why bike on rollers instead of exercise bike?

souter · 22-11-2010 11:52am #1

I was just curious as to why it appears to be a given that proper cyclists will go to the hassle of setting up rollers etc instead of fishing out an old exercise bike.
I can understand the fit might not be quite right, but surely a bit of creative hacking could get it close enough.

Ryder · 22-11-2010 1:28pm

Some do though......from personal experience bike fit can be very precise so it makes sense to use your perfectly set up road bike fo all training. Swap the rear wheel for a turbo specific wheel and tyre or use normal wheels for rollers

kumate_champ07 · 22-11-2010 4:40pm

it only matters if cycling is a sport or just an exercise to you.
if you have an actual racing bike set up on rollers you are training the same muscles which you will use in a race. an exercise bike will get u very fit but because of the different geometery you will be using your leg muscles differently.

Thats how I see it anyway

Lumen · 22-11-2010 4:50pm

Decent exercise bikes are much more expensive than turbo trainers/rollers.

Canis Lupus · 22-11-2010 4:56pm

After having used an exercise bike at lunch you'll want to cannibalise one to make it more like a real road bike.

You'd have better chance with a spinning bike as it's way more customisable but still as above, TT is probably a much cheaper option.

seamus · 22-11-2010 5:12pm

Don't forget the storage issue. Exercise bikes can't be slotted into a closet and aren't easy to lift in and out of the shed.

souter · 22-11-2010 8:24pm

I was half thinking of grabbing an exercise bike off freecycle, but 0 offered to plenty wanted (and all by alledgedly pregnant women - I'd struggle to get ahead of them on the queue).
A brief shop around and I'm reminded how different they are - tiny cranks and crazy bars.
Guess I'll have to man up and get out in the rain.

why bike on rollers instead of exercise bike?

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