New Rollers. Advice needed
 

I just assembled my new roller but I'm a bit scared to go on it (that's right, I said I'm scared. Wanna make something of it?) Any advice? I just know I'm going to fall. I should've gotten a trainer.

Start in a doorway so you can grab in case you lose your balance. it will be scary as hell.... start in a reasonable grear that you can kee up a high cadence in.and dont clip in just yet. if you do a search there are MANY topics on this already.

I prefer doing it near a couch b/c i can just put my hand out to start. Then when I get up to rotation, I let go and flick on the tube. BTW, don't start watching tv until the 2nd or 3rd time you do it.

Wanna trade?

don't fall.

Don't look at the front wheel, look at a spot in front of you. Relax, its not a contest to see who has the whitest knuckles. If you fall off the rollers, its not that big a deal, except if you do it on white carpet with no cheap yoga pad or the like to protect the floor. If there's no pad, have fun explaining the black streak to your spouse. Start in a large gear and go fast...faster spinning wheels = greater stability. After you get the hang of it you can slow down to a normal pace. Aside from that, search for this topic and you'll see other helpful advice.

Watch this video. 50 times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7SKjIxlbHM

Doorway is how I started out. Still haven't gotten much beyond that. Really don't want to fall off them as I don't have a mat yet to protect the floor and bought a trainer soon after getting the new roller belt for the rollers I have.

Fear is natural. I have fallen while in a doorway. Front wheel popped off.

It gets better. Although I still dunno about rollers sometimes. My problem is that I still pedal so hard on them (to keep the wheels spinning for balance) that I burn myself out within 10 minutes.

It is an amazing feeling once you get them. And honestly, the worst fall isn't any worse than in the video above. You just kinda tip over.

-D

keep the rollers. once you get used to them it'll be fine. sorry no advice 'cept fall a couple times. it's okay.

Be sure your bike's front wheel axle is vertically over the front roller axle.

Definitely in a doorway, the narrower the better. Position the rollers so the center of the roller frame is in the doorway. Clip in with your normal foot. Hold the bar tops next to the stem with your hand on the same side as your clipped foot. With the other hand, grab the trim over the door opening with your fingertips as you mount. Clip in the other foot. Lean against one side of the doorway with your hands on the bar tops. If your rollers are in the right spot in the doorway, you should be able to push yourself upright by pushing against the door frame with your elbow. Start pedalling slowly while leaning slightly against your elbow. Try the equivalent of a 42X17 gear. Gradually increase pedaling speed, then push off with your elbow so you are balancing. Don't steer with the front wheel. Steer by shifting your weight. Just moving your head back and forth can be enough. Try to hold the front wheel steady. If you fall off, you'll come to rest against the doorway, though a pedal may gouge your calf. Most people fall off from time to time during their first week of rollers. Look ahead and try to relax.

Some people find it easier to start pedaling while balanced, with their hand still holding the trim over the doorway.

No. The front wheel axle is supposed to be just behind the center of the roller axle. The rest is good stuff, but I'm just sayin....

Relax and focus at a point out in front of you like you would on the road. The big challenge is over-correcting and staying calm at first.

In all seriousness (not that my video is NOT serious) falling is all a part of riding on rollers. But it's no big deal. I've seen people cranking at 200+ rpm going over 60 mph crash on rollers. It's very anti-climatic. Their wheel comes off the roller and they fall sideways - that's it.

Check out this thread http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=272919 Great advice here I was up and riding in about 10 min.

Huh. I've been riding these things for 10 years and have always put it vertically over. What's the advantage is being behind? Seems to me it would make it twitchy.

If you shift your weight forward you can potentially throw the bike off the rollers (I've done it a few times, although always while getting on the rollers without having anything to hold onto/stand on).

Here are some more tips.

"The axle of the front roller should be just forward of the axel of the front wheel of your bicycle (not to exceed 3/4")."

that's all because they lack your bunnyhop dismount finesse.

I used to be scared too. I started next to a vertical support beam and a overhead horizontal I-beam to start; the best place IMO.

What I do is I put on some Mushroomhead and turn off all the lights in your basement, no fan, nothing. Torture yourself a little.

Ya'll just need to take it to the STREETS!
http://www.aplusbi.com/images/rash00.jpg

BTW according to DreamTheater you are sissy if you ride rollers.

The first 10 minutes will feel impossibly hard. Then after that you should be fine. I started out next to a counter top at hip height. I only had the option of crashing off to the left. I also looked ahead of me and didn't focus on my front wheel.

For the first few minutes I couldn't let go of the counter and I was all over the place, but after 5 minutes I could let go for a few seconds and then regroup. By 15 minutes I was feeling pretty good and by 30 minutes I was really good. The key is to RELAX your grip. A death grip actually makes your bike swerve all over the place. Keep a really loose grip and the bike just wants to go straight.

I never crashed on the rollers. I came close a couple of times and even slipped off the roller and somehow ended up balanced on the frame of the rollers that was the same width of my tire! Don't worry, you won't go flying into the living room wall. The bike stops immediately once it hits something stationary like the frame of the rollers or the floor. You have NO momentum so you can't actually go anywhere. You would basically just fall over a la clipless pedal newbies.

Start next to a wall or in a doorway. You'll get the hang of it.

Some great advice guys! And as usual, Botto gets right to the point. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm about to get on it and give it a try. Thanks angain.