drroebuck

Used rollers for the first time today. After I assembled them, I put my bike on, held the handlebar with one hand and gave one pedal stroke with the other. The front wheel went all over the place and I almost dropped the bike. I thought to myself, how the hell am I going to ride these? Then I put them in the doorway and mounted my bike. While leaning on the door I started pedalling. Again, the front wheel went wild and I thought to myself, how am I ever going to ride these?

Then I let go of the door for a second, then a few seconds, then a little longer. Well, within 10 minutes I was doing it without holding on to anything. Got my cadence up to 90+, then 100+. Shifted gears, changed hand positions. One day I'll try reaching for a water bottle.

I've ridden a trainer before and hated it, but I CAN'T WAIT to get on the rollers again. Rollers are where it's at.

55/Rad

Hallelujah brother drroebuck! Another convert has joined the fraternity - welcome.

Glad to hear it didn't take you long. Took me a few days and some colorful language.

55/Rad

drroebuck

Thanks Rad!

I can tell this is going to improve my form.

Can you start without holding on to something? Is that possible?

55/Rad

I haven't tried it simply because the only place I set them up is in a hallway. Might be worth a shot.

55/Rad

Poppa

Way to go! Rollers ARE where it's at. Keep with it and you will be amazed how quickly you improve. I have my roller in the garage so i dont have a doorway. After a few close calls I found that I can start out without holding on to anything - but it wasnt easy. I clip in with my right foot, put my left toe on the side of the left side bar of the roller to balance the bike nearly upright. In one motion I push off with the right and clip in with the left. I reocmmend using a safer approach - I's had some very close calls when i didnt get my left foot clipped in quick enough.

drroebuck

Thanks for the words of wisdom, Poppa. I'll stick to the doorway for now ... it's nice to have that safety net.

lotek 

I've been riding Rollers for a while now and I still can't start without
something to hold onto.
I set up next to chest height counter, keep H2O bottle there,
towel etc. perfect for that hand hold when starting up.

Marty

drroebuck

Good to know. Basically was curious if that something that everyone else did. I like the idea of keeping supplies nearby.

55/Rad

A couple people here on the forum have stated that they can ride up and onto their rollers. I'm not trying that.

55/Rad

DogBoy

I started rollers a month ago and was determined to start without assistance. I gave up. What's the point of that? I have the rollers by a wall, but the other side is open.

Only time I've fallen off was in a motel when I was between the two double beds. I got involved in the movie I was watching and zoned out, then I fell off, then stood there for a second (you don't go forward just down) and realized I was going down. Unclipped and rolled onto the bed and then crashed onto the floor. I think I made lots of noise that concerned the people downstairs because I got a call asking if I was okay and then asking me to keep it down from the front desk . I also left a chanring tatoo on the bed spread.

It took me 3 rides to get out of the doorway, and on ride 4 I started using the bottle cage for water. I still need help starting and I still can't stand up or go no-handed, but the rest of the process is now pretty "easy."

BTW, which rollers did you get? I've got kreitler poly-lites (medium sized drums) and I love them. Just enough to give me a workout, smooth as can be and quiet. Welcome to the roller family!

HigherGround

Yes, those hotel pay per view movies can be distracting!

I've found it is helpful to use a small folding step ladder next to the rollers. I position it so the first step is close enough to help me get on the rollers, but still far enough away that I won't brush it with the pedal if I drift over.

DogBoy

Nahh...have to submit the receipt to my boss. Don't think I'd want to explain that one.

drroebuck

Thanks, DogBoy!

I got a set of Tacx Eco-Track on sale at Nashbar for $100. I figured if I love them and do it a lot, I can invest in Kreitlers down the road. I live in L.A. where weather is never an issue, so I can ride outside pretty much whenever I want to. I got the rollers to complement my normal riding. I rode 60+ today and used them when I got home for cooling down (and because I couldn't wait to get back on them).

oboeguy

Stupid rollers question: how do you stop? I tried rollers back in college and promptly fell off nearly every time either starting or stopping.

DogBoy

I just unclip and put my foot down on the frame of the rollers at the point I'm ready to stop.

lotek 

I don't know about everyone else, but as I stated above I have a counter that I can
grab onto and just unclip the opposite leg (have step stool on that side) step down
and bob's your uncle your off the rollers.

Marty

drroebuck

Yeah, I just come to a stop and let myself fall a little to the side against the door, keeping my rear brake on the whole time.

lotek 

I let the bike spin down, I don't mess with brakes at all when I'm on
rollers, figure it would be a good way for me to go down.

drroebuck

I've only ridden them a couple times so far, but I only use the brakes when I'm completely or nearly stopped as a means of stabilizing the bike so I can mount and dismount.

I was trying to describe to a friend what it felt like to ride rollers. The best I could come up with was that it was like riding on ice, without the slipping.

doctorSpoc

i only use rollers too..

i can start in the middle of a room... just stradle the bike with one of your feet clipped in. the one that you usually clipped in if you were on the road. put the clipped in foot at about 1 or 2 o'clock. shift all your weight to the clipped in foot and push off fairly hard to get the wheels spinning (the spinning wheels is what keeps the bike stable and upright). clip your other foot in, sit down and continue pedaling. you have to get your other foot in fairly quickly before the wheels slow down again. if you don't get clipped in, don't pannic just put your foot down and try again... that's a big part of it, is not to panic, just realize, hey if i don't get my foot in, all i have to do is put back down on the ground again and i'm ok. you don't even really have to get you foot clipped in as long as the cleat is resting on the pedal or even the arch of your foot is on the pedal you can sit down continue pedaling like that and take your time and clip in.

the best way i found to practice is by doing it in running shoes so you don't have to worry so much about clipping in. then when you get the hang of it and are comfortable with running shoes, try it with cycling shoes.

to get off.. ride normally. unclip while still pedalling seated... cleat is resting on the pedal but it's unclipped, then just wait for the wheels to slow down and when they are slow enough stand up with all your weight on the clipped in foot and put your other foot down. you can brake but really only do it at fairly slow speeds not really necessary though.

set up is really important too...
1) the front wheel should sit right over the front roller i.e. a vertical line runs though the center of the front wheel and the center of the front roller
2) the wheels should be at the same height i.e. th bike is level. this is really important if you have a small bike. make sure if you measure from the ground to the centre of the back and the ground and the centre of the front wheel that they are the same height above the ground. that will insure your bike is level and make for more comfortable, stable riding.

doctorSpoc

oh... when you start use a fairly high gear so that you can really spin the wheels as mucy as possible

if you are going to be on rollers for a long time you need to be able to ride with no hands to be able to stretch out your back and be able to stand up and pedal for your back and also to save your butt... esential to both is to gear up 1 or 2 gears. it smooths out you pedaling and make it easier to keep the bike upright.

if found the best way to practice no hands is to ride with your hands on the tops and then lift both hands off just slightly or just keep the ends of your finger on the bars. if you start to go wild just hold the bars and steady the bike. keep doing this until you can ride fairly stable with your hands just above the bars. as you gain your confidence move your hands further and further away until you are actually sitting upright. i found taking both hand off is better than just one because then the bike is balanced. if just take off one hand you will lean to one side and it's harder to keep your balance.

Tree Trunk

Wow, good job on getting up on rollers so quickly. I took me a lot longer that 10 minutes.

I always ride next to a counter top in case I run into a case of the wobblies or for when I want to stop.