Post by: gibbo on 02 July, 2020, 09:43:49 am
WTF is wrong with me? I know it's wrong but I can't help it!
I'm now managing my road rides around the training program and tonight, for example, the weather doesn't look great and I'm thinking excellent I can stay in and beast myself on the KickR.
On the positive side I'm riding more miles in a week than I would have done and the intensity/ frequency of the workouts mean I've lost almost a stone in about 6 weeks.
Anyone else hooked on Zwift?
Post by: fd3 on 02 July, 2020, 10:11:20 am
Post by: hulver on 02 July, 2020, 10:38:19 am
I've only been out on the road twice since the lockdown started, but I've racked up on average 14 hours and 320km a month on the turbo since then. I was pretty unfit when I started doing this, sometimes not even being able to finish a session. Now I often queue up an extra short session after the main one, and an hour on the turbo just flies past.
I've also lost 2.5kg since then as well. Having power output, and having it adjust automatically is incredible. It really adds variety, and it's a great workout. So far different from just plugging away at tempo for an hour while trying to watch a film or something.
I might give zwift a try in a few weeks when I've finished this training course.
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 02 July, 2020, 05:39:42 pm
Post by: DuncanM on 02 July, 2020, 06:11:47 pm
Post by: Lightning Phil on 02 July, 2020, 08:21:27 pm
But 14 hours a month as you are doing is still quite low volume and if you enjoy it, why not?
Post by: zigzag on 02 July, 2020, 09:18:06 pm
Post by: Defblade on 02 July, 2020, 09:24:04 pm
Now I'm back on the bike; turbo sessions are easier to squeeze in around life (and let me come back to a decent level of bike fitness without wobbling around in public ;) )... adding YouTube training vids and Planet Rock was a good start to the turbo sessions; once I found out my old computer could run Zwift, no stopping me. I like that it is not unlike riding around the real world - bumpy, hilly... and adds the option for proper structured training, which I intend to start soon. And still got Planet Rock on :demon:
I do 5 or 6 rides a week... I'd only get one or two in if I was going out... there's no good reason for this, really... except you don't get drops IRL, and the hills don't count towards the Tron bike :facepalm:
I do still love riding outdoors in the real world... and the Zwifting makes me better at that, when I get around to it ;D
Post by: valkyrie on 02 July, 2020, 09:29:45 pm
Post by: morbihan on 03 July, 2020, 03:57:49 am
We have had the turbo (taxc neo) for well over a year now and after an initial dabble I lost interest and went back to road riding. Although my partner continued to use it sporadically.
We got pretty savagely locked down here for a month so turned again to the turbo. We had a knackered old bike set up on it and no way to switch it out (cassettes etc) during lock down. It wasn't much fun TBH.
Ironically after SHIP was lifted and we were able to ride on the roads again the LBS was also an option so the put another bike that was more user friendly on the turbo.
We are half way through the FTP "Build Me Up" on Zwift and both really enjoying it.
Neither of us have done structured training before despite many years of various cycling disciplines and are finding the guidance and goals helping us to focus. We both look forward to the almost daily visit to the pain cave :-)
We are doing a few casual rides on the road but with the training programme there isn't much left in the tank frankly.
I did go for one hard ride just after lock down finished and sadly came across a very nasty road accident that I assisted with. I think on some subconscious level after a month at home that has rendered me fearful of riding hard outside. WE live on a small Island too so the options are limited.
In conclusion Im really happy to have given zwift another go and while we both relish the day we can get out and tour in Europe again, the turbo sessions have turned into a fun regular gig that Im sure is improving our fitness too.
Post by: Chris S on 03 July, 2020, 09:53:15 am
It's a great alternative to getting a soaking or a punch in the face from some road-rager psych outside. Not that that's ever happened to me; my concerns aren't exactly rational!
Post by: TimC on 03 July, 2020, 03:02:12 pm
I absolutely love Zwift, though not enough to prefer it to riding outside when the weather fits my demanding spec. I also use Sufferfest (again, been on that since it was individually-purchasable videos), which I prefer for specific workouts. On Zwift, I'm happy just to go for a ride. If that happens to coincide with a group ride I like (PACK, mainly), great. But if not, I'll just noodle around. I have raced once or twice, but even as a D cat I'm wasting my time!
Solo Lockdown and the stresses of losing employment and being unable to see my family has hit my motivation (and weight) significantly, but I am getting back into it, and Zwift will be a big part of that.
Post by: drossall on 04 July, 2020, 07:31:59 pm
I've signed up and done a few runs with my club, which were fun. We use the feature that keeps a group together; I assume that you all go at a pace determined by the average power of the whole group or something - we refer to it as the "elastic". Last week they towed me round Muir and the Mountain, which was great. Sadly the one-hour ride ended a little before we got onto the final slope up to the chalet or whatever, and they shot off leaving me in the snow to make my own way up ;D But it was a good ride and I got up and back down in 90 minutes. Annoyingly, I had to abandon it three flattish miles short of the full loop, so I've not "scored" that full ride yet.
Today I tried the Etape event that went up the same mountain. Complete disaster. After the same 90 minutes I'd barely made it off the last bridge, so near the start of the ascent. Now I know I wasn't being towed round, but 3 and a bit miles in nearly two hours ???
I'm very much a low-end rider, about 1W/kg. I've no great ambitions - I did have a double bypass last year and, while I'm expected to push my heart rate regularly, I don't think I'll be doing proper intervals any time soon. Rather, I'm looking to do some leisure routes. Finishing the mountain properly would be fun, but not at less than 3mph, which is just dull.
I'm on a very basic set-up, a dumb trainer and an old fixed-wheel bike, but that's good enough for me. I had no idea whether Zwift's estimated power was sensible, so I ran some rough numbers through this calculator (https://www.omnicalculator.com/sports/cycling-wattage), and it looks in the right ball-park. I don't really care more precisely than that.
Obviously I could lie (a lot) and tell Zwift that I'm a lightweight, but at the moment I seem to be stopping dead on hills even more (and by quite a margin more) than admittedly happens in real life.
So I'm a bit frustrated. Is there any evidence of Zwift being too hard on bottom-end riders?
Post by: LMT on 04 July, 2020, 07:39:47 pm
Post by: drossall on 05 July, 2020, 12:20:52 am
Post by: pdm on 05 July, 2020, 10:45:47 am
There are also several "low end" group rides at ~1W/kg - listed in the "events" section you could try. Don't worry about your slow speed - it will only improve as time goes on - enjoy the ride. It gives to time to enjoy the view (and the dinosaurs and fish)!
Post by: simonp on 05 July, 2020, 11:01:12 am
Post by: DuncanM on 05 July, 2020, 12:18:38 pm
Post by: drossall on 05 July, 2020, 02:12:22 pm
I know that a power meter would help, but I can't justify the cost, even though I could probably afford it. I'm still really a road cyclist, using Zwift as an additional opportunity. You could buy large pieces of bike for that money. The dumb trainer is a good choice because I'm out on the patio, and I don't even need to run a power supply out, also again it's not an area where I'm planning big spending. The trainer is one recognised by Zwift.
