Not too long ago, SportCrafters introduced their new progressive resistance rollers that allowed you to get a trainer-like resistance work out with the balance work of rollers. Wasting no time, the company was on hand at CX Worlds with their new Raceday Warmup trainer. The super compact trainer features a smaller version of the progressive resistance rollers and packs up to a TSA carry-on approved 11 lb package.
Intrigued? More after the jump.
The secret to the rollers in the internal magnet system with super strong neodymium magnets connected to the back of an internal drum shown above (the magnet is the cylinder with the black line). The entire drum is mounted on an eccentric pivot held in place with a spring. As you pedal, the increased force causes the eccentric to rotate, moving the magnet closer to the outside drum (pictured below), thereby increasing resistance. As you slow down it reverts and reduces resistance.
This all means you end up with resistance without external parts, noise, or fluid. Better yet, you can actually buy just the drums so that you can retrofit certain rollers.
In order to keep the weight down and keep the footprint small, the Raceday Trainer uses much smaller drums than the rollers. This model here is technically still a prototype so it is fit with essentially cut-down drums from the rollers. We’re told that the production model will have slightly bigger drums and ventilated end caps in order to improve heat dissipation.
At first glance it may look like the wheel would be easy to ride off such small rollers, but after riding it and hammering with abandon it moved very little side to side, with the fork mount keeping things solidly in place.
As mentioned, the Raceday trainer folds up into a very compact, 11lb package that is easily transportable – even as a carry-on. Perfect for traveling race teams that are tight on space, though we see it as a great option for those tight on space in their apartment as well.
The Raceday Trainer will be available in about 3 month, keep you eye on their site for details.
It should be noted too, that they don’t just make trainers for two wheeled bikes. Inside their tent they had rollers for both hand cycles and trikes – some of the first that I’ve seen. The handcycle roller is on top, the front wheel of the hand cycle sits in the drums and the two bars on either side act as bump stops for the riders feet which are usually strapped into foot rests. This keeps the wheel on the rollers, even though hand cycles both steer and drive from the front wheel.
The trike roller is on the bottom which simply sits under the rear wheel of the trike. Obviously, the red tent made the pictures quite red, but you get the picture.
