Road Cycling - Recommendations on Rollers

At the risk of crashing a lot in the comfort of my home, I'm looking to purchase a set of rollers for indoor training this winter (get exercise + improve handling skills). I am new to cycling and know nothing about rollers.

Can anyone recommend a brand and model of high quality but reasonably priced rollers?

Also, I'm considering buying used rollers off ebay. Are rollers the type of product that I will be satisified with if I buy used?

Finally, I keep hearing that it's good to watch videos while training. Would be interested in those recommendations also.

Thanks much!

- Pfoot

Not sure if these are resonably priced...but I own and recommend Kreitler rollers. http://www.kreitler.com/

They are high quality and last. I pulled mine out after 5 years and they are still perfect. I have always heard complaints from people with cheaper rollers. I definitely wouldn't buy cheap rollers used off ebay. I have the Kreitler Dyno Myte with aluminum drums...the aluminum drums have a lot to do with them lasting. I believe cheaper rollers don't use metal.

i have some minoura ones that are about 10 years old. metal drums, still running fine.

Pfoot - I just got some from Performance - their Travel Trac Velodrome Parabolic rollers. They look like so:
http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/400/40_1667.jpg
and can be found here: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17569&subcategory_ID=4121#

I honestly can't tell you about dependability since I just got them (with the fork mount too - so I can use them in more of a trainer configuration). But they're on sale and seem to be made fairly well. I haven't even tried them without the fork mount yet - I have to make sure my insurance is paid up first! :D They do say to be sure not to leave them in direct sunlight as the PVC drums can warp, but for a beginner's setup they seem decent. And Performance is good about taking stuff back if you don't like 'em...

Try to find some local. The shipping charges may sour an Ebay deal.

If you can swing the cost, I would avoid the non-metal rollers. My set was ignored for quite awhile and I don't think they are necessarily warrped, but they aren't all that smooth, either. Plus, I am wearking a groove in the center of the back rollers.

You can get parabolic rollers to sort of help you stay on them. Haven't used them before, but I suppose anything that helps you to avoid falling can't be all bad. MMPC's pic has the parabolic kind.

If I were to do it again, I would suck it up and buy a set of Kreitlers that can take the headwind fan. Then I would start saving for the head wind fan.

I'm with Borg on this one. Krietler are simply the best, but they are a lifetime investment. They will last that long or Al Krietler, from Iowa, will fix them. They come in three models as I recall. The principal difference is the diameter of the drums. The smaller the diameter, the more difficult or more resistance they provide. He also makes somthing called the Killer Head Wind. Self descriptive. It is a fan unit that you power via the rollers, cools you, and also creates drag or resistance. Depending on how far you open the baffle on the side, you can vary the resistance.

I think that point about looking for a used pair on Ebay is a good one, assuming that all the obvious things check out.

I'm with Borg on this one. Krietler are simply the best, but they are a lifetime investment.

And I'm with Fox Farm. My Kreitler PVCs are 22 years old and have a bizillion miles on them. OK, maybe not a bizillion, but probably 10-15,000 at least.

I would agree on trying to get metal rollers, and if the price is right (consider shipping as mentioned) this is probably a perfect item to buy used.

It takes a while to get used to rollers so I can see a lot of folks not wanting to put in the effort and just looking to dump a pair with next to no mileage on them. Stick out learning how to ride 'em and you'll be a happy and better cyclist.

They do say to be sure not to leave them in direct sunlight as the PVC drums can warp, but for a beginner's setup they seem decent. And Performance is good about taking stuff back if you don't like 'em...

I left my rollers in the garage. The small amount of sunlight that was coming through the window warped them, and badly. I highly recommend spending the extra money on METAL.

Got it.

I'm gonna get Kreitlers, and I'm gonna get metal. Maybe used. And, I'm gonna get rollers - not a trainer - and deal with the crashing, dogs under the couch and everything else. By the time spring comes around, I'll hopefully be able to do group rides (I'm new) without endangering the rest of you.

Thanks.

- Pfoot