I'm not expecting a sudden, dramatic fitness improvement. I've been a club rider for 40+ years and, as I said, I had a heart bypass last year. So whilst I've got plenty of room to improve, it's not going to be in a way that sorts out my Zwift speed being lower than what my real speed would be if I went up Hardknott again ;D
Thanks for the comments though.
Post by: simonp on 05 July, 2020, 02:17:18 pm
I realise that a dumb trainer is a limiting factor, but not sure about fixed. The gear I have on there matches the trainer well, and I'm not going to want to go faster than I can spin the gear. Gears would make sense on a smart trainer with variable resistance but, the way I look at it, without it I've got enough resistance under all circumstances that can arise.
On a smart trainer, in erg mode, you don't need gears. I have mine in one gear pretty much all the time. The only reason to shift would be to change the feel from a climbing feel (low gear, low flywheel speed) to a flat feel (high gear, high flywheel speed).
Post by: drossall on 05 July, 2020, 02:36:19 pm
Post by: DuncanM on 05 July, 2020, 09:05:34 pm
Post by: drossall on 05 July, 2020, 09:12:12 pm
So, ignoring any bits when I'm going better or worse, I'm basically doing constant power input while Zwift varies the terrain and my speed in tandem with each other.
Post by: drossall on 05 July, 2020, 11:21:10 pm
Post by: L CC on 06 July, 2020, 09:13:10 am
If your sole goal in zwift is social riding, there's nothing wrong with weight doping, it'll allow you ride with groups you wouldn't otherwise. One of my vTeam mates has a foot injury and is handbiking- she manages about 1.5W/k at her max and weight dopes for anything other than the steadiest group rides. I think that's perfectly reasonable. It's like using an e-bike for a club run.
As soon as there's anything competitive I'm much less comfortable about weight doping. Sure, you can but really, you shouldn't.
Lots of social rides are suitable for low D riders. And like you say, a banded Meetup or Group Workout will keep you together whatever you're putting out.
As to your setup, anything without power or feedback is going to be a very pale imitation of the experience, with.
Post by: drossall on 06 July, 2020, 12:52:43 pm
I'm aware that the set-up is basic. I'm trying to avoid putting more money into this, when it's just a backup to proper cycling. Also, I'm using a patio owing to no available indoor space, so I don't really want to be running power out there and so on - I'm keeping it simple. I do have an offer of a power meter, but I'm hesitating over cost and complexity even to go that far. I should probably be borrowing a club-mate's set-up or something, to see what I'm missing!
I've checked and Zwift still has me part-way up the mountain, although obviously the event has ended. I'm assuming I can just continue and finish the ride. So, my plan is to do that as soon as I can find time, being more careful with the HRM pairing setting, and see if I suddenly get (a bit!) faster.
I do appreciate the comments. As I I think I said, it's like a whole new field of technology to learn!
Post by: DuncanM on 06 July, 2020, 01:04:56 pm
Post by: drossall on 06 July, 2020, 01:11:23 pm
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 07 July, 2020, 10:43:30 pm
Post by: drossall on 07 July, 2020, 11:15:18 pm
Sorry to keep raising obstacles. I'm genuinely aiming to stay low-end on this. I don't expect the same experience as with all the kit, but it's plenty good enough for me, except that question about the virtual speed seeming substantially off what I'd expect in reality. Which may turn out to be self-deceit :-[
Post by: DuncanM on 08 July, 2020, 09:13:47 am
Post by: Frank9755 on 08 July, 2020, 10:09:02 am
Then lots of people keep saying 'a half decent lawn mower wouldn't cost much, and then you would know if you have the necessary strength to use it', which is true, but irrelevant as it doesn't answer your very specific question!
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 08 July, 2020, 10:37:27 am
I realise that a dumb trainer is a limiting factor, but not sure about fixed. The gear I have on there matches the trainer well, and I'm not going to want to go faster than I can spin the gear. Gears would make sense on a smart trainer with variable resistance but, the way I look at it, without it I've got enough resistance under all circumstances that can arise.
On a smart trainer, in erg mode, you don't need gears. I have mine in one gear pretty much all the time. The only reason to shift would be to change the feel from a climbing feel (low gear, low flywheel speed) to a flat feel (high gear, high flywheel speed).
Mine is a semi-smart trainer that can tell Zwift how fast I pedal and that's it. It's linked to my tourer at the moment and I stay in one gear nearly all the time.
I bought the thing because of covid and it was the only one I could afford (there's no point in buying one if you are missing an arm and leg) but for the winter I will have the funds for a better one.
It took me three goes to get up the Alpe du Zwift due to inexperience but once I'd got the hang I did it in 74 mins. My next challenge is the Zwift Ventoux. I have done that climb so I am looking forward to comparing it and seeing some familiar scenery! In real life I did the last bit standing on the pedals because it seemed to kick up rather nastily (and there were also spectators ;))
So far I am not hooked although I enjoyed it (recovering from injury at the moment); I am really looking forward to getting back on the real road away from the town.
Post by: drossall on 08 July, 2020, 01:40:46 pm
Trying to think of a quick analogy, it's a bit like saying that you are mowing your lawn with scissors and finding it slow and frustrating and don't know whether it is because the scissors are blunt or because your fingers aren't strong enough.I see your point but I don't agree, because that's not my question. I'm not asking about getting the full experience; my question was that I'm getting what look like power readings that are not daft (and I'm not bothered about getting them exact), but they seem to be producing speeds uphill that differ substantially from what I'd expect in real life (i.e. barely moving when I'm expecting pretty slow). I was just testing the idea that Zwift is a bit hard on low-end riders, or of course that I might have missed something.
In summary, three-and-a-bit miles in nearly two hours on an output of around 1W/kg didn't seem right, but the output looks reasonable. It could still be self-delusion of course, and quite possibly is.
If I were right, then no set-up would necessarily make a difference to the effect. I've since done some more tests, and I'm not sure - I did the hilly loop and the results were not quite as bad (even when on gradients the same as on Muir and the Mountain). As a basic test, I'm noting power and gradient and sticking them into a cycling watts calculator to see if they're in the same ball-park.
For me, the benefits of a full set-up would be a rather separate question. I am actually unconvinced. What I do is to pedal a constant gear, with constant resistance, at a sustainable range of power, and let Zwift simulate the resulting way that speed varies with gradient. If I added a high-end set-up, the resistance would increase on virtual hills, and I'd compensate with gears to get back to my sustainable power range. So, if I imagine that pedalling just got harder and I just geared down, then everything including my cadence appears to be the same in both scenarios. Again, this is a different question, but I've not yet spotted what's different apart from my approach taxing my imagination a bit more ;D
No doubt the eventual way to resolve that one will be to borrow a clubmate's set-up, some time after social distancing rules allow riders into each others' pain caves. In the meantime, I think I'm stuck on my mild discomfort patio outside the dining room window!
Really sorry if my responses are making people feel that their efforts in commenting are unappreciated; they are not.
Post by: TimC on 08 July, 2020, 01:49:20 pm
Quote
What I do is to pedal a constant gear, with constant resistance, at a sustainable range of power, and let Zwift simulate the resulting way that speed varies with gradient.
That is effectively manual ‘erg’ mode, where you ride a specified power and let the sim work out what the appropriate speed is for the gradient you’re on and the weight you’ve entered. Erg mode is used for workouts, where the aim is to maintain specified power outputs for specified periods. Essentially, in this circumstance Zwift provides moving wallpaper that moves at a rate somewhat proportional to your power output. It’s not intended to be realistic or convincing, because what you are doing is neither of those things.
