Originally Posted by
CharlyAlfaRomeo
Yes, I can. Mostly because I've been riding my whole life and racing for over 15 and while riding rollers no doubt helps with that, you're really talking about one skill. One skill that can't be used until you are mentally able to close to other riders.
In the grand scheme of things that's minute. Better than a trainer no doubt but you won't improve in the myriad of other areas encompassed under the umbrella of "bike handling skills" by riding rollers.
I want to really zero in on this comment because I think it is at the root of misunderstanding. I blame the emphasis on specificity from endurance power training that seems to seep into everything involved with cycling. Skills are not linear. It isn't like you have skill #1 and you use skill #1 in this, this, and this situation, and you have skill #2 and use it in that, that, and that situation. Skills are layered. Skill #1 enables skill #2. Skill #2 enables skill #3 which wraps back and reinforces skill #1. To use a trite phrase, you have to learn to walk before you learn to run (and once you learn to run, you probably also end up better at walking). Skills 1,2,3, etc. are used continuously every second you are on your bike.
Roller training aids in learning fine bike handling skills, which is a base skill for a lot of other bike handling skills. That's my only point. If it isn't something you are interested in learning, stick to the trainer.
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Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --
the tiniest sprinter