Competitive cyclists will often use stationary trainers to supplement their road training or as a replacement when it's raining or snowing. There are two general types of trainers. Resistance trainers lock the bicycle's rear wheel in place on a metal rolling bar that provides resistance to the rear tire. Roller trainers have rolling bars for both front and rear wheels and require a keen sense of balance from the rider.
Rollers
Bicycle rollers use three cylinders, two for the rear wheel and one for the front, upon which a bicycle's wheels ride. Since no part of the bicycle frame is attached to the rollers or roller frame, the rider must balance the bike. This is a critical advantage over resistance trainers in that riders can improve their balance and overall feel for the bike to help them train for road racing where drafting and close contact skills are required.
Wind Trainer
Wind trainers secure the bicycle's rear fork to the trainer and use a small fan to provide air resistance to the rollers under the rear tire. As the cyclist increases pedaling speed, more drag is created on the fan blades which increases the resistance on the rollers. The faster the cyclist pedals, the more drag is created on the fan blades.
Fluid Trainer
Like wind trainers, fluid trainers provide stability by securing the bicycle to the trainer. Resistance to the rollers, however, is provided by an internal fluid against a turbine that is spun by the roller. Accordingly, resistance to the wheel increases the faster the cyclist pedals.
Magnetic Trainer
Magnetic trainers differ from other resistance trainers only in the source of resistance applied to the rollers. In this type of trainer, resistance comes from a series of adjustable magnets and a flywheel. The resistance level is adjusted by a lever the cyclist controls.
Comparisons
In the end, selecting the appropriate indoor training device depends on your training goals. Novice and competitive cyclists commonly use resistance trainers to improve cardiovascular and strength performance since the resistance levels can be adjusted to simulate various race conditions such as hills and sprints. Since the bicycle is locked to the trainer, there is no need to worry about balance. You simply have to pedal at the appropriate cadence and intensity for your training session.
Rollers are more frequently used by road racing enthusiasts since balance is critical for riding in the close confines of the peloton. It's easy to lose focus when training indoors. If your concentration lapses on a resistance trainer, there are no consequences. If you do so on a roller, you will quickly find you and your bicycle on the ground. For this reason, competitive cyclists will often use both a resistance trainer and rollers for their indoor training.
References
- "Mastering Cycling;" John Howard; 2005
- "Ultimate Bicyle Book"; Richard Ballantine, Richard Grant; 1998
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