Getting rollers, need resistance unit?

Roll up a towel and put it under one of the rollers. Roll it looser and thicker for more resistance, smaller and tighter for less. Obviously it needs to contact the rollers in all cases.

Awesome! Thanks, Dave!

Use them a bit first. If they're 3" drums or so you'll be surprised how much they kick your butt for a long while.

if the rollers are going to be your main or only means of winter cycling training than i would say go with the resistance rollers.   however the towel trick works and also lowering the pressure in your tires works. 

I have a good resistance trainer that I somewhat enjoy and use when i have to stay indoors -- I have resistance free rollers that I enjoy and should ride more -- Rollers are more for balance work really and are alot more fun and road like than a trainer.   20 mins a week on rollers just for the balance work alone is good. 

I recently purchased the Kreitler 3.0 challenger rollers and they have plenty of resistance on their own without the added resistance fan. I am a MOP cyclist as well, and I can tell you that they have more than enough resistance to get you going. Maybe by the end of a winter cycling program you will be looking for more but probably not until then

x2

at the worst,,   if it gets to the point where you are in your last gear and your speed is registering 30+, you will be balancing easier since the faster you go on rollers the easier it seems to stay on them.. YMMV.

but realistically ignore you speed, go by RPE/HR/power

The resistance unit isn't an extra $140.  I've seen the resistance units for sale on E-Bay for $40 or so, otherwise they retail for around $80-90.  Just looked and didn't see any @ that price, but you could just keep an eye out. 

To aid in finding a resistance unit you can look for the unit under both CycleOps and Sportcrafters.  Sportcrafters is the OEM... only difference is frame color between the two.  I have the CycleOps with resistance and I never ride mine without some sort of resistance, so yeah I'd say get the resistance unit if not now at some point.   

Otherwise the towel thing works and you can let some air out of your tires.