Guest

I DID look, but I didn't really see any discussion on this.

I wondered if anyone could tell me about the noise factor for rollers. Are they quiet? Can it fit under the bed? Are they pre-assembled, or does it take a degree in rocket science to figure out how to put them together? Does anyone have a good recommendation for rollers, and if so, why would you choose those rollers? I read about the Tacx and Krietler rollers, but still don't have a good idea of which rollers would work well for me. I'd like to improve my cycling performance, get a good workout in during the winter months, and be able to work hard on the rollers. By the way, I already do have the Cycleops trainer. I just want to supplement my trainer with rollers and see what I can do with them this winter.

I am going to Performance bike today, and I was thinking about just getting the Performance Travel Trac Velodrome Parabolic Rollers. Then I thought before I bought them, maybe it would be a good idea to jump on bikeforums and ask you guys first.

Thanks!

Koffee

pgreene

i've always been a bit scared of rollers. no matter what anyone says, i'm convinced if i rode off them at high speed i'd shoot straight into the wall . but generally they will go under a bed. and from what i've heard, if you're going to get rollers, save up and spring for the krietlers. cheap rollers wear unevenly, are out of round, etc. good luck searching. feel free to let us know how it goes--i still might get over my fears (though the cycleops fluid trainer i got seems to do what i need it to without threatening to throw me through the sheetrock!).

Guest

Thanks for the advice. I'll skip on getting the rollers from Performance. I saw these rollers: https://www.lickbike.com/productpage.asp?PART_NUM_SUB='2931-00'

It's the Krietlers, and they're going for about $300, and they'll pay for ground shipping plus all Illinois sales tax. Do you think this is a good deal, or should I hold out and continue to look around?

Koffee

SteveE

Kreitler has always (well, for more than 20 years) made the best rollers. Smoother and quieter than other brands. The noise factor should be less than your trainer. Will it slide under the bed? Maybe, depends on the rollers and how high the bed is. You can probably ask to see what the height of the rollers is. Some rollers fold in half for storage (maybe not Kreitler's though). Set up out to be easy. For the price you pay for a good set of rollers, someone should show you how to put it together.

Rollers are an excellent way to develop a smooth pedal stroke.

Guest

Thanks guys! Are the rollers I posted the link to any good, or should I go for the Dyno Myte (or whatever it's called). I don't like the idea of taking off my front wheel. I really want to ride the rollers without assistance.

Koffee

55/Rad

The Performance Parabolic rollers are a good basic system. I found them to be very helpful in establishing better balance and form. I've found that I don't use them as much as I anticipated - mainly because I can take real rides now - but will probably get back them when the season is over.

55/Rad

zotma

I have the regular cheapo performance rollers (the parabolics look cool for beginning, less risky). I bought mine in december about the same time as my bike to get a jump on riding while the weather was bad (get up to speed for the road from years off the bike). I got an 'idiot bar' to hold the front forks for when I felt like just pedal'n/zoning/getting a workout and then of course just riding the rollers with both wheels for the workout and tuning technique. The 'idiot bar' now comes in handy for holding the bike when I work on it since I don't have a work stand (so it's not a total waste).

mine were very easy to put together.
the rollers are quiet (though I had a windtrainer before so anything is quiet in comparison).
don't know how good the quality is (can't compare to what I haven't had) but they haven't broke yet, they ride fine, and for the price a few off seasons will be more than I expect out of them (then maybe I'll shell for some better ones).
mine would go under the bed easily if I didn't use it so much (for maintenance)
I'm a happy enough customer.

on2wheels

I have the Kreitler Challenger rollers. They have the 4 1/2" diameter aluminum drums. They truly are "whisper quite and smooth as silk". I've never tried any other type of roller - I bought the Kreitlers because of all the good reviews and recommendations from these and other forums.

My LBS ordered the rollers for me, and they assembled the rollers, so I'm not sure how difficult they would be to assemble out of the box. The Kreitler rollers fold in half, and will fit under a bed.

If you're looking to improve your balance and smooth out your spin, rollers do the trick. If you're expecting a lot of resistance, you may be disappointed. I can easily push 30 - 35mph on my rollers, I can't go nearly that fast on the road. For any "real" resistance, you'll need to add a resistance unit. Kreitler has a "Killer Headwind" unit, which gives you all the resistance you'll need, but it is loud.

I am very happy with my Kreitler rollers. I highly recommend them.

Guest

Thanks to everyone. I went to performance and spent a bunch, but I came back with almost everything I needed. I skipped out on getting the Performance rollers. When I get my next check from work on Friday, I'll be getting those rollers. I'll also get the Killer Headwind unit too, thanks for the suggestion.

