RooDol Track Folding Rollers

You don't have to be a regular at the velodrome to get the most out of the RooDol Track Rollers, especially if your workouts are more about spinning the legs rather than looking for the ultimate in resistance. With their portable design and easy setup they are perfect for that pre-race warm-up.

• Pros: Clever, simple design; smooth running
• Cons: Frame can be flexible when the speed increases

We tested the RooDol Compact rollers last year and liked them very much, but this Track version is even better for that warm-up and cool-down before a race.

The Track uses a 90mm roller diameter compared to the 63mm of the Compact, which creates a feeling more realistic to the road. The larger diameter of the Track lowers the rolling resistance making them easier to spin up and keep rolling, ideal when you want to loosen up the legs ready to compete.

The rollers themselves use an aluminium alloy axle which runs smoothly and the main body spins true so you don't get any vibration through them as the speed increases.

The only slight criticism I would say is that they don't have a radius at the ends to keep you upright should you drift towards either edge. I'd say they are aimed more at the competent user than the beginner.

The main selling point of the RooDols is the fact that they are packable and easy to transport to wherever you want to train.

When you open the box you'll find a large bag that houses the frame and rollers. It measures 920mm long, 230mm wide and 150mm deep and weighs 6.57kg so it's quite a small package. (Our photos show the optional yellow eRooDol roller – separate review to come.)

What makes things even easier is the fact that the bag comes with two straps to create a backpack. Ideal when you are carrying a bike and the rest of your kit in your other hand.

The frame is a hinged plastic construction which just folds out to create the full rectangle in a couple of steps. It's quick and easy and takes just a handful of seconds.

You then drop the rollers onto the pins which are angled for the two at the rear to make sure they sit firmly once the weight of the bike and rider is applied.

At the front end you get five positions to align the roller with the centre of the front wheel depending on how long your bike is. You make sure the resistance band is attached around the middle and front roller and you are good to go.

You need to find a level piece of ground for the rollers to run on as they don't have any adjustable legs or anything but it isn't a major concern and if you are on a smooth surface like an indoor concrete floor the rubber feet ensure that the whole setup will grip.

The profile of the RooDols is lower than a lot of rollers as well, so getting started and stopping doesn't take such a huge leap of faith.

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When riding with the higher resistance of the Compact rollers I found the frame to be a little flexible for harder efforts, but with the easier spinning of these Track rollers it really isn't an issue until you hit around 50kph which, incidentally, is RooDol's recommended top speed.

Looking at value, the RooDols are towards the top end of the budget. I've tested the Riva Sport Adjustable rollers which are half the price but they had a fair few issues like the rollers not running true and were difficult to setup.

The key thing about the RooDols, though, is their packability, which pretty much sets them apart on their own.

Verdict

Quick and easy to set up for a training interval or a race warm-up