Techs-Mechs:  Rollers

Massachusetts has resembled Minnesota this winter.  I have been out a bit on th weekends, but the snow and cold have limited any real road work, and I just couldn't bear another winter on the resistance trainer.  Besides, Mrs Van P has been using her MTB on it religiously and I don't want to upset her set up every night.  So I decided to try something new. 

Drew was telling me about a set of rollers he got for Christmas and I was instantly intriqued.  After exchanging a few emails with him as well as some with my other cycling buddies, I decided it was something I wanted to try.  I did some research, and Kreitler is apparantly the gold-standard, but $400 on something that is an experiment, just wasn't going to fly.  Instead I picked up a set of Performance Travel Trac Technique Pro Alloy Rollers.  On sale from $179 down to $134, I took advantage of an online coupon and for a grand total of $132 they were at my door in 4 days.  The Perfomance model is well mad (all alloy) and I have had good luck with my Performance stationary trainer, so I felt good about trying their rollers.

I have had them about a week and the first try was just a few minutes to get the feel of them.  To compare them to riding a bike on a giant sphere of ice, would grossly understate how slippery they feel.  I think I squeezed the doorframe I practiced in so tight I left a mark in the wood.  But even on the first try I could immediately see their value.  I'm a grinder with a propensity toward pushing down on a big gear.  I have been working over the past few years to smooth out my pedal stroke, but it's still rough.  Rollers interested me since I heard they will instantly punish any choppiness and really force you to pedal in nice smooth circles.  I have always thought of myself as a good bike handler, but you could always be better, and rollers will force you to have excellent balance.  Any steering motions need to be very subtle.  For you MTB'ers, think about soft peadling over a tight section of single track while keeping the upper body loose and still.  Over-turn and you will ride off them.

So far I can do about 5-6 minutes at a time without touching a wall.  This is a breakhrough from my first couple rides where a few seconds of holding the bar was all I could muster.  A couple things I have learned: 

Be smooth no matter what the cadence is the key.   I am using my cross bike with road tires which has a compact 46/36 crankset and I'm in a 17 in the back.  I like the extra clearance of the cross bike as I'm just getting comfy on these, but will probably switch to the road bike before to long.  My first couple attempts I was in the 36/21 which was just not enough of a gear.  the 36/17 and I'm guessing the 16 or 15 will be just right. 

Look forward.  Don't look at the front wheel.  It's hard not to, but it's better to look ahead, since looking down makes you always want to adjust.  The rollers are wide enough, just trust it. 

Just enjoy the feel.  No need to worry about HR or cadence.  It will take care of itself.  these aren't for power training, but you will get an excellent workout and develop excellent balance and smooth stroke. 

I've only had these a week, but I'm already looking forward to my next session on them, which I can't ever say I felt about the mag trainer.   My current set up is at the base of the basement steps.  I can reach the rail easily if I'm falling and there is a step I can use to step on and off.  the step is a little close though and I have to avoid catching it with my pedal, but my basement floor isn't perfect, so I need to find a level spot and the one next to the steps is almost perfect.  Still experimenting though.

I would appreciate any training tips anyone can offer as well as how you are using them.