garethzbarker

hi, I bought some Minoura action advanced rollers a few weeks ago to train with my road bike. I use 28mm tires that came with the bike (specialized pros or something). I was under the impression that rollers provided a flat road type of resistance but that's not what I'm getting. It feels like I'm climbing the whole time.

I've made sure the front roller is positioned correctly, or at least as closely as I can get it to the front wheel axle. I'm pretty sure I assembled the rollers correctly. If I give the drum a good push with my hand it only spins a few times before stopping. If I pedal as hard as I can and stop the rollers only spin for like 2 seconds before my bike stops. If I want to maintain any kind of constant riding it has to be in 2nd or 3rd gear. The low speed tends to make it harder on balance. It's not what I was expecting but is this how they are supposed to work or is there possibly a problem?

pdedes

which gear is that?

echappist

ha, if this were true, it would seem like the mag resistance unit that i ordered will be totally useless. mine arrives tomorrow or tuesday, will let you know how mine rides

mike868y

I have the same rollers, mine work fine. If you want to just sit back and spin take off the mag resistance. If you want to do hard intervals, put it back on.

garethzbarker

hmm good question. I use a compact gearing 50 x 34t. i don't have time to go count teeth but those are the gears i use for pretty decent climbs, small front gear, 2nd and 3rd largest rear fears. i would never need these gears for normal or slight grade riding.

Seedy J

Are you using the resistance unit? On the hardest setting? I have the same rollers and they should spin really easily without the resistance unit on.

garethzbarker

there isn't supposed to be any resistance no :s

pdedes

then it's either put together incorrectly, the rollers are rubbing against the frame (no washers?), the bushings aren't lubricated. could be a few different things. take the rollers apart and put them back together. without a resistance unit, they should spin rather freely.

echappist

just got mine. boy, the damn thing is a beast to ride. i can do it listening to music, but not watching anything. it looks like i need a good month on it before i can do intervals on this

OP, donno how you set yours up, but you can see mine in the following. i actually took off the resistance unit later as i can get up to 75% Max HR pretty easily on it. with the resitance unit on (even at low setting), it adds quite a bit of resistance. for anyone else who has the minoura, does it look correct? their instructions were absolutely horrendous

thanks in advance

top view of rear right corner of roller


outside view of the same corner. i took off the nut & washers & added the bracket piece that keeps the distance between roller axle and magnetic unit. the shiny horizontal object is the bracket


here's the bracket, resistance unit, and belt, courtesy of minoura's website

akeelor

"If I pedal as hard as I can and stop the rollers only spin for like 2 seconds before my bike stops"

I have used these rollers for 3 years. I don't have the resistance unit, but I can tell you that they should spin freely while pedaling but there is little to no coasting on these. I don't think that is an option on a $150 set of rollers. I can get a good workout w/o the resistance unit and can watch TV, but an extended distraction has found me lying on the floor

curiouskid55

Check that the drums spin freely. If not try loosening the nuts a little until the drums spin freely in a no load condition. With 4" diameter drums it sholud not be the least bit strenuous to spin up to 90 rpm. Outside of the terror level trying to stay on. I have been loooking for a resistant unit. Does any one know if the Moinoura belt runs in a standard belt groove?

Jynx

are you using it on carpet? is your rear tire hitting the carpet a little bit causing extra drag?

Velodad

^^^^ That looks right. I'v had the Minouras for 5years and they still work great.
If your riding fitness level is low then the resistance unit will probably be too much for you. Take it off
and just use the gears on your bike to get the resistance you want. When the gears no longer
get it, then start using the mag.

Velodad

On my Minouras the belt groove is the same on all three drums. They measure 5mm wide
and the main drive belt is 4mm diameter. The belt for the mag is the same as seen in the pictures.
It's wedge shape should let it work on many different width grooves.

echappist

i lost my speed somewhere on 9W on the way to nyack, ny, please contact me if you find it...

at least it'll be enough of a challenge that it can be my interval workout for a very long time. it was hard pushing a 34x19 on the 6th setting @70rpm.

best part is that while i have quite a bit of trouble ridding the rollers in the saddle on my c'dale six13, i can ride the rollers out of saddle w/ no problem on my giant ocr3. fwiw, this gives the giant defy/ocr a leg up over caad.