Bike rollers are great tools to have in your garage and basement for training or to keep your current level of fitness up during the offseason or winter months.
They help you gain speed and strength to hit those road spots or hills faster, with minimal risk of injury or falling.
It’s a training tool that goes back many decades, and chances are, you or your cycling team have probably used them during your late teens or early twenties.
But you may be asking “how do they work?” “how do you know which bike roller is best for me?” “which ones are the most durable and sturdy?” “are some better than others?”
These are the questions I asked myself before purchasing my first cycle roller back in 2001. Here are my answers below, as well as my top picks for best bike rollers in 2022.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Feedback Sports Omnium Portable Trainer | Best Overall |  |
| Tacx Antares Indoor Retractable Bicycle Rollers | Budget Pick |  |
| Kreitler Alloy Roller 'Set | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Feedback Sports Omnium Portable Trainer
2. Elite Arion Folding Rollers
Pros:
- The Elite Arion Mag comes with an electronic display that shows your speed, cadence, power and time.
- A comfortable ride for all skill levels
If you are looking for a comfortable ride with plenty of features packed in, the Elite Arion Mag is a good choice for you.
It comes with a belt-driven design and features magnetic resistance that is said to be smooth and quiet.
For some training sessions, you do not want to be exposed to the elements. This is where the Elite Arion Mag comes in handy. It comes with a long shelf life which gives you the opportunity to train indoor whenever you wish so. You can even fold it and store it away comfortably.
3. Tacx Antares Indoor Retractable Bicycle Rollers
Pros:
- This advanced bike trainer is a convenient way to transform your home into a state-of-the-art cycling centre. It allows you to enjoy the feel of the road no matter where you might be, and it will even calibrate your cycling performance to match the terrain you’re training on. This system has been designed from the ground up for the purposes of training and is a fantastic choice for those who want a complete solution for their indoor workout.
- The Tacx Antares indoor retractable bicycle rollers enable a very specific and demanding way of training. When combined with the specially designed training programme developed by a supercomputer, they can really improve your performance on the road.
- This bike trainer can be easily mounted, moved, and stowed away. You can also take it with you when you go on holiday, and it will always help you do your best.
- This innovative bike trainer helps you get the most out of your training sessions. It is very quiet, and it can be mounted easily, so you can conveniently add it to the rest of your home gym
4. Kreitler Alloy Roller 'Set
Pros:
- Best Roller for the Money
- Versatile
- You save on shipping: Get it in a bundle with the Gel Blockers in our bike seat reviews
- You can use the frame to store your bike while not in use
- The metal frame is more stable than plastic rollers
This roller is for people who want a lot of resistance and a long work out.Some cyclists struggle on this roller.
The Kreitler Duro Alloy sets the benchmark for the best roller in the business, and is the most versatile and most stable roller on the market. The straight bars mean it ticks both standard road bike and flat bar crossover boxes. That makes it the best home bike trainer for spin classes. Or a great front wheel roller for those looking to put just a little more drag on the rear wheel when training.
The Duro Alloy frame gives you a full 2-inch roller platform and is outfitted with the standard mirror and high-polished stainless steel dual rollers. The bars are simple but comfortable with their foam grips. All you need is a quick and easy DIY to make it fit neatly over your front wheel’s dropouts and you’re ready to roll.
5. Elite Arion Digital Smart B+ Trainer
Pros:
- Excellent interface
- Wireless control
- Electrical brake
Cons:
- Not so much adjustable
- Pedal size not flexible
The Elite Arion Digital Smart B+ Trainer is an excellent mid-range bike trainer.
Elite created a trainer that is quieter than almost every other magnetic trainer on the market (as a side note, it’s still not completely silent but that’s an unrealistic goal).
The trainer is a low profile design meaning it sits closer to the ground, which means it’s easier to roll the bike out from under the trainer when going inside or outside.
