TechKnowGN

So, a buddy from work had a set of rollers laying unused in his basement, and asked me if I wanted them. This is the same guy who gave me his old bike when mine was stolen. Of course I jumped at the chance. The first night I got about 1 minute of riding in comparison to 20 minutes of falling. Last night, I managed to do a bit better, as I put the trailler by a wall and moved the couch to be my other falling protection. Still only managed about 5 minutes at a time, but thats a pretty big jump, telling me I'm going to be able to get this.

My question relates to tire pressure; it seems that I want very high pressure for this riding. Usually I am around 100 front/110 rear. It seems that I'll want even higher for this exercise. Anyone have any roller experience and how worried I should be by pushing my tire pressure right up to max?

cyclist2000

You need to set up a video camera when you start using these things.

I always use max pressure when riding on a trainer or rollers. on the old trainers I used to have the side wall wear out. I think this was due to the flex.

CliftonGK1

I use trainer tires (Zaffiro Pro Home Trainer) for the rollers and I keep 'em at 5 - 7psi above max inflation. Rollers do less damage to tires (from what I've noticed) than fixed axle trainers since there's natural weight distribution rather than a roller held to the tire with a spring. I think the heat dissipation is better with rollers because you're not fixed to the same contact patch all the time.

Try putting the rollers in a doorframe so you can use your elbows/forearms as bumpers to keep yourself upright without having to start/stop or take your hands off the bars to catch yourself in case of misalignment.

TechKnowGN

cyclist2000 - why a video camera? You're the second person to mention this. I dont understand. Just the comic factor of me falling? LOL

Clifton - We don't really have a good door frame for this as far as I can tell I think theyre all too wide but I might give that a try. I found that so far I cant ride on the hoods and would be way to scared to even try the drops yet. How long did it take you to get used to yours? Do you still do it in a doorway? Id love to get to where I can do it in front of the TV. I almost got back on it tonight to get more time, but I had to get a run in, and wound up running too soon after dinner so the indigestion is preventing me from doing anything else tonight.

CliftonGK1

It took me about 10 sessions of riding in the doorway before I was comfortable on them to not need support. A bathroom doorway is a perfect width usually.
Now I just use a stepstool off to one side and I clip in one foot, get going while stabilizing myself on the bench with the other foot, then clip the second foot in. I use 'em in front of my computer and watch Netflix. I can ride hoods, tops, drops, grab a bottle (not as easy as you'd think!) and I've even managed to go no hands for 3 - 4 seconds.

TechKnowGN

I literally cannot imagine grabbing a bottle. Im thinking this will be the way I'll learn aero, because i'll eventually put bars on, and get an aero bottle to drink out of so i dont have to worry about reaching for one. The stool idea sounds like a good one.

Neil_B

CliftonGK1

See the dude in the video? RULE #1: DO NOT stare at your front wheel. YOU WILL FALL DOWN.

Pick a spot about 10 -15' in front of yourself, or a spot on the wall where you can see your front wheel alignment but you're not staring at it.

CraigB

^^ Man, that is scarier than I ever could have imagined without seeing it (or trying it myself).

Neil_B

I should have added the dude is BF poster permanentjuan. He got the rollers after this:

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/4176

Wogster

This is why I use a TRAINER instead of rollers....

edbikebabe

It's not that scary OR that hard.

Relax the grip on the bars, stay on the hoods at first, keep both hands on the bar & PEDAL SMOOTHLY. You'll be fine. Oh yeah, a doorway would have been a good idea too...

LongT

I concur, relax, don't grip the bars too tightly, smooth pedaling action, don't steer the bike with the bars just a little weight shift in the direction that you want the bike to go, DON'T lean just a little hip tilt is usually enough (think riding on ice), DON'T STARE at the front wheel - pick a spot out in front of you.

I used to be able to take a t-shirt off, ride no hands looking up at the ceiling. Someone told me that was a good thing to do?!? I couldn't now but I rode rollers a lot then. I once watched a Dolphins/Chargers game. Figured I'd just watch the second half. Went into overtime, kept riding and riding. When it finally was over I could barely walk upstairs. One of the longer games in NFL history.

Have fun. You'll get the hang of it!

Bill

CliftonGK1

It's really not that bad if you do it in a doorway.

Homeyba

I get board on them so I set them up in front of the TV and watch a good movie in-between intervals. As far as tire pressure goes, I usually run them at or near the max but if I want a really good workout I will lower the pressure to around 80psi. You'll be working hard real soon.

TechKnowGN

Well its not in a doorway, but its still by the wall. I replaced the couch with a chair to stand on for getting on the bike and that made getting started significantly easier. I was able to do about 15 minutes tonight. I did 8 minutes straight at one point and would have gone longer if I had remembered to put my gloves on. Definitely a good workout. I still need to get the tire pressure up a bit. If I let the pressure hit 80, I could guarantee a pinch flat LOL.

RhythmRider

or you could be this good!

TechKnowGN

That dude touches the wall like once. Ridiculous. My balance is no where near that good. But it's continuing to get easier.

Passage4

I have a new respect for anyone that can use one of those. Wow! I had never seen one before.

CliftonGK1

I've been riding rollers for a while and I'm nowhere near what that guy does. Here's some tips on his tricks, though: Bigger rollers == easier control. It's lower resistance and you can spin a higher gear, so the bike gyros more heavily and stays fairly stable. I use 3.75" drums, which is big enough to control easily, but enough resistance that I can ride my 44/18 fixie and still get a workout at 90 - 100rpm.

I can do the one foot, and on a good day I can go no-hands for 3 - 4 seconds, I've done the stop/start before but I wouldn't claim that I could do it repeatedly and on purpose. My best trick is just staying upright and not falling off the sides.

CraigB

I like the guy's daughter's comment at the start - "Dad, you're such a dork!"

Rhodabike

When I had rollers, I used to set them up in a doorway so that my forearms were level with the door frame. That way I could bounce from forearm to forearm to get myself back on track.
Stick with it, it gets better with practice.

CliftonGK1

+1. See my vid above. That's exactly the advice I was given when I started out, and it works like a charm.

qmsdc15

I rescued old rusty rollers from someone's trash on the curb almost twenty years ago. I rarely use them, but they are fun! Good workout. I don't understand the need for mag or fan resistance. I can up shift and it never gets too easy. I can't spin out my highest gear.

MVclyde

Yeah, but can you solve Rubick's Cube while riding the rollers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WknKGLMs6oU