Rollers vs. Trainers
 

Okay, so I know that this has been asked before, and I’ve read through the previous threads, but I still can’t make up my mind.

I know that we’re all supposed to be awesome and ride 200 miles a week in the snow, but I work 4 blocks from my apartment, so commuting isn’t really happening this year, and somehow those 30-mile rides starting at 6am that I was in the habit of doing this summer just don’t seem as appealing when it’s freezing/dark/raining/snowing out.

So, I want to keep in shape and keep some of the muscle/endurance I built up this summer. Now, I think that I already know that most of y’all will say to go for rollers, but I thought I’d ask anyway.

I like the idea of being able to vary the resistance on a trainer, but I also like the idea of improving my spin on rollers. I don’t mind the boredom factor with a trainer (and in fact that’s one of the things making me lean toward going with a trainer) because it would be cool to be able to read/watch a movie while spinning.

My questions are, will either one be better/worse for my knee, which has been hurting like crazy lately? Also, which will give me a ‘better’ workout? I know this is probably a subjective question, but one of my objectives is to not get fat from sitting around all winter.

Is it all right to go with budget rollers/trainers? I’m blowing most of my money on clipless shoes/pedals, and don’t want to spend a whole lot more than $100. If I’m going super cheap, is it advisable to go with one over the other? Also, any specific suggestions for cheap rollers/trainers that y’all have used and liked?

Thanks, and sorry for the long post!

do you have a geared bike or just the fg?

you can vary resistance on rollers by changing gears.

that is the only remotely useful thing i have to add, good luck!

Just FG!

as someone who rides both, i tend to recommend a set of rollers over a trainer -- especially for fixed gear bikes.

first, trainers are designed for use with quick release skewers and typically don't hold track nuts quite as securely. secondly, if you get a good set of rollers, you can buy a fork stabilizer (you put your bike on it without the front wheel -- it holds the fork in place) which will allow you the total laziness factor that you might want.

also, i find that riding rollers will keep you more alert and will help you learn how to "hold a line" better in normal riding as well as improving your balance. i have no problem riding on my rollers and watching tv, etc.

you can use rollers and watch TV at the same time

so, is four blocks too long or too short to commute?

either way, i think rollers keep you in better shape because you also have work the muscles you use to balance, and not just sit and spin on a trainer.

where is your knee hurting? your saddle could be too low or too high.

I vote rollers, too.

Performance brand ones work well for me.

Don't worry - you'll get a good workout.

i agree rollers are the way to go.

I think both are great. If I'm doing hard sprints or a TT I'll use a trainer. otherwise, I use a roller. Either one will help to grt/keep you in shape.

If it's overall fitness and not just being an awesome biker, maybe you should consider more than just biking?

You don't have to spend any money on this either: Death by Bodyweight Workout

Oh, and I recommend the rollers too. I have ones with plastic drums, plenty hard to spin. Also, you can always use a stick to increase resistance (as per the stick brake method).

get both

they each offer something the other does not.

Do you want vanilla, chocolate, or twist?

hmmmm.... give me one of each please.


Although a set of rollers with the fork attachment and a resistance mechanism would be everything a trainer is and more. Cheaper, more convenient and compact as well.

My thoughts... Trainer can add strength, but rollers really cant. Rollers can add balance and a trainer cant. They both offer a good choice for overall fitness.

So strength or balance? Which do you prefer?

Damn, well now I'm thinking I'm gonna go ahead and get both...I guess I should have seen that one coming. Fortunately, a kind forum member offered to sell me their trainer, so I might look into that, and then pick up some cheap rollers in a few months...

Thanks for the advice, y'all!

You could ride rollers for all the wonderful roller reasons and, for those times do you get outside: put on a harder gear, find a gradual incline, and do some muscle tension intervals for leg strength.

You're going to have to explain this a bit more...What are muscle tension intervals? I don't know much about all this geeky roadie exercise stuff, so explain away.

Hm, although I can't think of too many gradual inclines in the city...

i agree. my balance sucks so i really have to concentrate on the rollers to stay up, but they help my spin and ithey're fun enough that it at least gives me a tiny bit of my riding fix for the day if it's too ****ty to go out. the trainer on the other hand gives me a least a little bit of resistance to play with to build a little muscle. its not as fun, but i can do it while watching a movie or reading or something so i don't feel like such a schlub sitting on my butt doin' nothing. I picked both mine up off craigslist for a song--i think $30 for the rollers and $60 for a magnetic trainer, both lightly used. as was mentioned before, you definitely want to put your fixie up in the trainer mounts before buying it, my old bike just barely fits and I haven't tried my new one yet...let's hope.

Basically, it's riding in a harder gear at a lower cadence. Usually used instead of or to supplement leg weight lifting gym-type exercises. You could get way more sciency about it, but it's just something to keep in mind to mix it up and keep yourself balanced over the winter.

Lot of great info here: www.fixedgearfever.com

What will that do to my knees though? I rode in a higher gear all summer, which I think might be aggravating my knee problem...

I'll check out the website, though, thanks.

You can get resistance units to go along with rollers. And, as others have mentioned, you can also add a fork stabilizer -- as far as I know, only Krietler offers this attachment. [Edit: Nope, it looks like CycleOps and Minoura make them too.]

I have a set of Kreitler rollers with 3" drums (Poly-lite) and the wind resistance unit. You can vary the resistance by adjusting the wind unit. This has the added benefit of providing a cooling breeze while you're toiling away indoors. The 3" drums and the wind unit provide more than enought resistance for me while grinding away on a 48x16 gear. You can also stand up and sprint, but this tends to unweight the rear tire, which causes it to slip on the drums -- kind of like sprinting on ice. It will, however, definately improve your balance.

The caveat is that these aren't cheap. Kreitlers will run about $280, and the wind unit is another $160. The fork stand will run you another $90. There are other brands out there for half the price, but Kreitler is kind of the Chris King of rollers -- buy it once, buy it right.

But since you're looking for "super cheap", you may be better served by a trainer. You can get a really hard, focused workout with a trainer, but my god are they boring!

So what bad things will happen if I use super cheap rollers?

the cheap rollers can warp then it wont be smooth or even, which may cause you to ride off the rollers and fall.

also rollers and trainers are notoriously tire unfriendly; get a set of crap (or the special trainer) tires to use for them.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...slisearch=true

$99. Alloy - no warping.

Hi, I'm also looking at a trainer/rollers for the winter. Hope you don't mind my jumping in on your thread.

Question: Noise-wise, could you say that one or the other is quieter? Specifically, transferring to the floor. I don't mind if I hear lots of noise, but I'm still on good terms with the downstairs neighbors.

Thanks,
fen.

Rollers are quieter. 1up makes a cpr trainer that's supposedly quieter than the magnetic or fluid trainers, plus it won't leak. There's a lot of discussion about trainers and rollers on the Roadie forum. One trick to increase resistance on the rollers was to slide a towel underneath the rollers to provide some friction.

You will work up a huge sweat on trainers and rollers so a fan is often recommended. Also a mat or towels to catch the sweat. Since the trainer lifts the rear wheel off the ground a bit, you'll need to get a riser for the front tire or you'll be pedalling downhill.

There are lots of DVD's to help you exercise on a trainer/roller. I enjoyed watching TdF videos while using the trainer at my LBS.