Is there anything wrong with Roller Trainers?
 

I cam across and older Cycle Ops Roller Trainer on craigslist for what seems to be an ok price of $70, and would like to know if there is anything wrong with roller trainer that I might not know.

It Cycle Ops so I know its a good brand but looks to be there older 3 part hold, now they only fold in half. It looks like it has PVC drums, I have heard they will get warped in sunlight sometimes, should I worry about that? Doe the belts go bad on them much? Are they pretty loud, or is it just the tired noise? How does resistance really work, I cant seem to understand that?

I also ride a 26in wheel LHT that I am riding right now. Will it even work with it? I know the front fork support it comes with would be to high be a little bit.

I have been wanting a trainer for sometime, just to have fun on when I'm not doing anything at home. and a roller trainer seems like it would be more versatile, Because I have 26in wheels and my girlfriends bike is actually a internal geared hub 3 speed and can mount a standard frame trainer(i don't even know if she would even like it.

Anything would really help, with in the next couple hours I am going to check the trainer out later tonight. I attached a photo of the trainer.


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=239286

The PVC drums can warp but are you really going to ride it in the sun? If they are round now, they're probably ok. The aluminum rollers are better and should last longer. The belt can be replaced for probably not too much money.

Rollers are more pleasurable to ride IMO than a trainer. The resistance you'll get will come from the gearing on your bike and will have more of a real world road feel versus the trainer. You'll have to keep you attention focused because you can ride off of the platform if you are not careful (just like on a road) which adds to the enjoyment of a workout. The rollers will get your heart rate very high if you choose to but you won't quite get the muscle workout a trainer will afford. Hope this helps.

These look like good rollers and are probably adjustalble to accomadate the longer wheelbase of the LHT. Another thing I noticed is that they have a front fork mount so you can ride them just like a trainer as well. Pretty cool.

I prefer the balance and feel of the rolllers over trainers. The only downside to rollers is that it becomes much more difficult to do really hard intervals and out of the saddle efforts don't distribute your weight the same way as on the road. I just do my hard intervals on the road and use the rollers for less intense spin work and aerobic maintanance. It really helps work the kinks out of your spin.

For $70 you can't go wrong.

the wheelbase on a LHT is like an inch LONGER than most road bikes.

FIFY.

Yeah, he said 26s and I just burped up shorter. Still, the rollers should adjust to fit the LHT.

I have a 50cm LHT, it has a 1046.8mm (41.2in) wheel base. I was more asking if the using 26in wheels was the problem, with it siting farther, deeper between, the rear rollers. If that would have any effect on it. I dont have the wheel base for the Linus, but I think it might actually be a little longer. I will try and messure it when she gets home. She would most likely use the fork holder though if she ever got on the trainer.

I actually called Cycle Ops, to see if they could help me out at all, super long wait on the phone, then very little help with even newer trainer they have(my dad wants a new trainer). All they could really tell me is, the trainer is something like the trainer is 10 year old, round tubing, and might work with 26in wheels, and that you cant get new parts. So everything I already knew.

The bets from the new one will almost surtenty fit the old one, and that is $10

Thanks for the link, but none of that really helps me, I don't fall into those categories. I am not asking about what trainer verses which. I am asking specific questions that those can't answer. But the later posts might help after I need to learn to use it.

No.

I picked up the rollers today. It's really interesting, and fun. It's in pretty good shape. Didn't have any trouble getting going on it. And I got the Price down happily.

Thank you everyone here for the help. Now I just have to use it when I want some extra miles after I ride all day long outside.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7049/6...ffc5f54515.jpg
Got a CycleOps Roller Trainer on Craigslist Today. Now I'm riding it in the kitchen, I'm pleased. by amckimmey, on Flickr

nice - using rollers without a doorway or wall on your first time? good work.

I was between the couch back and dresser (in the background) at first, but didn't really need it. I think it's a lot easier then people make it out to seem. The middle of the kitchen will probably be the easiest place for me to ride. Next time I ride on it I'll need to set up my fan.