Question from Gunter C.I have been a hobby cyclist for more than 20 years and would like to train a little more intensively this winter. Indoor training should save my form for next spring. Now I'm not sure whether I should invest in a roller trainer or an ergometer. What are the pros and cons of each for road cycling?
Answer from Dr Stapelfeldt: Both enable basic endurance training as well as more intensive training. The advantage of a roller, which is available in a wide range of variants from simply braked to electronically animated, is that you can use your own bike with your usual and appropriate sitting position. The load is controlled both via the roller's integrated brake and via the gear selection on the bike.
An exercise bike, on the other hand, offers a complete set-up so that you can exercise independently of your own bike. Its advantage is that you can set different positions - particularly useful if several people are using the device. However, exercise bikes are usually tailored to the health market and do not allow for a sporty sitting position. They are also more expensive than a roller.
For the sporty recreational rider, I would favour a roller on which you can get into good shape over the winter with a mixture of basic endurance and interval training. Exactly what the mix looks like also depends on how good your stamina is - not everyone is suited to more than two hours of "pedalling on the spot". In this case, you should target more intensive stimuli with G2 units or interval training before returning to basic training in the spring.
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