fred@vaxwaller.UUCP (Fred Klink) (01/09/86)
> > If at all possible have someone help you stay on the rollers > by steadying the bike at the head tube, not to help your balance, just > to keep the wheels on the rollers. A helper doesn't have to be an > experienced roller rider themselves and they don't have to be very > strong, just understand their role and provide some physco* support > too. If you can't get a helper just crook your wall-side arm a bit so > you can hold the bars and keep your elbow against the wall for > balance. > > Get your speed up to 30 or so KmPH (19-20 MPH). This is the > toughest part because at first the steering is very twitchy, but just > like when you first learned to ride it will get a lot more stable the > faster you go. > (* Is that pronounced "fizz-co" :-) ) Some other tips: 1. RELAX-- in teaching people to ride rollers I've found that most steering problems are caused by tensed arms and clenched hands. The bike actually wants to go straight, just like on the road. The rider interferes with that more than helping it. I tell people to just rest their hand on the top of the bars and relax at the elbow. 2. I think the helper should be someone experienced in riding rollers. I don't see how a "helper" can keep the bike on the rollers, except by steering. Bikes were meant to be steered by one person at a time. I've helped a learner by standing next to them and allowing them to put a hand on my shoulder, but a wall works just as well and never talks back! 3. As you get better, you can invent games to make the ride a little more interesting. The first one is just trying to ride with no hands. After that work on changing shirts without stopping, a useful skill when you see the condition of a t-shirt after 15 minutes on the rollers! This is the only riding where use of a Sony Walkman in recommended and it adds the game of trying to change the tape while riding. 4. A word on setup-- the front roller axle should be as near as possible to being in line vertically with the front wheel axle. The closer you are to this the more stable the steering will be. I think having the roller a little ahead of the wheel is more stable than being a little behind. 5. Just like riding on the road, you're probably going to fall. Prepare the area you're in to minimize damage to yourself and your furniture in the event of a crash. (Never train near your Mom's expensive ceramics, believe me!) I'm sure there's a helmet evangelist out there to argue with me, but you can leave your Bell on the shelf. Fred