I still need to get a couple of things off the website that weren't in the store, or were in the store but were cheaper on the website. I am torn about completing my Polar 720i unit- I need to get the power output thingie, and the optional cadence reader. I also would probably need the infrared thingie too, because I don't think my laptop would have it. I figure if I make the investment, I should get it today at performance so I can get the double points on it. Otherwise, I need to find a place to get these things cheaply. With the polar setup, the cycleops trainer, and the Kreitler rollers, along with my gym around the corner for my weights, I figure I should have a very productive winter this time around.

Thanks!

Koffee

roadfix

As far as noise.......although they are no louder than a rear wheel trainer, they do tend to resonate through floors, but I guess that can depend on the quality of the rollers. If you're an apartment /condo dweller living above someone, this may be a concern.

Guest

For some reason, you can't hear hardly anything from the neighbors. My neighbor right next door to me plays his music real loud in the mornings on his surround sound. I can hear it a tiny tiny bit if I strain and turn everything off, but pretty much, I'm in a pretty solid high rise building. I will practice some restraint though if someone does complain.

Thanks for the caveat.

Koffee

lotek 

koffee,
better watch it you're gonna start missing those 4:00am rides in the winter
and just throw the bike up on the rollers. . .
As a roller phanatic I think you'll love em. If you need assist on
riding the rollers give me a call.
Can't beat Kreitler, best that's out there.

Marty

Allen H

My wife got me a set of Kreitler rollers for my birthday.

I haven't set them up yet, but I have the components out of the box and it looks pretty easy to assemble (I figure I don't need them until winter, when the weather gets bad).

Anyone with tips for how to get started with them?
The instructions say to set them up in a doorway, so you have the doorframe to hold onto when you start and stop.

Hitchy

g'day koffee,

I have an S720I. I don't have the power meter 'thingy' (the technical term!), but i have all the rest of the stuff you mentioned. If you are training seriously, (& it sounds like you are planning to!), cadence feedback is a must!, especially if you are planning to develop your 'spin' on rollers. The infa red 'doover' (ya gotta luv technical terms!)came with my unit as standard, maybe they sell them seperately in the states?. Anyway, your PC should be ok, you can get them to plug into either a serial port (like where your printer goes), or a USB port. You need to specify which unit you want when you order it. The training 'feedback' that comes with being able to 'download' the info from the 'watch' is invaluable & fascinating to study (& the whole point of owning an S720, i would of thought!). If the budget is tight, get the cadence & the infared before worrying about the power meter,

cheers,

Hitchy

Guest

Thanks for the tip, Hitchy. Technically, I haven't seen what I have yet. But I am most likely going to Interbike, and I will know what I have by then, and Polar claimed they would be there selling their unit at a discount, and they would have the other parts of the 720i that was specific for cycling (I got the 720i from a health and fitness convention that wasn't cycling related).

Koffee

Hitchy

g'day koffee,

Ok...well you'll need to get the bike specific stuff as well. Speed censor, cadence sensor, & infared 'thingy', the software should come as standard.(don't forget to sort out whether you need the 'usb' port or the 'serial' port one before you go!)...get the power meter if funds permit, but the others are essential 1st. I don't know your situation, but if you have more than one bike you may like to grab multiple speed & cadence sesnors, that way you can get the same 'feedback' from multiple bikes (this is what I did), especially if Polar are selling them cheap.......Interbike huh?.....you better post some piccys or we'll have to 'excomunicate' ya,

cheers,

Hitchy

Dchiefransom

Print out the page from Performance showing the component on the website. Your paper should have the date and time showing somewhere on it. All their stores in my area honor that price. Even if they don't have something in the store, if it's sold by them you can do a "Red Phone" order. You call in the order on a special phone at the Performance store, and they give you a number. You write everything down on a form they give you at the store. Then you go over to the counter and pay. All prices will be whatever is the normal price, or website sale price. When the items come in to the store they will call you and you can pick them up. OHHHHH yeahhhhh, there's no shipping and handling charge this way!!!

Guest

Yeah, I know all this, but I still did my order online anyways. It's coming on Tuesday! Yeah!

I would rather pay the few dollars extra and have it come right to my house. I usually order too much to drag home on my bike, so I would have to taxi there and back to get the stuff. :-/

Koffee

kefin

I have a set of the Kreitler Dyno-Myte rollers and they are very well made. You can get a pretty good workout on them by using different gears, even if you're just riding for half an hour or so (which seems really long when you're just sitting there pedaling in place). They fold up in the middle and you can stow them away in a closet or under the bed.

The one possibly negative thing I noticed about them (and I don't know if this is common to other folks) is that the aluminum rollers leave a trail of silvery deposits on my tires after I use the rollers.

Probably the biggest impact the rollers will have on your riding is to improve your balance on the bike. In the beginning, riding on rollers is like walking on ice in leather shoes (pretty scary because you won't have anything to hold onto in case you lose your balance).

-Kevin