Zwift only becomes realistic (for a certain value etc) when the resistance you feel is controlled by the sim via a smart trainer. Without one, the experience will always be rather less than it could be.
Post by: gibbo on 10 July, 2020, 08:42:20 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 17 August, 2020, 07:42:18 pm
The first ride I managed 20.2km in 55:40, elevation 644, 707 cals, 221 watts avg, max, 546, max speed 83.8, avg 21.7, cadence avg 69, max 159
The second ride I did 19.9 57:03, elevation 633, 669 cals, 204 watts avg, max 459, max speed 83.9, avg 20.9, cadence avg 71, max 150
The stats seemed remarkably consistent.
Post by: gibbo on 18 August, 2020, 10:39:39 am
Post by: L CC on 18 August, 2020, 11:34:01 am
Most of the rest of "France" is quite pretty though.
Post by: gibbo on 18 August, 2020, 11:39:41 am
As you say fboab the rest of France is quite nice.
Post by: grams on 18 August, 2020, 02:43:15 pm
I don't know how it compares to the real thing but I found it a wee bit dull (as well as, inevitably, a slog).
It is pretty dull (from Bedoin). Most of it is through trees and unremarkable and you feel like you've been on the same bit of road for half an hour, probably because you have.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 22 August, 2020, 08:12:40 am
I don't know how it compares to the real thing but I found it a wee bit dull (as well as, inevitably, a slog).
It is pretty dull (from Bedoin). Most of it is through trees and unremarkable and you feel like you've been on the same bit of road for half an hour, probably because you have.
Did the Bedoin route in 2015 and would agree, especially having started early there was only one other cyclist who had a support vehicle! On the descent the other side there were hordes of ascending cyclists.
The zwift version gives me a bit of competition which makes it interesting. One of my 'rode withs' was many levels above me - literally and pointswise, a 1.95m tall American at level 17. I'd like to have seen the bike.
Does zwift do any rides around the Ecrins national park yet?
Post by: drossall on 17 October, 2020, 11:43:42 pm
The basics of the experience are the same, in that I'm still running single speed at constant resistance, but the power meter read about twice the watts that I was getting in virtual power. Obviously that made rather a difference to my progress! I'd say that, whereas previously I was going significantly slower in Zwift than in IRL, now I'm going rather faster. Fast riders still fly by, but I was now able to join groups and ride with people. And, when the banner comes up saying, "Close the gap!", pedalling harder actually makes a difference. Heck, I managed to outsprint someone at the finish today - I've never even had pedalling harder make a visible difference to my speed before. A small contribution came, I think, from taking the opportunity to gear up a notch (from 67.5" to 71" by swapping out my 20T sprocket for a 19T), but mostly it's the power meter.
So, if you're going slow on Zwift, if my experience is anything to go by, you should get a power meter. It's much less effort than trying to get fitter ;D
Post by: Legs on 22 October, 2020, 01:29:07 pm
We have a 15' x 10' outbuilding known as 'the dance room' that is being used to store old clobber (bed frames, camping gear, baby paraphernalia) while we're having our extension built, but hopefully we'll be able to empty it soon and I'll have a perfect turbo dungeon! It's got newfangled electric power out there, so I can get a wifi signal by a signal extender and power the turbo. I'm going in at the deep end and, at my brother's recommendation/insistence, I'm going to be getting a Tacx Neo 2T. I think in the short term I'll run Zwift on my iPhone because our ancient Android tablets aren't suitable, and maybe graduate to a tablet or casting to a TV in due course when I get further embroiled/addicted...
Post by: Legs on 05 January, 2021, 09:55:27 am
Zwift app ate the iPhone battery so I just run it off the laptop atm. I haven't decamped to the dance room yet - Mrs Legs hasn't kicked me out! My 7 yo is fascinated by all things Zwift, but doesn't seem to appreciate that I don't want to chat to him when halfway through a ramp test!
Even after a short amount of riding I feel my knee hurting less. :thumbsup:
Post by: Chris S on 05 January, 2021, 10:29:22 am
Post by: toontra on 05 January, 2021, 10:39:09 am
Post by: PaulF on 05 January, 2021, 12:23:13 pm
Getting a smart trainer was one of the plusses of 2020 for me, and it's going to get a lot more use in the coming weeks/months. TrainerRoad for me but I'm sure I'll try Zwift at some stage.
And for me; I did over a third of my exercise in the last 2 months of the year, all on the trainer.
Post by: Legs on 05 January, 2021, 02:02:14 pm
Post by: Bernster on 05 January, 2021, 02:05:16 pm
Maybe I should set up my work laptop on a raised stand over the Tacx so that I can multitask?I've been known to do this - it's possible (if a little impractical) assuming the workout is fairly low intensity and you don't need to be on the phone.
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 11 January, 2021, 08:51:16 pm
I had the app open but did not manage to chat but certainly more engaging than just riding on my own round watopia!
Post by: drossall on 11 January, 2021, 09:57:17 pm
Just avoid the most heavily-subscribed ones. They get issues with lag that produce effects that are alternately infuriating and laughable.
Post by: Chris S on 12 January, 2021, 09:25:50 am
Just avoid the most heavily-subscribed ones. They get issues with lag that produce effects that are alternately infuriating and laughable.
Still being attached to the virtual turbo you have in the start pen, as you ride the course, is always a favourite.
Post by: L CC on 12 January, 2021, 09:36:06 am
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210112/f0b93736205bc20482cf562fed3a2d61.jpg)
Post by: drossall on 12 January, 2021, 01:28:29 pm
Still being attached to the virtual turbo you have in the start pen, as you ride the course, is always a favourite.Oh, that's one I've not seen yet. I meant mass pile-ups, people riding in the wrong direction, people cycling in the adjacent lake instead of on the road, riderless bikes, riderless haircuts, and of course the whole thing just slowing to a crawl (the infuriating bit).
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 12 January, 2021, 09:13:30 pm
Good explanation here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgSfajJzW6M&feature=youtu.be
You can maintain your record on it but at the moment only through manual input, which is still a useful feature.
Post by: drossall on 12 January, 2021, 10:15:47 pm
The video mentions an app, but I can't find an Android one. Does it still exist, or do you just use the site directly now?
Post by: L CC on 13 January, 2021, 08:02:30 am
I have 2 riding and one running route left.
#endgame
Post by: drossall on 13 January, 2021, 08:07:25 am
Post by: L CC on 13 January, 2021, 08:39:03 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 13 January, 2021, 10:05:35 am
That's amazing. He's spot on. All the information and features that should be in Zwift.
The video mentions an app, but I can't find an Android one. Does it still exist, or do you just use the site directly now?
I am still trying to find it.
Zwift Insider does have a lot of info but I find it clunky and hard to use. Having almost a thumbnail approach to the rides is much smarter.
Yes, I do homework, I don't understand the 'if'. I am still a beginner on Zwift, really so any hints and tips are appreciated.
Post by: Chris S on 13 January, 2021, 11:11:01 am
Yes, I do homework, I don't understand the 'if'. I am still a beginner on Zwift, really so any hints and tips are appreciated.
