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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@Buck Rogers
And therein lies the dilemma. Am I squirrelly because I'm a newbie or squirrely because my set-up isn't right? Time and practice will tell I guess. Thanks for the advice!
@Buck Rogers
@wiscot I think Bucko has it my memory is center of hub (wheel) is 2-3 mm behind. If your whole hub is behind then maybe too much behind? But my hope in opening this can of worms was that you fiddle with it and see if you get a more stable ride. My memory of the kind of stability is that when it's right you can do 150rpm or take your jumper off with no hands at 50 rpm.
I too have a love/hate relationship with my rollers. I now own two different sets of them. WTF?! You say? It started with a set of the Kreitler 4.5" full alloy rollers on full-length frames. So freakin' smooth. Unlike me. For years, they have served me well. Then a couple of months ago, a kind-hearted old gentleman walked into the shop and right up me then asked if I would be interested in a free set of "cycle rollers". Of course, I said yes. I walked out to his car with him. He opened the trunk (boot?) to reveal a set of full alloy 3" Krietlers on a compact frame. The man told me that they had been his son's rollers and that his son had passed away "years ago". Of course, I accepted them. They definitely are a different kind of ride than the 4.5s. By comparison, the bike is much more squirrelly and requires a quite bit more effort to maintain speed while riding on the 3's. On the 4.5's, accelerations happen more sluggishly due to the increased mass, but then maintaining a speed is much easier and there is a bit more coasting power before unclipping. Getting on and off of them is easier with the lower deck height of the 3" rollers. Those rollers under Mr. Simpson up there look massive. I bet those rode like a Cadillac!
What are the considered opinions between Tacx and Elite models (or any other)?
@Teocalli
For rollers only? - in which case I can't help - or for their turbos? in which case it's a matter of budget and intended usage.
@ChrisO
Ah yes I should have been specific. For Rollers.
@Teocalli
Kreitler are the number one name in rollers. You cannot beat them in my opinion.
@Buck Rogers
Never used them so no help... but I will say that for an extra 30 quid over the Kreitler standard rollers you can get a Tackx Vortex Smart which gives you variable feedback resistance on Zwift and other training software.
If you're going to use the rollers then go for it, but if you want to get into the whole virtual cycling thing then the entry point is about the same. You don't even need a high-spec laptop now, Zwift have released an IOS app.
@ChrisO
I have a dumb turbo that I've had for quite a few yearsand I guess that is the question as to whether to try rollers for a different game or a new turbo.
@Teocalli
Rollers will fine tune your balance, round your pedal stroke, and teach you to ride with a quiet upper body. Or make you good at falling over sideways. Turbo trainers will build strength.