When you’re on the rollers, everything comes together

By Edward Swier

Rollers are more than just another accessory for trackie Peter Schep. Rollers play a crucial role in the preparation of races. “And not just because you are warming up on them, you can also withdraw yourself from the world when you ride the rollers, you think of the race you’re about to enter in and rethink your strategy. Your concentration is at its highest level, you are only thinking of your legs, your bike and yourself. This is the moment that everything comes together”.

Mobile training centre
Back from the Beijing Olympics, where Peter Schep unfortunately did not succeed in his quest for Olympic glory, he takes the time to expand on his relationship with his Tacx rollers. Schep uses the rollers more than most and couldn’t wait until the new Antares became available. “I had read the brochure, memorized the technical details.” Especially the new rollers, with their tapered shape, retained Schep’s special attention. “With the old model, if you lost concentration just for a second, you would find yourself off the rollers and on the floor. There is no doubt that the risk of falling of has been reduced significantly”. Schep keeps his rollers in the back of his car permanently; they are his loyal travel companion to training camps. The fact that the new Antares is much easier to transport is a welcome bonus. “Antares is in fact a mobile training centre of sorts. If you can easily slide your rollers underneath your hotel bed it makes everything much simpler”.

Keeping your track rhythm
Especially during the winter season, when Schep participates in some ten six day events, he rides the rollers on a regular basis. “We are usually allowed to ride on the track for an hour around three in the afternoon, but in the time leading up to the races our duties with regard to sponsors and such don’t leave enough time to hit the rollers. So I usually ride them in my hotel room. Not just for cooling down. The rollers are a welcome addition to your regular training”. If you want to work on your speed but can’t go to the track, the rollers are the perfect tool for you – tells us Schep. “Because it is easy to attain 130, 140 rpm, that is a very efficient way of maintaining your track rhythm and make your muscles supple again”. Peter Schep also uses the rollers for a very ‘Dutch’ reason. ”Of course, when you’ve been riding out in the cold spring weather, it is so much better to cool down at room temperature. Rollers are really the perfect tool for efficient warming up and cooling down”.