I'm a big fan of Youtube videos, and GPLama (Shane Miller) is your man for all things Zwift: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MI7Jfamd-Q
Post by: JonBuoy on 13 January, 2021, 12:00:15 pm
That's amazing. He's spot on. All the information and features that should be in Zwift.
The video mentions an app, but I can't find an Android one. Does it still exist, or do you just use the site directly now?
I think that when he mentions an app he is talking about the Zwift Companion App which is available on Android and is useful.
Towards the end of the video he visits the mobile version of Zwifthub.com on the browser on his phone. Is that what you are thinking of?
Post by: drossall on 13 January, 2021, 01:38:09 pm
Haven't tried ZwiftHub on a tablet yet, but I will.
Post by: TimC on 13 January, 2021, 02:01:06 pm
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 15 January, 2021, 08:11:56 am
I just did 30 minutes of pace partner riding at the 2.5-3.1 level and found it utterly compelling. Just did 25 minutes and forgot to put the fan on but it was great.
Looking at my stats on Zwift it is 3 years since I last rode on it and I do think the quality of image has improved a lot. Much more detail and "realistic".
Post by: Chris S on 15 January, 2021, 08:53:51 am
Post by: JonBuoy on 15 January, 2021, 09:07:13 am
Post by: Davef on 15 January, 2021, 09:36:50 am
I know that it is 'only a game' but I found it really off-putting that one of the avatars that I was riding with for some time on yesterday evening's TdZ ride up Ven-Top wasn't pedalling while I was slogging my guts out!Clearly sneaked an e-bike past the commissars
Post by: Legs on 15 January, 2021, 09:46:39 am
I know that it is 'only a game' but I found it really off-putting that one of the avatars that I was riding with for some time on yesterday evening's TdZ ride up Ven-Top wasn't pedalling while I was slogging my guts out!Brave of you to go for the 'Longer' ride :thumbsup: My knee's playing up a bit at the moment (dodgy patellar tracking) so I'm going to rest up and hopefully it'll be a bit better by Monday so that I can sneak a quick ride up the Alpe!
Post by: JonBuoy on 15 January, 2021, 02:05:02 pm
I know that it is 'only a game' but I found it really off-putting that one of the avatars that I was riding with for some time on yesterday evening's TdZ ride up Ven-Top wasn't pedalling while I was slogging my guts out!Brave of you to go for the 'Longer' ride :thumbsup: My knee's playing up a bit at the moment (dodgy patellar tracking) so I'm going to rest up and hopefully it'll be a bit better by Monday so that I can sneak a quick ride up the Alpe!
It is an audax thing ::-) It looks like the 'B' ride was only about 15 minutes shorter for my power output. I found it very difficult to get into any kind of rhythm on the climb. I guess that is due to the gradient variations (and chasing people).
I hope your knee sorts itself out!
Post by: salar55 on 15 January, 2021, 04:07:34 pm
Drop your weight to 45kg and your height to the lowest. This will help on the climbs and on the flats.Does this apply to all the riders that cant match Zwift average speed in the great outdoors. its amusing when you meet some of them .
Post by: drossall on 15 January, 2021, 05:06:15 pm
Clearly sneaked an e-bike past the commissarsThey do say that, on Zwift, e-bikes are done by attaching a power drill to your BB axle. Which would, of course, provide the impression of pedalling like fury. I'm not sure how you would freewheel uphill, even on Zwift.
It looks like the 'B' ride was only about 15 minutes shorter for my power output.The different rides do seem to be very close in actual time/distance. The last round were too. I've never done Ven Top, so you've given me an indication of the difficulty compared to the Alpe, at least for the section used for the event. I'm intending to do one route or another this weekend.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 15 January, 2021, 07:21:56 pm
Drop your weight to 45kg and your height to the lowest. This will help on the climbs and on the flats.Does this apply to all the riders that cant match Zwift average speed in the great outdoors. its amusing when you meet some of them .
Doing 3w/kg down 8% to stay in the slipstream of a guy doing 0w/kg. On the flat, eat my dust, punk. Happened twice now, both yanks.
I don't care if people pull stunts on Zwift. So long as I am fit and able in June when(if?) I cycle in the real Alps.
Post by: Legs on 15 January, 2021, 08:42:56 pm
Cheers Jon. My wife gave me a chit to ride tonight, and the knee was feeling pretty loose so I gave it a whirl and knocked more than eight minutes off my previous time to clock a long 57. :)It is an audax thing ::-) It looks like the 'B' ride was only about 15 minutes shorter for my power output. I found it very difficult to get into any kind of rhythm on the climb. I guess that is due to the gradient variations (and chasing people).I know that it is 'only a game' but I found it really off-putting that one of the avatars that I was riding with for some time on yesterday evening's TdZ ride up Ven-Top wasn't pedalling while I was slogging my guts out!Brave of you to go for the 'Longer' ride :thumbsup: My knee's playing up a bit at the moment (dodgy patellar tracking) so I'm going to rest up and hopefully it'll be a bit better by Monday so that I can sneak a quick ride up the Alpe!
I hope your knee sorts itself out!
Post by: drossall on 15 January, 2021, 10:00:32 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 17 January, 2021, 10:03:32 am
In January, one Sunday afternoon I was doing nicely at 418m when the link started crashing. I got back in twice but the third time I found myself cycling across the grass at the bottom en route to the Islands. Then it crashed again and I packed it in. It's probably the fault of my local line speed rather than Zwift.
I've no reason to think I'll do it under an hour!
Post by: PaulF on 17 January, 2021, 11:35:47 am
Post by: drossall on 17 January, 2021, 12:45:56 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 17 January, 2021, 06:53:36 pm
Just set a PR up Ven Top of 2h 7m just need to knock about 90 minutes off that to get into KOM territory.
I was KOM in Harrogate t'other day :smug:
It was tough enough with only 18 riders to beat..
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 18 January, 2021, 09:19:48 am
I have been a keen advocate of trainerroad and certainly for doing HIIT type work I think it is excellent. However as all my aims for the year include a lot of climbing Zwift makes a lot of sense. Even though I did not know anybody else the urge to catch people was very real. I may have to do another one later in the week.
Post by: L CC on 18 January, 2021, 12:16:38 pm
Quote
Doing 3w/kg down 8% to stay in the slipstream of a guy doing 0w/kg. On the flat, eat my dust, punk. Happened twice now, both yanks.When riders work that hard to hold me on a descent I just laugh at the n00b. Supertuck. Nothing to do with nationality, it's just using the game mechanics.
https://zwiftinsider.com/supertuck
Post by: L CC on 18 January, 2021, 04:15:00 pm
I know that it is 'only a game' but I found it really off-putting that one of the avatars that I was riding with for some time on yesterday evening's TdZ ride up Ven-Top wasn't pedalling while I was slogging my guts out!Cadence connection failure. Really embarrassing when you realise 5 minutes into a ride.
Hm, I'm on 80 minutes for my only attempt. Some work to do there then :-[My best was in a group workout, banded. I can't imagine improving it without some serious weightless <60 minutes is 3.2 W/kg.
