Originally Posted by runningDoc

small diameter aluminum rollers are pretty much the most bare boned and difficult to learn to ride. but they offer the most reward because of the balance/concentration/smooth pedals stroke needed to do them well. the operative word is ICY. riding on ice.

they seem to be all of the same quality. I have the nashbar small diameter Alu rollers. I've tried the performance versions and also the cyclops. as long as they are new and the small drum/flat aluminum they all are pretty much the same.

its the plastic/pvc drum rollers that differ. they have ones that are concave (send you to the center of the drum always), ones that are wider thicker, ect. some are wicked loud and annoying, some are quiet ect.

the most addicting rollers you'll ever ride are the Free Motion ones (yup the ones that are near $1000). They're very expensive but are so easy to just hop on and start riding (because of the free motion). You can still get the smooth pedal stroke but not really have to concentrate at all during the ride (doing things like riding one handed/drinking with the waterbottle from a cage/standing up and hammering [smoothly of course] are very easy to do on the free motion.

you can actually do all those things on small drum aluminum rollers easily with practice as well, but the chance of just falling on your face is always a greater distinct possibility with the small drum AL rollers - even when you've got them down pat.