The 7 Best Bike Rollers in 2022

Finding the best bike rollers can be a challenge. There are so many different models on the market, it’s hard to know which one is right for you.

Luckily, we’ve done all of that work for you and have found some great options in our list below!

For any cyclist, a good bike roller is essential. It can be used for a variety of purposes, from core strengthening to stretching to pre-race warmups. But how do you know which one is the best? 

We’ve done all the footwork and research for you so that you don’t have to.

Here are our top seven best bike rollers picks in 2022!

Our top pick overall are the Tacx Antares Professional training rollers.

What are bike rollers and why would I use them?

Bike rollers are a bit like a low-impact turbo trainer. They are used on a smooth surface and require cyclists to balance and pedal through their pedalling motion without slipping or losing balance. 

Ahead of any hill climb or local time-trial, the nearest car park will be full of people spinning on rollers just like these.

In essence, bike rollers are composed of three drums, two at the back and one at the front. They are housed in a folding frame which makes them very portable so that they can be moved around easily.

While most rely on the drums themselves to generate a modicum of resistance, they are really useful for building a cyclist’s balance and rhythm skills. When you train on rollers, it keeps you fit. It also helps you to develop a better pedaling style, whilst feeling like you’re actually out on the road.

Tacx Antares Professional bicycle rollers

The Tacx Antareas professional training rollers are designed for you if you want to improve your cycling technique. They are great for beginners because they teach you balance skills and how to pedal smoothly.

These rollers are very durable because of the heavy-duty steel construction, and they provide a realistic feel when training indoors.

They have a great anti-slip coating on the bottom to prevent slipping, so you can focus on your workouts instead of worrying about slips. This roller is not the easiest to balance on but once you have it, it is great!

The rollers have high-quality bearings that are almost silent in operation, so you won’t disturb anyone in the house. And it is fully adjustable for all wheel sizes from 26 inches to 29 inches. Plus, you don’t need to do any

What We Like

• Strong, heavy construction
• One of the quietest rollers out there
• Easy to set up and compact for storage
• Maintenance-free

What We Don’t Like

• If you live with neighbors downstairs you need to put a dampener underneath the rollers, to stop them vibrating the floor.

Tacx Galaxia T1100 bike rollers

The Tacx Galaxia T1100 is the best road bike roller to use for warming up, training and as a cool down after training. The rollers have been developed with Tacx’s unique groove system which gives a realistic road-feel without vibrations.

Advanced users can adjust the resistance from easy rides to extra-tough sessions by simply changing gears on their trainer or using an electronic trainer like the Wahoo Kickr.

What We Like

• You can stand up and sprint on this roller
• Stable conical rollers
• Moves forwards and backwards.

What We Don’t Like

• The instructions with it are vague.

Minoura Live Roll R500 Cycling Roller

The Minoura Live Roll R500 Bike Roller is a heavy-duty bike roller that has an adjustable wheelbase of 980mm-1,090 mm.

The frame is made from carbon steel and the rollers are made from nylon. It’s really compact, with dimensions of 19.5 inch long by 11 inch wide and 7.25 inches deep with 800 pounds weight capacity as well.

The R500 comes with two different types of resistance add ons that can be bought separately but are not part of the original package. These are either magnetic or water-based resistance packs.

What We Like

• Great adjustability
• Foldable
• Reasonably quiet
• Good friction and a smooth ride

What We Don’t Like

• Add ons have to be purchased separately

Feedback Sports Omnium bike trainer

The Feedback Sports Omnium trainer is ideal for working out in a small space and also for people that are looking to train indoors.

Need a spin on bad weather days?

Its weight and foldability make it perfect for workouts at home or anywhere. This trainer offers a high maximum weight limit of 160 pounds.

Another great feature of this bike roller is the smooth and quiet ride. It also comes with a no-tools design for easy setup and storage.

The price is also great for the quality that you get, making this one of the best buys on our list.

What We Like

• Maintenance-free resistance unit and roller bearings
• Smooth, quiet ride
• Great for warming up or spinning your legs on rest days.
• Stable, compact and lightweight

What We Don’t Like

• Can’t adjust the resistance

Elite Arion Folding Bike Rollers with Mag Resistance

The Elite Arion rollers pack a punch when compared to a turbo trainer. These rollers are made of solid aluminum with a total weight of 33 lbs. The Arion rollers from Elite come in Black, Red, and Gold colors.

The biggest selling point for these rollers is the distinctive ‘Mag’ resistance which changes to the level you want when you simply stop pedaling or coast down! They have 3 different settings from almost no resistance to a very high level of resistance for tough workouts.

The Arion rollers have 2″ drums and an adjustable height which is suitable for riders from 4’6″- 6’8″. These rollers also come with a 3 year warranty.

What We Like

• 3 levels of resistance
• Highly adjustable

What We Don’t Like

• Hex bolts can become loose so need regular checks.

