DIY Free Motion Cycling Rollers

This is a copy of the Inside Ride Emachine Free Motion Floating rollers. It works fantastically.

Step 1 Supplies

-1-8ft section of 1.5" Diameter PVC pipe
-3-2x4's
-4-6 Rollerblade wheels, preferably equal sizes. Skateboard wheels could work also.
-2-3 2' 6" Metal rods the diameter of the inside of your Rollerblade wheels, mine were 1/4".
-4-6 Metal end caps the size of your metal rod. They look like little hats. One is shown in the picture.
-2-36" Black Rubber Tie-Down Straps.
-2 bolts with nuts. About 2.5-3".
-4 pretty large washers.
-Some screws and some nails.
-A hacksaw
-If your rollerblades came with small spacers, keep them, but if not it''s really not important.
-A countersink bit isn't absolutely necessary, but allows the screw head to lay flush.
-Wood glue if you'd like.
-Preferably small table saw, but jig saw could work with a steady hand.
-A basic set of tools would come in handy. A wrench, hammer, and screwdriver were useful.
-And obviously, your rollers.
-The first nine supplies(except the rollerblade wheels) cost me only $35 at The Home Depot.

Comments

[csorrows]

 I'm confused. Where did the rollers come from? They are not mentioned in the parts needed. Is there something assumed here that should be explained?

[gallamine]

 I *think* he purchased standard cycling rollers and then added the PVC slides on the site. So, still expensive :(

[amdivoff]

i think youre right. theres no real benefit from this unless you already have spent the dough on the frame and rollers already.

[Kubuntu]

There are plenty of 'make your own rollers' guides out there. Try this one: http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Bike-Rollers/

PS: I know I'm late to the party, but I wanted the link here for anyone who got here from Google and didn't notice it already.

[M-26-7]

I'd really appreciate if you could point me towards a site/store where I could buy some rollers (if you know of any).

Also what do you think of parabolic rollers? Would the build need to be changed for this? 

[amdivoff]

I was told by a Saris employee that you are able to purchase rollers individually if you wanted...

[pennachi1]

This is the website of my rollers. http://www.saris.com/c-7-rollers.aspx?skinid=2 I have the aluminum ones without resistance but any of them on the website would work. And the parabolic rollers could work except for the fact that the drums the bike rolls on are really close to the ground, not allowing much room for the axle. I am not saying they couldn't work but from the images online it looks like it could be tough. This was in the Elite brand I saw, I don't know of any other brands of parabolic rollers but I also don't know much of anything.

[amdivoff]

@pennachi1

www.saris.com ? the link results 404 error. and saris.co has only racks.
anyone have a good working link?

[alwaysworks]

http://gallery.saris.com/gallery/cycleops-rollers/9501_AL_roller_2

looks like that's the one the author was referring to.

[amdivoff]

I bought Cycleops PVC rollers for 179 including shipping and no tax.

https://shop.sunrisecyclery.com/item/10502/

even though they are PVC, i found cycleops is the only one offering lifetime warranty.

Individual rollers for sale are way too expensive.

[bobbelsekwol]

 I have a set of rollers and try to use them often, why would i need the bumpers, is it cos its easier to fall off on motion rollers. Surely the bumpers make it dangerous. Great idea though, off to the local B&Q store for wood and stuff, and my little girl doesn`t use her roller skates anymore. Well she won`t when i`ve finished butchering them!!!

[evamen88]

Thanks for the 'ible.  I was considering the e-motion rollers but this plus normal rollers will save me over $400.  As I'm new to rollers do you think fore and aft bumpers are necessary (as in the ones present on e-motion rollers)?  Again, great job!

[sing1ejack]

Ok, this is pretty clearly intended for folks who are much more into cycling than I am.  Stipulated.  But what if I, a non-biker who has 6 yr old lawnsale bicycle used pretty much exclusively for trips to get milk, wanted to build one of these from the ground up?  I don't happen to have a set of rollers laying around and am not too keen on laying down a couple hundred for them.  Any reason I couldn't make some with some pipe and a couple more rollerblade wheels fixed to each opening?  Other ideas/improvements/cautions?

