Zwift

[anonymous-user]

I calibrate my wahoo kickr snap once a week

At the end of a session - so it is well warmed up, I jump off, pump the tyre up to 100psi (it hasn't usually lost much in the week) then jump back on and start the calibration mode through zwift - takes about 30 seconds

[CAH706]

So after calibrating my turbo I averaged double the watts and averaged 17mph. This would be what I'd expect given my ability. Happy that it's near enough now.

Trainer works really well but....

I don't see any other riders on screen when I'm just riding (iPad set-up). Is this right?

[Crazycraig]

Sk00p said:

Yes mine's a flow.

I try not to worry about it too much.. I followed the Dan Lloyd workout "Race Winning" Tuesday. 30secs@415W, 3mins @290W, 10secs@415W, rest @140W for 5 mins and repeat.. 5 times! Last interval was proper tough to get through and the final sprint out of the saddle to make the power is about as close to chucking up on the bike as I've come. Figured it's probably working well enough for what I want

If it's of any use for those who have smart trainers and don't train to RPE, I've knocked up several of the GCN workouts on Trainerroad.

Here's the link Train with GCN (Workouts)

I've stuck to creating the outdoor workouts only for the moment, but will add to the library if I have a day bored at home.

Point to note: GCN's effort scale is slightly different from others, so the workouts have been adjusted to best suit GCN's RPE scale where Tempo is a 7, and Sweet Spot being an 8.

[anonymous-user]

CAH706 said:

So after calibrating my turbo I averaged double the watts and averaged 17mph. This would be what I'd expect given my ability. Happy that it's near enough now.

Trainer works really well but....

I don't see any other riders on screen when I'm just riding (iPad set-up). Is this right?

Turn the iPad off then on again before starting zwift

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there is some sort of bug that causes this riding alone symptom

[CAH706]

Sorry, you did. Missed it amongst the other stuff.

Thanks for replying again

[Bursar]

I use Zwift with a footpod and a treadmill and it's great. Much better than staring at a blank wall!

I'm looking at getting into Zwift for cycling as well, but are USB Ant+ dongles all pretty much the same? On Amazon, they seem to range from about a tenner to £50. I'll be plugging it into a Windows PC for use with a Wahoo Kickr Snap if it makes any difference.

[miniwill58]

Bursar said:

I use Zwift with a footpod and a treadmill and it's great. Much better than staring at a blank wall!

I'm looking at getting into Zwift for cycling as well, but are USB Ant+ dongles all pretty much the same? On Amazon, they seem to range from about a tenner to £50. I'll be plugging it into a Windows PC for use with a Wahoo Kickr Snap if it makes any difference.

I've been using this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N2S103O/ref...

I did have to get a USB extension, it wasn't happy with the connection to all of my devices when just plugged straight in to the USB on my PC.
So far no issues though, connects very quickly and doesn't drop out.

[Bursar]

miniwill58 said:

I've been using this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N2S103O/ref...

I did have to get a USB extension, it wasn't happy with the connection to all of my devices when just plugged straight in to the USB on my PC.
So far no issues though, connects very quickly and doesn't drop out.

Thanks - I've ordered the same one, along with an extension lead.

Right, now to go bike shopping...

[Usget]

Bursar said:

I use Zwift with a footpod and a treadmill and it's great. Much better than staring at a blank wall!

I'm looking at getting into Zwift for cycling as well, but are USB Ant+ dongles all pretty much the same? On Amazon, they seem to range from about a tenner to £50. I'll be plugging it into a Windows PC for use with a Wahoo Kickr Snap if it makes any difference.

Just about to do things the other way around! I've bought a Milestone footpod and I'll give it a go this week in the hotel gym.

[Usget]

Saw this on the Facebook page this morning. Seems that the running is still very much in beta. The more you watch it the funnier it seems to get...

https://clips.twitch.tv/AuspiciousColdbloodedSquir...

[Bursar]

Usget said:

Just about to do things the other way around! I've bought a Milestone footpod and I'll give it a go this week in the hotel gym.

It's the milestone I use, and it's pretty much perfectly in track with what the treadmill reports in terms of distance.

Zwift is not quite so accurate, so I think I need to run the calibration tool in Zwift just to get everything lined up properly.

[Lord Pikey]

Bursar said:

It's the milestone I use, and it's pretty much perfectly in track with what the treadmill reports in terms of distance.

