the "45 min on rollers equals an hour of road time" thing
 

I've heard several people chant the mantra of "45 on rollers = 60 on road" but I need to know why.

Is it because you keep spinning without stopping? If this is the case, would you also count 45 minutes of fixed riding as 60 minutes of riding?

Is it because the lack of resistance makes you spin more? If this is the case, would you still count those 45 as 60 if you had resistance on your rollers?

Or is it some other reason?

Basically, before I'm willing to give myself credit for 15 min I didn't actually ride, I need to know how I earned it. I ride fixed 90% of the time on street anyway, so if it's because of the spinning thing, it's a cop out to me.

thanks!

I find that for an hour on the rollers ("Bike-o-Vision"), spinning at 90-100 for around 19-25mph, I burn 25% more calories than I do for an hour riding the bike on the trainer (one "Spinervals" session). I expect the reason is exactly what you say - you have to keep pedaling - you can't coast or stop.

- Wil

Whether you are riding on the flats constantly spinning or on hilly terrain coasting down the hills it would seem like on-the-road would be at least equal to rollers. On the flats as long as you were maintaining the same speed (not spinning and coasting back and forth) that would be equal and if you were climbing and coasting on the hills it would be equal to flat ground (if not more) because it takes a lot more energy to climb a hill than you gain by coasting down the other side (similar to the fact that it takes more gas to drive a car in the mountains than it does on the flats).

Now all of this is assuming that the resistance on the rollers is equivalent to what the resistance would be riding on the flats. If it isn't then it could be any ratio from one to the other, not necessarily 60:45.

Unless you can find some published study to back up this claim, I really wouldn't rely on the figures.

I've never seen a study to scientifically prove anything. One of the RoadBikeRider newsletters recently touted the 1:1.5 rollers to road ratio.

I ride rollers occasionally, and looking over my stats since December,

Rollers:

• Avg Cal: 858
• Moving Avg: 23.28
• Avg HR: 147

Outdoors:

• Avg Cal: 979
• Moving Avg: 30.34
• Avg HR: 145

I count roller time 1:1 for my purposes. I think people would _want_ to be able to count a 1:1.5 or something just because you feel like you should get payback for riding - but not going anywhere. There should just be some justice in it.

Edited to add: I do use resistance on my rollers. If not, the roller speeds would be way up cause I'd have to be in my highest gear (53x12) to spin at 90ish and wouldn't have any room to shift up.

Maybe people measure effort in sweat? You'd sweat more indoors than out on a bike (at least I do - slightly moist skin outside becomes oceans of sweat inside)...

i find it funny- and telling - that the guys on this forum who believe in the 45:60 thing haven't chimed in yet... is it because that's completely unfounded? c'mon, someone convince me.

IMO, one hour on the trainer or rollers, is equal to one hour on the bicycle outside.

Anyone making this argument must not live in Manitoba:
Is it because you keep spinning without stopping?

Most of my rides in Manitoba (like 99% of them) were done with no coasting ... pedalling all the way. It is very, very flat there ... the only time I could coast is for the 3 seconds it takes to decend a highway overpass.


Personally, I find riding outside to be more difficult than riding inside given the same conditions: same speed, same temperature, same clothing, etc. My reason for that is because outside, I use my upper body. I'm dodging potholes, leaning into turns, leaning into the wind, leaning into a climb, etc. There is just more going on that require the use of more of my muscles when I ride outside.

Where are you storing this credit?
Certainly the local cycling bank will only give you the current value based on the currency exchanges. :D Today it's 45:60. It could change...

I've heard similar things... but -I count time on the trainer as 1 to 1, but really only so I get to enter it into my stats software... not really for any other purpose than to look back and feel good that I rode, even through the winter.

If you feel like you deserve it... go for it!