Originally Posted by
dmb2786
1) keeps your front wheel turning so you can balance by turning handlebars like you do on the road.
Not quite. On a bike, you don't actually balance yourself by turning the handlebars - rather, it's about where your weight is. So on rollers (just as on the real road), you maintain balance by shifting your weight. Now I don't want to get into angular velocity and gyroscopic properties and such, but basically your front wheel has to spin for you to be able to control the bike and keep it upright on the rollers.
That being said, try things out and let us know how it goes! (don't forget the video camera...and some health insurance

)