6. Tacx Roller Galaxia 2016
Pros:
- Large 2" roller is silent, just like our first pick from Elite (which is a bit loud if you use it in your apartment).
- Like the other Tacx roller we tried, this one isn't too heavy at 45kg, and the included wheel weights can be used to further stabilize.
Cons:
- Bike weights a bit more than our top pick and its competition.
- Unlike our top pick, the Tacx Roller Galaxia doesn't include wheel weights and locking skewers: You'll have to buy them separately.
The Milano is an entry level product, and it definitely shows, both in build quality and noise level. While this smart trainer does the job, it's lack of power makes it incredibly difficult to get up to speed, this makes training on the product extremely frustrating.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do bike rollers have resistance?
It’s tempting to think of bike rollers as just an indoor training option for when the weather is bad.
While that is part of their function, they are more versatile than that. Juggling between training in the gym and training on a stationary bicycle drive requires two different types of training.
Regardless of whether you are pedaling on a bike roller while watching TV or you are using it as part of a training plan, you need to have some resistance on your bike roller.
If you are looking for a smooth, telltale road experience then high-end rollers will be perfect for you. But some rollers are targeted toward getting you stronger, so they have no resistance at all. Watch out for these!
Resistance on a bike roller is a relatively new feature, but has proven popular. You can get a bike roller with resistance in various forms, including:
Are rollers bad for your bike?
No, they’re not actually bad for your bike.
Some cyclists wonder if rollers can harm their frame. While it’s true that your bike will likely get more wear and tear off-road, this shouldn’t be a reason to not purchase a set of rollers.
True, rollers do have more friction than riding on the road or trail, but your rear frame is made to sustain a smooth ride. Normal wear and tear from rollers shouldn’t pose any danger to your bike frame, unless you’re using them consistently.
To further ensure your bike stays safe, we suggest you get a bike stand.
As a bonus, these accessories can be used indoors so that you can train when it’s raining outside.
In a hurry?
Checkout our charts below for the best cheap road bikes or the best road bikes for men!
Are cycling rollers any good?
Cycling rollers are an excellent way to improve your pedaling technique for super fast cadence training.
Having a smooth and powerful pedal stroke is an essential part of being a good cyclist. If you’re not efficient on the bike, it doesn’t matter how hard you push on the pedals: you’ll be slower than you could be.
How are rollers useful?
Unlike a stationary bike you can set the resistance to “harder” (which is not the same thing you want on the road), and you can comfortably practice high rpm cadence workouts.
Cycling rollers are preferred by many because they are easy to use, transportable and low-cost.
Instead of having to set up a trainer and having to chug a fair few miles in a sweaty gym, you have a home-based workout system that helps dramatically build your leg power and stability.
What is a bike roller?
Also called a rollers, these are stationary training tools for cyclists that help them in building up strength, endurance, and power without ruining a pair of cycling shoes in the process.
Used by professional and amateur cyclists alike for training, a bike roller device consists of a smooth drum that revolves beneath the cyclist, thus allowing the cyclist to push or pull the pedals and achieve the same effect as riding a real bike.
Rollers improve your cardiovascular endurance, strength, hand/eye coordination, and weight-lifting ability. They are also very helpful in building speed.
The simplicity of the equipment is amazing. All you need to get started this is a good bike roller that offers smooth rolling and balancing, a few solid mounting options, and the patience and drive to see through a few weeks of hard training.
Conclusion
Here’s what we’ve discovered in our search for the best bike rollers. First of all, a good pair of rollers will allow for precision and high intensity workouts. Second of all, you want a set that is well-made because it will add to the enjoyment and comfort of using them. Lastly, that you want to know that you’re investing in a high-quality indoor training companion that will last you for a long time.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Feedback Sports Omnium Portable Trainer | Best Overall | |
| Tacx Antares Indoor Retractable Bicycle Rollers | Budget Pick | |
| Kreitler Alloy Roller 'Set | Upgrade Pick | |