After a few years of braving the cold every day, I decided it would just be more efficient to ride indoors sometimes. I purchased a cheap indoor trainer (on sale for $55,) used it for about a month, then it crapped out.

That turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because once I returned the trainer, I grabbed a set of rollers, and I’ve been hooked ever since!

The rollers I purchased were the Performance Travel Trac Alloy Rollers. I usually see these in the Performance Bicycle catalog for $130-150. If you watch for them to go on sale, use a coupon, and/or join the Team Performance discount club, you could get them even cheaper (mine were effectively $110, although that was years ago.)

The rollers are lightweight and they fold for easy storage, and the alloy drums are strong, durable, and smooth. You only need an adjustable wrench to adjust the front drum for your wheelbase.

I have been using these year round (but mostly during the winter) since 2004, which means I’ve put about six off-seasons of riding on these rollers. Despite those thousands of miles, these rollers are good as new! Even the connecting band looks good (it hasn’t cracked, stiffened up, rotted, etc.)

I should also mention that these are stored in an unfinished, unheated basement that leaks all the time. They aren’t pampered, but you wouldn’t be able to tell.

I can’t complain about these rollers at all. The price was great and they do what I want – allow me to ride indoors and have it feel like I’m actually balancing my bike. You could pay $400 for Kreitler rollers, but unless you need the resistance units or just like to spend money, it’s not necessary.

Resistance? Well, I can get in the big ring and spin at an unrealistic 40mph on these things. So a stationary trainer does look good from that perspective. But I still work up a sweat on these rollers, that’s for sure!

My final verdict is…

Rollers are way more fun than a stationary trainer, and these Performance Travel Trac Alloy Rollers are inexpensive yet offer great quality. (I see no need to buy more expensive rollers unless you need a resistance unit.)

I love these and highly recommend them for anyone who wants a set of rollers.

Official website: www.PerformanceBike.com

Did you just pick up some rollers for the coming indoor riding season? Great choice! (I am a big fan of rollers over stationary trainers.)

Now you just need to set them up…

The good news is, rollers are very easy to set up. Even better, you only have to set them up once – there is no need to adjust them each time you ride! (If you use a stationary trainer, it requires adjustment each time you put your bike on it.)

Tools needed:

• Adjustable wrench
• Plumb bob (optional)

Now let’s get started…

Step 1: Set the rollers on the floor.

Place the rollers on a flat surface. Unfold them if that is an option.

If unfolding them, make sure the cable is resting in the grooves on the sides of the roller drums. This cable is vital because it connects the drums so they all rotate together!

Step 2a: See if your bike fits.

This is the only real step in roller setup. You need to adjust the position of the front drum to match your bicycle’s wheelbase.

To do this, hold your bicycle on the rollers. Be sure to place the rear wheel over the two nonadjustable drums. The front wheel should rest on the single front drum.

Now look at the bicycle’s front hub and the rollers’ front drum. What you want to do is move the drum forward or backward so that the front hub is slightly behind the drum.

What has worked perfectly for me is dropping a plumb bob from the quick release skewer. I like it so I can drop a plumb bob from the skewer (which is the center of the front hub) and have it hit the back side of the drum. This means the center of the front hub is behind the center of the drum.

Note: If you do not have a plumb bob, you can just eyeball it.

Why not center the wheel over the drum? If the front hub is directly above or slightly in front of the drum, it’s more likely you’ll ride off the front of the rollers!

Step 2b: Move the front roller.

Now, if the drum does need moved, grab the adjustable wrench.

To move the drum, just loosen the end bolts with an adjustable wrench, move the drum into a different set of holes, and re-tighten the bolts.

When finished, make sure everything is tight, and take a test ride!

As we approach that time of year when the cold, wet weather typically sets in, it is time to look into indoor riding options. You can choose between rollers and trainers, but the stationary trainer is the standard tool of the trade for most riders looking to train indoors.

Here are five indoor trainers including popular models that have been getting rave reviews for years as well as a couple new, high-tech offerings:

1. CycleOps Jet Fluid Pro

CycleOps has always had a nice flagship trainer option. Cyclists have been buying this for years, and many shops even use a CycleOps Fluid 2 unit for bike fits. This Jet Fluid Pro is simply the latest upgrade to CycleOps’ stable of fluid trainers.

