get rollers later.

You will want a cheap rug or pad underneath, a place near the TV, and a fan on a stand.

Then that would put me on the fence.

I did a mini tour a few years back. For the last few years I did 3-4 days a week. About 7 miles before work, and then a 15-20ish mile ride on the weekend, even all winter. This past year, I really didn't ride much during the week, but I got my first road bike, and did a lot more miles on the weekend, including my first century, and a few 40-50 mile rides.

So I guess that makes me semi competitive?

I guess once you get used to them watching the tube while on rollers isn't really a big deal.

since getting my rollers i only use the trainer for 1legs. doing 1legs on the rollers gives my upper body more work out than the legs trying to hold myself up by the wall

since getting my rollers i only use the trainer for 1legs. doing 1legs on the rollers gives my upper body more work out than the legs trying to hold myself up by the wall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wME5NTriTco

you can use rollers for 1 leg, it looks disgustingly hard, but it seems possible

He makes that look easy, and I don't even like taking one hand off to grab a towel to wipe the sweat off. I will work on getting better at that.