Insight and reccomendations on rollers

[MichaelK]

If you're feeling fancy...

https://www.ogawa-seisakusyo.co.jp/arago.html

[wheelbuilder]

If you're feeling fancy...

https://www.ogawa-seisakusyo.co.jp/arago.html

The sidewall attachments are pretty cool.

[LouisN]

I'm kind of done with my KICKR SNAP. My FTP is low enough that I have to ride at very slow gears to hit 50% FTP. I also just don't like being locked in and I want to build skill around pacing my own power. So I want to try rollers. My main questions are what kind of resistance do they have? I will prob stick to sweet spot and Z2 on them so I don't know if I'll ever need more than ~300W of resistance. Also just looking for recs on specific models. If it works well I might get rid of the SNAP as I do all my above threshold stuff outdoors.

I could get rid of my DD smart trainer any time.
But I can't go through winter without my Insideride E-motion. It's the ONLY rollers you want. I have the "dumb" version, with remote controlled resistance levels. I can do 90% of any training on them, even Zwifting with the PM.
When I feel lazy and don't want to work my core, then I use the DD trainer...

Lots of Insiderides for sale on classifieds, marketplace, etc... Some people try them and don't like them. I bought mine for CAN$400. That's including a full steel cage and decks !
Louis

[wheelbuilder]

I'm kind of done with my KICKR SNAP. My FTP is low enough that I have to ride at very slow gears to hit 50% FTP. I also just don't like being locked in and I want to build skill around pacing my own power. So I want to try rollers. My main questions are what kind of resistance do they have? I will prob stick to sweet spot and Z2 on them so I don't know if I'll ever need more than ~300W of resistance. Also just looking for recs on specific models. If it works well I might get rid of the SNAP as I do all my above threshold stuff outdoors.

I could get rid of my DD smart trainer any time.
But I can't go through winter without my Insideride E-motion. It's the ONLY rollers you want. I have the "dumb" version, with remote controlled resistance levels. I can do 90% of any training on them, even Zwifting with the PM.
When I feel lazy and don't want to work my core, then I use the DD trainer...

Lots of Insiderides for sale on classifieds, marketplace, etc... Some people try them and don't like them. I bought mine for CAN$400. That's including a full steel cage and decks !
Louis

What's the deal with them? Did they go out of business or just switch focus to other products?

[AJS914]

They still seem to be in business. I'm guessing that rollers are just a tiny market. I also scored an essentially new set for $350. I switch off between the rollers and my Kickr. I'm not sure I'd pay $950 plus tax for the rollers.

What I really want is their e-flex product for my kickr. I think it would be the best of both worlds.

[naylor343]

I’ve been using Kreitler rollers for 35+ years. For a lot of those years I used the Kreitler Killer Headwind fan for resistance. Now though I have a piece of angle iron perpendicular to the back rollers with 10 neodymium rare earth magnets attached for quiet and adjustable resistance.

Also on Kreitler rollers, your idea seems fantastic but can't understand how it works ? Do you have a picture ?
Rollers is the way to go if you want a peacefull training, just some music and your legs, nothing to plug, nothing to worry (normal tire on metalic Kreitler drums, no problem) and you can do Z1 train to Tabata.

This works with aluminum rollers. You place a series of magnets close to the roller on the bottom or side. As the roller rotates, it generates an eddy current that creates resistance in the aluminum. The more and closer the magnets, the stronger the resistance.

You can see disc shaped magnets in front of the rear roller in the photo in this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/indoor-stati ... llers.html

Those are my Kreitlers and freemotion carriage. Also, I just use whatever tires I have that have been deemed unworthy of use on the road (cuts in the tread filled with Shoe Goo, etc.).

The same as above, I built my own free motion carriage. I purchased the elite arion mag rollers, built the carriage around them, eight skate wheels and bungee cords each end, voila, done. The elite rollers are available for around the €250 mark, has 3 settings, but just using gears alone I can ride between zone 1 recovery and VO2 max, all in the easiest setting. That's with an FTP of 270. Any higher would probably need the second setting. Best thing is the total freedom in riding, I hate the locked in feeling on the turbo, even with a rocker board. With the free motion, out of the saddle, even at high speed/effort is easily done, without fear of shooting off the rollers. I do have a direct drive smart trainer on a rocker board, but only ever use it for ramp tests, where erg mode is essential.

[LeDuke]

Smaller diameter rollers have more resistance. Mine are ancient Sportcrafters with 3.25" rollers. Only use when the weather is bad enough that I can't even ride my fat bike or mtb outside. Tons of ice puts me indoors. It's a necessary evil to maintain my cycling fitness.Tires and only use my backup bike on the rollers, are Continental 4000S tires. Still have a few laying around.

I have a set that are 18 years old that I bought on a U of I team deal. Still work.


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