ROLLERS vs TRAINERS - Which is Best for You?

[@bbalestier]

I've tried trainers did not feel like was riding a Bike... Glad I chose rollers...

[@brycehiigel235]

They are tough. Mentally tough. I found that the SpinerVals DVD’s helped plus a good bike fit. But I could hit my efforts more consistently without the variables like wind and hills up/down. Now the rollers feel more realistic for indoor training which helps your focus and balance. So I try to mix them up and include an outdoor ride.

[@dudeonbike800]

Here are my $0.02 I feel rollers have a more specific use than just training. In fact, you could argue that rollers really aren't ideal for basic training on the bike. Indoor riding tends to get boring really quickly, regardless of if you're riding rollers or a trainer. Expect to dread the time on the bike inside. Put it in front of the TV or be sure to have music handy! And this brings me to the major disadvantage of rollers: you can't just zone out and put in the miles watching TV or rocking out. You HAVE to pay attention. Instead of focusing on intervals and or resistance changes, you're working on technique. And most rollers don't have resistance, so they lack a big advantage of trainers. It's simply too easy to crash on rollers. And for this reason, I feel rollers are a bad choice for the vast majority of indoor riders. Rollers' big advantage are their utility in teaching excellent form on the bike. If you can ride rollers well, then you're probably going to be well versed to ride in the peloton. You won't be a "squirrel," or really unstable and unpredictable in the group. You'll hold a nice, solid line and will be comfortable riding in close quarters with others. And most competitive riders use rollers to improve their pedal cadence and spin efficiency. If you bounce on the bike, rollers will expose poor form and help you improve it. So rollers are more of a smooth steering, cadence and form improvement tool if you ask me. Other issues: Heat. You're going to get hot, so use a fan. Sweat. You're going to sweat a lot and this puts your bike in peril. Sweat is incredibly corrosive and indoor training is the fastest way to develop a corrosion problem on your bike, especially at the seat post and fork steer tube and stem, where galvanic/hydrostatic welding problems are common. Use a piece of fabric to span between your stem and seatpost to catch drops. An old pair of stretchy pants are perfect. They also sell special covers for the same use, but expect to pay a price for a fancy solution. PS Mountain bikes are fine on rollers & trainers, but NIX THE KNOBBIES! And put your tire pressures at max. Low pressures cause more tire deformation on trainers, which can lead to premature tire failure. Plus, the things won't work well with low pressures.

[@TheBarlettano]

thanks for the tip about using old pants as sweat catcher

[@AOG91]

Really good advice. Thanks!

[@IXLR8PSD]

You can adjust the air pressure in your tires to increase or decrease the resistance on rollers.

[@dudeonbike800]

Not a good idea. Reducing pressure to increase resistance will damage your tire sidewalls. The contact patch on a trainer is even smaller than the ground, so it will cause more deformation. Keep pressures at max and use gearing and/or resistance on the trainer instead. Additionally, to prevent slippage or scrubbing between tire and cylinder, you need a fair amount of pressure on a trainer. Reduced tire pressure reduces the amount of force and friction the tire has, so preventing slippage means screwing down the tire more, causing even more tire deformation. If you have an "X" pattern visible on your tire sidewalls, this is an indication of riding pressures too low, premature sidewall wear and eventual failure.

[@vickyargyle4086]

Got some rollers - can't get the front wheel brace at the moment and have been a bit nervous to use so this has been very helpful. thank you

[@InTheWind_]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video, I didn't realize I was using a "trainer" and I was searching with the incorrect term: "rollers" and getting very confused. 😆 I'm rehabilitating after a dangerous medical emergency and lack the core strength for rollers so trainers it is! Because I am nearly falling off with trainers! But it's still a lot of fun, I enjoy a good challenge. Have a lovely day!