Post by: PaulF on 18 January, 2021, 04:27:28 pm
QuoteDoing 3w/kg down 8% to stay in the slipstream of a guy doing 0w/kg. On the flat, eat my dust, punk. Happened twice now, both yanks.When riders work that hard to hold me on a descent I just laugh at the n00b. Supertuck. Nothing to do with nationality, it's just using the game mechanics.
https://zwiftinsider.com/supertuck (https://zwiftinsider.com/supertuck)
Not always because they're a noob - OK I am a noob but, for example, I was on a workout plan yesterday that meant I was having to ride flat out down Ventoux to stick with the plan.
Post by: citoyen on 18 January, 2021, 04:36:45 pm
Not only that, all her friends in her running group have seen her activity on Strava and they want to play too, so they’re all pelting me with questions about what turbo to buy... yeah, good luck finding any available.
Post by: L CC on 18 January, 2021, 04:54:17 pm
O for sure, but you can see when someone's doing a workout and where they're fighting to hold your wheel.QuoteDoing 3w/kg down 8% to stay in the slipstream of a guy doing 0w/kg. On the flat, eat my dust, punk. Happened twice now, both yanks.When riders work that hard to hold me on a descent I just laugh at the n00b. Supertuck. Nothing to do with nationality, it's just using the game mechanics.
https://zwiftinsider.com/supertuck (https://zwiftinsider.com/supertuck)
Not always because they're a noob - OK I am a noob but, for example, I was on a workout plan yesterday that meant I was having to ride flat out down Ventoux to stick with the plan.
Post by: TimC on 18 January, 2021, 05:38:25 pm
I know that it is 'only a game' but I found it really off-putting that one of the avatars that I was riding with for some time on yesterday evening's TdZ ride up Ven-Top wasn't pedalling while I was slogging my guts out!Cadence connection failure. Really embarrassing when you realise 5 minutes into a ride.Hm, I'm on 80 minutes for my only attempt. Some work to do there then :-[My best was in a group workout, banded. I can't imagine improving it without some serious weightless <60 minutes is 3.2 W/kg.
3.2w/kg for a 60 minute climb is for Alpe de Zwift (Huez) not Ven Top (Ventoux). A 3.2w/kg average up that would come out around 90-100 minutes, I think. The Tour de Zwift climb, however (the Reine) is only to Cafe Reynard, about 10km short of the top.
Quote from: Asterix
Doing 3w/kg down 8% to stay in the slipstream of a guy doing 0w/kg. On the flat, eat my dust, punk. Happened twice now, both yanks.
As fboab implies, if you stop pedalling once you get over 58kph on a slope of 6%+, your avatar will adopt the 'supertuck' and will more than likely accelerate. If you have a misguided soul who's pedalling like crazy ahead of you to go downhill, you may well get a bit of extra speed for free. I've managed over 100kph without pedalling down the Radio Tower road. If you're lucky enough to have a Tacx Neo, the trainer will motor to simulate freewheeling, which will give you extra speed over a non-motorised trainer, so you can effectively e-dope!
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 18 January, 2021, 10:09:12 pm
Post by: drossall on 18 January, 2021, 10:17:16 pm
Post by: Notsototalnewbie on 19 January, 2021, 11:07:39 am
My favourite part of Zwift is the social side. When you get a good group on Discord it's great. A bit like a good YACF ride in ye olden days.
Post by: L CC on 19 January, 2021, 03:38:22 pm
It's a new one on me (on Zwift - obviously I've seen it in the Tour, and never felt the slightest inclination to try it IRL). My trainer bike is a single speed - when I first started, it was on fixed - so I've tended to keep pedalling at the same rate, uphill or down. And I read somewhere that you don't get XPs (or was it drops?) when you're not pedalling. I'll give it a try.It's drops you don't get when not pedalling. I can live with that - there's nothing to spend my 6 million on, till Level 45 & new disc wheels. I view it as practise for tandem descents. Close your eyes and trust the captain on those hairpins.
Post by: rafletcher on 19 January, 2021, 03:48:58 pm
My wife wanted to have a go on Zwift so I set up her hybrid on the turbo and logged her in with my account and now she’s hooked. She’ll have to get her own account now.
Not only that, all her friends in her running group have seen her activity on Strava and they want to play too, so they’re all pelting me with questions about what turbo to buy... yeah, good luck finding any available.
There's 1 Elite Direto showing @ Sigmasport.... :D
Post by: drossall on 19 January, 2021, 06:32:30 pm
It's drops you don't get when not pedalling. I can live with that - there's nothing to spend my 6 million on, till Level 45 & new disc wheels. I view it as practise for tandem descents. Close your eyes and trust the captain on those hairpins.Yes, I think you're right. I've nearly got more Zwift bikes than real ones now. There's something hazy coming back to me from my physics degree about using Greek symbols for representing imaginary numbers or something, so I guess we should be talking about nu+1?
re tandems, if Zwift did cameras then you could practice with those. I remember a story about a pair of whom the stoker would take photos hands off at 40mph down Alpine descents, while her husband steered.
Post by: Chris S on 19 January, 2021, 07:42:49 pm
re tandems, if Zwift did cameras then you could practice with those. I remember a story about a pair of whom the stoker would take photos hands off at 40mph down Alpine descents, while her husband steered.
Can't quite run to Alpine descents - how about the A68 descending from Kiln Pit Hill toward Hexham? According to RWGPS, we were doing about 70kph. I can't say whether fboab had both hands off though.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50852930833_6cbbe51dfe_c.jpg)
(I believe the gradient sign coming up says 14%).
(The shadow in front of us is flatearthbob's)
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 19 January, 2021, 07:51:58 pm
Post by: drossall on 19 January, 2021, 10:38:11 pm
Post by: PaulF on 20 January, 2021, 06:07:25 am
I'm getting a weird idea for a downhill racing event for riderless turbo trainers :hand:
Count me in!
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 20 January, 2021, 09:19:08 am
But presumably we would have to ride up first? Would you be able to e-dope by getting heavier flywheels or bigger motors?I'm getting a weird idea for a downhill racing event for riderless turbo trainers :hand:
Count me in!
Post by: gibbo on 20 January, 2021, 09:21:57 am
I did a few Audaxes and got a mixed bag of comments from fellow members on here but if I hadn't have done the virtual rides I wouldn't have ridden at all so, for me, that's still better than nothing even if it's not real.
I've also pretty much stopped doing Winter MTB and have gone totally soft. The thought of getting crapped up (me, the bike and the washing machine) by riding through floods and mud then having to spend an hour or so cleaning said bike means the incentive to ride is diminishing, sadly.
That said, I am looking forward to doing group rides with real people again, one day...
Post by: Legs on 20 January, 2021, 12:15:10 pm
As fboab implies, if you stop pedalling once you get over 58kph on a slope of 6%+, your avatar will adopt the 'supertuck' and will more than likely accelerate. If you have a misguided soul who's pedalling like crazy ahead of you to go downhill, you may well get a bit of extra speed for free. I've managed over 100kph without pedalling down the Radio Tower road. If you're lucky enough to have a Tacx Neo, the trainer will motor to simulate freewheeling, which will give you extra speed over a non-motorised trainer, so you can effectively e-dope!
I'm not convinced that the physics of descending are quite right in Zwift. I struggle to get much past 50mph, even on the protracted 10-12% descent off Mont Ven-top. Supertucking down AdZ I top out at only about 45mph... I'm 6'3" and 74kg so probably not optimally sized.
