Talk to me about Zwift.....

[E65Ross]

For a few years I've been consistently using trainer road and also the sufferfest, but when the weather is miserable and I want to do some form of longer ride (eg 2 hours so so) I don't always want to kill myself (sufferfest) or do really long tedious intervals like on trainer road.....so what's zwift like? Sometimes when riding outdoors I like to just do endurance/tempo stuff, other times I like to work hard up hills, for example. What can zwift offer me that the others don't?

I know people can "race" others online, but what about the days I just fancy going for "a ride"?

Already have a Kickr, power meter etc so I'm all kitted up

Thanks

[E65Ross]

Dannbodge said:

The days you want to go for just a ride you can do exactly that.
Pick the route you want and crack on, go as hard or easy as you want. Just like IRL it has KOM and sprint sections along with circuit timers so it can all be controlled by what you want.

Hard training will be miles better on sufferfest but for killing time I'd be on Zwift every time.

Just did 90mins using a free trial. Much more immersive than just long intervals on TR, and I like you can go as hard as you want (as you say). Few things which would be handy for the KOMs would be knowing how far you've got to go (it only starts telling you this when you're already around 1/2 way through) and perhaps a gradient profile as well. Overall a really enjoyable indoor experience. Quite expensive at £13/month but I think I could use it between November-April and cancel through the summer as I reckon I'll only use it for general riding, more structured or harder stuff I'll use Sufferfest or Trainer Road.

How do you join a group ride of similar ability? My FTP is around 4.5-4.6W/kg.

I was also surprised how many people were typing messages....I mean, how do you do this when you're cycling...they need to ride harder

Cheers

[E65Ross]

GOATever said:

Personally It’s got to be 6 ft deep snow and about -12 to stop me going out and riding properly, but I understand why people use things like zwift et. al. #5 #9. But each to their own I guess.

Thanks for that useful bit of information which helps answer my original post, you big, strong specimen of a man!

[E65Ross]

Jasper3.0 said:

E65Ross said:

Just did 90mins using a free trial. Much more immersive than just long intervals on TR, and I like you can go as hard as you want (as you say). Few things which would be handy for the KOMs would be knowing how far you've got to go (it only starts telling you this when you're already around 1/2 way through) and perhaps a gradient profile as well. Overall a really enjoyable indoor experience. Quite expensive at £13/month but I think I could use it between November-April and cancel through the summer as I reckon I'll only use it for general riding, more structured or harder stuff I'll use Sufferfest or Trainer Road.

How do you join a group ride of similar ability? My FTP is around 4.5-4.6W/kg.

I was also surprised how many people were typing messages....I mean, how do you do this when you're cycling...they need to ride harder

Cheers

4.5-4.6w/kg are you Chris Froome. ??

definitely not.

My background is in middle-long distance running, always been fit and active, had to cut running out of my life (long story!) so turned to cycling. Due to be a distance runner I'm very, very light, but also quite short. I'm only 166cm but I only weigh between 54-55kgs, my FTP is only 250W. I'm no power house! My anaerobic/sprint power is poor but I can keep going at near threshold for a long time. I'm good up steep climbs though

[E65Ross]

GOATever said:

E65Ross said:

Thanks for that useful bit of information which helps answer my original post, you big, strong specimen of a man!

1. ballstostormemma

Yeah we get the picture. You think you're hard as nails. Fact is.... I'd probably be quicker up the hills

Cycling and sport is about enjoyment. Some people don't enjoy cycling in bad weather (like last year when I broke my clavicle), and, is it hars to imagine that.....get this.... People may ENJOY indoor training? Some times I enjoy indoor training every bit as much as outdoor training. Just because you hate it and can't understand why people do it, try to remember we're all different. Some people enjoy spin classes than going cycling outdoors. Some people like ballroom dancing.... Not me.... But it doesn't make me go on threads about yoga saying I'm a hard man saying I don't like ballroom dancing and prefer spending my time skydiving instead.

[E65Ross]

GOATever said:

simonF10 said:

Try doing some races on Zwift. If you are the competitive type you’ll soon get hooked on them.

I hear that a lot.

simonF10 said:

People say it’s poor training

It is.

simonF10 said:

and you need structured this and structured that.

