When I really want speed I use the rollers

By Edward Swier

Marianne Vos is not one to complain. She just accepts things as they come. At first she didn’t really think Tacx needed to produce these new rollers. “The old ones were just fine, I was happy to use them.” But after getting acquainted with the Antares, this Jill of all trades is very satisfied indeed. “I really like the fact that these new rollers are conical. It takes a bit less concentrations to ride them. It is much easier to stick to the middle, therefore it takes less of your energy.”
Vos is a regular roller rider. At home, but also on the road, from one stage race to the next. Or on training camp in a far away place. “I often use them for compensatory training. When it is too difficult to go to the track to train. But when I want to train my speed at high rpm’s I use the rollers. It is impossible to do on the road, and even when you are on the track you need a derny to do it.”

Focussing
Vos also uses the Antares to concentrate. She puts her mp3-player on and tries to find peace of mind while pedalling. “It is just one of those preparatory rituals. It allows you to really focus on your race, shut everything else out.” Vos started using the rollers when she decided to also race the track. As a road racer she uses the Tacx Satori most of all. “That is the kind of cycletrainer that suits your warm-up for endurance events more, you do not turn your legs so fast, you put in a lot more power. The big advantage of rollers is that you are not attached, your movements become much more natural.”