Which do you prefere and why?

I had a bad experience with the roller. Torn calf muscles on both sides, with the doctor estimating a recovery time of 12 weeks. Also overworked shoulders, wrists and back from holding myself up a little too long.. I hadn't done much upper body weight training or conditioning beforehand. That's what put me off the roller.. for it to be safe I'd have to really increase my strength and stamina before even starting on it, then maintain it for as long as I wanted myofascial release.

The Stick on the other hand will be a part of my routine as long as I'm active. I've got a lot more control with it, helping me get an effective massage. If you have lean muscles, that's doubly important. With the Stick I start off with a few light strokes to warm up the area, then go progressively deeper into the muscles.. something I couldn't do with the roller, its pressure being the same from start to finish. I can get a good massage that way. There's also little or no pain with the Stick, and it's easy to relax the muscles.

I think the roller would be well suited for certain people, such as body builders and people who have naturally big muscle mass, but for the average cyclist, I'd recommend the Stick.

I agree. For cyclists, definitely the Stick. I find it much better for your legs than a foam roller.

Also, it's much easier to use while traveling; i.e. sitting in a race parking lot.

+1 However the roller can get in spots the stick can't like the buttocks and back on both sides. I use both and sometimes the foot roller to massage the middle of my feet.

I know this is old, but i saw this thread and want give my recommendations/suggestion.

Foam rollers are too expensive and don't last very long. I use a cheap 2 liter of soda, which was recommended by a sports physician. With the 2 liter I roll out my calves, hamstring (don't touch the back of the knee), and the IT band focusing on the hard 'knots' in the muscles. This of course is after a proper warm-up so the muscles are warm and elastic. Than I use a tennis ball/ raquet ball and place it under my hip (top of IT band) and lay on it for a goof 3-5 minutes for the myofascial release. I'm a runner and a coach so IT bands are the main focus with this stuff. I do this routine about 2-3 times a week, a day after any hard workouts.

Does that 2 liter bottle of soda still have the soda in it to maintain its shape?

Yes.

I just recently got acquainted with a foam roller and I think it played a major role in abating my IT Band syndrome. What is "the stick"?

https://www.thestick.com/

it's more like a rolling pin for your muscles.

oh, I see, OK