If you’re the serious type, and improving technique / fitness / power is vitally important to you, then you do.

simonF10 said:

I just find they keep me motivated to be on the turbo and I can end up pushing myself a lot harder to try and hold a wheel or catch a break

It’s better than not riding at all, in some respects.

simonF10 said:

Group training rides are also good to get onto. Social aspect of them makes training far more engaging than following the blue bars of death.

I’ll grant you that.

You didn't really respond to my response to your comment....Interested in why you feel the need to just say it'd have to be horrendous before you consider it, and leave it at that, as opposed to giving any valuable information to the question(s) at hand?

We get it, indoor training isn't for you. Some, myself included, actually ENJOY it a lot of the time. I've done many indoor sessions which I've enjoyed more than many outdoor rides. I ENJOY them more than riding in the cold (where I suffer Reynauds) and wet. Why should I not do that, if I enjoy them more? I'm also pretty committed when it comes to training, and using an indoor trainer has got me far, far stronger than I was before I used one. My average speeds have shot up, which makes outdoor riding more enjoyable too, than just plodding along at 15mph, it's nice being able to ride a 20mph average and not be absolutely done for after 40 miles. Never managed that before doing and committing to some indoor sessions.

[E65Ross]

bagusbagus said:

I mean for £13 you can already purchase some 2nd hand bicycle on fleabay and go out and enjoy yourself.
To pay £13/month to sit in front of a screen and play a video game while exhausting yourself... WHAT THE FLYING FUK!

I have a £6k bike and enjoy riding in front of a screen on a video game exhausting myself more than riding outdoors some times, I certainly wouldn't like a £50 sh*t bike as much as my bike

Newsflash - some people prefer different things to others. Hence zwift has many thousand users.

I'm not sure why all the hard men, goatee-groomed directors of large companies need to assert their alpha-maleness on this thread. Quite unfortunate really as I was just after advice from those who use it, rather than bhing from people who can't understand some people prefer different things to others, but there we go.

[E65Ross]

bagusbagus said:

I mean isn't cycling supposed to be a Fun activity that you enjoy?
Why do you have to punish yourself so hard

Yes, and if you bother to read my post, you'll see I actually quite enjoy that.

[E65Ross]

bagusbagus said:

E65Ross said:

Yes, and if you bother to read my post, you'll see I actually quite enjoy that.

Gets a 6k bike, rides it inside on a turbo.
WTFFFFFFFFFFFF DUDE...

Few years down the line you will look back and think the same - wtf was i thinking...

Edited by bagusbagus on Monday 5th November 16:55

Bet I do more outdoor riding than you though

[E65Ross]

bigdom said:

IrateNinja said:

bagusbagus said:

Gets a 6k bike, rides it inside on a turbo.
WTFFFFFFFFFFFF DUDE...

Few years down the line you will look back and think the same - wtf was i thinking...

Edited by bagusbagus on Monday 5th November 16:55

What's bizarre is why you're getting so worked up about it?

Because, he gets tired very easily, so probably just needs a lie down - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

To be fair, it’s similar to most of his posts, tri bars on mtb, rolling resistance on tyres, what lights, what not to wear on a bicycle. Money being wasted is a key subject matter, not the efficacy or enjoyment of anything. Amazing insight from someone who doesn’t appear to ride a lot.

I don't think I'd particularly enjoy riding outdoors much if I can't ride 20 miles without then feeling knackered for 2 days Too strong a man that indoor training is for weaklings/lightweights....not quite man enough to ride as far or as fast as the weaklings to ride indoors occasionally, mind

[E65Ross]

Dannbodge said:

bigdom said:

Maybe you should give it a try?

Definitely.
This year I've generally done 60/90 mins Zwift on Tuesday night, 60km Thursday night, 75km on a Friday and then 75km again on a Sunday.

I don't get the haters of Turbos. Seems to me they are just a bit old fashioned and very narrow minded.
After all there is a reason all the Pros mix their riding in with hard Turbo sessions

I'll be honest, if all of my turbo/indoor experience was of a "normal" indoor trainer then I too would think they're boring and tedious. Experience a Kickr in ERG mode is SO much more engaging.

[E65Ross]

yonex said:

bagusbagus said:

Gets a 6k bike, rides it inside on a turbo.
WTFFFFFFFFFFFF DUDE...

Few years down the line you will look back and think the same - wtf was i thinking...

Edited by bagusbagus on Monday 5th November 16:55

You're wrong.

