How are your rollers set up?
 

I just inherited a set of McLain rollers. I'm trying to set the front roller to match my wheelbase and have read some conflicting info. So I figured I'd get sh*t tons more conflicting info here. Haha. Anyway, should the front roller be directly under the front hub, slightly in front of, or slightly behind (or somewhere else completely)? I tried to get the roller ~1" forward of the hub and took a test spin. It is HARD to do, but from what I understand it just takes some practice. Is that the case?

PS I'm not looking down, but fixing my gaze on a stationary object, just like trackstanding. Which I can do.

The front roller should be a wee bit ahead of the front hub. And yes, ride towards something. After I had them figured out it occurred to me that a length of tape on the floor along the centreline would've been good to ride along.

Yep, the front roller/cylinder should be a little bit in front of the front hub.

Yes, rollers take some time to get used to. I rode them a few times and was completely convinced I had terrible balance and would never get them. After a handful of short rides I suddenly got them and was able to do 15 minutes at a time. Now I can go for an hour and not have any problems. I've only fallen off once...which was the result of an overtime goal in a hockey game that required me to celebrate.

Do a bunch of short rides on them at first and line them up against a wall so you can put your hand out if you are losing balance. Keep your rpms really high, as I'm sure you've notice, and when you think you might fall off DO NOT stop pedaling and freak out - pedal harder and think about making circles with your feet. You have to override your mind when you are starting to wobble and not get worried but pedal harder and more fluidly.

With snow and cold weather I'm really happy to have rollers. Watching a movie or some t.v. is a good thing to do while on them, and I don't even feeling guilty watching since I'm exercising!

Good luck.

A bit unrelated, and forgive me for not googling this first, but how money do rollers cost?

Typically you can get them for as low as $130 but there are some models that go for over $800.

Ok, I like the low end price there. My parents still owe me a birthday present.

Rollers are also one of those things that are always at swap meets with $50 on them, if there's one going down near you it's worth a trip.

Just be careful though will the lowest of the low end, as I know the cylinders can get deformed and not roll well. There have been threads here on this. If you only spend $100 but have to replace after one winter of riding, you might as well get a $250 set to begin with, in my opinion. I don't think you'll need a set of Kreitlers, but I'd beware of just any set. I have a pair of Minouras that are mid-range in terms of price and I've been very happy with them.

Nashbar has rollers for $89 (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...All%20Products)

+1000 on the 'set up so the hub is behind the drum' --that's what my instructions said....

you should ride on rollers like this.

i've had these for a month and they seem very solid. haven't spent enough time on them yet, but initial impression is that they are a bargain and should last.

Yeah the Nashbar ones are what I have. They seem well made.

Which reminds me, I should get off the computer and go use them. Like now.

I thought it was very serendipitous that the day after I got rollers those videos got posted. Pretty awesome, I think, playing wii games and riding. So I set them up and just watched a movie and rode almost the whole time. I got the hang of it after 10 minutes. The best advice was about the high rpms. Thanks nayr497, everything you said was right on. Fun! Sweaty! Loud! (Sorry, downstairs neighbor)

PS The movie Crank sucked, but it was ok to ride to. Non-stop action.

mine were on the floor.

then I traded them for a Titus road frame and other things.

gears and helmets are the new Keirin

damn, i don't think i can ride on my rollers w/ no hands. does that mean my spin sucks or i'm just a puss?

means you're pedal stroke isn't even

or you just have poor balance and suck at holding a line.

I think it's more a case of the floor not being level. Talk to your landlord (if you own your house, congratulations!), and have them jack up the low side of the building. Shim as necessary.

that hurts, dutret. but i still love you.