[@walterroettinger6727]

I’ve used Kreitler rollers for years on and off with a trainer I have the headwind fan resistance unit and the flywheel. They add more than enough resistance for just about any workout

[@dylantaylor2834]

Walter Roettinger using a fan as a headwind will give very little to no resistance when using a roller or trainer

[@willmr2psu]

@@dylantaylor2834 Please do a google search for "Killer Kool Headwind Fan" to understand what Walter is referring to. Killer Kool Headwind Fan is an adjustable resistance unit that runs off a belt coming from the front drum of your Rollers. So it definitely adds a lot of resistance.

[@brycehiigel235]

I have both Trainer and Rollers so I get two different workouts. If I do specific workouts like intervals and tempo that I need resistance I use the trainer. If I just want to stay loose and work on form I use the rollers. You can tell a big difference after being on rollers for a while and getting out side to ride. I started riding my rollers in a door jam.

[@Seppe_Geerinck]

do they really DONT have tire wear on rollers???

[@brycehiigel235]

@@Seppe_Geerinck you will get some tire wear on rollers. Not as much as a wheel on trainer

[@Seppe_Geerinck]

But when after a month a year or just after 10hours

[@brycehiigel235]

@@Seppe_Geerinck that depends on how much you ride them. I was riding them one time a week and then the wheel on trainer and finally one day on the road. So I couldn’t tell you how much wear you get on the tires.

[@lennyvalentinoSchiaretti_lvs]

Thanks, finally an easy, clear and full comparison between the two alternatives! I'll go for the rollers!

[@stevenp.sparks2953]

Put your new rollers in a doorway in your house. You can prop with one hand while you're figuring it out. Once both hands are on the bars, if you "lose it", you can fall against the doorway instead of all the way to the floor. Rollers were never about training for me, they're about balance and, pardon the cliché, becoming one with the bike. After you've mastered them, ride them for about 20 minutes and then head out onto the road. You will feel different; Like nothing or no one could crash you. It's a very "solid" feeling. JMHO, of course.... Sparks in Daytona

[@LucasSi919]

What would you recommend is better for just a good indoor cardio/weight loss workout ? Rollers or trainer?

[@eloisecamire8250]

Lucas Siedlecki rollers

[@dudeonbike800]

@@eloisecamire8250 nope. For mindless time on the bike, you can't beat a trainer. You can watch TV, listen to music, have a conversation and do all sorts of other things to endure the boredom of indoor riding on a trainer. And trust me, indoor riding is BORING. But it gets the job done and obviates the necessity of a rider getting drenched, muddy and miserable riding in cold, wet weather. And it spares your bike the abuse of winter training. Plus, large range of resistance adjustment with a trainer, so the rider can do as much or little work as desired. Rollers require constant attention to steering and staying balanced. Great for a serious competitive cyclist, but terrible for the average person. Trainers are for about 95% of consumers, or the average bicycle rider. Rollers are for those wanting to improve technique on the bike to make them more adept on the bike, especially for close-quarters peloton riding and racing. Cracks me up to see 100% wrong replies to questions with absolutely no factual backup to their argument or reply.

[@brycehiigel235]

Depends on what you want. With a trainer I can get specific workouts done like intervals and tempos and such. With the rollers it really helps with balance and understanding how you move cause the bike to react just changing hand positions. Even one ride on the rollers you see the difference when out on the road. Just don’t watch tv on rollers. I usually use headphones

[@lumpiangshanghai9502]

@@dudeonbike800 nerd

[@monetaryjack1705]

Got a Wahoo Kickr on a Lifeline Rocker Plate...best of both worlds regularly doing 100km rides on Wahoo RGT....Tweak the pressure in the balance balls to make it as unstable/stable as you want and if your cadence/form is wonky you'll soon know...but rollers might be worth getting and they're pretty cheap at the moment...good to mix up the training!

