Creating a 2x4 box for rollers?
 

I love using my rollers more than my fluid trainer any day. It's more fun by far. One thing I dont enjoy is stepping off the rollers. It feels unnatural because of the extra 3" I need until my cleats touch the ground. Even worse is trying to step onto my roller rails. They're only about 1" thick, and when you're in cleats, plastic on metal isn't a confident feeling.

Any ideas on how to construct one that wont get in the way of the spinning components? I guess it can be fairly stationary and live in my garage. I take the Fluid trainer to races and mount a separate set of rims for those. I'm spending a lot more time on the trainers since its winter and I want to try to make my winter cycling experience as enjoyable as possible rather than a chore.

Lots of solutions on the internet.

I would think that you could run 2X4s on edge parallel to each rail. 2X4 cross paces at the ends. (Go 2" past the lengthwise 2X4s.) Lay 1x4s on top. Perhaps a grippy carpet foam or tread or rubbery paint on top.

This was 5 minutes of thought, but perhaps a start.

Ben

Ok, you just wanted pictures....





:innocent:

I've been toying with an idea similar to the video above. Mine would go against the wall on one side and have a handrail on the other.

The flat black paint in the video is a nice touch. Plasti Dip comes to mind.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xw7cwjp1up...m.001.jpg?dl=1


-Tim-

Whatever design you choose, I recommend using drywall screws and an electric or cordless drill with a Phillips head driver bit, instead of nails and hammer. Easy to take apart and do over, it will stay more securely and tightly together.

Lots of great ideas. OK. I think I can do this.

I love my rollers! I hate indoor exercise but rollers are exception. I was thinking you (OP) are thinking about additional moving platform for rollers, like this
I mostly ride with platform pedals and usually use bikes with flats on rollers as well. This way I can jump on for quick 5 minute in my slippers if I want to.
So may be some cheap flats for your rollers sessions?

Exactly what purpose does the moving platform for the roller serve? Why do you want the whole rollers frame to be moving?

Dan

I have regular rollers and only tried motion rollers once (at the bike show). They felt more natural, you can spin out of the saddle, your bike moves around more. In short - lots of fun for me personally. I ride year round but I find myself spending more and more time on rollers in the last year or so. I usually do 10-15 min in the morning right after walking my dogs and would love to add a bit more action to my regular rollers. Cost of off the shelf motion rollers is quite high so I am thinking building DIY platform (may be next summer)

I've been meaning to DIY this too. Supposedly it allows a more natural experience - sometimes there are lateral forces (not sure is lateral the right word?) that with rigid rollers can put you up and over - like standing up out of the saddle and sprinting hard. Having the whole setup be able to absorb this by moving for and aft slightly will keep things from crashing, makes it a more forgiving ride. Some rollers come with this feature already built in - was it called true motion or e motion or something like that?

Inside Ride E-Motion rollers...

http://www.insideride.com


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFQdLLKxiww

As for the OP, if I understand your question why not just use a step stool, or two - one on each side just in case? This seems like a very easy solution.

Just ride off the rollers.

You'll stop immediately.

Unclip, done.

That looks great, especially if you have the space for it.

yeah, but with no danger of falling off, where's the fun?

My Weyless rollers came with wings, they called them "platform steps" They worked pretty well. It doesn't take much.

Specific to the E-Motion rollers and I can't figure out where the company actually sells them.
Sorry for not posting a link with the picture. I think you have to buy into their whole training system to get access to any of the hardware.

It is an interesting design however. Just putting it out there for ideas.


-Tim-

That's some serious gear in that link. That platform and the correct rollers would be great in a garage or something set up with a flatscreen. Definitely a big investment.

The Roller Station this lady is showing on Instagram would be nice if it could be found on-line. Handrails for rollers like they had in the Japanese Gym I used when I was living overseas.


JR

I have classic Kreitler rollers. Being a wood worker with lots of odd bits of pine around, I "banged together" a pair of boxes about 3" wide, 12" long and just below pedal height when the bike is on the rollers. The pedals are an inch or so above these blocks when I'm under way. I then cut a board wide enough to hold those boxes/blocks and long enough to place those two blocks where I wanted them, securely. I drilled two holes to capture the center two legs of the rollers frame so this mounting block cannot slide out of place. Easy and very effective. Light and easy to set up, take down and move around.

I don't go "clipless" when on the rollers so I don't worry about the cleats sliding on the blocks nor on the concrete floor. Easy to start and stop each session.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4e72d0197.jpeg

I never considered this but what a great idea! I'm contemplating an Ironman next year and was already planning not to ride on the road for a full month prior to avoid the possibility of serious injury. Something like this would give me the opportunity to ride and significantly reduce the risk of injury. Awesome!

I just use a step/bench on one side and that way you can ride off the other side when you are done. Some people think you will take off but you just stop..
https://imgur.com/a/56DOkaS

My first set of rollers, bought when I worked in a bike shop in the mid-1970's, were RollTrac (or maybe RollTrack; can't remember for sure). Very simple design, consisting of a sheet steel platform bent down at the front, rear and sides.

The rollers bolted on through the sides, and slots were cut into the top to expose the rollers. With the exception of those slots, the top was one continuous platform, making it very easy to get on and off the bike.

Really smart design. No idea why they didn't catch on. The company couldn't have sold very many, since I've never been able to find a picture or mention of them online.