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I want to train on rollers, and I figure once I get rolling it will be pretty easy, but how do I get my wheels turning fast enough to keep me upright before I fall over?

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Until you get the hang of it, set up in a hallway, where you can brace yourself on the walls around you until you get up to speed and while you learn your balance.

Other than that, you just have to keep trying.

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    Also, you might want to rest one foot over a box or something while you mount the bike and apply the first pedal stroke with the other foot.
    – heltonbiker
    Apr 3, 2012 at 19:14
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Get the floating rollers and you will be steady in about a minute.

Floating rollers look like this:

floating roller

The rollers are attached to the inner frame which allows for rotation of the wheels and the inner frame is attached to an outer frame which allows forwards and backwards motion by the bicycle as a whole. This should help cyclists accelerate quicker than on traditional rollers, where there is a chance that you hop over the rollers and head forwards into the tv.

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    Please refine your answer so that it explains your information to someone who has never heard of floating rollers. Explain how a floating roller works, and why its helpful here. Consider using photos, and try to link to the source of your information. You are more likely to get good votes that way, as it appears that you put thought and effort into your answer. And your answer will be of more use to future users, or the uninitiated cyclist.
    – zenbike
    Apr 6, 2012 at 3:59
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    I didn't really understand the explanation, so I searched a bit more. You can see it nicely in action here: youtube.com/watch?v=UtR_4B4lcsA&t=2m16s
    – Czechnology
    Apr 11, 2012 at 11:09
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Started with mine in a door frame (since my house has no hallways) with shoulders aligned with the door jamb. Of course I didn't want it there or have to keep moving it. So not perfect.

The lasting solution... I have a spot in my basement where I attached a metal handle securely on the ceiling. Works much better to get started and just leave the roller there. I'm lucky to have a permanent spot for the rollers; so this method may not work for everyone. Basically I just hang onto the handle to get on the bike and get spinning. Once spinning it's pretty much just normal cycling balance.

The main thing is to be able to support yourself externally so that you can get clipped into the pedals, onto the saddle and build up a little speed so that you can maintain balance. I got my rollers several years ago and pretty sure that I took a tumble or two before I got the hang of it.

It's also much easier to learn if you're comfortable riding with no hands. (not that I do that on the rollers ;-))

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  • Using a door frame is how I got started as well.
    – Bryant
    Apr 8, 2012 at 19:15
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As some of the other comments have mentioned I got started by putting the rollers in a doorway and using that to get up on the rollers.

Once I got the basic feel of it I moved the rollers to a spot where there was a full length mirror in front of me and put chairs on the side. The full length mirror was really helpful because I could look forward and see where my tires were on the rollers. I could see when I was drifting over to the side.

Another helpful tip is to put lots of pillows around for when you fall. It isn't a question of if, it is a question of when. :)

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Door frame is useful but in addition keep looking up, straight ahead rather than down at a TV or even worse your feet and keep your cadence high.

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