Rollers

[rach]

Thinking of buying some rollers.

Anyone got recommendations / thoughts on a good price ?

How about these?
http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/F9TRWN1FR/title/force-indoor-roller-trainer

[milto]

I have seen some of the juniors using these and they seem ok.

Usually the smaller the actual roller the more resistance you get. It just means you use a lower gear though. I think some of the ones that fold the frame twice with large plastic drums you can't get enough resistance.

[reilic]

this roller's discounted to 150 on T7 right now.

[_ABC_]

this roller's discounted to 150 on T7 right now.

I got's me an itchy trigger finger.....

[milto]

Also saw some nice one cheap on PBK yesterday for under $200.

http://www.probikekit.com/au/training-performance/turbo-trainers-cycle-rollers/tacx-antares-rollers.html

[SSSimon]

Milto's link to the Tacx rollers on PBK look to be the ones to go for!

[grumpybug]

oh I couldn't resist. I got myself a set of those tacx rollers :)

Just be aware PBK tack on an extra $40 handling charge because it is a bulky item. However if you use the promotional code "VELONEWS10" it takes 10% off as well.

[Ross]

deleted

[rach]

do i want resistance?

[_ABC_]

I had the same question Rach. After trying out Vanessa's rollers I don't think there is a need for resistance. There's a fair bit just in the mechanism and connecting elastic, so much so that when I stopped pedaling the wheels stopped in about a second.
The idea is that if you need more resistance you just shift to a harder gear. Apparently there is a difference in perceived resistance depending on smaller vs larger rollers. V's are about 10cm diameter.

[SimonD]

Agree with Andy. Rollers aren't usually used for high resistance workouts anyway. If you want resistance, then an wind/fluid/mag trainer. My opinion is keep the rollers simple - easy to set up, easy to transport to races, reliable.

[SSSimon]

Essentially the smaller the roller the bigger the dent it makes in the tyre sidewall. You have to run a higher pressure to simulate riding on the road. The bigger the roller, the less the tyre is deformed and the smoother it rolls when using the same tyre pressure as you'd use on the road.

If the tyre sidewalls are squashed down too far, e.g. by a small diameter roller, the 'high resistance' is actually caused by the tyre heating up through side wall flex and compression. This heat will eventually kill your tyre. Larger rollers lessen the risk of this happening.

Tyre damage is pretty common when using wind-trainers as the wind-trainer roller is a really small diameter and is levered onto/into the tyre so that the roller doesn't skid. Conti make a special wind-trainer tyre which is designed to take this sort of abuse - but can't be used on the road.

On rollers shifting to a big gear and pedaling fast gives a higher resistance, you can feel the air resistance of the spokes holding you back. Try to see how many minutes you can hold 50kmh on rollers!

You can get away with smaller diameter rollers for track use as generally on the track you run much higher pressure tyres than on the road, e.g. I run 180 to 220 psi on the trackster depending on what's the next race.

Extract from 'My Life on Rollers'.

The Tacx rollers are a good choice. You could get away with the T7 ones for track use, of if you pump your roadie tyres up harder before using them.

[rach]

Sadly the PBK ones are now out of stock :(

[Andrew]

Sadly the PBK ones are now out of stock :(

Grumpy, I hate you, I wanted one


Simon - any recommended Brands? After seeing my mag trainer turn tyres into piles of black dust, I'm not keen for a repeat

[Bean]

Conti make a special wind-trainer tyre which is designed to take this sort of abuse - but can't be used on the road.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18805

http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/manufacturer/continental/TI_CONTINENTAL_HOME_TRAINER.html?action=currency&id=USD