KK Road Machine vs Rock & Roll
I'm about to buy a KK trainer and wondered if the Rock & Roll model would help/hinder my EN training. My cycling is WEAK at best. The only reason I considered the R&R model is because it claims to help cycle-specific core strength & balance (need all the help I can get!). At the same time, I don't want it to keep me from getting in solid bike workouts if I'm battling the side-to-side action all the time.
Should I go for it....or save $100 bucks and stick with the basic Road Machine? Anybody tried the Rock & Roll?
Thanks!
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I have the Rock'n Roll Pro Trainer, and it is great, but not how you'd expect. I don't think it will help you at all with core strength. What I have found, though, is I am able to train longer on the trainer since there is a little motion on the bike. Instead of your body having to flex or you having to costantly adjust, it just seems more "road like" in regards to comfort. You sometimes see people complain about numbness on the trainer after 15min, 45 min, an hour, or whatever. For me, it's less of a problem on the KK R&R. My N=1 anyway.
That said, it probably isn't worth the MSRP markup. You are getting the exact same "guts" of the trainer, and the side-to-side motion is not as great as you probably think. After seeing the demo video online, I expected a lot more movement. So, I either have a very efficient pedalling motion (not likely) or it just doesn't translate well to the seated, steady state cycling typical of triathlon training. If you stand up a lot or do shorter, sprint-type intervals, you will probably get more motion. I only got mine because I found a "demo" unit at
http://www.bicycleoutfittersindy.com/
They don't always have them, and I didn't see the deal when I just checked, but mine was a couple hundred bucks off and looked like a new unit when it got here. At less than the cost of a new Road Machine, I almost didn't believe the deal was real, but turns out it's a pretty reputable place in Indiana. Couldn't pass it up.
KK makes an unbelievable trainer. You will not be disappointed no matter which you choose.
I've got my KK Road Machine on carpet and it works great...I have a towel laid out under my bike and my front tire lifted up by two extra pieces of bamboo flooring I had in my "junk" room. This avoided me buying the mat the the front tire lift that KK sells.
As @David said, "Doode, you're going to sweat... alot." Mine is set up in a carpeted room, but I went to Wal-Mart and got a relatively cheap mat (<$20). I originally used the interlocking mats under it, but my sweat would go through the seams. I actually still use the interlocking pieces for extra protection for my carpet, but he solid mat does a much better job of keeping the sweat contained.