Best Cycling Rollers: The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide

best cycling rollers

 

If you’ve ever struggled to ride in a straight line or nearly swerved off the road reaching into your jersey pocket, then cycling rollers could improve your balance and coordination. Any pro rider will tell you that it’s not necessarily the size of the engine that matters most, but how efficiently you use it. Developing a smooth, efficient pedal stroke will not only teach you how to ride more economically, it’ll also improve your balance and core stability. Not all rollers are created equal. Here’s our roundup of the best cycling rollers to fit the needs of recreational riders and racers.  

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How to Choose the Best Bike Trainer: Ultimate Buyer’s Guide

best bike trainer

If you want to turn cycling into a year-round activity, but don’t live in a warm locale, chances are you’ll need an indoor bike trainer. For years cyclists equated training indoors with a cycling death sentence, but then apps like TrainerRoad, The Sufferfest and Zwift transformed these mind numbing indoor miles into an opportunity to ride the world’s best courses and compete against our virtual and real-life cycling friends.

With so many apps and trainers flooding the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. What trainers are compatible with which apps and do you need a smart trainer to use Zwift? And what exactly is a smart trainer? From magnetic to direct drive, here’s everything you need to know to get started with an indoor bike trainer.

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In-Depth Stages Gen 3 Power Meter Review + Power Meter Buying Guide

Stages power meters are known for two things: bringing power meters into the budget range of the everyday cyclist, and gracing Team Sky’s Tour de France winning bikes.

But despite their endorsement from the pros, Stages haven’t totally dominated the power meter market. Issues with the reliability and accuracy of data, plus the waterproofing (or lack of) of the casing plagued earlier generations of meters, issues which Stages claim to have fixed with this year’s Gen 3 range.

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Garmin Edge 520 vs 820: Who Wins the Best GPS Battle?

Garmin 520 vs 820

Garmin has dominated the bike computer market for years, so if you’re looking to invest in a new computer, likelihood is you’ll be looking at their range. But which of their (many) products is the right one for you?

Today we’re pitting two of Garmin’s most popular and advanced models against each other: in the red corner, we have the Edge 520, and, challenging in the blue corner, is the Edge 820.

These are not basic GPS units – they’re designed to be advanced training and performance tools. If you’re just starting out cycling and looking for a basic unit to track your rides, then I’d recommend the cheaper, more basic Edge 25. But if you’re a Strava addict or want to monitor your power numbers, then you are in the right place.

So, without further ado, let’s get down to business.

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How to Choose the Best Cycling GPS: The Garmin 820 vs 1000

Garmin 820 vs 1000

So, you’re in the market for a new bike computer and you want the best that money can buy? While you may have considered other computer manufacturers, your eye keeps on straying back to Garmin.

The only trouble is, the top-of-the-range Garmin Edge 1000 is no longer the newest and brightest model on the catwalk. In fact, it’s starting to look a little bit dated now that the 820 is clawing its way up to the number one podium spot. The 820 is also a cheaper model, though you can still snag a deal on the 1000.

So are the days of the Edge 1000 numbered? Or is the Edge 820 just a bit too good to be true? Read on as we pit these two kings of the bike computer world against each other to figure out which is the best buy for you.

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How to Cycle Faster: 7 Essential Tips to Find Free Speed

how to cycle faster

Contrary to popular belief, to become a faster cyclist you don’t need to invest in a pricey power meter, enroll in a fancy training camp or weigh every gram of food you ingest. Learn how to cycle faster with a few simple tweaks to your program that won’t break the bank, but will have you quickly cashing in on some serious speed. 

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9 Essential Bike Race Tips for Beginners

bike race tips

There’s nothing worse than showing up to your first cycling race dressed incorrectly or being the unlucky rider who causes a crash in the field. Fortunately most rookie mistakes are completely avoidable. Follow these bike race tips and you’ll not only gain the trust of other’s in your field– an important element if you want to race for a team — but also discover just how much fun bike racing can be! 

I’ve compiled 9 rookie racing mistakes and how to avoid them. Hint: Avoiding mistake number 9 alone could cost you thousands of dollars!

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Test Your Climbing Legs: Exclusive Photo Review of the Epic Zwift Island Climb

zwift island climb

Switchbacks, sustained climbs, bridges and fast, flowy descents are all features of Zwift’s Watopia Mountain Expansion.  You can test your legs on two routes: The Mountain 8 and The Pretzel. 

Whichever you choose, bring your climbing legs and prepare to suffer like a Grand Tour rider.

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