I also have a rear wheel trainer, but never use it. I've been riding rollers for years and would never give them up. The benefit (in addition to your regular bike and computer) is that you really need a smooth cadence to really get cranking. You can hammer or strictly puimp down without losing control, so after a winter on the rollers you'll find your spin smoother and faster than its ever been. Everything else here is on the money - use the door or shelf to learn, forget worrying about falling, and you DO NOT go into a launch when you fall...you have plenty of time to steady yourself. The most important thing to get used to is pedal fast! Its like riding on the curb or a line in the pavement...you need forward speed.