Choosing rollers depends on what you want to get out of it. There's lots of options - mag resistance, wind resistance, no resistance, various size drums provide different levels of resistance and momentum. I chose the Kreitler 4.5" drums with alloy end caps and a Killer Headwind unit. I can adjust the fan for the amount of resistance I want and the rollers are solid as a rock and smooth as a baby's bottom. Some days I'll use very little resistance and try to keep my cadence high, some days I'll use a lot of resistance and it feels like a 30 minute hill climb (Killer workout form the Killer Headwind!). I got a great price buying online from shop in NY (it's been a few years, maybe Long Island) which I couldn't pass up.
Back in the 80s/90s I had a set of Minoura magrollers and like the name implies had magnetic resistance. They were much less expensive than the Kreitlers and did not have nearly the level of quality in bearings and smoothness on the drums, but they were pretty decent and I got a lot of great workouts on them. The Kreitlers will last a lifetime.

Good luck with your search

Yes, those are the ones I use. Whenever I have less than an hour and no high intensity intervals to work on, I hop on those instead of the trainer. Quicker to set up, help with handling skills, and make the workout feel harder than it really is. They do fold down really small and it doesn't take any time to fold/extend them, but I just leave them open and roll them under a couch for storage. If I could only choose one I'd stick to the smart trainer but I like using the rollers once in a while too.

But how do you manipulate the Strava data on rollers to get a higher average speed?

Double magnets.

Righto. That's the thing about resistance rollers: I run my regular road tires at regular road pressure, 80 front, 100 rear, 23mm Conti 4000 IIs. The limited resistance of even resistance rollers is not an issue for me because I don't sprint on my rollers anyway. Sprinting on a trainer is also pretty much a waste of time. They have plenty of resistance for Z5 workouts though, so good for warmup. This is how the pros can use rollers to warm up on their race bikes.

What's the best way to mount double magnets so that my average speed is highest in Zwift? Should they be on consecutive spokes, or opposite sides of the wheel?

I would love to wear my chain out on my rollers. Whole bike, for that matter. We should live so long! Practically speaking, my wife has an 8 speed chain on her trainer bike. She hasn't ridden it outside in 10 years. Chain still doesn't show much wear.

If you're restricted to two, then do opposite sides. For max gainage go for 36 magnets and put one on each spoke.

If you put them near the rim, they'll add resistance too,

but that could slow you down...

Wait, what was this thread about?

Video showing Minoura AC Pro rollers.

Pretty quiet, & after sprint, the rider coasts for 4 or 5 seconds.



Another one- background noise, but showing drills, & coasting.

Being my SoCal raised kid is now living where the highs are below freezing roller riding is different. We spoke about it this weekend.
They were for the purpose of warming up, travel and skill and most sessions were 20-30min. Now he said he's watching movies while riding and that can be 1:20-2:00 hours. Asked if he wanted his Kreitler's sent he said no, they take too much concentration and he uses someone else's that are wider and have the radius on the drums so you won't fall off. Mentioned that he gets lost in the movie and that stops him from falling sometimes. He is riding the tubulars on them (argh) but they are the 28mm so we shall see if they stay together.
No interest in resistance.

Nashbar Parabolic Rollers


I'm pretty happy with this set of parabolic rollers from Nashbar. It's a great starter set and hard to beat for $120

I just recently got on my rollers again after using them for the first time last winter. I mostly bought them due to time constraints with a full time job and family, otherwise you can get away with year round riding in Texas. I commented on here how strange it felt with little to no resistance and UnfilteredDregs (where is that guy?) mentioned lowering the psi in your tires to get more resistance. It really works. Put my 32mm tires down to 40 psi and it was enough to put my HR in zone 3 where it really shouldn't have been. Tried 50 psi last night and it was just right for zone 2 spinning with some resistance. You could also change gears.

For sure, if you want structured workouts that require variable resistance, then definitely get resistance. Though at that point, a trainer would probably be better if you could control it from your bars and really concentrate on the wattage without worrying about falling off. But for me, rollers are more about riding form and easy zone 2 workouts in the comfort of my kitchen. I still aim for actual weekend rides, even in the dead of winter. (Pending scheduling restraints. Having a new baby this year has made it tough.)

EDIT: I forgot. I bought Tacx Antares rollers. Don't buy those. They work for me, but are not perfect and took work to make them work properly. If I were going to do it again, I'd spend realy money on Kreitlers and be done with it. Or maybe the nashbar/performance ones with aluminum drums as a budget option.

Rollers are something to keep simple.

I like my Sportcrafters Overdrive Pro rollers.

I have the inertia drum as well.

Soooo.........For basic form and base miles I just roll with the regular drums and the inertia drum.

If I want to do intervals I swap in the resistance drum...

and it kicks my ass. It's great.

Nothing like getting out on the road and having the super cardio.

Simple. I paid $425.00 on sale.

Best cycling money I've ever spent.

If I wanted variable resistance to simulate some particular training then I'd probably go for a trainer. For the rollers I like the k.i.s.s. method. I just air down the tires a bit, works just fine, and free. I couldn't see spending multiple hundreds unless you were a competitive racer, for me $100 on a good set off the local craigslist will get me through the winter and maintain a decent base just fine.

You're speaking my language Stew.

Anyone have experience with Axiom?

https://newlondon.craigslist.org/bop/5871400409.html

There's 3'' Krietlers on criagslist @ $350, could be done for under $300, but I don't believe I would use them enough to justify that for myself.

Variable resistance on a set of resistance rollers is real simple: you shift gears. If you can find a set of used plain rollers with aluminum drums, it's easy to add resistance with magnets:
https://www.bikeforums.net/19161496-post12.html
https://www.amazon.com/CMS-Magnetics...dp/B000UEBF00/

Yes of course if you have gears I assume you know to use them. Most of the time I just use my top gear (you're more stable on rollers with faster wheel speed), I was referring to resistance greater than that. But for me, using the gears, airing down the tires a bit, and using fairly small diameter rollers (I don't know their measurements but they are small) is plenty of resistance available. But I don't follow any particular regiment, or need 'smart' functions, I just use em to keep my base going and I watch tv while riding.

I have always been partial to my first set of rollers, made by Weyless. I didn't have the foot stands or the speedometer/odometer. Maybe that's why I've always preferred rollers shorn of frills.

I ride my rollers leaving myself a couple of extra gears. I like to watch hockey, football, or basketball while riding. I just spin away watching the game, then when a commercial comes on, I drop to the hardest gear and do a 2-3 minute sprint until the game comes back. It's a nice interval workout that is not super structured and just keeps my legs moving during the snowy season.

That's a good workout plan.

Fortunately, baseball isn't a winter sport-

you'd fall asleep & ride off the rollers before the commercial.