Spoken

Posted by Daniel Mon, 11 Dec 2006 01:17:10 GMT

I broke out the rollers despite the beautiful weather today because I had no time to ride. Even in the relatively mild temps today, getting dressed, riding, and getting re-dressed was more than the time alloted.

The rollers on the the other hand, are very low ceremony in comparison. For example to lower the barrier of excuses to *not* ride, the pedals on my ‘cross bike have a bit of platform, so I don’t need cleats on my shoes. Any sneaker will do. Which means any sock will do. (Thicker socks are uncomfortable in my cycling shoes, but I wear thicker socks around the house all the time. No required cycling shoes means no need to change socks, and there’s a decent chance that whatever I’m wearing on my feet will be fine for a quick spin.) Another example is that since the bike doesn’t have to be carefully attached like it does to the trainer, it’s easier to grab the bike and get going. When it’s 7:30pm, you just got home from a long day, you haven’t had dinner… everything can be a barrier. Anything.

I did take some time to swap rubber around on my wheels so that there’s inexpensive road rubber on the heaviest wheels, and ‘cross rubber on lighter wheels, but that’s a one time thing (at least until spring). After that it was just relax, concentrate, and balance. The rollers are a different kind of thing from the trainer. The trainer is about pushing pedals. There’s no balancing involved… it’s just pedaling. Sometimes, hard and slow, sometimes fast and easy etc. but that’s about it. It’s boring and mind numbing, but it pays off in the spring. I use training audio to make it bearable (Pacing and music). It’s not cold enough out to warrant the trainer as of yet (at least with the limited time I have anyway).

The rollers (at least for me) require fairly constant attention. I’ll get smoother and better, but they’re never mindless. A few too many seconds of mindless and I will find myself crashing into a wall. You’re balanced on top of cylinders that you are spinning (because you’re pedaling). One has a belt attached so that the roller that the front wheel sits on will spin as well. In my case they’re about fifteen inches wide. It only takes a few (seeming) microseconds to run off one side. Which I’ve managed not to do… yet. Anyway, you pedal away balancing and gently steering to stay put in the middle of the rollers. Anyway, it should greatly help my control and balance by the end of the winter.

It’s no where near riding, but for now, its far more compelling than the trainer, (different kind of workout too, but still), and it’ll really help my balance and control skills. Further, it’s easier to jump on for just a short while, so I’m hoping that I will sneak short sessions in more frequently.

I can save the trainer for the deep winter, when I no longer ride outside at all (between the weather and my schedule) Hopefully by then both knees will be in good shape, and ready for something harder than just the spinning I’m doing now.