Zwift is brilliant in the winter and the turbo is really useful for training. When it's raining etc into the garage, join a group ride and when you're done no cleaning up, no faffing about. Last night I joined a 45 min interval group, I wouldn't have bothered but it pushed me along with the others there. I have done the whole, '10K miles a year in all weathers thing' and tbh, I hate the cold, can't stand cleaning the bike (even though I have to) and get really fed up with the amount of dhead drivers trying to change the shape of my bike.

Also, I have ridden pretty much every road locally, I get really bored of the same stuff. Intervals on the turbo have always been a very good tool for increasing power and when you have been injured, or are recovering from one, I'd say there is little better.

So, park all the silly comments about turbo training and the value of bikes. I bet you spend more that £13 on an average night out and probably twice that figure a month on bike related kit when you average the yearly spend. If you don't like the fact that some people decide to train indoors on their £6K bike bear in mind that not everyone has the same disposable income or priorities, the last place I would expect a fall out is in Pedal Powered, leave that to the knobheads moaning about 'cyclists' in GG.

Exactly. I bought my Wahoo Kickr over 3 years ago, so does that classify as "a few years down the line"? Either way....if it breaks, I won't hesitate to buy another.....

[E65Ross]

johnwilliams77 said:

My garage is too far away from my house and I cannot easily get wifi. Does anyone know if zwift uses much data? Could I use data from my 4g or would it bust my allowance very quickly to utilize zwift?

I'm assuming your garage has a power supply? If so, get a powerline. I actually have one spare (ethernet though, not wireless....so it's a plug that connects from your router to the plug via an ethernet cable, and another plug in your garage which connects to your laptop/pc or whatever via an ethernet cable) which you can have cheap (£10 + postage). If you specifically want wifi, you can get them off Amazon relatively cheap.

[E65Ross]

johnwilliams77 said:

E65Ross said:

I'm assuming your garage has a power supply? If so, get a powerline. I actually have one spare (ethernet though, not wireless....so it's a plug that connects from your router to the plug via an ethernet cable, and another plug in your garage which connects to your laptop/pc or whatever via an ethernet cable) which you can have cheap (£10 + postage). If you specifically want wifi, you can get them off Amazon relatively cheap.

Yes, it has power. Thanks for the offer. But it is too far away from the house for a cable. I would need to buy a mobile router and data plan to run it from the power supply, that could get quite expensive.

You don't need a cable, that's the beauty of powerline. It is 2 plug sockets.....1 plugs in nearby the router with a cable FROM the router into it. The 2nd powerline plug plugs into your garage somewhere and a cable FROM that plug into your laptop. It, somehow, sends the internet data via the electrics in the house.

[E65Ross]

johnwilliams77 said:

E65Ross said:

You don't need a cable, that's the beauty of powerline. It is 2 plug sockets.....1 plugs in nearby the router with a cable FROM the router into it. The 2nd powerline plug plugs into your garage somewhere and a cable FROM that plug into your laptop. It, somehow, sends the internet data via the electrics in the house.

I think 0.5 mile might be stretching it

Ah, right They usually have a max of about 1/4 mile I think. Sorry!

[E65Ross]

smn159 said:

OP is a troll, as a glance back through any number of his posts where he berates anyone buying stuff that he can't afford himself will confirm.

I'm sorry, but what on earth are you on about? Please could you show me some examples of that? If people can afford stuff I can't afford, that's absolutely fine by me, and can't think of any times I've said otherwise?

It's quite clear I'm just asking what zwift would offer me over some of the other indoor TT platforms out there

Edited by E65Ross on Wednesday 7th November 15:37

[E65Ross]

Oh yeah, that fits with his posts on this thread too

[E65Ross]

Just out of curiosity, when loading a route, is there a way to see the route profile before starting, or even during the ride?

Thanks

[E65Ross]

wemorgan said:

Minor point: If you have a smart trainer where there resistance is controlled by Zwift then in "ergo" mode you can ride at whatever power level you want, regardless of the terrain. Quite useful if you fancy a gentle spin.

I think you mean OUT of ERG mode....because in ERG mode zwift controls the resistance. I have a gen1 kickr, great bit of a kit

Thanks

[E65Ross]

wemorgan said:

E65Ross said:

I think you mean OUT of ERG mode....because in ERG mode zwift controls the resistance. I have a gen1 kickr, great bit of a kit

Thanks

Sorry, I meant to say in Workout mode you set the power levels and set ERG to on.
But it sounds like you know what you're doing anyway. Enjoy.