I'm using a Tacx Neo 2T and have the "trainer difficulty" set to 50% - does that mean that it's treating the descent as if it's only half as steep as those who have it set to 100%?
Post by: grams on 20 January, 2021, 12:19:49 pm
(descending or otherwise)
Post by: L CC on 20 January, 2021, 01:13:16 pm
Trainer difficulty doesn't reduce the slope, it reduces the gearing of the trainer. You don't descend faster at 100% than 20% [these are my training and racing settings].
To get good downhill pace, you need to be heavy with a low cda. Well hello fat short girl, feel free to overtake everything ;D
Post by: L CC on 20 January, 2021, 01:22:50 pm
My Zwift addiction, as reported back in July '20, has resulted in me doing more virtual km than real life. I managed a year's total (my highest ever) of 9850km of which Zwift accounted for 5869km. So far this year I've done ~750km Zwift and zero real life...
I did a few Audaxes and got a mixed bag of comments from fellow members on here but if I hadn't have done the virtual rides I wouldn't have ridden at all so, for me, that's still better than nothing even if it's not real.
I've also pretty much stopped doing Winter MTB and have gone totally soft. The thought of getting crapped up (me, the bike and the washing machine) by riding through floods and mud then having to spend an hour or so cleaning said bike means the incentive to ride is diminishing, sadly.
That said, I am looking forward to doing group rides with real people again, one day...
Same, same.
2020: indoor: 6800 outdoor 3300
2021: indoor: 580 outdoor sfa
Post by: TimC on 20 January, 2021, 02:34:25 pm
Am I right in thinking corners have zero impact on Zwift physics?
(descending or otherwise)
Correct. If you've used RGT before coming to Zwift, this can be a little disorientating, as RGT does slow for corners.
The physics of Zwift aren't simple, but the principles are fairly straightforward. Zwift calculates your speed as a function of weight, the power your trainer reports, a CdA based on your height and weight, and the gradient. Other factors such as surface, the bike you're virtually riding etc do come into it, but those four factors are the basis for everything. Trainer difficulty setting does not come into it at all, as it doesn't affect any of those four factors. All it effectively does is change the gearing of your bike, so the cadence changes. You need to put out the same power to achieve the same speed (vertically or horizontally).
Post by: grams on 21 January, 2021, 11:54:34 am
I tried poking a dog toy in the side but couldn't get much purchase. I'm not sure I can be arsed fitting the proper power meter.
Post by: drossall on 21 January, 2021, 06:11:20 pm
Trainer difficulty setting does not come into it at all, as it doesn't affect any of those four factors. All it effectively does is change the gearing of your bike, so the cadence changes.As I've said before, this is why I'm happy on a dumb, wheel-on trainer with a single-speed bike. I imagine that my non-existent smart trainer has made pedalling harder, and imagine that I've changed gear in response. Zwift changes gear for me anyway, whatever type of trainer I'm using, because my Zwift bike has more gears than I've ever owned in real life. I realise that it might feel more realistic if I really did have to change, but my limited imagination has proven up to the job so far, and hills still seem harder because I'm heavy and trying to keep up with the featherweights who keep flying past me, whereas on the flat I seem to overtake quite a few of them.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 21 January, 2021, 09:56:35 pm
I do like to beat my own PRs and do as well as possible in KOMs and it's probably entirely due to this thread that I had a nightmare. In it I weighed myself after a ride and found that I was several kilos higher than I had declared :o All my proud achievements were a lie, weight-doping :-[ and I decided to diet religiously knowing it was the only way to ever beat a PR in future.
As soon as got up this morning I was hugely relieved to find I had not really piled on the pounds over Christmas.. :thumbsup: O:-)
Post by: citoyen on 24 January, 2021, 03:25:51 pm
I tried a supertuck on the descent from Box Hill but it took so long for the flywheel to spin down that it didn't happen until right at the bottom.
I did the Innsbruck Worlds circuit today (the 23km loop with the big climb). Lovely long descent with several sections >10%. Perfect for experimenting with the supertuck! This has really enhanced the zwifting experience for me. Many thanks to whoever first mentioned it here - I would probably never have known about it otherwise.
Post by: TimC on 24 January, 2021, 04:31:43 pm
Trainer difficulty setting does not come into it at all, as it doesn't affect any of those four factors. All it effectively does is change the gearing of your bike, so the cadence changes.As I've said before, this is why I'm happy on a dumb, wheel-on trainer with a single-speed bike. I imagine that my non-existent smart trainer has made pedalling harder, and imagine that I've changed gear in response. Zwift changes gear for me anyway, whatever type of trainer I'm using, because my Zwift bike has more gears than I've ever owned in real life. I realise that it might feel more realistic if I really did have to change, but my limited imagination has proven up to the job so far, and hills still seem harder because I'm heavy and trying to keep up with the featherweights who keep flying past me, whereas on the flat I seem to overtake quite a few of them.
I don't quite get how Zwift is changing gears for you - unless your imagination is doing that bit too!
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 24 January, 2021, 07:56:07 pm
I did the same on Friday. Brilliant. I almost wanted to climb off and let it run on its own.I tried a supertuck on the descent from Box Hill but it took so long for the flywheel to spin down that it didn't happen until right at the bottom.
I did the Innsbruck Worlds circuit today (the 23km loop with the big climb). Lovely long descent with several sections >10%. Perfect for experimenting with the supertuck! This has really enhanced the zwifting experience for me. Many thanks to whoever first mentioned it here - I would probably never have known about it otherwise.
Post by: Lightning Phil on 24 January, 2021, 08:04:32 pm
I did the same on Friday. Brilliant. I almost wanted to climb off and let it run on its own.I tried a supertuck on the descent from Box Hill but it took so long for the flywheel to spin down that it didn't happen until right at the bottom.
I did the Innsbruck Worlds circuit today (the 23km loop with the big climb). Lovely long descent with several sections >10%. Perfect for experimenting with the supertuck! This has really enhanced the zwifting experience for me. Many thanks to whoever first mentioned it here - I would probably never have known about it otherwise.
Funny you mention that. I was on a downhill section on RGT and needed a pee. So climbed off, did my business, then got back on, and bike still descending quite happily.
Post by: citoyen on 24 January, 2021, 08:07:50 pm
Funny you mention that. I was on a downhill section on RGT and needed a pee. So climbed off, did my business, then got back on, and bike still descending quite happily.
Genius! ;D
In all seriousness, it's very useful to be able to spend some time out of the saddle after 35 minutes of solid climbing. Really need to get a different turbo that allows standing.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 24 January, 2021, 08:10:24 pm
I did the same on Friday. Brilliant. I almost wanted to climb off and let it run on its own.I tried a supertuck on the descent from Box Hill but it took so long for the flywheel to spin down that it didn't happen until right at the bottom.
I did the Innsbruck Worlds circuit today (the 23km loop with the big climb). Lovely long descent with several sections >10%. Perfect for experimenting with the supertuck! This has really enhanced the zwifting experience for me. Many thanks to whoever first mentioned it here - I would probably never have known about it otherwise.
It was FBOAB did it.
