January 6, 2001


What are training rollers?

I keep hearing about the merits of riding my road bike on training rollers. What the heck are they, how are they used, and where can I find me some? Thanks,

— Lisa Cushman Curran Wilton, Connecticut

Good question, Lisa. Training rollers consist of three of rollers about 15 inches wide and 2 inches in diameter, mounted to a metal frame that sits on the floor. One pair of rollers is set about 8 to 10 inches apart; the other sits by itself toward the front of the frame. When you put the bike on the rollers, the rear pair holds the rear wheel in place; the front roller supports the front wheel. You then hop on the bike and start riding. Obviously you don't go anywhere —- the rollers spin and hold the bike in place. You get in a workout, and because you're really "riding" the bike, you also get to work on cadence, balance and other real-road concerns. Rollers are fairly expensive -— Kreitler Poly-Myte rollers, for instance, run about $270, with other models considerably higher. But serious riders swear by rollers.

I prefer what's called a "trainer." This device locks the bike in place within a frame. A spring-loaded roller is pushed against the rear wheel, with a fan or magnetic device then attached to provide resistance. The advantage of this setup, in my view, is that you don't have to pay much attention to what you're doing. I find indoor training a mind-numbing activity as it is and prefer being able to let my mind wander while listening to NPR or Car Talk or even reading something. Trainers also are a bit less expensive. A Blackburn TrakStand with a magnetic resistance unit (quieter than a fan) will sell for about $200.

To see either or both, check in with a local, full-service bike shop. You can also find them from mail order or Web operations such as Bike Nashbar (www.nashbar.com), Colorado Cyclist (www.coloradocyclist.com) and Performance Bicycle (www.performancebike.com).

A useful accessory for either a trainer or set of rollers is a budget-priced heart rate monitor such as a Polar Beat ($50). That way you can spend your time training to certain heart rates, making better use of your time and make the session less monotonous.

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