Zwift - Virtual reality Turbo Training
Discussion
Anyone using this? Saw it on the cycle show the other night, thought it might be worth checking out. I'll be using a basic setup with a KK road machine (awaiting delivery of a ANT+ stick) but interested to see whether it'll provide an alternative to Sufferfest. Looks great but not sure how it'll work with a machine that won't change resistance with gradient
Its done on w/kg isn't it, so if you want to keep pace with the others up the climb you will need to pedal harder!!
I've not used it despite having a log in since the early days, but everyone I know that has says its great and it does make turbo training far more interesting, and often that is from folk who would avoid using the turbo altogether.
I've not used it despite having a log in since the early days, but everyone I know that has says its great and it does make turbo training far more interesting, and often that is from folk who would avoid using the turbo altogether.
ANT+ stick arrived today so once I got the bike setup, I had a quick go before work. First impressions are that it could be a good little motivational tool. It's free at the moment and the rolling scenery seems to work well. I have seen a few people literally ride off into the countryside but its good seeing KOM leaderboards to beat and its good trying to catch up to people on the road ahead of you. Interacts with an app too for remote operation. Looking forward to bashing out a few miles on the island tomorrow if this rain persists.
I've used it since the beta release with my Wahoo Kickr. It certainly is more interesting than the usual turbo session. Based on w/kg (I guess they have curves for the turbos) so be honest about your weight and its an interesting workout. You can turn around on the course, do hill repeats etc if you want to and the added incentive of having the timed sections. Overall have been impressed that it works well and is a good alternative on a miserable/time crunched day! Also sometimes find youself riding around the island with a Ted King or Jens Voight which is pretty cool, if indeed it is them :-)
Dowks said:
I've used it since the beta release with my Wahoo Kickr. It certainly is more interesting than the usual turbo session. Based on w/kg (I guess they have curves for the turbos) so be honest about your weight and its an interesting workout. You can turn around on the course, do hill repeats etc if you want to and the added incentive of having the timed sections. Overall have been impressed that it works well and is a good alternative on a miserable/time crunched day! Also sometimes find youself riding around the island with a Ted King or Jens Voight which is pretty cool, if indeed it is them :-)
Are you using a PC with the Kickr, and if so do you use an ANT+ dongle? I have a MacBook Pro and wondering how to connect.I did but they now have Mac support so use my Airbook. The only problem I have encountered is needing a USB extension cable so the ANT+ dongle is within c. 2 feet of the Kickr else I got power drop outs which are a PITA as your "man" keeps getting of his bike as power goes to zero and back again
I use a Kinetic Road machine, Garmin 500 and then use an ant+ stick into the back of the Mac.
Used it for the first time today. I rode half an hour without thinking that in was on the Turbo. Usually I'm wishing myself off by about 15 mins even with Sufferfest. With this, theres a KOM every lap and a spring also. The lap is timed too so you can use it as a marker. I found myself wanting to get onto peoples wheels and match their tempo for a bit. I enjoyed the fact that watchers were commenting on the ride whilst in game and the graphics were lovely. I did see a few people disappear into the scenery but other than that I was very impressed. Did nearly 50mins and would have been happy to keep going for another lap or so but had to stop to collect my little one from nursery.
I think they're planning on integrating with Strava however haven't seen that yet. I'll definitely be on it at the weekend and I'm looking forward to it!
Used it for the first time today. I rode half an hour without thinking that in was on the Turbo. Usually I'm wishing myself off by about 15 mins even with Sufferfest. With this, theres a KOM every lap and a spring also. The lap is timed too so you can use it as a marker. I found myself wanting to get onto peoples wheels and match their tempo for a bit. I enjoyed the fact that watchers were commenting on the ride whilst in game and the graphics were lovely. I did see a few people disappear into the scenery but other than that I was very impressed. Did nearly 50mins and would have been happy to keep going for another lap or so but had to stop to collect my little one from nursery.
I think they're planning on integrating with Strava however haven't seen that yet. I'll definitely be on it at the weekend and I'm looking forward to it!
Some serious mileage being put in on Zwift. Quite a few people seem to be going for virtual centuries. I'm yet to go beyond an hour but my sessions have been harder than they ever were even with the likes of Sufferfest. I find myself trying to catch people on the road, keep my power up and get respectable times on the segments. I also have it directly uploading to Strava straight after a ride.
Finally got my Zwift/bike/kickr setup sorted out last week.
It's fun, that's for sure, and I'm sure it's a giggle when there are other riders around to play with.