And I think it is quite fair to make use of it. After all, when I have struggled up some humungous climb for hours, getting hardly any points per minute it's nice to be given the option to take it easy on the descent and rake in the easy points that I feel I really have earned.
Apart from anything else, after it gets to 8% I can't pedal fast enough!
Post by: Lightning Phil on 24 January, 2021, 08:15:37 pm
Funny you mention that. I was on a downhill section on RGT and needed a pee. So climbed off, did my business, then got back on, and bike still descending quite happily.
Genius! ;D
In all seriousness, it's very useful to be able to spend some time out of the saddle after 35 minutes of solid climbing. Really need to get a different turbo that allows standing.
I do turbo on recumbent , so can happily do hours without discomfort. Just a normal comfortable outing on the recumbent but without the fun of leaning round fast down hills, that you get outside. I did a few 150km sessions on turbo in first lockdown. But generally I just reserve turbo for high intensity intervals (not longer than just over an hour) saving the long rides for outside. RGT premium was free start of lockdown last year , so I did some laps of the big climbs such as Stelvio and Ventoux and magic roads back then.
Post by: citoyen on 24 January, 2021, 08:28:24 pm
I don't quite get how Zwift is changing gears for you - unless your imagination is doing that bit too!
I think I get it...
I usually aim to maintain a steady(ish) cadence and power output, which means when resistance increases (you start going uphill), you change gear to compensate.
If your trainer is operating at fixed resistance and you're on a single speed, when the gradient on screen increases, you just pretend you've dropped down the gears to be able to keep going at the same power/cadence.
Post by: L CC on 24 January, 2021, 10:34:57 pm
The real win is where you make a workout, optimising the interval length for XP accrual (https://zwiftinsider.com/xp-for-cycling-workouts/ ), that you ride up the Alpe. You finish the workout at the top, having gained more XP than you would in a free ride, as workout XP is based on time, not distance. You will have earned climbing metres towards the tron bike, too. Finish the workout just before the banner. At the top, you get XP on the spinner (having already got the gloves /helmet /Lightweight Wheels) and then set your avatar descending as you go in the shower.I did the same on Friday. Brilliant. I almost wanted to climb off and let it run on its own.I tried a supertuck on the descent from Box Hill but it took so long for the flywheel to spin down that it didn't happen until right at the bottom.
I did the Innsbruck Worlds circuit today (the 23km loop with the big climb). Lovely long descent with several sections >10%. Perfect for experimenting with the supertuck! This has really enhanced the zwifting experience for me. Many thanks to whoever first mentioned it here - I would probably never have known about it otherwise.
It was FBOAB did it.
And I think it is quite fair to make use of it. After all, when I have struggled up some humungous climb for hours, getting hardly any points per minute it's nice to be given the option to take it easy on the descent and rake in the easy points that I feel I really have earned.
Apart from anything else, after it gets to 8% I can't pedal fast enough!
It's a game. You can game, games.
This weekend my training plan had me down for 3 hours Saturday and 2.5 Sunday.
Saturday wasn't too bad - I did the last route badge but today I pootled up the volcano in TDZ part 5 and still had an hour to do. I lost the will a bit after that.
Post by: drossall on 25 January, 2021, 12:03:15 am
That's exactly what it does. When I hit a hill, I'm pedalling at the same rate and effort, but going slower. Because Zwift has geared me down and pushed the effort required up; these two cancel each other out.Trainer difficulty setting does not come into it at all, as it doesn't affect any of those four factors. All it effectively does is change the gearing of your bike, so the cadence changes.As I've said before, this is why I'm happy on a dumb, wheel-on trainer with a single-speed bike. I imagine that my non-existent smart trainer has made pedalling harder, and imagine that I've changed gear in response. Zwift changes gear for me anyway, whatever type of trainer I'm using, because my Zwift bike has more gears than I've ever owned in real life. I realise that it might feel more realistic if I really did have to change, but my limited imagination has proven up to the job so far, and hills still seem harder because I'm heavy and trying to keep up with the featherweights who keep flying past me, whereas on the flat I seem to overtake quite a few of them.
I don't quite get how Zwift is changing gears for you - unless your imagination is doing that bit too!
Post by: TimC on 25 January, 2021, 12:06:23 am
Post by: citoyen on 25 January, 2021, 03:35:33 pm
My quick lunchtime session went on somewhat longer than intended. ::-)
Note to self: check out all untested routes on Zwift Insider before riding in future.
Post by: PaulF on 25 January, 2021, 03:44:38 pm
NB for anyone thinking of doing the Watopia Jungle Circuit as a nice short one - it has a 5.7km lead-in before the start. That's 5.7km on a 7.9km circuit. FFS!
My quick lunchtime session went on somewhat longer than intended. ::-)
Note to self: check out all untested routes on Zwift Insider before riding in future.
I find https://zwifthub.com/ a more user friendly way of checking routes
Post by: citoyen on 25 January, 2021, 03:54:29 pm
I find https://zwifthub.com/ a more user friendly way of checking routes
Useful, thanks.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 25 January, 2021, 05:01:57 pm
NB for anyone thinking of doing the Watopia Jungle Circuit as a nice short one - it has a 5.7km lead-in before the start. That's 5.7km on a 7.9km circuit. FFS!
My quick lunchtime session went on somewhat longer than intended. ::-)
Note to self: check out all untested routes on Zwift Insider before riding in future.
I find https://zwifthub.com/ a more user friendly way of checking routes
Beware the Tour of Fire and Ice. Half way into it is the Alpe du Zwift :o Climbing it is the second half.
Post by: L CC on 25 January, 2021, 06:57:26 pm
Ah, OK. I'll save that for later then.
Post by: drossall on 25 January, 2021, 07:02:53 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 26 January, 2021, 05:18:03 am
Incus founder in talks with two indoor cycling platforms about how body measurement tech could level up e-sports
(https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/an-end-to-data-doping-could-this-indoor-motion-sensor-revolutionise-indoor-cycling-488782)
Quote
The Incus Nova, which weighs 30g, costs £199 and is worn at the top of the spine, inserted within specifically designed Incus clothing. It uses MARG (magnetic, angular rate and gravity) and environmental sensors to map body movement.
I'll wait till the price drops. A lot..
Apparently Zwift do have ways of computing performance checks already. Competitors receive a flying pig GIF if they are sceptical.
Post by: TimC on 26 January, 2021, 07:58:13 am
Post by: drossall on 26 January, 2021, 09:06:58 am
Post by: Legs on 26 January, 2021, 10:28:43 am
Post by: citoyen on 26 January, 2021, 10:33:12 am
I don't really understand why people don't delete their activities on Zwift and Strava when that happens. Or indeed, when people forget to stop their Garmins recording when they get into a car. It's not difficult to crop Strava activities, FFS.
I had real issues with a ride logged on Strava because I recorded it on my Forerunner and forgot to change it from 'Run' to 'Ride', so it got flagged. I manually changed the activity type on Strava but it still kept getting flagged before the leaderboards were updated. Making the ride private didn't help either. Feckin' annoying. Still waiting for a reply from Strava support six months later. In the end, I just deleted it. Life's too short.