[@xXxSweetLeafxXx]

Thanks for the video! I have been looking into trainer and just learning about rollers. You've given me something to consider. My bike is going to be used it a small empty bedroom over the winter so I am not certain rollers is the best option for a novice but I would like to remain active over the long Canadian winter...brrr

[@Seppe_Geerinck]

do they really DONT have tire wear on rollers???

[@domestique3954]

i grew up on rollers[ in the winter], and i’m still using rollers today,even in the summer when you only got little time for workout🤙🚴🏽💦

[@Detroit3Pistons]

Who makes the best rollers in your opinion?

[@marcelo5803]

@@Detroit3Pistons I like elite arion mag. The one with 3 types of resistance that you change manually. And I love them

[@Seppe_Geerinck]

do they really DONT have tire wear on rollers???

[@domestique3954]

@@Seppe_Geerinck On the old ones with their big rolls it’s smoother than on the street! Less wear,you don’t need special blue tyres,just take your road bike as it is and off it goes 🤙

[@codyhagbergMTB]

Can you ride on rollers with mountain bike tires or do you need slicks?

[@normadicn5700]

Any bike can be used but more popular among road and track cyclists.

[@Thracium]

Valuable explanation! Thank you!

[@sv-cr5yo]

Got Elite Arion, waiting for it to arrive !

[@kyungyun]

I use trainer for intense training and roller for recovery

[@Seppe_Geerinck]

do they really DONT have tire wear on rollers???

[@ahmedfardos]

Can rollers be used outside the house on the balcony for example during cold weather?

[@UkrainianBazooka]

yeah, just don't come off of them or you're gonna have a bad time

[@zedmangaming3401]

Really good vids, thanks to your guides I got a kitted out blue triad sp with full ultegra mech for 930CAD, only with training wheels but still a great steal!!!

[@ThetriguyYT]

+Zedman Gaming Nice one, glad I could help!

[@ThetriguyYT]

+Zedman Gaming Nice one, glad I could help!

[@ThetriguyYT]

+Zedman Gaming Nice one, glad I could help!

[@ThetriguyYT]

+Zedman Gaming Nice one, glad I could help!

[@brucepal3907]

Nice... honest review without bashing your less favorite (which is typical of reviews ). One question.... how much less resistance are the rollers than say a flat road surface?

[@glenmcd]

I used my tacx galaxia rollers last night for first time. At this point I'm confident that I'll have sufficient resistance given I'm nowhere near top gear. Although I'm 62 my fitness is okay, resting heartrate 34, 2 min recovery heartrate 55 (measured last night on rollers). Very intimidating for first few tries, but ended up doing 10KM. Although I'm in an aircon'd house, I'm going to need an industrial fan to keep me cool enough. Pedestal fan even close to me wasn't enough.

[@brucepal3907]

@@glenmcd I ended up getting rollers and ride 10 miles per day. I switch between 2 gears every minute and it takes me 40 minutes for the ride. Totally love the rollers and think they are undersold as being hard to use. I literally put Netflix on and ride watching movies. I'm 59 years old and do this for exercise only because of the cold winter. Not a competition rider or anything. But yep I sweat like a dog and feel great... including about 65 lbs weight loss! Love rollers!

[@armahthetrainer]

I do rollers. It definitely was a challenge just to start. After a week it Got significantly easier. I recommend them.

[@jeffreyreicher5241]

I have a recumbent with a 63 inch wheelbase. Do you know of any roller trainers that will meet my 63 inch wheelbase?

[@christinadihenes566]

What would be your recommendation for a good roller? I think you sold me on roller vs Trainor. I'd like for the roller to have an option for resistance

[@ThetriguyYT]

+Christina Dihenes I currently have Elite Arion rollers and I would recommend looking into the Elite brand of rollers they definitely have many good options with resistance. Other good brands that I know of are tacx and cyclops. Good luck with the purchase, glad my video helped you out!

[@Seppe_Geerinck]

do they really DONT have tire wear on rollers???

