From time to time, I have seen questions or comments on various online forums from folks curious about rollers for use in their bike training. I exclusively used rollers for 4 years before getting my first “real” bike trainer and so I’d like to clear up some misconceptions and hopefully make the rollers less intimidating!
If you are unsure what I mean by “rollers” then you’re in the right place – many people do not know what they are, or how to ride them. Bike rollers are just that, a set of spinning drums that you set your entire bike on top of. Your bike’s front and rear wheels make contact with separate rolling drums and the spinning of the drums comes entirely from you pushing the pedals and spinning your wheels. The bike is not attached to the rollers and if you stop pedaling, then the rollers stop rolling!
There’s no question that the rollers seem intimidating at first. I was super nervous when I was starting to use them too, but after a bit of practice, I began to really enjoy and embrace the experience. Many of the comments I have seen are about how scary they seem. I’m sure there are plenty of “epic rollers fail” videos to check out online (don’t do that) however, with a few tips, you can be riding the rollers in no time.
Tip 1: set up the rollers inside of a doorway or sideways against a wall. This way you will be able to catch yourself if you begin to roll off to the side. I set mine up on my porch with a wall on one side of me and a railing on the other. A table on one side and a chair on the other works well too.
Tip 2: start slow. Use a gear that you can really feel your pedal stroke and just begin to get comfortable with how they feel under your bike. It will feel awkward at first!
Tip 3: focus on good bike position and posture. Head up, eyes straight ahead, and hands loose on the bars – no death grip! – sit up nice and tall. Relax your breathing and concentrate on your pedal stroke.
Tip 4: start with a short session and work up to longer sessions. You will probably fall off. You will probably get really frustrated. It will take time, but it will get easier and guess what? You will become a better cyclist!
Hmmm, it seems like a lot of work. Now why in the world might you want to try using rollers in place of, or in addition to your wheel-on or direct drive trainer? Simple. The rollers don’t lie. If my position is sloppy or my core is not engaged, I’ll never really know from my smart trainer. Even when riding on the actual road, you can compensate for sub-par mechanics, but it’s nearly impossible to do on the rollers. Even now, I do most of my rides on my smart trainer, but still jump on the rollers for a “tune up” on a regular basis.
The rollers are not for every situation though. Even after a few years of riding them, I cannot use them for short quick intervals or for standing efforts, although I’m sure some can. I cannot jump rope on them (Google those videos!). Also, don’t try to multi-task unless you want to fall off. They require total concentration, or you’ll pay the price!
The rollers really shine when you are looking to improve your core stability, your cadence, your balance on the bike and your overall bike handling skills. Other types of bike trainers just cannot compare. Plus, they are really fun to ride!
I hope this helps anyone who has been too intimidated by rollers to try them out. They can often be found used for pretty cheap and are a worthwhile tool for improving your cycling, both on the roads of Zwift and in real life.