# Rocker plate for indoor trainer
**URL:** https://forum.waterloocyclingclub.ca/t/rocker-plate-for-indoor-trainer/3507
**Category:** Road
**Created:** [18 November 2022 12:51 UTC](https://forum.waterloocyclingclub.ca/t/rocker-plate-for-indoor-trainer/3507 "2022-11-18T12:51:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@BRUBS](https://forum.waterloocyclingclub.ca/u/BRUBS)
#### Post date: [18 November 2022 12:51 UTC](https://forum.waterloocyclingclub.ca/t/rocker-plate-for-indoor-trainer/3507/1 "2022-11-18T12:51:41Z")
I’m thinking of getting a rocker plate for indoor training because I absolutely hate the unnatural feel of a bike locked in the trainer.
Does anyone have a rocker plate? Like it, don’t like it? Recommended brand? Available at any local stores?
This website recommends the Realplate Stealth. [▷7 Best Cycling Rocker Plates to Improve Your Comfort (2025)](https://www.cyclistshub.com/best-cycling-rocker-plates/)
> **[The Realplate React](https://www.turborocks.com/products/the-realplate-react)**
>
> The new full-length painted rocker plate is built to a high specification including brand new fore/aft movement to really bring your indoor training to life.
Any thoughts/input is appreciated.
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### Author:  [@ChrisP](https://forum.waterloocyclingclub.ca/u/ChrisP)
#### Post date: [18 November 2022 13:57 UTC](https://forum.waterloocyclingclub.ca/t/rocker-plate-for-indoor-trainer/3507/2 "2022-11-18T13:57:13Z")
Hi Scott,
Check with Jay, he was actually making his own and has lots of experience with them from what I remember.
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### Author:  [@charlie-horse](https://forum.waterloocyclingclub.ca/u/charlie-horse)
#### Post date: [18 November 2022 15:25 UTC](https://forum.waterloocyclingclub.ca/t/rocker-plate-for-indoor-trainer/3507/3 "2022-11-18T15:25:03Z")
I like mine, built it myself. It’s just got side-to-side motion. Seems to improve comfort on long trainer rides, I’ve a few 5-6h rides and the ones after the rocker were definitely more comfortable. I don’t do a lot of racing or sprinting so I don’t feel like I’m missing much with the fore-aft motion. I could add it by building another layer for this one.
I used a scrap piece of finished fibreboard that works and was free. The [5" balls](https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B001G1LIJY) and five [vibration isolation mounts](https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00DNF8ZGK/) weren’t terribly expensive, picked up countersunk 3/8" bolts from Spaenaur, and a couple of m10 bolts to mount the trainer. Also need to pick up the right size bit to countersink the bolts, I think I just used a 3/4" but don’t recall the size off hand.
So the balls go under each side of trainer, and the vibration isolation mounts provide the tilting motion. I also bolted my kicker direcly to the plate by swapping out the bolts holding the legs on. Mine is based of the [lifeline rocker](https://road.cc/content/review/lifeline-rocker-plate-280007) without the holes for the balls, just had to fiddle with them to get the air hole pointing the right way.
If I were to build another one I’d use 3/4" plywood for the base as the HDF does bow up if the balls are inflated beyond a few psi, but I prefer to keep them soft for more ‘wobble’. I didn’t have to finish my HDF so that’d add some cost, though skateboard grip tape seems common on commercial plates. I had a ball inflation gauge already but it’s not necessary. A level is handy if your training room has a level floor. Seen a few plates with a little bubble level attached. I’d probably spring for stainless bolts on the top of the deck since the flack ones can rust a bit due to sweat, but it’s usually really dry in the winter so they aren’t showing much rust despite going on 2 years. Easy enough to paint them too.