Rollers or turbo trainer?

[ManBearPig]

Ciao.
Santa promised me to slide indoor bike trainer under the tree this Christmas knowing that I've been a very good boy ... and started biking regularly hahah. I'd like to hear others opinion, should I go with rollers or turbo trainer?

I started biking this year to level up my fitness and lose some pounds. I'm more or less newbie and would use it for fitness, no serious training. Thank you!.

[Nikko]

Good Santa you have! It takes time to learn how to be confident on rollers, it will take one or two sessions to learn, definitely. You typically start in between the door in order to have some "safety wall" on the sides. Or very narrow hallway. I personally have used rollers only for warmup, before Gran fondo events, because they are lightweight and I learned how to balance at home quickly. Rollers are better for the biking technique, also better for the upper body as you also have to use core compared to turbotrainers. Another downside, you always have to stay focused without any daydreaming, otherwise woops.

If you want to be more relaxed on indoor trainer, get out of saddle for uphill simulation or sprint & have resistance options (or even upgrade to zwift), then go with turbo trainer. That's my suggestion anyway Downside, you have to swap tires, or even take off the wheel.. upper body is less engaged.

[Zviedrs]

Nikko covered most of it already ... would add that I personally had similar dilemma years ago and went for turbo trainer mostly due to resistance levels, speed and effort tracking, and more relaxing posture or feel. Nevertheless, indoor trainers are not my thing.

[ManBearPig]

I appreciate replies, thank you guys. It just confirmed my choice.
Have an enjoyable festive season!

[Zviedrs]

Cheers, enjoy! Let us know which trainer did you get

[ManBearPig]

Proud owner of Saris Fluid 2 turbo trainer, very happy.

ps. Happy New Year!

[Nikko]

(01-01-2020, 03:24 PM)ManBearPig Wrote:  Proud owner of Saris Fluid 2 turbo trainer, very happy.

ps. Happy New Year!

Good one! Enjoy!

[Zviedrs]

Congrats! Have you already tried it? I haven't heard much of Saris brand to be honest. Elite, Tacx, Wahoo..

[meamoantonio]

(12-11-2019, 08:38 AM)ManBearPig Wrote:  Ciao.
Santa promised me to slide indoor bike trainer under the tree this Christmas knowing that I've been a very good boy ... and started biking regularly hahah. I'd like to hear others opinion, should I go with rollers or turbo trainer?

I started biking this year to level up my fitness and lose some pounds. I'm more or less newbie and would use it for fitness, no serious training. Thank you!.

What Nikko wrote is pretty spot on, but if you want your core to be engaged more get roller too to compliment your indoor trainer, its great for training your balance and keeps your core engaged. Dont forget to place it on a yoga mat so the roller is stable. Fell a few times because my rollers slipped on my tile flooring