The JetFluid Pro uses PowerTuned technology for a smooth fluid feel, which makes for realistic feeling accelerations when riding. In layman’s terms, this trainer makes it feel like you’re actually out on the open road. It is also “the quietest Fluid trainer ever made.”

Website: www.Saris.com

2. 1UpUSA

One trainer that’s very popular around the online cycling communities, yet I rarely see in person, is the 1Up USA trainer. How popular? It has been voted “Best Trainer” seven years in a row by MountainBikeReview.com and RoadBikeReview.com!

You’ll have to check the site to read all the details that set this trainer apart from the rest, but the number one reason is the Centrifugal Pressure Resistance, which I can’t explain other than the fact it is supposed to provide a more realistic ride than any fluid or magnetic trainer!

For just $299 shipped, the 1UpUSA trainer is definitely worth a look.

Website: www.1upusa.com

3. Kurt Kinetic Road Machine

The other extremely popular fluid trainer is the Road Machine from Kurt. This is a fluid trainer with smooth resistance and good road feel.

Website: www.kurtkinetic.com

4. Blackburn Tech Fluid Trainer

Blackburn has come out with an updated fluid trainer to expand your options. It is supposed to be as good as the others, but it’s $100 or so less, so it’s definitely worth considering. It also comes with a lifetime warranty.

Website: www.blackburn.com

5. Tacx Fortius

This is a serious trainer, with a serious price – well over $1000. Not only is it a solid trainer, it incorporates Virtual Reality and turns your slog on the trainer into a lifelike racing experience!

If you plan to log a lot of miles indoors and you have lots of extra cash, definitely take a look at the Virtual Reality trainers from Tacx.

Website: www.tacxvr.com

When most cyclists think about indoor training, they immediately equate it with boredom. I can’t blame them – riding indoors is nothing like being out on the open road.

So the first thing they do is think of distractions – big screen TVs, training DVDs, movies, virtual reality bike races, or at least an MP3 player.

That can be a lot of fun, but it can cost a ton of money. If you want to train indoors but lack the budget for a high-tech setup, do what I did when I was in college.

I call it:

The College Dorm Room Indoor Trainer Setup

Being on a college student budget, all I had in my room was a $55 magnetic stationary trainer. I only had the trainer – no fancy doo-dads, not even a TV.

So I made the most of my posters (obligatory for college students) and simple household items, like the mirror (provided free with room & board.)

Step 1: Put the mirror on the wall or door at your riding eye level. (The full-length mirrors that go on doors are perfect.)

Step 2: Set up the trainer in the middle of the room, so you are facing the mirror.

Step 3: Place an action-packed cycling poster on the wall behind the trainer.

See, the mirror functions as a rear view mirror. That way, you ride on the trainer and see yourself in the mirror, along with pro cyclists chasing you down! It’s exciting. Really, it is!

My setup had a large poster of Mario Cippolini (sporting a world champion rainbow jersey) sprinting to the finish line. I spent so many hours watching him chase me that the image is ingrained in my mind!

Hours of fun, I must say!

An Indoor Training Cost Comparison

Just to show you the price difference in a couple indoor training setups, here is a quick comparison:

My dorm room setup:

Elite Mag Elastogel Trainer: $157*
Door Mirror: $20**
Cycling Poster: $0***

* I actually had a cheap house brand magnetic trainer that I got on sale for $55, but I wore it out in less than a month, so I’d stick with a good brand for $120-160 minimum, or check eBay.

** Free if you already have a mirror in the house.

*** Check with a local bike shop for any promo posters from last year that they might be throwing out.

So, if you can improvise, you could get a good setup for under $100. But, even if you are buying everything new, the whole setup is just about $200.

The high-tech setup:

Tacx I-Magic Fortius Virtreality Trainer: $1395
Extra Software (more courses, online subscriptions, etc.): $300
New LCD display: $1100

You’re looking at well over $2000 for this setup, even if you have a good computer already!

So I’m going to keep kickin’ it old school on a budget! (Sure, I spice things up with my MP3 player, but I’m not much for watching TV or following training DVDs like Cyclo-Zen and Spinervals while riding.)

If you are interested in indoor training, but have yet to purchase a trainer, you may like my advice on, What Is a Good Stationary Trainer?

Photo credit: pinkpucca