TheEnthusiast

As we all know, its the dead of winter, and I'm in the ***hole of it all here in southern Missouri. I'm dying for Spring to come sooner so that I can take my old restored ten speeds out for a spin. Well I need some advice on how to make a bicycle roller at home because its way to cold and windy outside. I don't know if that's what they call them but it has one roller in the front and two in the back.


Thanks guys,
Ricky

bikeman715

Here try this https://www.ehow.com/way_5894467_diy-...e-rollers.html . It should give you some idea what you need and do .

mattheis

Just buy one of these : https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...72_-1___202607
Ive been using mine for 2 years without any problem, and Nashbar has extended their Free Shipping until today, even on oversized products. Unless you're looking for more winter projects to do than just ride : )

mconlonx

3 rolling pins, 1 10' 2 x 4, and an old innertube with the valve cut out.

HillRider

Rollers, like a lot of exercise equipment, are bough by many well-intended people who use them a few times, decide it's too much like work and want to sell them. Check out Craigslist or similar sites and you can probably find a decent set for sale at a very low price.

himespau 

Huh, that never would have occurred to me.

Maddy Lighter

i really like homemade bikes...

woodcraft

fietsbob

what kind of machine/hand/woodworking tools are in your shop..?

Rollers need ro be turned smooth and accurately round, even if you make end caps for plastic tube, the combined drum should be turned as a whole...


have a plywood veneer making sawmill? they stop at a certain point. and leave a pretty cylindrical log..




....

HillRider

I believe most commercial rollers have a saddle-shape taper from both ends to the middle so they help keep the bike centered in use. Completely cylindrical rollers are more difficult to ride.

fietsbob

'most'?, some do, some are straight cylinders, yes, demanding you pay attention..

OP have a wood lathe to turn 3 food long logs?

DrIsotope

Ou can get 2" diameter, 16" wide steel rollers with 265lb weigh ratings on McMaster for $12 each. Go up to 2.5" diameter, and they're all of $14 each.

But I think best choice, 1.9" rollers with a V-belt groove, $13-18 depending on width. 265lb capacity.

I'm intrigued by this, as I've wanted to try rollers, but the reviews on the lower-end models are never very encouraging. The only investment for me would be in the rollers, as I have a full shop-- and if the rollers never get used for the bike, I can always put them to work as an outfeed extension for my tablesaw.

fietsbob

As seen at one of the Dealer/manufacturer trade shows , like interbike, for their display,

a MTB company made a set of rollers out of saw logs, but is was as a humorous visual thing ..

would be quite un usable ,


..

Bill in VA

I have an old set of Cinelli rollers. They are 4" in diameter steel drums. The prior owner put two strips of black tape on the center with about a 3-4" gap. That is for aligning the front tire. The smaller the roller diameter, the faster the front wheel will move side-to-side due to small steering movement. I can assure you things go south fast if you swerve a bit on rollers. Plus they can be very hard on tires due to the force on the tire on a small contact patch. Keep your tires hard. A good idea is to get 2 low stools for each side for your feet. Mounting and dismounting is a very necessary, but acquired skill.

A LBS owner used to have a set of Japanese Keirin rollers that had 13" diameter wooden block rollers. They were easy to ride (compared to mine) and you could ride fast. He once did a 24 hour charity ride on them. They were very quiet, unlike my Cinellis which were loud, rumbly things even with properly lubed and adjusted bearings.

Good luck. The Nashbar ones look foldable, a big plus.

When the trainers came, I stopped using the rollers.

thumpism 

That was Moots, about 1990.