Thing is, the whole point of a turbo to my mind is that you're doing concentrated, super-focused, super-specific sessions which allow you to get a big training benefit in about a third of the time of a ride outdoors.
I get the feeling that if you spent too much time on Zwift you'd end up doing non-specific "junk miles", where you're either working too hard, or not hard enough, or just doing some random riding - but only for a turbo-like length of time. I think if I wanted to muck about on a bike with a bit of willy waving thrown in, I'd rather be outside with some real people, and maybe with a coffee at the end.
That said, if it's snow and ice outside, and riding for real isn't an option, then it's probably a nice change from another 6 x 8 minutes
It's fun, that's for sure, and I'm sure it's a giggle when there are other riders around to play with.
Thing is, the whole point of a turbo to my mind is that you're doing concentrated, super-focused, super-specific sessions which allow you to get a big training benefit in about a third of the time of a ride outdoors.
I get the feeling that if you spent too much time on Zwift you'd end up doing non-specific "junk miles", where you're either working too hard, or not hard enough, or just doing some random riding - but only for a turbo-like length of time. I think if I wanted to muck about on a bike with a bit of willy waving thrown in, I'd rather be outside with some real people, and maybe with a coffee at the end.
That said, if it's snow and ice outside, and riding for real isn't an option, then it's probably a nice change from another 6 x 8 minutes
Im using it whilst my toddler sleeps during the day, or later in the evening when I get home after work. I guess it depends on what you want from a Turbo session, I'm not one to go for the specific 6x8 or 2x20 as I've generally used Sufferfest as a tool which has sporadic efforts. I'm just trying to emulate that with a bit of extra interest. At the moment, Zwift is giving me that.
How are people getting on with Zwift if they're still using it?
I tried it for the first time today and I can't quite decide if it was great fun or a load of rubbish, whichever it was it was pretty hard going as I just seemed to get into the mindset of chasing down whoever was in front of me
I've got two months free so I'll see how it goes for the next couple of months then decide whether or not to use it instead of TrainerRoad.
I tried it for the first time today and I can't quite decide if it was great fun or a load of rubbish, whichever it was it was pretty hard going as I just seemed to get into the mindset of chasing down whoever was in front of me
I've got two months free so I'll see how it goes for the next couple of months then decide whether or not to use it instead of TrainerRoad.
neenaw said:
How are people getting on with Zwift if they're still using it?
I tried it for the first time today and I can't quite decide if it was great fun or a load of rubbish, whichever it was it was pretty hard going as I just seemed to get into the mindset of chasing down whoever was in front of me
I've got two months free so I'll see how it goes for the next couple of months then decide whether or not to use it instead of TrainerRoad.
I'm coming to the end of my 60 day trial and have used it a few times but I certainly wont be paying for it. The competitive/game side is a sham as its full of cheats which is exactly the same as any computer game. Until they find a way to isolate cheats and people using virtual power then its useless as a fun game. This leaves you with the casual riding/training element. The courses get pretty old pretty quickly so this needs to be addressed and the training element isn't as good as TrainerRoad.I tried it for the first time today and I can't quite decide if it was great fun or a load of rubbish, whichever it was it was pretty hard going as I just seemed to get into the mindset of chasing down whoever was in front of me
I've got two months free so I'll see how it goes for the next couple of months then decide whether or not to use it instead of TrainerRoad.
If they could get some other interesting courses then I'd be tempted but there would have to be enough variety. For example I did a couple of virtual laps of The Ring last night and whilst I didn't have the fancy graphics of Zwift to keep me going I had enough to keep me on the bike for 90 minutes.
Enjoying it myself, I do seem to wring myself dry chasing people when I had planned a zone 2 ride though; I was riding the other night just warming up, when I saw a local LBS owner/TT champ rising through the name list towards me like a shark stalking it's meal, that was it plan out the window, race is on! Turned myself inside out on the climbs and managed to hold on for the line. He went on to complete several more laps while I collapsed on the sofa...without that sort of fun I'd not be able to stomach turbo training for long, the end result isn't appealing enough without the process being engaging.
A bit like Strava, ignore the cheats, ride against yourself and friends' times.
A bit like Strava, ignore the cheats, ride against yourself and friends' times.
I've been using it mainly for the workouts now some of which I find really good. The new custom workout is a nice new feature. I know Trainerroad has a lot more workouts but I just find it easier on Zwift as there is something to look at rather than just numbers on the screen.
I really do need a bigger fan though!
I really do need a bigger fan though!
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