From the Trainer to Rollers; Winter Riding is More than Weekend Rides with the Team

From the Trainer to Rollers; Winter Riding is More than Weekend Rides with the Team

I have been using rollers for about a year now. I have never worked out with a bicycle training tape, but I like to ride with the company of the stereo. I have never done a spin class either but ride hard on our rollers pretty regularly. I used to use a trainer and would often read and pedal. It was fine for general health but the dual-purpose workout would not have sufficed for serious training. Recently I suggested to Hugh that I would bring the trainer back in and pull out the trainer tire and wheel for the winter so that I could also read. He, however, reminded me how mildly I worked out on with the old trainer compared to how hard I work one the rollers. I think I sometimes forget the affects of reading and the vintage of the trainer. Nonetheless, I appreciated having and using the trainer over the past 12 years. And now I would not be using rollers if it weren't for Hugh.

When I first started I could not use my water bottle, but now I can wipe my sweat with a towel and drink from my water bottle while on the e-motion rollers manufactured in North Plains, which are far more stable than traditional rollers. One of the good things about the e-motion rollers is that there are bumpers, variable tension settings and it doesn’t take long to develop the skill to stand and pedal. Just the same, even with the bumpers it can be very precarious on them. I have taken a few spills, dives or catapults to the floor bruising my legs and denting the wood floor. But because of the accessibility, opportunities and challenges of riding on rollers, I really like it. Without the variables of outside riding, I can more easily be in tune with my specific physical condition and mark improvement with balance.

You can tell a cyclist who uses rollers when you see them on a long race. Their form is beautiful. I hope that the affects of training on rollers will be apparent to those who see me racing the miles away this spring and summer too. But I'm not just relying on; see you outside.