Rollers built with wood and PVC?
 

http://www.baikbike.com/diy-bike-rollers/

I was thinking about building these, but I wanted some opinions on them first.
My main concern is with the wood in the rollers expanding and contracting at different rates than the metal bearings and loosening up over time.
Anyone have any experience with any rollers like this?
Thanks,
Scott

I see them used on cl all the time for about $50. Seems like a project for the fun of it more than anything else. Time & materials would probably be about the same IMHO.

I don't know anything about them but never thought rollers were terribly expensive so I agree with fender 1 that it makes sense only if you'd enjoy the process of making them.

FWIW, I made my own rollers when I was a kid. Dad was a steel saleman, and his customers were local factories. He asked one of his customers to give me some industrial conveyer belt rollers with two steel beams to attach them to. These rollers were about 5 feet wide, and weighed a lot. Two people could ride on them at once--barely. Super loud--like a jet taking off. They were fun to bring to roller parties.

Still have a set of old Cortinas, and a newer set of Performance. I should drag them out this winter.

Based on all the vibration, coupled with the load, I think bearing wear will be very rapid on the home made unit. But that is just a guess.

You would almost invariably get a better bang for you buck buying used rollers. If you want good quality, hold out for Kreitlers.

hmmmm ...end grain laminated Padauk turned on my lathe with precision roller bearings pressed into bronze bushing inserts...

uh, don't get me started.

Right now our local CL has a set of lightly used rollers that fold in thirds for storage and come with a case and they are asking $100. They come up pretty often and seem to sit a while. Unless you are just looking at this as a fun project, I'd find a used set.

I doubt those homemade rollers could last a season of hard use. The "low stretch" strap is a guaranteed weak link. I'd buy some used Tacx and move on.

The choice of strap is just plain weird.

+100 Instead of making rollers, pick them up used. I have bought a lot of trainers and rollers over the years, typically they have come as a package deal with a bike. I have one trainer left, sold a set of rollers a couple of months ago.