lbj

Is it true the rollers are quieter than trainers? (Except, of course, the crash when you fall off them?) My downstairs neighbours are complaining about my trainer riding, and while I would like to be neighbourly and accommodating, I don't want to stop riding in the winter either.

KDTX

Agreed! Although as a drill, I have recently started letting the wheels come to a complete stop while I stopped pedaling. Then mash hard to start up again. Do this about 5 or 10 times at the end of the session. It will keep things interesting and give you some reflex practice for when you are not paying attention and almost actually wipe out on the things.

I have them set up in the garage, so next trick is to try and ride up and bunnyhop onto the rollers, spin for 30 seconds or so, then bump off the front and ride off. (Will probably try this unclipped the first few times.)

runningDoc

it really depends on the type of rollers. I bought the cheapest nashbar reduced radius rollers which have small diameter aluminum drums and its really quiet. while my neighbors are loud with their treadmills (the thumping alone you can feel) all that I produce is a mild hum/whirring up to a whistling when I'm up to 100 cadence.

I can watch movies on a laptop and hear it just fine even with the laptop speakers.

GirlAnachronism

It depends on the trainer and the rollers, but that's been my experience. My old neighbors (downstairs) complained about the trainer, but I could ride the rollers on top of a pilates mat and a yoga mat at 5:30am and they were okay with it.

Yotsko

Here's a question: why use rollers instead of a trainer?

calamarichris

I personally prefer rollers with the resistance fan because riding on the fixed, unmoving frame feels unnatural enough to impair my fluid spin slightly.
Also powering your own cooling fan makes infinite sense. The faster you go, the more cooling air you get.

Yotsko

I guess I should click the page two button before asking a dumb question...

lbj

Rollers w/ resistance fan: quieter than a trainer? (with the usual caveats that it depends a little on the rollers/trainer) I just want to know if this fan is going to be loud.

Brian Ratliff

Yea... the fan will be loud. Fluid trainers are quieter than any fan.

jfmckenna

That is cool. My rollers have a resistance thingie but not a fan, it's a good idea.

kenl666

Another piece of advice: if you watch bike racing videos while training on rollers, it is not recommended to lean into the turns with the riders in the video.

Just saying...

Bobsled

The best part is watching them come down on a quick descent.

save10

bobsled. your avatar is....disturbing

runningDoc

well thats an advantage of the rollers... the rollers you just fall if you lean... with a stationary trainer you'll lean with your full weight into already bolted down chainstay/rear triangle and then potentially snap/bend your frame.

lunacycle

I have an old set of Kreitler Poly-Lytes (3" drums) with the fan unit, and it's loud as Hell.