Unfortunately given my setup - no access to the right side of the rocker plate - so I need to use the current spot with the cutout on top so I can play with the pressure
It will work if you place them at rhe front or rear openings too. I’m guessing one end or the other is accessible?
Inner tubes is an interesting idea! How did these perform and last? Apologies if this is answered already, I’m trying to work my way (quickly-ish) through the whole thread.
Not great. They were fine to start with - partly because they were new, partly because I had nothing to compare them to. However, after a few months, I found myself having to keep them topped up more frequently. Then one failed on the seam , followed by the other one a few weeks later. I’d purchased four of the tubes at the outset so I just replaced them when they failed. However, sure enough, they too went the same way.
I ended up buying and fitting some inflatable balls and was immediately impressed. The rocker responds and feels so much better than it did with the tubes (something to do with the balls being smaller than the tubes I guess), and the balls are much more resilient. I check the pressure before every workout and maybe give them a quick top up (using one of these) - takes literally seconds. Never had a problem with the balls.
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Chad and other builders, quick question regarding hardware.
Is 50mm wide enough to disperse the stress over the plywood, or do I need to find some form of plate to go between my dampers and the plywood?
Also, I can’t work out how to bolt from underneath without using a countersunk. Will that be strong enough, or risk splitting the ply?
Hopefully you can visualise what I mean.
One more potentially dumb question. Is there any reason (other than the unsightly hole and effect on resale) that drilling some holes in my trainer legs wouldn’t work for bolting it to the platform if my Rocker?
I did a 3 hr z2 @ 70% ride today in resistance mode, and the rockr plate really help with the ride comfort. So just waiting on the spouse’s opinion before this becomes the new, permanent SB20 trainer setup.
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Sounds great - just waiting for my Pedivella rear plate to arrive mid-week with luck 
We are having a freak warm sunny week this week, so my indoor plan has gone out of the window and I’m doing a mini-endurance block outdoors to take advantage. Will probably get indoors for a quick test Friday or Sat with luck though.
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- Decent plywood of at least 1/2" [12mm) thick, and hopefully closer to 3/4" {18mm] is plenty strong to support on the 50mm vibe mounts.
- I haven’t built with this specific version but a decent flat head screw should be fine to prevent pull through. If you want to use a regular nut and washer, just add rubber feet to the underside, at tall or taller than the screw and washer height. I’d recommend placing a bit of tape or rubber (like scrap of old tube) over the hex head if you plan to use the rocker on a hard floor, for protection of the floor if the deck flexes to contact the head to the floor.
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The wee fella and I had some fun throwing this together this morning after his Covid jab (so was home from school).
Really happy with how it came out though it was more of a rush than planned.
I have a video but can’t work out how to upload it
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Looks great from the pics.
For video, you can lost it to YouTube, then use the Share option there to copy the link, and paste that link in this topic for easy access.
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Right on! Looks like a great build 
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Thanks 
.
I can’t wait to try it out. Riding on the trainer at work for the next two sessions. Hopefully I can get out to the garage on Sunday just for a tune up before back into SS on Monday.
I was pleasantly surprised how much flex was in the dampers. I thought they’d be a lot stiffer, and possibly more difficult to fit.
I ordered one of the little hand pumps with the gauge that was posted a few posts ago. That will help.
I have an uneven pedal stroke, that I’ve always known about as my left leg alignment isn’t quite as good as my right. I will have to work out how soft is ideal. Even spinning with crocs on seemed like an improvement in saddle comfort, though that could have been optimism.
Also, it’s a long way up …
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Yup. Needs a tall front riser. I also add a center platform for easier on and off.
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This was a pet project worth repeating. Used marine ply and tennis balls along with a centerline of 4 dampers. Added in my favourite HTFU slogan for stem chewing days. Painted the top deck. Countersunk the holes for the dampers top and bottom. Glued on rubber type mat for stepping on board to mount/dismount without damaging the clear lacquer protective coat.
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Great work and attention to detail!
Thanks man.
Do you use a rocker plate of sorts? Thoughts on using/not using one?
I have found it to be a ‘comfier’ ride/effort with the slightest of sideways motion. I’m unsure about strains and stresses on the bike.
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@mcneese.chad practically invented rocker plates!
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Ha, kinda… I had my idea of them without ever seeing one. My inspiration was the Kinetic Rock & Roll, but I wanted a universal system that worked with any existing trainer.
After building my first one in late 2015, some google searching showed a US guy made some years earlier and CoPlate was selling them actively in the EU at that time. They just didn’t see wide use until I shared my design in Nov 2017.
So, not the official inventor, 3rd in line at least 
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Yes, I’ve been on rockers since Dec 2015 and ridden many different versions. I am so used to having motion that stepping back to a rigid setup feels totally odd.
I end up doing that for short tests at home, or when I travel. The lack of motion just feels wrong once you spend a fair bit of time with motion. There ia nothing natural about rigid trainers.
Let me know if you have more questions. I have my FB group, rocker doc and other general info to help.
My doc for quick reference.
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