Rollers

i've got the rollers in that awful video, good rollers though, a lot quieter than my old ones and they don't build up static while using them. which is always a good thing.

What are the usual price for those rollers?

Cycle surgery have them for about £130

I think chain reaction or wiggle are doing them for £108

First time I rode rollers, it was upstairs at the clubroom in Pompey, they were set up facing the stairs...being a novice I got out of the saddle rode off the front and down the stairs....

What came after the stairs?

a crash.

YouTube - Frank Spencer rollerskating

First time I rode rollers, it was in 1954, upstairs at the clubroom in Pompey, they were set up facing the stairs...being a novice I got out of the saddle rode off the front and down the stairs....

were you, very...very...drunk?

YouTube - Riding the rollers - one leg no hands

YouTube - Stupid Rollers Tricks

that was me just now. apart from he keeps coasting, the cheat.

I'm loving the rollers

so the challenge is to work up to being able to ride no handed with one leg....
and bunning hopping off is easier than you think, never seen anyone bunny hope on tho!

Probikekit are currently doing cheap rollers in their sale - if I had room I would get some.
http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=t6510

im thinking about getting some of these to do intervals on during the winter. i always get too hot doing them in the cold with all my warm clothes on.

Recieved my Tacx Antares rollers yesterday. So far they seem to be of really high quality. They are very sturdy and run quiet.

One thing though....
During the reading around I did when deciding which set to buy, I never really noticed anyone saying how bloody tricky they are. The tacx site has a nice video a man and a women having a nice relaxing warm up session, before joining friends on the track.
I set them up yesterday, and promptly realised I could'nt get on my bike (I have near zero clearance on the BJ). Luckily my 3yo has an Ikea step. I fetch that, hopp on the bike, then very quickly hopp off the bike. I managed to use the rollers with the aid of a step for mounting, and the back of the sofa for balance. But man that was tricky. You look bloody stupid falling off a stationary bike too (I think Mrs Smallfurry secretly enjoyed it). Like those first few clipless 0mph falls. Why do these things require so much humiliation?

Been looking for tips this morning, and found this quote..

*What the experts will tell you: "Riding rollers is an excellent way to smooth out your pedal stroke, gain balance on the bike, and stay fit in all weather conditions." *
What they ought to tell you: "Riding rollers is going to make you feel like a drunken hippopotamus on a tightrope, and if you're not comfortable with the idea of being outwitted by a bunch of metal, you may want to find a new hobby."

http://www.coachseiji.com/rollers.html

You'll get it, it's really not that hard once you relax and get used to it. Surround yourself with soft things and commit to balancing. Yes you'll fall once or twice but that will help you get used to it.

The control is all through the core, and from an even pedal stroke.

You'll get it, it's really not that hard once you relax and get used to it. Surround yourself with soft things and commit to balancing. Yes you'll fall once or twice but that will help you get used to it.

The control is all through the core, and from an even pedal stroke.

My core strength has lapsed somewhat since I stopped running in organised events. I used to work on it a lot (using one of those big gym ball things). I still think I should be able to master it though. I was just totally unprepared for it not to be easy (had it set-up in a big open space, with nothing to grab/lean-on). Its like yesterday the whole of the internet was saying that it is "useful, straight-forward, training". Then today its saying "does take a bit of mastering though". I might be a bit paraniod though ;)

Anyway I know what I'm doing tonight now.....

Back in january I had my bed on one side and acoustic foam panels on the other, I knew I wouldn't get hurt if I fell, and so it took an hour and two falls to learn to ride them.

Now I can mount without a step, ride one handed, no handed (only just tried that) and out of the saddle. I've been doing revouts with a 69" gear and tyres pumped up to 140psi, proper speed and stability work. They are easier to ride with a bigger gear and slightly softer (not too soft) tyres.

I just wish they weren't so damn noisy

I've got a few foam mats that the baby uses, for whats best descibed as horizontal river dancing. I'm planning on using them, together with the back of a heavy single seater sofa as a hand hold.

Its really nice to know, that I'm not an epic fail for needing these aids :)

rollers are fun and essential but are not a substitute for road miles DC always told us

Cracked it!*

Armed with the knowledge that a few aids were an exceptable part of the learning process. I set-up the rollerswith a wall on my left, the dinning table on my right, and the child-step just under the dinning table.

I set off with my left hand on the wall, and my eyes focused on the window in front. I may be ruining what little E-rep I have, but I was geniunly spooked by the rollers. So letting go of the wall was a real barrier, especially as I seemed to be leaning to one side.

After a few minutes I pushed away from the wall and was off. I must say, I found it great fun. I've ran a fair few 10km's on tread mills, without TV or music, and find it nice to clear the mind, and focus only on the simple act of running. This feels like I should enjoy it in the same way, if not more so.

Rollers vs Turbo trainer, for those that only have space/time/money for one is always going to be a tricky one for some. But I can convinced that rollers were the right chose for me. Sorry for the lengthy post BTW.

(*gross exaggeration)

Sorry for the lengthy post BTW.

Oh, you should be ashamed of yourself. ;P

Well done on the rollers.

rollers are fun and essential but are not a substitute for road miles DC always told us

DC is right, but they are not supposed to be, you can do different things on rollers and they work the core more than "proper" riding.

Even downhill sprints with fixed wheel don't work your stability and souplesse at high revs like the rollers can.

souplesse.

Best word ever ;)