flip18436572

I did 65 miles today or a little over a metric century. My goal is to get to a full century on the rollers, before the snow is off the roads. I would say it is harder for me to get it done on rollers than on the road. There is way too much resistance using a roller setup, and there is no coasting.

RB1-luvr

that is hard core.

HandsomeRyan

Sweet. I hate riding my trainer but I would like to ride a MC by this summer. Keep up the good training and you should have no problem one you are out on the open road.

joelpalmer

Nice. For anyone here who didn't see it Fatty from FatCyclist.com recently bet the blog readers he could do a full century on his rollers. It was being done (as a lot of his things are) as a LAF fundraiser and he ended up just over (101.66). Fatty mentions the same thing as the OP - there's no downhill resting on rollers so it feels tougher. I put the link in because I'm one of the "suckers" he mentions. I admit I didn't think he could do it and did a dollar per mile bet, rather than the $25.00 he suggested. Oh well, it's for a good cause.

flip18436572

I bet I could do the 100 mile ride on rollers, but I would definitely take breaks to stretch my legs and get some extra fluids and some calories into my body. I had to get off the rollers twice in the 65 miles today.

To the other posters, I didn't think it was that hard core, but more of a way for me to push myself and to make up miles from the days of being without a bike in 2008 while I was getting my frame replaced, because of a toasted bottom bracket. And, I honestly think I could do 65 miles on the road much easier than I did on the rollers. I mean we have small hills in Iowa, but then I would get some out of the seat riding time and that helps also. I would have to caryy some CLIF bars with me and pick up some extra water somewhere.

RB1-luvr

I would probably have to get off more than twice in 65 miles. I'm going to see if my buddy will try this with me. I emailed him to see if he'll bring the rollers to my house. Would be nice to have someone else to break up the monotony. Would that be cheating? (chuckle)

Caincando1

You rock! I think I'm pretty cool when I do 35 miles on my trainer....

flip18436572

I like to ride my rollers in a doorway. I am pretty sure I wouldn't want someone beside me on another set of rollers. I could see the domino effect happening. I think it would make it easier though to have someone else there with me. Today it was the news and then I watched an old Star Wars (III) dvd.

I don't know how I would do on a trainer. I bought rollers cheap on a craigslist ad I placed in the late summer/early fall time frame thinking I could get one cheap then and it worked out for me. I paid $50 for a nice large roller setup. I have thought about building/fabricating a holder for the front end, do I could use the rollers like a trainer and actually let go of the bars to change positions completely.

JohnKScott

Wow. Pretty cool. The most I have done on my trainer is 35 miles (about 2 hours rolling terrain). The problem with the trainer is the bike doesn't move and it's even harder on me bum than riding on the road. I make it a point to get up out of the saddle every so often. Helps get my HR up anyway . However, if I ever have a day to myself this winter at home, I may try a century on the trainer.

flip18436572

That is why I like rollers instead of a trainer. This way I have to keep my balance, and I hopefully improve my riding skills at the same time.

JohnKScott

Yeah, I hear ya about the rollers. I do like my trainer though. I love the video courses and the near real feel of terrain changes. Plus the ability to monitor my power over the winter. I actually rode Alpe d'Huez yesterday. Climbed it in 52:44. Well, actually it was Alpe d'Huez light . My Travel Trac RealAxiom really only seems to simulate up to about a 6.5% grade well. Anything over that doesn't feel much harder. So I figured rather than climbing the 3,600 ft in 8 miles I only climbed about 2,900 or so. I can live with that

Might add rollers one day for a different type of work out. I certainly can see the benefit.

RB1-luvr

i rode the actual Alpe d'Huez in 1:07 and 1:05 two days in a row in July 2004. It's a killer. I didn't train much for it. I'd like to try it again, I'm much more fit now.

flip18436572

I have thought about adding a trainer, but I would probably have to buy that brand new, and with my current financial situation, I don't see that happening. I would like to try someone's trainer that is hooked up like your setup to see if it is something I would enjoy or not.

superslomo

Good luck... I believe it's certainly doable, I just wouldn't want to do it, given how much I hate trainer riding.

If you ever want to buy one, PM me, and we'll see what we can work out

flip18436572

Superslomo -

What to you have for a trainer and how do you have it hooked to a computer for tracking what is actually being done?

MillCreek

Kreitler, Cycleops and Minoura all make fork stands for rollers, at around $ 90-100. I have one for when the SO uses my rollers, or for those days that I just want to mindlessly pedal along rather than worrying about balance. Some of the hardcore roller users sneer at those who use fork stands. This does not distress me.

CastIron

I have rollers. I really wish I had the discipline to ride them for an hour, much less three.

flip18436572

Yeah, but 1/2" square tubing is about 1/8th that price and I can use it on other projects also. Plus I can make it the way I want it. I still don't know if it is something I will do or not.

flip18436572

Displine - errrrrrrr - stupidity********************


You choose!!!!

My wife says the latter.

JohnKScott

That would be fun. I suspect I'd do it slower than you did for real . I didn't see any double digit grades on my trainer . I'm sure chugging those out would take a lot out of me. But I'll bet I could make it at least .

Not sure I'll ever get the chance to try though...

jaxgtr

Wow, I have a hard time doing 20 on the trainer, I can't imagine doing 65.

flip18436572

Jaxgtr, I wish I had Florida weather and no hills to ride in also. The only hill I remember in Florida was when we were crossing bridges.

I don't know that Florida is the exact place I want to live, but it sure was a nice place to visit.

superslomo

Not hooked up to the computer, the regular bike computer is driven off the rear wheel, so that tracks it in terms of distance/time/speed etc.

I have a Mac, and aside from not wanting to spend the money on a computrainer, I don't think they make one that plays nicely with MacOSX. The trainer I do have is the CycleOps Fluid 2.

flip18436572

OK, then what about the people who are doing the "Alpe d'Huez" and other rides? Are they just watch a DVD and changing the settings**********

I don't know how they work, so I am curious.

Sorry about you being on a MAC. I really thought a MAC would be better for some of those things.

jaxgtr

You hill description is correct sir.