Rollers

Different.

For interval work the turbo is great. For improving you pedaling the rollers are great.

Most (tho no all) rollers offer very little resistance. That's what trackies use them for warming up. They can get their cadence and heart rate up without tiring the muscles.

Cool thanks

turbo definitely

Im picking up some tacx rollers this week but Ill try get a turbo trainer soon also.

so rollers would be best the day after a heavy squat session then? makes sense

try standing on the rollers for 2-minute intervals... you'll feel it in the muscles

Rollers every time. They improve your riding. A Turbo just gets you fitter, which is quite dull....

turbo everytime; its harder and much more of a work out. rollers just look easy and therefore your not going to get any fitter. but youll be able to pedal nicely

Surely a turbo is better as it has settings so you can lower the resistance thus making it like rollers?

Feel free to chime in if I am way out..

*1st tentative post ;)

Surely a turbo is better as it has settings so you can lower the resistance thus making it like rollers?

Feel free to chime in if I am way out..

*1st tentative post ;)

with the rollers its the act of balancing and keeping straight while pedaling fast that gives you benefit, with a turbo its basically just a cardio workout

Word up companeros!

I have a new love;

My Tacx Antares rollers.

I justed wanted to make an endorsement really. Buy some!

I got them about a month ago and had a brief go on my fixed wheel conversion which didn't go too well. I soon learnt never to pedal backwards and to try and use a doorway for lean on if needs be. It wasn't fun falling and being sandwiched between rollers bike and a plank of wood. Also true wheels are really helpful. I was a bit dissapointed.

However yesterday I had a couple of hours going so I decided to try them out with my road bike. Surely being clipped in and having gears would help...

After about 15 minutes of getting used to using the gears and freewheel whilst balancing I was rolling along nicely.

My stats;
Average speed; 22.4 mph
Triptime; 1hr38minutes
Distance; 36.8miles
Max speed; 43.8mph
Calorie burn; 1521

Ok this is nerdy but I just found there to be so many advantages;

• no dealing with dangerous traffic
  
• all weathers
  
• highly aerobic
  
• you can stop for tea easily
  
• no punctures
  
• you can play loud music
  
• the balance element keeps it interesting and works more muscle groups; I can go no hands now.
  
• different gears help you concentrate on improving cadence and help sprint training/recovery.
  
• you sweat a lot which is good for the skin.
  
  

I am not saying it's a replacement for proper rides just that it's great for city locked bikers who want to put in more miles without leaving home.

Good day!

agreed - and because it feels like more natural cycling and you have to concentrate to keep core balance it gets boring less quickly than riding a turbo.

Never heard of them before, but your justifications for using them are both novel and enticing.

I was tempted by rollers but had a couple of questions:

1. Do you spin out when singlespeed/fixed - is there any resistance?
   
2. Do they knacker your tyres like turbo trainers?
   

There is some resistance. You will be able to spin out easily on a normal gear.
No abnormal tyre wear.

Much less boring than the turbo and also better for you.

Hmm...

Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm...

Are they loud? I live above a neighbour and also my own flatmates have paper thin walls.

What about turbo's?

Turbos are louder from my experience.

Ta

Digging up this old thread as I'm thinking of getting one or the other of these and don't know which...

Does a turbo not require you to balance / use your core at all? I can see the benefits of rollers from this perspective definitely, but surely without any resistance, you're just gonna be pedalling at about 10000rpm for however long you choose to train? I'm a roadie rather than a track cyclist by the way...

Also, any reccommendations of what to buy (regarding both rollers and a TT)?

Digging up this old thread as I'm thinking of getting one or the other of these and don't know which...

Does a turbo not require you to balance / use your core at all? I can see the benefits of rollers from this perspective definitely, but surely without any resistance, you're just gonna be pedalling at about 10000rpm for however long you choose to train? I'm a roadie rather than a track cyclist by the way...

Also, any reccommendations of what to buy (regarding both rollers and a TT)?

me again... so, having perused the bike radar forum for one of the first times, i'm hearing the cycleops aluminium rollers are pretty good, anyone use these?

also, how much of difference to resistance does changing gear make?

Sending my 2nd set of TACX Antares rollers back to Wiggle. 1. Noisy, due to poor bearing design and 2. Lock to keep rollers open doesn't lock. If your going to go for rollers. Having used others of a similar price I'd recommend the Elite Ghibili instead.Not as asthetically pleasing and not so easy to carry. But much bettter as a set of rollers.

Jim 1985, as has been said earlier, rollers for warming up and high cadence efforts 150+, or if in your youth 200+. Turbo for intervals. Changing gear causes you to go faster on the rollers, yes there is an increase in resistance but for resistance work you really need a turbo. Or sunny warm dry weather..

Most riders at the Vets Nationals were on Elites or TACX, can't say I saw any Cycleops Al rollers this or last weekend.

Hope this helps

I was wrong saying a turbo is just for cardio, Im using the kurt kinetic road machine with extra 12lb flywheel, you can do very good anaerobic work with it.

maybe using the analogy of boxing bags, with rollers being speed bag and turbo being a heavy bag?

What would be good for rebuilding strength as part of physio after surgery? Turbo trainers seem appealing as I don't have to worry about balance and falling off, but then balance is something I want to work on as well before returning to the road so in which case rollers make sense.

Sorry to be so boring; I'd suggest you seek advice from your Physio as to what would be good for re-building strength following surgery. Not sure, but I doubt there is anyone medically qualified to answer your question on the forum.