Crown Rollers: Unboxing // Setup // Lama Lab Tested

[@bikedawg]

Shane---your youtube channel is very good! Always direct, candid, informative and smart. Thank you very much!

[@gplama]

Thank you for the kind words. 🙏🏼

[@bikedawg]

@@gplama I like your channel way better than DCR. I don't like the fact that he always "reminds" his viewers to hit the like button on every video. Its insulting to viewers.

[@bikermansl3]

Awesome product, I was the guy on the cervelo in the demo video, I later designed their new logo. Love the produce and it’s amazing!!!

[@iang7007]

nice review :) particularly liked how you rode this with power and are going after power targets... riding outside but inside :) great practice :)

[@BikeRacingWithoutMercy]

Looking smooth and stylish on the rollers!

[@AaronGoodTimes]

Cool review. I am definitely interested to give them a try but I have never used rollers before and currently have visions of myself falling over like a tree.

[@gregoryvassilakos9972]

The Crown Rollers have a larger diameter at the center. The Tacx Galaxia Rollers have a smaller diameter at the center. Both claim to provide a self-centering effect. Can they both be right?

[@tedjeanmahoney8547]

Hi Shane, Great job on this Lama Test. Very simply understood!! Great thoughts as well. Has made me reconsider my thoughts on Rollers. Thanks

[@Finx5008]

Great video Shane. really helpful information. Sadly, I'm one of those very tall riders with a high center of gravity that has never been able to ride with no hands (even on a wheel off trainer :p ). If I can clear enough space in the pain cave, I might give these a go though. I think they would be a great alternative for my achy knees over the constant ERG sessions on the Kickr.

[@roadkill_toronto]

Hi, so I am a bike messenger who started racing his track bike ... and wants to train using “dumb” rollers. Last year I was using a wahoo speed and cadence sensor and running a 49:14 gear ratio on a track bike and had alot of fun finding out about power etc. using minora “ action roller advance “. This summer i was not on zwift ( I’m in Canada ) and ended up getting the favero assioma’s ( thank you for that review and the follow up hack video ... waiting for my expedo’s atm ) and started doing bigger rides also on a track bike but just on regular roads. So my question is this : power wise, what zwift told me i was doing on average last year seemed pretty much in line with what i was seeing on the road ... after being spat on by a motorist i now have to self quarantine for 13 more days and thought this is the perfect time to re-activate my zwift account and , using my brand new bike with newly built wheels and power meter, I realized my power is less than half of what it was on zwift last year ... meanwhile on the road its better. Also ... while training to spin this year i have been using a 49:18 gear ratio, just wanting to ride I jumped on zwift and averaged around 200w so stopped thinking it was my gear ratio ... I switched it to 49:14 and averaged 100w lol ... anyways i thought you would have a video and sure enough you but it didn’t answer my question so i thought after all this time, i finally have a question for you. Also worth pointing out I connected directly to zwift with my pedals and heart rate monitor, should i use my wahoo bolt somehow? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[@MrMaxlo1]

it is less a physics question than it is a geometry question: The shape of the rollers make something travelling on the surface on a straight line always go back into the middle --> they become very stable. The friction effect is too small to do anything.

[@rsmenton]

Excellent review. Pricey indeed. Thanks

[@Pratalax]

Ah man i've been looking forward to this since interbike!! Great to see this product going places. Hopefully it gets nice and popular and eventually maybe see the price fall...although having those bling gold drums would be pretty effin' sweet. Imagine rocking up to a race with those and a gold chain!

[@gideonjudah2792]

I guess I'm quite off topic but do anybody know a good site to stream new tv shows online?

[@kamryncallen8519]

@Gideon Judah flixportal :)

[@gideonjudah2792]

@Kamryn Callen Thank you, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there =) I appreciate it !!

[@kamryncallen8519]

@Gideon Judah No problem xD

[@mseather1337]

Please do an review of the new Elite Nero rollers.. thanks =)

[@nathlang2314]

You also reviewed TacxGalaxia. Which one is better for a novice biker. Concave roller of TacxGalaxia or convex roller of this CrownRoller. Thanks for honest cretic.

[@gplama]

Either. They do the same thing... just a little differently on the Crown Rollers with the centring.

[@snowmen6666]

Interesting review. You should review the InsideRide Emotion rollers with smart resistance. I can hit 1000+ sprint on them. My only complain is the lack off a good flywheel for more like road feel.

[@gplama]

Trying to get a hold of a set for the Lama Lab. Australia is a really long away away from... everywhere. :(

[@MsLuminescence]

I have to buy a Tacx now I just accidentally bought a Mag Resistance from Minoura on eBay. Do you think these Crown would work with a resistance unit? I was thinking of just buy the Elite Arion Mag resistance but .. yeah my offer for this Minoura unit was accepted so I have to go a new route. Just looking to replace my 15 year old setup, I ride the trainer about 10 hours a week.

[@vwgm]

Hope to see a review of the Elite Nero interactive rollers soon. Thanks

[@davidburgess741]

Why not add a second belt for more resistance? It has the pulley grooves.

[@Sator810]

It makes me wonder, does super stable rollers defeat the purpose of rollers?

[@gplama]

Nope. These still spin and 'twitch' like rollers.

[@baribari600]

I for one never had a problem riding no hands or pedaling standing up on standard Minoura rollers.

[@vincefava7929]

Good day Shane. Keep the great vids coming! Have you had a chance to test the Elite Nero rollers? I just bought them and am looking forward to trying them and using them for longer endurance / base training to complement my NEO for interval sessions. Cheers!

[@stephanieknecht9914]

Have you ever tested the SportsCrafters progressive resistance rollers? I'm wondering how the resistance for being able to put out the higher watts. I think the price is $150 for the one roller that has progressive resistance.