[@Mrcheesydancer]

@@Seppe_Geerinck anything touching your tire will wear it down but wear is probably minimal. I'd argue less then when you go riding outside

[@jestemkwita]

Is this true that trainers can curve your frame? I have cr-mo Spec but I wonder which will be better for my gravel bike. Roller looks like more natural but I think that produce less power.

[@saurabhpandey3535]

Bhai, how many kilometers can one can ride in rollers ? 100+ kms ?180kms ?

[@Seppe_Geerinck]

do they really DONT have tire wear on rollers???

[@joninfiction]

Where did you get your rollers?

[@BikelifeJason]

Can you wheelie on a trainer?

[@ThetriguyYT]

+john doe I've never tied it maybe.

[@karamarie6781]

Excellent!

[@kylecouture1917]

It it common to fall off the rollers? They look kind of dangerous and if i go off the side id go through my window...

[@dudeonbike800]

DO NOT PUT next to a window!!!!!

[@joninfiction]

Can you ride a bmx on rollers?

[@dudeonbike800]

Yes, but it isn't ideal. Knobbies will vibrate like crazy. Wheelbase may be too short for most rollers. No gearing to adjust resistance.

[@joninfiction]

@@dudeonbike800 I actually purchased a set of rollers after leaving this comment. Bmx bikes work great on bike rollers. They don’t vibrate. The wheel base is perfect for the distance of the rollers. Also, without gears, it’s fine. There’s no need to adjust the resistance.

[@dudeonbike800]

@@joninfiction good to hear! Glad they're working out.

[@nicklintner8383]

do you think you could make a video going over open water tips?

[@ThetriguyYT]

+NickLintner yeah good suggestion, I can definitely do that, maybe closer to the summer though.

[@kyriakossach3000]

Hello friend! Which is good for you? And rollers is good for good training?

[@Seppe_Geerinck]

do they really DONT have tire wear on rollers???

[@akilansenthilkumar5288]

It's first time seeing you and you look like shawn mendes😆😆

[@ozanyigit9820]

The fact is Trainers are dangerous for Carbon bikes. I e-mailed focus about that subject and they told me not to use Trainers if it's possible

[@jmkmckenny]

What speed do you average on your bike

[@ThetriguyYT]

+jmkmckenny on my rollers I'll be going about about 45km for an average speed, but this doesn't really represent how I would be on the road since there's practically zero resistance on rollers.

[@smckenny2265]

but what about on the road in a triathlon race

[@ThetriguyYT]

+sharon mc kenny In an Olympic about 40km/h, in a sprint closer to 45. Obviously this varies for each race course and wind conditions.

[@seove1]

I love my rollers. I modified them to have more than enough resistance.

[@dawaimonsieur1581]

EO Rhino how?

[@CalmAndFocus1566]

You can get much power on trainer rather than rollers . . . . For me its better to have trainers even its boring . . .

[@Nigelv]

4:40 "if you're a decent cyclists like most of us triathletes are" ??? if triathletes are known for 1 thing it's being terrible bike handlers :) not being a hater, I only got into cycling because of triathlon.

[@ThetriguyYT]

+Nigelv You're right, most triathletes aren't the best cyclists, that's why I didn't say good😉. But they will usually have a good cycling base and more skill than the average person so I think that qualifies as decent.

[@swankjonquil]

Noise level for Rollers - I’m in an apartment with thin walls

[@nkanyisomyeza7951]

Good 👍

[@benstewart5334]

I watch you on my turbo

[@ThetriguyYT]

+Ben Stewart That's awesome man!

[@kurtdanniel8541]

rollers are better cause you can sprint if you could balance it

[@bbalestier]

Great video Love my Rollers...

[@NicholasNRB.Barnett]

Where’s the trick roller link? Lies!

[@NicholasNRB.Barnett]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/maqXd4JnqrJ-d6M Found it!

[@Didi38]

Oh waw I'm in love. ☺