DIY Rollers

ive just been playing on a mates excercise bike, and ive now realised that i want rollers so i can ride my bike while i watch telly. i had a look online and theyre alot more expensive than i had at first imagined. money i would rather spend on bikes. i love a bit of DIY so i thought i might give making some a go.

however i have a few questions some other minds could input useful ideas/experience

a turbo trainer esque device would be easier to build, and small to store, but are they as nice to use as free floating rollers?

are guards neccessary? i might have side guards so my wheel doesnt go off the sides, but i have also seen front/back guards. do i really need these?

what do you reckon would be the best way to add friction to the rollers. ive seen ones with fans, i dont like this becuase of the irritating noise. magnets are too complicated for my DIY. i was thinking of having an adjustable weight roated by gears from the roller. bit primitive but it would work i guess. maybe have the weight full of water (easier to adjust/transport) instead of a solid weight?

how important is the surface of the roller for grip? what materials would be best?

thanks for anything you guys can come up with

what do you reckon would be the best way to add friction to the rollers. ive seen ones with fans, i dont like this becuase of the irritating noise. magnets are too complicated for my DIY. i was thinking of having an adjustable weight roated by gears from the roller. bit primitive but it would work i guess. maybe have the weight full of water (easier to adjust/transport) instead of a solid weight?

how important is the surface of the roller for grip? what materials would be best?

i can imagine a belt on the axle, wich is to tighten or to loosen, just like it is on the hometrainers from mom, thats a easy way. for the grip on the rollers you ould get some skateboard grip tape, just my 2 cents , marc

I dont think rollers are supposed to have any friction/resistance.

i had a look online and theyre alot more expensive than i had at first imagined.

you can find them for c £50, which isn't so bad

a turbo trainer esque device would be easier to build, and small to store, but are they as nice to use as free floating rollers?

When you get tired on rollers they become an issue, but are much better at giving you the feel of the road- and the necessary quiet action that derives from the difficulty of balance on the rollers
Maybe build in a front wheel holder?

are guards neccessary? i might have side guards so my wheel doesnt go off the sides, but i have also seen front/back guards. do i really need these?

Haven't used with, fell off a bunch of times, not really an issue as you just stop.
use cushions instead.

how important is the surface of the roller for grip? what materials would be best?

Ones I've used don't have additional material for grip.
They are PVC pipe ones, it works well.

i think im more interested in rollers than turbo trainers. i reckon ill be alright without guards or grip.

PVC pipe you say? i was thinking of using say 4" pvc pipe filled with bracing if added strength is needed. im not sure how i will incorperate bearings into them though.

it seems alot of the rollers around dont have any added friction, but rely on the diameter of the roller itself. im concerned that with a FG/SS bike this could be a bit of problem, and its easier to adjust the roller than the bike.

im going to pop down my BnQ this afternoon to scout for materials and ideas.

the ones on mine are 80mm.
if that helps.

these look cool!

YouTube - E-Motion Floating Roller Bike Trainer

That looks fcuking ace.

I'd still get bored after 5 minutes though. I hate rollers/trainers. About every 5 years I think I'll like it, so go and get a cheap 2nd hand trainer, only to throw it away or pass it on for nothing. I've got to wait about another 4 and a bit years for the next impulse.

That looks fcuking ace.

I'd still get bored after 5 minutes though. I hate rollers/trainers. About every 5 years I think I'll like it, so go and get a cheap 2nd hand trainer, only to throw it away or pass it on for nothing. I've got to wait about another 4 and a bit years for the next impulse.

found this thread thru google search as Im looking into building a custom trainer, so looks like 4 and a bit years have passed, whats your next impulse?

^^ I got bored before I even finished building my own rollers lol.

I've got a set of anterers that I'd be interested in the idea of adding some variable friction too... Anyone tried anything?

theres probably something 'do-able' with the resistance unit from a kurt kinetic road machine, you can buy it separately too

Actually searching for resistance unit turns up loads of stuff... Some made for my rollers... Cheers