I finally took the leap into rollers. I wanted to buy the eMotion rollers, but finally decided on the CycleOps with resistance, as I had a terrible time finding the Kreitlers...I could have ordered them but I am a "hands on girl"....and the guys at the shop all laughed at me when I mentioned the eMotion...their point was if you are going to ride rollers, stay away from training wheels. So I bought the CycleOps with resistance. $350.
It is cold and windy and gross out, so I unfolded them and stuck them in the hallway where I had a wall on my right. If I rode off the front, I risked zooming down the hallway and into the bathroom, but it was what I had. I put Gray's Anatomy on the TV, and pedaled away.
OK, first of all, it was a great workout. I did 40 minutes with moderate resistance on the set, on the big chainring/small cog of my 53/39 crankset. It took me about 15 minutes to get the hang of it. I found out that every little movement causes the front end to go one way, the back the other. Being stiff did NOT help, staying loose and supple helped correct sway. Even moving my head, at first, caused me to lose my line just a little, and that was disaterous on the rollers. I didn't go headfirst into the bathtub, but I did grab the wall a few times. I WAS clipped in.
So I didn't see much of Gray's Anatomy, because most of the time I stared at the morter line in my tile to keep myself straight. But I did manage to pedal steadily with very little sway.
I'll use the trainer for standing and sprint work, but to improve my cardio, my technique, and pedal stroke, the rollers are the way to go.