What is a rocker plate?

I started designing and making these kits more than two years ago, and I can also be found on Etsy--TrainerTweaks - Etsy. Trying to migrate from Etsy, with over 100  sales there, and I'm currently a 'star seller'. I made my first DIY rocker plate almost 10 years ago, because like many others I quickly realized longer sessions on the bike trainer (a Kurt KInetic Road Machine at the time) enabled by new platforms like Sufferfest, TrainerRoad and Zwift, just weren’t that comfortable.  With Zwift, a certain desire for increased immersion also came into play.  We all want to feel more like we are really riding our bikes when we’re training indoors.  And even folks who ride a lot often find it uncomfortable to ride a static, fixed cycling trainer.  Without the saddle and body making hundreds of thousands of tiny movements as the bike rolls over the road or trail, pressure points quickly develop, and pain and numbness can occur.  A good rocker plate—a sensitive rocker plate—can provide these small movements from side to side, and forward and back, in response to shifting weight, power on and off the pedals, getting down in the drops or sitting up, and then getting out of the saddle and swinging the bike.  The last is probably the least important.  What is important is that the rocker plate enables the bike to ‘hover’, so to speak.  Small inputs make it move around.  Your weight is continually shifting around on your sit bones.  Blood moves around better.  Nerves are relieved in many thousands of micro movements and weight adjustments.  There is a certain amount of increased core engagement since there’s a slight element of balance involved.  But in the end you want a functional rocker plate for indoor training on a bicycle mostly because it’s just more enjoyable.  Or you want some rollers.  I love rollers.  I want my rocker plate to feel as much like rollers as I can.  And when you get up out of the saddle on a hard effort, or a big climb, why not feel that bike swaying from side to side?—it feels good.  It’s a little different on a rocker plate, a bit more of conscious effort to initiate the same swing, but not that strange.  Pretend you're riding up a Col in France on Fulgaz—why not?  It’s more fun.  But mostly a rocker plate is about making hours in the saddle, whether racing or pushing out a long zone 2 ride, much, much more comfortable and manageable.  

Enjoy your indoor riding more.  Simple as that.  End of rant 😉