Categories: Accessories and GearDefining MomentsLook ProRiding Ugly

Look Pro: Rollin’ Dirty

Tommy Simpson goes rollin' in the deep.

When it comes to training, no one loves riding outside and loathes riding inside more than I do. On the other hand, riding outside is dangerous, especially with something like the Tour de Trump running the show. So I’ve been working on my road safety by not riding on the road and riding my rollers instead.

The added benefit of the rollers is that I do it in the early hours of the day, when no one is stirring apart from the odd mouse, so there are no witnesses. No one wants to see a shirtless man crying. Not even a mouse.

The rollers are the quintessential winter training and warm-up device. Merckx rode them. I was going to list other people who rode them but then realized that the list is as complete as it needs to be with just that name on it. I’d never ridden them until last Spring, when Marko sent me his, saying I could have “those diabolical bastards”. I rode them on my road bike until it got light enough to accommodate morning rides outside which was twice. Then I forgot about them until we fell back again a few weeks ago. (Daylight Savings? More like Daylight Shavings.)

With the days getting short and my gut getting wide, I’ve turned once again to the rollers for my morning Spanish Turbo Sessions. Except this Fall, I’ve been riding my Don Walker track bike (which was here until ridden only for the Festum Prophetae Hour) which adds the benefit of an unforgiving fixed wheel to the fun of riding these torture devices.

On the plus side, nothing will give you a more Magnificent Stroke than this heinous combination will. Thirty minutes feels like a lifetime; forty-five like an eternity. I’ll let you know what fifty minutes feels like when I get there. At which point, much like with The Hour, I’ll no doubt climb off, citing road conditions.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

Next Rule #12 and the Cascade Effect »

Previous « Anatomy of a Photo: Full Gas

View Comments

RobSandy says:

Jan 11 2017 at 7:25 am

@wiscot

@Teocalli

@wiscot

Nice one.

Thanks. I’m old enough to not remember the feeling I had a a kid when I rode solo for the first time without help or stabilizers, but this had to be pretty damn close.

Ever ridden at the velodrome? I know what you mean and diving down the banking at full gas is something equivalent to this sensation.
Buck Rogers says:

Jan 11 2017 at 7:33 am

@wiscot

Ok, just gotta brag a bit. Went on the rollers last night. 30 minutes in, I took a break, basically to, ahem, ease some numbness. Second session I got it in a nice big gear then slowly and carefully released the bars and . . . sat up, riding no hands! Still had to focus, but boy, was I happy with myself.It took me maybe 7 or 8 sessions to get to this point.

The rollers are all about technique, but also confidence and feel. Shit weather in WI means I’ve only ridden outside once since I got the rollers, but I feel a distinct smoothness to my stroke and a change in upper body tension. Looking forward to more roller rides and seeing the extent to which they affect the open road riding.

Chapeau!!!

I actually ride standing up every 15 minutes, for a full five minutes each time, while on the rollers to help with the blood flow and comfort.

Not sure if you have tried this or are already doing it but if you can ride no hands, then you can easily ride standing up while on the rollers and then you will not need to ever stop!
wiscot says:

Jan 11 2017 at 9:47 am

@Buck Rogers

@wiscot

Ok, just gotta brag a bit. Went on the rollers last night. 30 minutes in, I took a break, basically to, ahem, ease some numbness. Second session I got it in a nice big gear then slowly and carefully released the bars and . . . sat up, riding no hands! Still had to focus, but boy, was I happy with myself.It took me maybe 7 or 8 sessions to get to this point.

The rollers are all about technique, but also confidence and feel. Shit weather in WI means I’ve only ridden outside once since I got the rollers, but I feel a distinct smoothness to my stroke and a change in upper body tension. Looking forward to more roller rides and seeing the extent to which they affect the open road riding.

Chapeau!!!

I actually ride standing up every 15 minutes, for a full five minutes each time, while on the rollers to help with the blood flow and comfort.

Not sure if you have tried this or are already doing it but if you can ride no hands, then you can easily ride standing up while on the rollers and then you will not need to ever stop!

Nope. Not done out of the saddle yet. That's the next trick to learn. I'm guessing it's all about weight distribution - not too much up front, but not too much on the back. I'll give it a shot tonight.
Ron says:

Jan 11 2017 at 10:36 am

Oh man. I rode my rollers on Sunday for the first time since probably 2010 (I moved far south, not much snow/ice here). While my pedal stroke is vastly improved from all the riding I've done, my confidence on rollers is low. I'm fine getting out of the saddle to relieve and adjust...but no hands or 5 minutes out of the saddle, no thanks. I'm riding in a small room where I store all my bikes, plus next to a window. A fall is not worth it in there.

But, nice work on those with the skillz!
Teocalli says:

Jan 11 2017 at 1:31 pm

@wiscot

Nope. Not done out of the saddle yet. That’s the next trick to learn. I’m guessing it’s all about weight distribution – not too much up front, but not too much on the back. I’ll give it a shot tonight.

Methinks I need a higher gear than compact 50x12 as not really enough resistance to stand - or maybe that's me and needs more work.
chris says:

Jan 11 2017 at 2:46 pm

@Teocalli

@wiscot

Nope. Not done out of the saddle yet. That’s the next trick to learn. I’m guessing it’s all about weight distribution – not too much up front, but not too much on the back. I’ll give it a shot tonight.

Methinks I need a higher gear than compact 50×12 as not really enough resistance to stand – or maybe that’s me and needs more work.

Out of the saddle is hard on a compact but not impossible. Resistance helps (I remember reading somewhere that placing a folded towel on the floor under one of the rear rollers will increase resistance), as does good weight distribution but I think the key is smoothness which I find so much harder to achieve standing than sitting.

I know it's easier said than done but at the end of the day though it's just about getting up and doing it. Rule 5.
wiscot says:

Jan 11 2017 at 2:47 pm

@Teocalli

@wiscot

Nope. Not done out of the saddle yet. That’s the next trick to learn. I’m guessing it’s all about weight distribution – not too much up front, but not too much on the back. I’ll give it a shot tonight.

Methinks I need a higher gear than compact 50×12 as not really enough resistance to stand – or maybe that’s me and needs more work.

Interesting. I was in a 50-13 or 50-14 I think when I was going no hands. Clearly, the big gear is essential for stability. I warm up on the small ring and the whole affair is certainly much more twitchy. I'll be rolling tonight so I'll experiment on the gears and report back.
DVMR says:

Jan 11 2017 at 2:51 pm

@Teocalli

@wiscot

Nope. Not done out of the saddle yet. That’s the next trick to learn. I’m guessing it’s all about weight distribution – not too much up front, but not too much on the back. I’ll give it a shot tonight.

Methinks I need a higher gear than compact 50×12 as not really enough resistance to stand – or maybe that’s me and needs more work.

Can't speak regarding rollers, never having tried them (yet), but at our local track training sessions we do out-of-saddle drills, which I imagine have similar effects. My personal record out of the saddle is around 1.5km (but actually 2x 1.5kms with a couple rest laps in between), not a world record or anything but improving with every attempt. Never felt a burn quite like it before.

I'll shut up now and go get some rollers, so I might actually have something useful to add to the conversation.

Carry on.