Originally Posted by
50PlusCycling
I've had no balance issues on bikes, I've been riding bicycles since I was 6, and motorcycles from the age of 12. When riding on the road, I balance and change direction by shifting my weight, and this shift is done by my mid to upper body. On rollers, subtle shifts in weight result in large lateral movements, so I tend to shift weight lower down, in my hips. Roller workouts seem to work this into muscle memory, and when I get back on the road, I find that my hips and lower body are unconsciously working to maintain balance, making me steadier without any other effort. It's hard to explain, but I've always been able to ride a bike steadily, but rollers make it rock steady.
I rode rollers in the off-season from the mid-'70's until the first Racer-Mate trainer hit the market, about 10 years later. A tip: riding no hands on rollers looks trick but is actually easier than riding with hands on the bars.
I've always been skeptical that roller riding skills transfer to the road. The majority of the racers I competed with over the years never rode rollers and yet had no trouble holding their line in tight pelotons while maneuvering at high speed. Being yelled at for goofy riding is all most people need to be motivated to clean up their bike handling in a hurry.