Trainers vs Rollers

I own rollers.  I do like them for several reasons (many mentioned above).  GREAT for balance.  I ride one of the straightest lines OUTDOORS on a bike now I've seen anywhere around.  You are actually RIDING your bike.  Feels like uphill all the time   Definitely smooths you out because you HAVE to be smooth.  Once you start pedaling you can't stop or you fall over.  And yes, you eventually get good enough to watch TV.  I can even drop down into aero on my rollers now.  But I still set them up next to something I can grab onto (I use my livingroom chair).  Doorways are great.

Disadvantages:
1.  They don't work as well on carpet.  I am lucky enough to have hardwood floors here...but if I move somewhere with carpet, I'll have to buy some plywood.
2.  You can't take a break without having to completely stop.  You can't coast AT ALL or the bike falls over.  Every time I need a drink...I have to stop, hold onto my chair, drink, rev up again.
3.  I reach a fatigue point where I've been concentrating SO HARD to stay on the rollers that I just get tired.  Then I start to swerve.  Usually end up falling off once or twice if I ride past this point.  Takes me maybe 45 minutes to get there if I haven't been riding the rollers much.

So, yeah...I own rollers, but I think if I ever did any extensive riding indoors I would want to have both rollers AND a trainer.  Start out on the rollers...when you get tired, flip over to the trainer.  They also sell forkstands for the rollers which essentially turns them into a trainer.  But because of the way it hooks on, the bike feels REALLY funny.  Mine tilts off to one side when I have it set up that way and it's hard to ride.

Hope that helps....

I own a fluid trainer, which kept me in decent shape during the winter months.  However, now that I've taken up road cycling as a side hobby, I do plan on picking up a set of rollers for this winter to help improve my bike handling skills.  If you are not riding in groups, you really don't need rollers, a trainer will work just fine.  But, if you are participating in group rides, having both a stationary trainer and rollers is optimum.

Amy,

I own both rollers and a fluid trainer.  Both offer two separate types of workouts.  Like others have said, rollers are difficult to get used to but offer some great benefits such as balance, cadence pedal efficiency but it is hard to keep your focus as long as you can on a stationary trainer.  Stationary is probably best for novice cyclists.

-Michael