I just got done spending a significant amount of money on winter cycling gear. Unfortunately the ground is covered with ice and snow now and nothing is going to get me to ride on that kind of surface. I am looking to buy either a trainer or rollers to use when days are bad like this. I have read millions of posts and I want to know which will be better. It seems that the consensus is that a trainer is better for building strength and doing CV workouts but that rollers will help my spinning technique. I also hear that there will be a point when there wont be enough resistance from rollers. I am a college student on a budget so I want to buy the cheapest thing that will allow me to still get a good workout. Which am I better going with. I see performance has the ascent trainer for about 80$ (add in another 15$ for the bike thong and front wheel jack that I would buy with it) and they also have the bottom of the line alloy rollers for about 110$. These would both be within my budget. Any advise is welcome.
~Nick

P.S. I plan on competing for my 1st season this upcoming spring and want to take training very seriously this winter. I am working on a resitance training schedule and all of those recomend trainers as a supplementary workout.

Rollers have never failed me in the strength department really. Sure I have less resistance than with a trainer, but I do come away with a 32mph average after a good hour long workout on the rollers, dripping buckets of sweat with sore quads, so they are doing something. That being said, I do now vary my winter workout between rollers and a trainer. Two days strength training on the trainer (its better for intervals) and 3 days on the rollers practicing my spin and technique. I really like that the rollers take some concentration and also give my upper body a little bit of a workout--I can tell on our group rides in the spring who has been on rollers and who has been on trainers. The guys with huge legs and zero efficiency that are weaving like its their job are the guys on the trainers... the guys on the rollers however are smooth and efficient, though maybe not as powerful through the climbs and sprints.

You think if I combined rollers with a good resistance training program (leg weights and the proper upper body workout) I can come away with the best of both worlds? Also, I could use a bike machine as a substitute for a trainer, even though I don't like doing workouts in front of everyone else. Also are the rollers here good enough. Honestly I am going to avoid using whatever I get as much as possible as I plan to ride outdoors as much as possible. The next step up is about 30-40$ more and with my budget thats a lot.
~Nick

They look nicer than mine. I got mine for $25 from some dude that was moving and looking to unload em. They are louder than my fluid trainer though--a LOT louder. Not sure about those in particular. I'm not an expert so I can't tell you the skinny on weights vs. on the bike resistance training, but when I was running 2/rollers 3, I was still pretty strong without the resistantce training or any weights at all. Running has subsequently been replaced with the fluid trainer, and I don't know if I am any stronger really or not, I just hate running.

Alright well thanks! If anyone else has any other feedback, it would be much appreciated. Despite the price I am leaning towards rollers right now.
~Nick

I just got a set of the Performance rollers this week myself.
I'm new to rollers but like them alot. They seem reasonably sturdy and well built.
They do make a bit of noise, but it's not that bad.....just turn up the tunes a notch.
I agree that you can get a good resistance workout from them and they're great for improving your balance, spin and technique.
If you need more resistance, you can always take an old towel and fold it up under the rear drums.
BTW....I didn't find them too hard to get used to either. I actually think they're pretty fun.
Good Luck.

I'm another one that prefers rollers, and I like the ones with big drums and low resistance.

Rollers (at least the low resistance ones) will help you pedal high RPMs smoothly. The place this is really an advantage is in acceleration on the road or track: if you have the leg speed it's much easier on your legs, and much faster, to accelerate in a smaller gear and then shift than it is to wind up a bigger gear. One of the limits that people have in spinning up is how much they bounce around-- with rollers you'll notice fast if you're bouncing, and you'll get better with time. In crits the smooth leg speed means you can ride a smaller gear through the whole race and not have to get up and mash out of corners (which is a lot of work).

Trainers (and I suspect high resistance rollers) let you wiggle around a lot more without penalizing you for it.

I spent several winters on the cheap Tacx rollers with plastic drums and they were fine. They get louder with time because they warp and it makes them rumble more. The performance aluminum ones are only a little more now than those were then, so they're probably ok. I got some of the performance aluminum ones this summer for warming up at races, but really haven't used them enough to have much opinion on them (I'm in southern CA, so I ride outside all year).

Okay...I am suprised no one has suggested a trainer. It just seems like it is hard to find something that I can get the best of both worlds out of. I want this winter to be as productive as possible as far as training goes. Any amount of help is appreciated.
~Nick

Go for the rollers WITH A MAG UNIT. I have the Minoura rollers with mag. Payed $189 including shiping. They are alloy, very smoothe and quiet. I have ridden others that are loud and rumbly. The mag comes off easy for spining. Set the mag to it's highest setting and put your bike in it's biggest gear and you'll have plenty of resistance.

Also, anybody that tells you changing to a bigger gear on rollers makes no difference, doesn't know what they are talking about. I do it all the time.

I bought a Magura magnetic trainer w/ remote resistance contol (can't remember the model-it's silver and yellow) for about 120-130. Its not as quiet as a fluid one, but never bothersome. I recommend it!