rollers or a trainer

[comtom1]

I only have one bike and right know it has 2.5 wierwolfs on it can these tires be used with either one of these items and if so what brand is worth buying i was maybe thinking of a trainer but i dont really know how either one can benifit me any helpful info thanks

[radair]

pick up a cheap mtb sized road slick you'll go crazy listening to the weirwolves buzz on the trainer i'd go with a trainer over rollers so you'd only need one slick i just go to spin class and sit in the back behind all the fine wimmin in their spandex so they don't see me drool they give out towels to mop up after youself anyway maybe i can pretend it's sweat and no one will care how's that sound

[C.P.]

What about the Minoura Inter-Rim Trainer - it is a rim drive (instead of tire) and allows you to keep your mtn bike tires on.

Amazon.com/NEMBA link (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/102-0435309-5304165?keyword=Minoura+Inter+rim&mode=blended&tag =newenglandmou-20&Go.x=11&Go.y=10)

[Jisch]

the difference is that you can't fly into the wall at 15mph when you're riding a trainer.

I have rollers and they do help a lot with not only fitness, but also balance and smooth pedalling. It takes maybe 10 or 15 minutes to learn how to use them. In my experience the biggest problem with rollers, and probably moreso with a trainer, is boredom. Its all I can take to sit on the rollers for 45 minutes. With rollers at least there's the possibility of severe pain to keep you interested.

The noise with MTB tires is a bit tiresome (hehehehe). I'm doing pretty well with riding through this winter so I haven't pulled the rollers out yet. If you do 45 to an hour once or twice a week, you'll be far ahead of your buds who sat around watching the tube/internet all winter.

John

[splat]

the difference is that you can't fly into the wall at 15mph when you're riding a trainer.



That is a Myth ! when you fall off rollers going 20 MPH you don't goin flying across the room at 20 mph , your tires stop and you fall over making a loud crashing sound. then the wife comes in and laughs

[bdee]

I'll second the inter - rim trainer. I've had mine since 99 and it's pretty good. Decent resistance levels and a nice bar mounted resistance shifter/selecter. Mine is old and makes a funny (and REAL loud) noise if I don't spin smoothly, I just use that as incentive to try to spin better.

[ArmOnFire]

I have rollers, but I also have 2 road bikes so....

I taped some of the Tour stages over the years, and like to watch those while playing some motivational music.
The hard part with rollers is that anything over 30 minutes for me and the nether region goes numb, it is possible, but difficult to stand for a few pedal turns on rollers, that I would say is an advantage of a trainer, but th rollers provide you with a great spin and helps with your balance, I noticed a difference on the trails (as far as improved balance), also could have been related to practicing trackstands, hmm....

If you do get rollers, and watch bike races or downhill skiing, be careful, I find myself trying to steer through those tight corners on those downhills! -not a good idea.

Sorry this is so long

$0.02

Dan

[Jisch]

it is possible, but difficult to stand for a few pedal turns on rollers,

A friend says he fights the boredom on rollers by trying to take his t-shirt off an on while staying upright. I can't even take a hand off the bars.

Oh and if you do get rollers or trainer - its a good idea to cover your top tube with a towel or something without the aid of wind, all your sweat drips right down onto the tt and eventually into the BB.

John

[pk]

Don't mean to highjack this thread.... but... anyone want to join me for some roller racing? The Northeast Bicycle Club (a NEMBA member) holds them every Thursday at 6:30pm at Pedal Power Bike & Ski in Acton. I've gone the last couple of weeks and they're a lot of fun. It's easier to ride 1 1/2 hours on rollers when you have the distraction of racing. The races are low key: 1K sprints that take a minute or less. Everyone is in the same gear inch, so it's a test of smoothness and speed.

Come on down!

pk

[comtom1]

If i got rollers do i need to change my rear tire or can i still ride with the knobby

[pk]

Yes, you'd have too change with rollers.... unless you don't mind the buzzing and noise. They'd certainly work however.

pk

[C.P.]

Don't mean to highjack this thread.... but... anyone want to join me for some roller racing? The Northeast Bicycle Club (a NEMBA member) holds them every Thursday at 6:30pm at Pedal Power Bike & Ski in Acton. I've gone the last couple of weeks and they're a lot of fun. It's easier to ride 1 1/2 hours on rollers when you have the distraction of racing. The races are low key: 1K sprints that take a minute or less. Everyone is in the same gear inch, so it's a test of smoothness and speed.

Come on down!

pk


I'll have to join you sometime...I haven't done one of these races since I joined NEBC 5 years ago...How do they do it anyways?- are they all connected to a computrainer like the double-trainer set-up that I saw at cycleloft?

[Slider]

I vote spin bike. No stress on your good bikes, no tire wear, no noise to speak of, infinitely variable resistance, fixed-gear-so-you-have-to-keep-pedalling, wide adjustability to match road, mtb, and any other riding position, stable, no chance of the laughing wife, and long, nearly maintenance-free service life.

Of course, you still have to get on the thing regularly...

Slider

[hogboy]

I recommend


a stationary trainer or spin bike


spinervals videos or dvd's

One: you can max the power and almost pass-out
on a stationary, no risk of falling/crashing. and if you
want to work on perfect form, do one-legged high rpm intervals

Two: spinervals tapes are professionaly coached and reduces the boredom to ZERO
whilst giving you a coached session with one of the very top coaches in the world, not just your average spin coach. Coach Troy is damn motivational and he knows how to count-you-down without stressing you out.

[fellsbiker]

I have rollers and I hate them. In fact i'll sell you mine if you want them. My main problem is the boredem. I wish I could sit there for 45 minutes. After 5 i can't take it anymore and stop. Depending on your tire tread pattern, you might not have to switch tires at all, but if you have mut tires, its going ot be like an earthquake if you don't. I'd rather just get fat in the winter, come spring i'll just start from scratch :-)

[MTBME]

Looking at this thread, several things jump out at me. Riding indoors will soak your clothes in sweat. Use old bike shorts and tee shirts or your good stuff will look old real fast. Same for the tires. You'll get that flattening effect on your tires real fast because the bike never leans. All the wear occurs in the same spot.

To fight the boredom get a heart rate monitor and get your heart rate in a target zone for x amount of minutes. Now your not looking at the clock all the time. Also braek it up with intervals going hard than recovering for awhile. You got to mix it up to keep from going crazy. Spinerval tapes are good but I find they go way to hard before I'm ready. Maybe that's me. I also like old Tour DeFrance / Tour DeTrump videos. But be careful. I find when the riders lean into the corners you have a tendency to want to lean with them. Not cool when your riding rollers :o