New experience for me

[47p2]

So with the wet cold weather upon us and the clock about to change we have to think about not letting what little fitness we've gained over the summer months completely disappear over the winter. Turbo trainer seems to be the most common and I have my original steel framed counterweight/fan type trainer from the 80s which I loathed then and even more so now. About 10 years ago I bought a Minoura trainer hoping to get back into cycling but it was so darned hard to pedal that it put me off for another 10 years. I remember back in the 80s trying to get hold of some rollers, but with no internet back then and lack of funds it never happened. I did however manage to acquire some conveyor rollers from the production line of the company that I worked and attempted to bodge up a set, but the rollers were too thin and the belt system unreliable so the idea was abandoned.

Last week I was offered some second hand Tacx rollers for a good price so I snatched them up and brought them home, well aware that they are difficult to use for the novice. A quick cycle in the lounge/hall doorway on Friday completing my worst ever mile and I decided I needed more than a few minutes to get the hang of these. Yesterday I took the rollers out to the garage and set them up beside the ramp, this gave me something that I could hold onto until I had the confidence to go it alone. I managed to do 10 difficult shaky miles gripping the handlebars as if my life depended on it and called it a day. Tonight I managed to do a wobbly 15 miles and came off the front roller for the first time. Concentration is definitely required all the time, unlike the turbo where you just sit there and pedal.

If anyone has any tips on roller techniques I would like to hear them

[Incorrigible]

I'd like to clarify this answer by stating that I've never used rollers (although I too need something to maintain what little thigh I have gathered over the summer)

But haven't you got the front roller too far back ? Shirley it needs to be directly under the front wheel or preferably a tad in front of it

[47p2]

Picture was taken yesterday and I adjusted the roller today before using it

[Incorrigible]

So, have you got any better at it, should I get one ?

[47p2]

Slowly getting there, I did 15 miles tonight in 1h 1m compared to 1 mile in 15 minutes on Friday. Still a bit wobbly but that should improve with practise

[neenaw]

There's a few bits of good advice on another thread here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

My best advice for the rollers would be to not look at your front wheel! Try and look either at the ground a couple of metres in front of you or the far wall of the garage or wherever you have them set up.

[agentnomad]

Look at a point on the wall etc like looking down the road as you would if riding on the road and be smooth

When you get good you can sprint out of the saddle full gas as is demonstrated every Friday evening at Manchester track league by kids warming up (bloody kids)