[@gplama]

Not yet.

[@stoxbyhand2809]

Hi Stephanie, I have the Sportscrafters with resistance. The resistance is great and the drums beautifully made. Would love to try these one though

[@chrisvanbuggenum871]

Wow expensive. I was almost sold. Which would you rather have? Elite smart rollers or these?

[@rsmenton]

Elite for sure.

[@nicholasmontoya5369]

How do these compare to the Tacx Galaxia/Antares? Given that the design is completely the opposite?

[@gplama]

The Tacx rollers curve up to the edge to stop you just 'rolling off' them. The Crown Rollers are convex across the whole roller which keeps you in the middle as shown. They both seem to work in different ways.

[@berniesbend]

Future video and product I'd like to see are rollers I can leave outside on my deck in all kinds of weather.

[@felipexakal]

Does anyone know which saddle bag is that?

[@gplama]

This is a little Sci-Con one.

[@MrDamonLeBeouf]

very awesome review. does this being an "easier and more stable" roller equate to a less challenging workout? im decent (at best) on my rollers and see the challenge it takes to get good at them. this seems to me to take some of the skill and challenge out of it maybe?

[@gplama]

Good question.... but I don't believe it makes the workouts any easier. Watts are watts. This just takes some of the balance / concentration / risk out of the equation.

[@jasonchubb8604]

Great review. Shame about the price though. Thanks

[@raysnow585]

Very cool!

[@williamjamesrapp7356]

I have had rollers for about 29 years now and have never been able to ride without hands BUT 37 years ago and since I have seen great cyclist ride rollers with no hands

[@OmarTan]

Any plans of reviewing Elite Nero and E-Motion by InsideRide?

[@gplama]

Yes on the Nero. Yes on anything else I can get into the Lama Lab to test.

[@Sills71]

test some Emotion rollers with resistance... hit as many watts as you want and never fall off

[@gplama]

Sure, if I can get some.

[@-S-P]

What about Elite Nero? I saw it on your Instagram and looking forward to a review.

[@b1nhopires]

Where can I get some of those ride ons prints? Cheers

[@gplama]

CyclingHUB had them a while back.

[@ChristopherHague]

I can’t ride without hands on the roads let alone on rollers

[@williamjamesrapp7356]

My rollers are fairly loud

[@c799651]

Watching from the Maldives :)

[@Jeebus0143]

Is that a Pioneer power meter??!! Please do a review Shane

[@joelberman5981]

Could you stand and pedal?

[@gplama]

Not easily or in any way that'd benefit 'training'.

[@dattatrayvedpathak5067]

Roller noise isvery high and irritating?

[@kkrass1]

You can generate electricity too..

[@aky19832001]

I just realized how primitive bikes are when it comes to the chain and gear set up.. Not a single advancement has been made to the drive train. All we've done Is improve upon what is already existent.

[@gplama]

It's pretty efficient for what it does. CeramicSpeed have attempted something new.

[@Tubajock2]

Its just flat belt pulleys..... Been using that style roller for a VERY long time just faded away for V belts and other designs

[@GKel77]

Nice idea, good marketing, but guess still not justifying this price tag.

[@OldSlow]

1.

[@sven7639]

650 $ WTF

[@johnbarrick4836]

Yeah nope

[@peoplepower1272]

That's funny! Most people can get on any cheap roller and ride right down the middle no-handed, despite the amazing claim that the crown is magically doing it for you. On top of that, these rollers have no flywheel or resistance or float. Hello 1950's roller technology! This is a sure sign we're moving backwards in terms of innovation. Next thing you know we'll be seeing toe clips and friction shifters "invented" by people from kickstarter.

[@gplama]

Really? Anyone? Most people can't even keep upright on rollers.

[@peoplepower1272]

@@gplama C'mon it's not that hard. If you can ride the Crown rollers, you can ride any roller, and there are far more advanced rollers out there that never seem to make into the Lama Lab. Not saying rollers are the ticket, just that Crown rollers are not moving the needle.

[@gplama]

@@peoplepower1272 Sure. I just disagree with your assumption most people are able to ride rollers no handed. Nothing more.,,, And what makes it to my Lama Lab usually means my incurring costs and time producing content. If you want me to cover something - be part of the process to make it happen.

[@peoplepower1272]

@@gplama OK fair enough. I don't exactly know what your constraints are, but we all expect to see the latest and greatest on here. Right now on this thread there are multiple requests for a review of the Elite NERO and the E-motion smart, two advanced rollers that deserve as much attention as the Crown rollers.

[@gplama]

@@peoplepower1272 Constraints. I'm a sole operator. A cyclist with a camera. I appreciate people want to see the latest and greatest here, but I'm not backed by Discovery Channel (GCN), nor am I on the radar for most companies as I'm not 'traditional media', aka advertising. I do all my own tricks - including having to knock on doors, research, ride, produce, present, etc.etc.... anyhow, I'm not here to whinge. Just clarify reality. Videos on something like the E-Motion Smart will cost me around AU$2,000 in product, maybe a day or two in riding, researching, producing a video, then dealing with the content tail (follow up comments, etc, for months). The estimated KZbin revenue from that would be around $50.

[@kenmiller5106]

$650.......hahahahahahahaha!! For a MADE IN CHINA product. Just check Alibaba in a month and there will be a set(without the Crown Rollers logo) for $50.

[@HardiKhu]

Ssshhhtttt, they didnt know

[@thenerdycanadian7172]

it will be a knockoff, sure you could build one for cheaper, but most of the cost of products is to make back the money for R&D. example being modern high end phones only cost 200-400 in materials but sell for $800+

[@chaosengine3772]

@@thenerdycanadian7172 The R&D? HA! It's just a simple profile to CNC'd in batches for pennies on the dollar or turned on a home lathe.