Zwift is not quite so accurate, so I think I need to run the calibration tool in Zwift just to get everything lined up properly.

Where abouts is the calibration tool for running hidden in zwift? In the companion app or on pc?

[Bursar]

Lord said:

Where abouts is the calibration tool for running hidden in zwift? In the companion app or on pc?

It's in Zwift itself. I haven't done it yet, but I'm hoping this video is accurate in explaining the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W1F4OPGeMg

[Lord Pikey]

Bursar said:

It's in Zwift itself. I haven't done it yet, but I'm hoping this video is accurate in explaining the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W1F4OPGeMg

Cheers, im not sure ill get that icon up as i am using a Wahoo Run Hr monitor which uses guesswork to work out my treadmill pace. ill have a play later

[miniwill58]

JPJPJP said:

I calibrate my wahoo kickr snap once a week

At the end of a session - so it is well warmed up, I jump off, pump the tyre up to 100psi (it hasn't usually lost much in the week) then jump back on and start the calibration mode through zwift - takes about 30 seconds

This seems to be working well. I'm riding my workout and then using the last 10 minute cool down to calibrate my trainer. Ridden 3 times using this method now and it's been in the green every time

[ED209]

I use zwift a lot and assume my tacx neo is fairly accurate together with my weight being accurate tis should generate fairly accurate speed etc.

I do get annoyed though with some of my associates who's figures seem crazy, Theres a fella who at a tri last year was 3mins faster tan me over 56 mines, of a similar weight yet according to swift he is 5mph faster than me consistently. Cant be right surely?

A not very fit female I now manages to average about 19mpg on zwift despite averaging about 100 watts.

Another female claims to be doing intervals at 750 watts, knowing her its simply not true.

E doping or E inaccuracy is rife.

[Sk00p]

I don't know how accurate my trainer is for sure but I ride the real Box Hill a fair bit as it's near work, I reckon the effort required on the trainer with virtual Box Hill is very similar to the real thing so it's fairly close to being right. I'm certainly not doing intervals at 750W!

What I have found in the short time using zwift, when I ride outside I already miss having a power numbers to look at!

[Dannbodge]

Don't forget that zwift has massive drafting benefits. If they are always drafting someone then they will be miles faster for less power.

I don't pay any attention to the avg mph on Zwift as it's not about that. I only ever look at the weighted avg power for a workout or ride.
They are more indicative of how hard a workout has been than avg speed.

I find the same outside. It's very hard to judge efforts when out on the road without a power meter.

[Lord Pikey]

I have a couple of zwift questions as a newbie. Last night i did the first day of the 6 week beginner ftp builder. My ftp is 160 as a result of the FTP short test last week.

First of all, the training seemed a bit to easy. It was basically alternating between 85 and 115w, i hardly broke a sweat in 45m. But what i did struggle with was keeping the cadence high. It always stated that i should be between 90-100 cadence. i really couldn't do it, at least without going over the specified wattage. My Tacx Smart Flow was in ERG mode. Is the cadence more important that the watts, or the other way around?

Secondly, when i finished, Zwift said i had burnt 285 calories, however when this got merged into strava and then using taaprik merged to Endomondo it became 583ish cals. I checked with an online calorie burn calculator and for my age, height and weight and a avg HR of 125 for 50m it said i have used around 580cals. It felt far more like 285 than 580. What can and cant i believe?

Sorry for the noob questions

[Sk00p]

Lord said:

I have a couple of zwift questions as a newbie. Last night i did the first day of the 6 week beginner ftp builder. My ftp is 160 as a result of the FTP short test last week.

First of all, the training seemed a bit to easy. It was basically alternating between 85 and 115w, i hardly broke a sweat in 45m. But what i did struggle with was keeping the cadence high. It always stated that i should be between 90-100 cadence. i really couldn't do it, at least without going over the specified wattage. My Tacx Smart Flow was in ERG mode. Is the cadence more important that the watts, or the other way around?

Secondly, when i finished, Zwift said i had burnt 285 calories, however when this got merged into strava and then using taaprik merged to Endomondo it became 583ish cals. I checked with an online calorie burn calculator and for my age, height and weight and a avg HR of 125 for 50m it said i have used around 580cals. It felt far more like 285 than 580. What can and cant i believe?

Sorry for the noob questions

I struggle to match the cadence too. I worry more about matching the power numbers. I have no separate cadence sensor so I guess the magic it uses to derive it isn't perfect. I certainly didn't hit 250rpm!