So I’m setting up my new Turbo Rocker plate on carpet. It will have front/back and side to side motion. Do I need a rubber mat under it like I had under my bike? The plate will catch the sweat but will it damage the carpet or slide around without a mat?
My Velocity Rocker came today. It was easy to set up with my KICKR Bike, and I was riding within an hour. Did an inspiration video to get the feel of it, then did a short FulGaz sim-mode ride.
I probably should have put in a little more air until I get used to it, but even this slightly unstable ride was much easier on the body than before.
The forward-backward motion is actually helpful for me. In addition to the comfort, it seems like the smallish motion tells me a lot about the smoothness of my pedal stroke.
The rocking definitely adds to the realism. I’m really tired today, and a bit low on attention, and near the end of the FulGaz ride I found myself mindlessly leaning into the turns, not a great idea when the centripetal force of the curve isn’t actually there… Anyway, even with a massive KICKR Bike and an 80kg rider, the unit is rock-steady, it didn’t come close to tipping over.
I am impressed.
4 Likes
I put my rubber mat under mine. Seemed a bit more secure, plus I feel like the rocker mechanism might drip a bit of grease at some point, or scuff the flooring beneath it.
1 Like
I would definitely put the mat down. Repeated friction from the motion of the feet or around the edges and holes in the plate could visibly frizz (not a technical term) some carpets. Also, when I put a rocker plate between my bike and the mat, I saw a tiny river of sweat running off the edge of the plate when I was done with my first ride. So obviously I need to fine-tune the balance of the rocker and start riding with a towel under me to catch the sweat. But I am definitely leaving the mat.
1 Like
I put a mat underneath to catch sweat and sticky carb drinks but also to make it easier to move the rocker and neo bike around when I need to.
I rode 100 miles/ 161km on mine yesterday. I am bit like Bambi today but no glute discomfort at all and I put that down to buns of steel and a little help from the rocker 
4 Likes
Man. I don’t know how you guys do it. The best I’ve ever done is 2hrs, and I’ve been riding smart trainers since 2010 (Computrainer back then).
I mentioned I have my trainer on a Saris MP1 platform, but there’s a pretty good chance I’d buy something like the Kickr or Neo Bike if it included full motion. I don’t know of any that do, but that may be the next thing.
It was 2 hours longer than my longest ever indoor ride. I never expected to carry on and finish but I had no saddle discomfort so just kept plodding away at 2.4w/k - 170ish watts, telling myself doing so would serve me well on the 312.
I know I would never have been able to do it without the rocker
4 Likes
I do have a rubber mat under mine, chiefly as it was there anyway, and it catches some sweat and I like to think it might deaden noise from disturbing my teenager who’s sleeping in the room below (“don’t poke the bear”).
I don’t think a mat is essential though.
1 Like
Welp, I’m joining the club. Just ordered the Turbo Rocks Realplate React Stealth for my KICKR BIKE. May it allow me to go for longer!
3 Likes
Revisiting this old thread and wondering how those who have purchased the Turbo Rocks Realplate React (@jcolp, @Cheryl.Vasan) like them after several months of use now. I have a KICKR Bike V2, and am considering purchasing the updated version of the React that came out this year.
1 Like
Still liking it with my KICKR BIKE V1.
3 Likes
I love the Turbo Rocks Realplate React. I would buy it again in a heartbeat! At this point, I have my dream setup. The items that make the most difference to me are the rocker plate and having a Headwind fan paired to my heart rate monitor. I expected the climb/tilt feature on my V2 to matter much more to me than it does. The tilt helps on long rides but I could def live without it.
The TurboRocks is still on its first set of support balls at about 120 hours of use. No signs of wear. They sent extras. I set it directly on my basement carpet. No issues with carpet wear or fuzzing.
I’d highly recommend TurnoRocks. They were responsive , fast to ship, and easy to do business with. I even got to specify what color support balls and finish.
4 Likes
Thanks to you both for responding. I’ll put in my order!
1 Like
I have one I built for myself, full motion. It’s great, I love it.
I prefer to have relatively low rebound because too much, while it makes it more stable to get on the bike and sit upright actually makes it a little “bouncy” side to side, where the lower rebound makes the bike gently sway like it would on the road.
The out of the saddle issue is, for me, completely overblown. The very first time you get out the saddle the bike will go the wrong way, weighted side down.
It’s like the first time you ride with SPDs. As soon as you remember something has changed all you do is load you outside hand before your alternate foot as you step out of the saddle, which sets the sway off in the “correct” direction and suddenly the bike moves pretty much precisely like it would on the road.
I love my rocket plate, it feels as close to riding outside as you can get without, you know, going outside.
2 Likes
I made my own, but I imagine the balls I’m using are very similar and I’m past 15,000 km on mine with no wear or issues at all.
I anticipate requiring replacement balls at about the same time a set bought with the rocker would have perished from sitting still 
3 Likes
I ordered mine four and a half years ago. Over a thousand hours of use, and the longest workout lasted seven and a half hours. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
3 Likes