[pennachi1]

 If you are willing to try that then I say good luck. It seems that it would work if you could find the size pvc to fit a rollerblade wheel. Also you would need some sort of flexible belt to go between the 2 front-most drums. You can buy a replacement one (I think) and that would obviously work. 

[centurion48]

 Perhaps better to drill and fix the PVC half-pipes to the timber after the axle height is confirmed. The PVC pipe can then just be rotated (outwards) to allow the axles to clear the PVC then the pipe is screwed to the timber.
Good and simple design - I like it.

[pennachi1]

 That's friggin' smart.

[jongscx]

You need to mount the FreeMotion Rollers themselves to a set of road tires so that you can take it outside and practice stationary cycling while moving outside...

Ex:

[valhallas_end]

That...I really want to build one.  That would be the most hilarious thing to show up to work riding...

[pennachi1]

That's funny as hell.

[TFrosty]

where did you got your actual rollers as well as the frame you used?

[pennachi1]

I just took it for granted that everyone understood that you need rollers to make this.

[yomero]

but the actual thing where the bike rolls, thats store bought right?

[pyro1324]

 but...
what if you go one inch too far to one of the sides?!

[Visitor]

Your front wheel falls off the roller, hits the  floor leaving a black streak of rubber and stops rotating. The rear wheel usually starts sliding in the opposite direction and before you know, your instincts have unclipped your shoe and placed your foot on the ground.

You will then take a few deep breaths to calm your racing heart and commence training.

No big deal. :) If you think about the forces involved, falling from rollers becomes much less horrifying. While riding on street, you will have a mass about 100kg going on at 30km/h. That is a lot of momentum. On rollers you have two 0.8kg wheels rotating. They just don't have the momentum to cause a serious crash.

[pennachi1]

Exactly. Some people are worried about being clipped in but I can clip out without even thinking about it, just as fast as not even being clipped in.

[pennachi1]

I have done it before, but that was the first day I got it. You can fall pretty violently, but usually you stay on your feet. Now I am good enough to where I just don't fall. Also, there are side bumpers on so that doesn't happen.

[tealpsyclone]

 a new youtube smash hit

[pennachi1]

haha

[patricksanford]

it's a rube goldberg suicide machine.
you're just missing the falling weights attached to coo-coo clocks and a watering bucket.
;-)

[glenm]

nice. my rollers are just on their legs I will consider doing this. does it feel better? nice felt I think I have the same one.

[pennachi1]

It feels amazing. Even the slightest back and forth motion  makes the ride smoother and feels just like the road. And mine is an F75.

[Visitor]

This is a very nice, simple and functional execution of the idea! Congratulations!

People interested in free rollers should note that stationary rollers improve pedaling style. When the bike starts to bounce back and forth on stationary rollers, it is a sign of unsmooth pedaling technique. So, if you build a free rooller, remember to ride stationary too every now and then. It will improve your riding skills. :)

[kissiltur]

I'm thinking that it would be a good idea to temporarily attach the uncut pipe to a length of wood to run along the fence. Two options:

1. hot glue
2. make the pipe longer and used screws in the ends

Apart from the twisting, this would also be safer since there is more for your push stick to shove at.

[gregr]

Why does the front wheel turn?

[pennachi1]

 There is a belt between the first rear one and the front. It is clear though that's why you can't see it

[trayo]

 If I'm not mistaken it's so you can control the side to side motion of the bike. It would feel more like your riding on the road and less like a stationary trainer bike. This is my first time seeing the free motion thing and it looks super cool.

[pennachi1]

Exactly. Do you cycle?

[trayo]

 I do cycle.

[rimar2000]

Awesome, I want one of these!

[CementTruck]

That video is crazy cool. :)

I agree with pennachi1 regarding your table saw. You can make your own Throat Plate out of something like Phenolic if you can' t find a replacement plate online.

Get a piece of paper and a pencil. Place the paper on your saw and rub the pencil over table saw throat. This will give you the exact dimensions of the cuts you need. Once your'e done cutting the Phenolic you can drill holes for the screws (make sure to recess the screw holes). After the Phenolic is in place, fire up the table saw and slowly raise the blade. the blade will cut its own path into the material, giving you the tightest possible tolerance. Do this several times at multiple angles to get the wide range of angles allowed by your saw.

Congrats on your first Instructable. Cheers!