Garmin Tacx Flow Smart Trainer

When you need a no-sound training session, the Garmin Tacx Flow Smart Trainer is the trainer for you. The wheel-on design fits easily onto your bike and the frictionless flywheel means you can ride in relative silence- without disturbing your roommates or family members. 

Add to this fantastic features like identifying your power, cadence and speed–along with simulated slopes of 7% gradient.

What We Like

• Gives a real feel of the hills when used with Zwift.
• Quiet when used with slick tires
• Great budget trainer especially for newbies

What We Don’t Like

• Functionality with the Zwift app can be an issue.

Saris Fluid2 Indoor Bike Trainer

No worries about getting outside to train in the cold and dark. This synthetic water-filled trainer lets you accurately replicate your outdoor experience so that you can get those miles in without even leaving the comfort of home.

Giving indoor training a shake-up, Saris is introducing the Fluid2 bike trainer. With such features as a patented fan design and steel quick release skewer to create an authentic riding experience, this product means business.

The large precision-balanced flywheel also provides three different settings for rear dropout spacing from 120mm all the way up to 135mm wide which will be ideal for mountain bikes as well.

What We Like

• Super quiet noise level (for example at 20mph – 64-68 decibels)
• Fits both road and mountain bikes
• Easy to adjust feet.
• Simple assembly instructions

What We Don’t Like

• It’s easy to get key parts on the wrong side, due to no diagram in the instruction manual. Fan should be on right, main power unit on the left. (If they are incorrectly placed, it will affect the rear dial adjustment).

Types of Bike Rollers

Basic bike rollers

Basic bike rollers are made up of two rounded drums at the back and one at the front. These types of rollers have been made to make it easier for you to learn a good riding position and technique.

They offer less resistance than other models and they are cheaper too. Most basic bike rollers come preassembled.

You just need to set them up for the length of your bike and you’re good to go.

Hybrid bike rollers

Basically they are part basic roller and part trainer. There are two rounded drums at the back, but you fix your frame to the front. (Taking the wheel off)

Hybrid bike rollers offer more stability because the front of your bike is fixed in. They offer the potential for harder workouts, without worrying about falling off. Kinda safer choice for best bike rollers!

The lack of a front drum means they are the lighter, foldable alternative.

They also store compactly.

Smart rollers

If you want to experience outdoor riding indoors, then smart rollers would be the choice. You can connect them via Bluetooth, or via ANT+ and pair them apps like Zwift.

Like feeling the burn of riding up and down hills? This roller is designed to give you control of the resistance you want, at your fingertips

Things to consider when buying best bike rollers.

 Build Quality

You need to ensure that the bike roller will take your weight as you ride, so be sure to check this before you buy them. The best bike rollers tend to be aluminum, or polypropylene, as they are lightweight and can reduce the noise and vibration when you ride.

Wheel base

Your best bike rollers need to be long enough to stretch the length of your bike. An adjustable roller is the ideal one to buy because you can normally set it once and then forget about it.

Storage and portability

Think about how you will be using the rollers. Will you need it for pre-race warmups? You need to be able to put it in the trunk easily so it needs to be lightweight. Some rollers fold in half, which means an easier lift for you, and they will store in less space too.

Design of the drum and materials

The shape, size and material of the drums will affect how durable they will be. Tire wear will also be different for different rollers. 

If you are conscious of tire wear, you may want to consider a parabolic roller. They encourage your tire to stay in the middle when riding.

Looking for lower resistance?

As a quick guide, the larger the size of the rollers, the lower their resistance when riding. Less resistance means more speed without having to put much effort in. So the smaller rollers are better for sprints but will create more resistance and produce more tire wear.

Best bike rollers FAQs

What are the best bike rollers?

We recommend the Tacx Antares Professional training rollers. See our full review above.

Are best bike rollers actually worth it?

Yes in our opinion they are because they help you become more balanced and more smooth when pedalling. They can be a great way of warming up muscles before a race or having a stretch out between training days.

Are bike rollers bad for your bike?

Rollers will cause some tire wear because your tires are coming into contact with a surface. They won’t cause your bike’s tires to wear as much as they would if you used a trainer. The roller drums are made of smooth material like aluminum or plastic that don’t create as much friction.

How long should you use bike rollers?

Bike roller workouts can be tough because you are constantly pedalling. We recommend that you build up gradually. Start from 10-15 minutes sessions.

Then build up to 30 minutes. Once you feel comfortable with this, vary your gears, hand positions, or even by increasing and decreasing speed.

Conclusion about the best bike rollers

When you are choosing the best bike roller for you, it’s really important to think about how and also where you will use it. 
Our top pick overall are the Tacx Antares Professional training rollers because they fold up for easy transportation and storage; they are lightweight and are conical so you get less wear on your tires.

Here, we also did a deeper analysis of what makes up the best bike rollers and bike trainers and how to use them to get the fun and the results you want.