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SBR ROCKR Pro launched - elevate your indoor training with a rocker plate

Take your indoor training to the next level with a ROCKR Pro rocker plate

Since the development of smart trainers and apps like Zwift and TrainerRoad indoor training has become hugely popular. No more staring at the wall on a noisy unrealistic dumb trainer; it’s now more realistic, engaging and interactive than ever before. Almost as good as riding outdoors (joke!).

There is a way to raise the level of realism though: a rocker plate. It’s a large platform onto which you place the smart trainer and bike, simulating the gentle sideways rocking when you ride a bike on real roads. So far they’ve been an interesting underground development, with online groups sharing different designs and constructions, but all with the same goal of levelling up that indoor cycling realism factor. I even experimented last winter…

SBR ROCKR Pro2

At the moment none of the big smart trainer manufacturers has cottoned onto this niche market, but one key figure in the rocker plate community (at least the Zwift Rocker Plates Facebook page I follow) Chip Self, has developed a very slick production unit called the ROCKR Pro. It launched this week and costs $499.

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The ROCKR Pro is a full-length rocker plate - the entire bike and trainer sits atop the platform - and the shape is compatible with popular trainers like the CycleOps Hammer, Tacx NEO and Flux, Wahoo Kickr, Snap trainers, as well as the new Wahoo Kickr Climb module.

It’s made from a composite material (marine grade birch plywood press-bonded to high density recycled rubber) which is said to help reduce vibrations and noise transmission, a claimed 4.1db reduction, and also keep the weight and volume low.

SBR ROCKR Pro1

Five 5in heavy duty spike balls and five elastomer pivot points control the movement, with 15mm of fore and aft adjustment. The underside of the rocker plate has a rubber material to stop it slipping on the floor. You get a spare spike ball and hand inflator.

If that’s too expensive, there’s also the POD Pro ($375) which is a bit shorter and only designed to accommodate the actual smart trainer, so you can’t use it with the Kickr Climb, instead, it ships with a front wheel block. It’s constructed from the same hybrid deck materials with 5in spike balls.

If you feel like rolling your sleeves up and making your own, the DIY Pod ($249) is a DIY kit that includes pre-cut unfinished decks with elastomer pivots, spike balls and all the instructions.

SBR ROCKR Pro3

As well as raising the realism factor by allowing the bike to sway from side to side, especially when out of the saddle grinding up Alpe Du Zwift, the company claims it decreases saddle discomfort because when we ride outside the saddle position is never stationary, there’s actually quite a bit of subtle movement.

The only snag is that it looks like currently they only ship in the US. Check it out at www.sbrtrishop.com

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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7 comments

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peted76 | 5 years ago
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This is all very impressive stuff! I'm loving the DIY efforts people are making!

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CXR94Di2 | 5 years ago
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If your suspension system is under pressure all the time(no free play/rock)  the bike self rights naturally. 

 

 I can say now having made a half rocker and full rocker that the best road feel is from the full length rocker.  An important aspect is to have quality pivot points.  I use 7* 20mm pillow bearings with a solid full length steel bar.  

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PGF1977 replied to CXR94Di2 | 5 years ago
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CXR94Di2 wrote:

If your suspension system is under pressure all the time(no free play/rock)  the bike self rights naturally. 

 

 I can say now having made a half rocker and full rocker that the best road feel is from the full length rocker.  An important aspect is to have quality pivot points.  I use 7* 20mm pillow bearings with a solid full length steel bar.  

Your rocker looks awesome! Do you mind me asking what you use as springs - tennis balls or some other kind of air bladder (and if not tennis balls where did you get the springs from). I'll make my own in the next few weeks, just planning it out now.  Thanks.

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 5 years ago
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This is my version 2, very pleased with it.

 

 

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jollygoodvelo | 5 years ago
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I've just read this with great amusement.  I have an extremely similar thing underneath my turbo trainer which I made myself, with no inspiration from any facebook groups.  It's a couple of pieces of 12mm plywood from a salvage place (cost: £2 for a 2m x 1m sheet iirc), and four tennis balls (cost: £2 for six from Sports Direct).  The tennis balls locate in 38mm holes in the top and bottom boards (cut with a hole saw, cost £10 from Aldi) and it works perfectly well.  If I did it again I'd probably use slightly thicker wood, and a step to climb onto the bike would be helpful, but if I'd realised I could knock the things out for $499 (£400 maybe) I'd start a production line!

However, all these 'rocking' systems have a big shortcoming - when you're on the bike outside you're not bounced back to upright by an elastomer, it's the centripetal force of the turning wheels.  The trainer that looks like a massive treadmill is the only system that can replicate this...

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fukawitribe replied to jollygoodvelo | 5 years ago
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jollygoodvelo wrote:

However, all these 'rocking' systems have a big shortcoming - when you're on the bike outside you're not bounced back to upright by an elastomer, it's the centripetal force of the turning wheels. 

No, it's not.

Avatar
davel | 5 years ago
4 likes

Does this leave us 1 or 2 gizmos away from the Wankr?

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