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.
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View Comments
@ChrisO
Ho Lee COW!!! That looks amazing! I really have to check this out since I ride inside all the time anyways.
I made a really low offer on a new, buy-it-now PowerTap Ant+ G3 Shimano Wheelset on ebay and they have just counter-offered. Too high on counter offer but I'll go up a bit and try again.
Really exciting stuff!
Surely it can't beat a post gale ride in the wet with a slow puncture..............
@Teocalli
A fitting reply for the man with Ronde icon.
@Harminator
Even after 28 years living in Wellington it's still possible to misunderestimate the wind. Once the aftershocks had eased and the floodwaters receded last week I headed up the Rimutakas, finding it all relatively easy. Turning around at the summit was another story. On the way down I was brought to a complete stop and just managed to avoid getting blown over. Managed to get going again between gusts, with the first 2-3km downhill no faster than the last 2-3km uphill... Appreciated the extra weight of a steel bike that day.
In the last few months, I have finally learned to stop worrying and love the turbotrainer. Like the hour record (which I have no experience with other than watching a few recent ones on the internet and listening to the riders pontificate on the mental challenge) I found them bearable if they're broken down into smaller intervals. The idea of a 45 minute steady-state workout on a trainer is awful. But, a few 5-10 minute FTP intervals or a series of 30 second sprints spaced between some easy spinning has actually given me some proven results.
Let me repeat- the damn things actually work. I find my stroke is much more magnificent on the road and my sustained suffering increased.
In summary, Rule #10.
Back in the distant 80's, my brother attempted what he described as a land speed record on my rollers in our kitchen. He hit a monster speed and the bike jumped off the rollers and left a good black screech across the linoleum that remained until the day we did a remodel. I did the remodel demo so that I could grab that portion of flooring and many years later created an engraved trophy with a piece of the tile that commentated the achievement. The trophy was given to him at Christmas, and when he opened it and began to read and see the bit of linoleum, he rolled over laughing and I enjoyed every minute of the gift that came back to him about 10 years after the occasion!
Love my rollers. Whenever I have only an hour or so to train they are the go to. Super efficient. For some reason I can't stand turbo trainers, they are just so boring (for me). Rollers make you balance, engage your core and pedal smoothly. There is just something about them that is engaging.
@Ktc
To be fair, I've never been run off the road by a Prius with a Bernie sticker on the back.
@BacklashJack
I find the turbo trainer incredibly boring. However, recently I have found some good training videos that keep my interest. The workouts are typically shorter but much more intense than I would maintain on my own. I use those from a popular cycling site so the instructors seem familiar. These workouts get me on the trainer more often for more intense sessions.
I have not tried rollers and am terrified that I would break something should I do so.
@Rick
I ride rollers in a doorway so that when I inevitably roll to one side or the other I can stop from flying off entirely.