Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Sharkey75
12-09-09, 09:56 AM
Here in the Pacific Northwest the weather isn't always conducive for riding outside for about 5 months out of the year except on rare occasions when the sun does shine. In keeping with my goal to participate in and complete next July's
(S)eattle (T)o (P)ortland event which basically is a double century ride that typically 10,000 riders compete in every year, I purchased a set of Sportcrafter rollers. I had borrowed a set of 4-1/2" Kreitler rollers just to get the feel of rollers and see if it was something I could and would use. After deciding that I like the consept I decided on the Sportcrafters based on price and good reviews. What I didn't like about the rollers in general, was that they were difficult to get started on, even with them positioned in a door way because they were so high off the ground. So I decided to build a platform to bring "the road" up to the height of the top of the rollers and incorporate "sissy bars" for safety sake in the event of a "ride off". More like the eventuallity of "ride off". Utilizing some 2 X 4s and a sheet of 3/4" particle board and some stairway railing material, here is what I came up with. It's positioned in my garage so that any noise doesn't disturb the rest of the household. The railing supports run from the 4 corners of the platform up to the rafters and are a secure support for them. I had some leftover scraps from which I built a support for a TV (Now I can train and watch videos of the Tour de France for inspiration) and to hold a fan to keep me from persperation and overheating. So far it's working out nicely although I haven't as yet completely mastered the art of watching TV and staying centered on the rollers. (Thank god for the railings!) Sorry for the disarray of the garage.
(S)eattle (T)o (P)ortland event which basically is a double century ride that typically 10,000 riders compete in every year, I purchased a set of Sportcrafter rollers. I had borrowed a set of 4-1/2" Kreitler rollers just to get the feel of rollers and see if it was something I could and would use. After deciding that I like the consept I decided on the Sportcrafters based on price and good reviews. What I didn't like about the rollers in general, was that they were difficult to get started on, even with them positioned in a door way because they were so high off the ground. So I decided to build a platform to bring "the road" up to the height of the top of the rollers and incorporate "sissy bars" for safety sake in the event of a "ride off". More like the eventuallity of "ride off". Utilizing some 2 X 4s and a sheet of 3/4" particle board and some stairway railing material, here is what I came up with. It's positioned in my garage so that any noise doesn't disturb the rest of the household. The railing supports run from the 4 corners of the platform up to the rafters and are a secure support for them. I had some leftover scraps from which I built a support for a TV (Now I can train and watch videos of the Tour de France for inspiration) and to hold a fan to keep me from persperation and overheating. So far it's working out nicely although I haven't as yet completely mastered the art of watching TV and staying centered on the rollers. (Thank god for the railings!) Sorry for the disarray of the garage.