Looking for Rollers

Having been frustrated with using a trainer for some time, I have generally not trained in doors at all. But since trying my flat mate's rollers (Tacx non folding poly rollers) I am sold on the idea.

Now I realise that in order to get better some sort of intervals will be required and a better way of acheiving this would be on a set of rollers.
I have seen Kreitler rollers on the net which seem to be good quality and have an attachable resitance fan, but they don't seem to have an Australian distributor. Other than those I haven't seen any which have this feature.
Does anyone know the brands available in Australia and whether you can get extra resistance if needed on those? Obviously Tacx are but I don't think they have a resistance attachment.

cheers

Tafi, in my rollers research I found on a web page a resistance device that fixes onto the frame (in the space about the rear brake calipers).

It is called a TRAC-MAG-3 and can be found at

http://www.bikesportz.com.au/minoura%20trainers.htm

I have no experience with these so I'm just pointing them out for your info. It might be an easy way to increase resistance but my suffer from tyre wear.

Also I got a tip from a guy this morning who said to let some air out of the tyre before using a resistance trainer because the tyre pressure will increase as the tyre becomes heated and this will help destroy the tyre.

Rod

I forgot, Minoura have a set of rollers with resistance attachment. See this australian site for info.

http://shops.bizarsoftware.com.au/sb...153/product599

Rod

Hey Rod, thanks muchly for your answer. Doens't seem that many people use rollers at all. The Minoura ones are an option but I think that I might want a set with smaller drums than those. My flatmatre has a set of Tacx ones with a diameter of about 3 inches and i'd like a similar sized set but made with aluminium drums.
If you see your friend again try to convince him that he shouldn't be letting air out of the tyre. If you let air out you increase the contact patch and thus increase the amount of rubber that comes off in a session. This isn't so much a problem wih rollers since it's like riding on the road (also companies that make rollers all insist that you should run appropriate riding pressure in the tyres) but it's one of the reasons I don't like trainers. Taking more air out will just make the tyre squash harder against the roller and wear it out faster.

Cheers

Tafi

I just went to the tacx web site and they have the following

"SPEEDMATIC
Magnetic braking system with steering switch for seven resistance modes."

They have two PVC roller diametres 110mm and 80mm (two models of the 80mm) type.

I'm interested in continuing this forum with you becuase I think we are both heading in the same direction.

Rod

I found that the Minoura ones have aluminium rollers but can't find the diameter anywhere on the web. I did find a good set of Minoura reviews at

http://www.roadbikereview.com/Roller...9_2508crx.aspx

Do you think roller diameter is still an issue with the use of mag resistance, since the smaller diameter is meant to give higher rolling resistance which the mag would compensate for ?

Rod

I found the diameter was 4 inches. Most web sites have basic info about the Minoura straight from the minoura site but the following site has the most comprehensive info I have seen so far.

http://www.branfordbike.com/trainer/train7.html

Rod

I have been using my flatmate's tacx rollers which are the 80mm diameter version without resistance. This works out as a good diameter for me since I can do recoveries and intervals on the one set without extra resistance. The main "problem" with these is that they are a PVC roller which If taken out in higher temperatures (left in the car on a hot day or left in the sun after you have warmed up for the TT) will warp and become quite lumpy. This isn't a huge problem if you take precautions. I am also unsure about how long the Tacx bearings will last etc.

The best option is aparently Kreitler rollers made in america. Those that use them swear by them but they are only available in the US unless you can mail order from somewhere (another expensive task).

I have seen a set of minoura ones which look much like my girlfriend's set. Her's have begun to come apart after a couple of years and they make a fair racket too. The bigger drums are easier to ride but that's not what we're after is it?

The diameter range of around 3 inches work sout well for me.

Tafi

When I was researching the trainers and rollers I was offered a free trial of a fluid and a mag trainer and then a roller by one of my club mates at Southern Cross. Just as as I was about to try them my father saw his doctor about a knee replacement and was told he had to spend some time each day on an excercise bike.

Knowing that the trainer and roller would not be suitable for a 65 year old with bad knees, I purchased a NordicTrack Spin bike that can be set up just like my road bike.

Although I have no experience with the trainers or rollers to compare the spin bike with, all I can say is that the 1K I spent on the bike is well worth it.

The bike as a felt type brake system on the front disk providing so much resistance I have to get out of the saddle and can only last a minute or two (and I ride up Artillery Hill two mornings a week).

The bike is excellent for one leg rotations because you can sit on the seat with your free leg resting in the centre and because the thing is fixed and not freewheeling, it provides the same fullon pedalling requirement as does a track bike. (Boy was I surprised at how quickly I got tired when you cannot freewheel.)

Best of all the spin bike is just sitting there ready to go with my road bike down stairs waiting for the ride home. No mucking around setting up or removing the bike from the trainer or the rollers. Just hop on the spin bike, set the resistance and pedal. When my brain gives up on work and I want a break I just hop on and go hard for a few minutes. Even after a running session to just hop on and warm down for a few minutes without sweating all over my road bike is great.

Although about twice the cost of the rollers, the spin bikes don't have any electronics and have standard cranks, the bottom bracket has a sealed bearing unit and the pedals and seat are changeable. The only negative is that the handlebars don't have a standard stem and can't be replaced with hoops. (Still working on fixing that).

Although the rollers, like you say, will improve technique on the bike, I had to compromise so that my father can work his knees. Perhaps in the future the rollers will come too.

Rod