Can you adjust the resistance on rollers? All rollers or some? If you can't adjust the resistance, don't the rollers spin so easy that you can't get a workout?

do some research on the subject. all rollers are not the same. you can add resistance with fans, resistance units or with a plethora of homemade contraptions.

oh, and all rollers can provide a workout.

Can you adjust the resistance on rollers? All rollers or some? If you can't adjust the resistance, don't the rollers spin so easy that you can't get a workout?

This question comes up about once a week this time of year. A search will yield a number of threads. Short answer is to let some air out of your tires, and you will get all the workout you need unless somehow your winter program is built around out-of-the-saddle sprints.

Ok, so I sold my Cyclos and was plaining on getting a Kurt Kinetic Roll & Rock trainers (http://www.kurtkinetic.com/new_products.php), but I learned about the E-Motion rollers (http://www.insideride.com/).

I have been reading that I cannot get a workout on rollers, but the video on the E-Motion site, looks like you can get a great workout.

Thoughts?

Fold a towel up and stick it under the rear drum. Cheapest (if you have a towel, which I assume you do) way to add resistance. There's also wind resistance units that run off of the belts that you can use, but a couple of towels under each drum will give you plenty of resistance (and keep everything clean).

This question comes up about once a week this time of year. A search will yield a number of threads. Short answer is to let some air out of your tires, and you will get all the workout you need unless somehow your winter program is built around out-of-the-saddle sprints.
kerry, you've suggested this before, but I've always wondered whether it wouldn't just trash your tires. I mean, wouldn't it?
Not to say that it's a terrible option in a pinch, but over the long haul might it not be penny-wise, pound-foolish? as they say?

kerry, you've suggested this before, but I've always wondered whether it wouldn't just trash your tires. I mean, wouldn't it?
Not to say that it's a terrible option in a pinch, but over the long haul might it not be penny-wise, pound-foolish? as they say?

Bill you'd have to rack up 10000 roller miles to wear a tire out this way. Really, why do you throw your tires out? Me it's cuz they have lots of deep cuts, not cuz I've ridden all of the rubber off. Yeah, they'll get a little squared off, but I've never noticed any performance difference because of that.

That said, the real answer here (thanks to squint) is get the least efficient heaviest tires you can for riding the rollers. They'll automatically increase the resistence, even at full pressure.

I have a set of Minoura rollers with the resistance unit. They are a little loud but they will give you all the resistance you'll need for a hard workout on rollers.

I have a set of the minoura rollers w/ resistane unit coming - tomorrow - from santa.

I cannot wait!!!

My minoura rollers on the lowest resistance setting in 53x12 require 450 watts to push 90rpms. If you need more than that you can always increase it to the 2nd, 3rd, or 5th resistance setting I suppose.

I've been using my rollers lately and for Foundation Miles etc the resistance is fine but if you're doing any high output stuff (see Sprint drills) you top out too easy and it makes stomps etc hard because it's too easy to spin up from 20 rpm or w/e. I plan on ordering a Minoura Mag unit from my LBS tommorow to improve this.

I have a really old set (1989) of Performance rollers I bought with a mag resistance unit. You can make it quite difficult to pedal in the higher resistance settings. That, along with changing the gears on your bike, makes for a good workout.

My minoura rollers on the lowest resistance setting in 53x12 require 450 watts to push 90rpms. If you need more than that you can always increase it to the 2nd, 3rd, or 5th resistance setting I suppose.

That is good info (I have the same rollers) - where did you get it?

That is good info (I have the same rollers) - where did you get it?

I rode them with a powertap. Minoura's available english information is pretty minimal. These depend on tire inflation. One of these days I'll do an actual roll test on them and check tire pressure before I get on them.

Here's a sample ramp I did at the end of a workout one day just for curiousity's sake. First ramp up and down is on the 39 chainring. Second ramp up was the 52 chainring.

http://www.cycleiwakuni.com/images/rollers_power_small.jpg (http://www.cycleiwakuni.com/images/rollers_power.jpg)