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 26 January, 2021, 12:32:57 pm
Post by: TimC on 26 January, 2021, 01:31:38 pm
Post by: drossall on 26 January, 2021, 01:35:50 pm
I don't really understand why people don't delete their activities on Zwift and Strava when that happens.Too new at the time to think of it, had just completed a long ride that I wanted to record, and get the XPs for, don't use Strava, didn't want to, didn't really care as I wasn't comparing myself with anyone and it didn't matter much on the scheme of things. I might have deleted the falsely-obtained badges, were there an option to do that. Not that I'll ever earn a sprint badge legitimately...
Post by: TimC on 26 January, 2021, 01:57:40 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 26 January, 2021, 04:28:06 pm
Quote
Many Zwifters have struggled with Bluetooth or ANT+ signal dropouts and connection issues. ANT+ users, in particular, are susceptible to USB port silliness and interference from certain WiFi channels and other electronics. And Bluetooth users often have problems due to other devices or programs taking the Bluetooth connection, or Windows Bluetooth acting a bit funky, or some combination of the two.
While it had been talked about for years, no trainer on the market has supported a direct connection until today.
It’s funny to talk about a wired connection like it’s an advancement – but for some, it is. Things can get especially ugly in “crowded” environments like we saw when CVR hosted Zwift races at the LA Velodrome, or Zwift hosted their own in-person races. In both places ANT+ dropouts were a problem, and spectators were asked to turn off their cell phones to reduce interference.
Got told at the end of my ride the connection had dropped and it would only be saved locally. In fact it did get saved by Zwift so I don't know what that was about.
Post by: AntLockyer on 26 January, 2021, 04:58:01 pm
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 27 January, 2021, 12:07:19 pm
Post by: drossall on 27 January, 2021, 01:09:05 pm
Post by: PaulF on 27 January, 2021, 01:25:16 pm
Post by: drossall on 27 January, 2021, 01:34:45 pm
Post by: JonBuoy on 02 February, 2021, 11:16:21 am
I tried a supertuck on the descent from Box Hill but it took so long for the flywheel to spin down that it didn't happen until right at the bottom.
I did the Innsbruck Worlds circuit today (the 23km loop with the big climb). Lovely long descent with several sections >10%. Perfect for experimenting with the supertuck! This has really enhanced the zwifting experience for me. Many thanks to whoever first mentioned it here - I would probably never have known about it otherwise.
Yesterday evening I had a go at an event on the Bologna TT course as I was keen to see the place and it appears to be an event-only world. This was billed as a 2 lap race so twice up the flipping hill at the end of the TT course but in between you ride the course backwards to get back to the start.
As usual it was all a bit frantic at the start but then it settled down and I thought that I paced myself reasonably well up the climb. As soon as I was up to speed on the descent I got into a supertuck and amused myself by flying past people who were still pedalling pretty hard ;D Apparently I hit 100.5 kph but I must have had my eyes closed at that point.
Second time up the climb wasn't so controlled - it was horrible. I must have done something right though as at the end Zwift informed me that it had decided to bump my FTP up by another 4W :smug:
I didn't exactly do much sightseeing but what I did see of Bologna looked pretty good.
Post by: Legs on 02 February, 2021, 12:16:37 pm
You should sign up for Zwiftpower (https://www.zwiftpower.com/profile.php?z=3011893) to aggregate and analyse your race and group ride results.
I did my first chaingang last night - it was advertised as 3.0-3.2 W/kg but I wasn't much below 3.5 for the 45 minutes that I stayed in touch. It was a good, friendly group, though, so I'll be back in the coming weeks and hopefully my increasing fitness will allow me to keep out of trouble. I've just upgraded from the basic Zwift carbon bike to the aero one, so that should help...
Post by: JonBuoy on 02 February, 2021, 12:55:42 pm
Post by: L CC on 02 February, 2021, 01:10:44 pm
Post by: drossall on 02 February, 2021, 01:22:43 pm
It was a good, friendly group...I really haven't figured out interacting with other riders. It's not the mechanics as such - I get that. I've got the Zwift Companion, but I'm on a tablet and it's all I can do to watch the small screen, never mind sitting up and typing on a phone at the same time. Am I missing something?
For that matter, I haven't worked out the random confetti showers either. So many mysterious things happen in Zwift.
Post by: morbihan on 02 February, 2021, 01:45:22 pm
I have an older generation mac book pro that smokes through the power on swift to the point that I can't do longer rides.
I borrow my partners newer generation i pad now and the power drops MUCH more slowly.
I did the Four Horsemen thingy yesterday ion it and the device still had loads of juice left.
Separately, I've also been using her bike which is a very small frame for me on the turbo and I was in bits after the long ride yesterday.
We have a neo bike on order that was supposed to be delivered in Jan, but has now been pushed back to mid March. Nightmare!
Post by: grams on 02 February, 2021, 01:46:03 pm
I didn't exactly do much sightseeing but what I did see of Bologna looked pretty good.
If you do the 6 km short course a big chunk of the distance is through lovingly rendered bland urban sprawl and stops the moment it gets pretty again.
If you do the long course you find yourself riding up a cliff.
Post by: grams on 02 February, 2021, 01:52:03 pm
I have an older generation mac book pro that smokes through the power on swift to the point that I can't do longer rides.
Figure out if it has a high power "discrete" graphics chip and if so turn it off. Most 3D apps will turn it on automatically but Zwift doesn't need it.
You can check by going to Apple Menu > About This Mac > Graphics. If it mentions NVIDIA you've got one.
You can use this app to turn it off:
https://gfx.io
Post by: Legs on 02 February, 2021, 02:06:01 pm
I really haven't figured out interacting with other riders. It's not the mechanics as such - I get that. I've got the Zwift Companion, but I'm on a tablet and it's all I can do to watch the small screen, never mind sitting up and typing on a phone at the same time. Am I missing something?I sent a "Hi, this is my first chaingang" message while I was warming up, and got a fair few hellos and "baptism of fire" comments back! Apart from that, I'm in the same boat as you - I use a laptop propped on a big cardboard box, so I can't even reach the keyboard without dismounting! In due course, I might figure out how Discord works.
For that matter, I haven't worked out the random confetti showers either. So many mysterious things happen in Zwift.I think they're for when someone near you has had an achievement (finished a workout, got a PR, levelled-up etc).
Post by: morbihan on 02 February, 2021, 02:22:22 pm
I have an older generation mac book pro that smokes through the power on swift to the point that I can't do longer rides.
Figure out if it has a high power "discrete" graphics chip and if so turn it off. Most 3D apps will turn it on automatically but Zwift doesn't need it.
You can check by going to Apple Menu > About This Mac > Graphics. If it mentions NVIDIA you've got one.
You can use this app to turn it off:
https://gfx.io
Thanks!
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 03 February, 2021, 07:48:26 am
Rarely, I have noticed a rider doing fewer w/kg going ahead. It was a transitory state so I didn't think much of it.
However, on a recent ride - Fuego Flats - two successive riders, went by, both doing nearly 1 w/kg less than me but pulling steadily ahead until disappearing above the rider list. They were the same nationality and doing the same speed but not riding close enough to properly draft.
Nothing I can think of explains how lower powered riders can go faster. What have I missed..
Post by: Chris S on 03 February, 2021, 07:52:10 am
Nothing I can think of explains how lower powered riders can go faster. What have I missed..
That it's currently buggy as all fuck?
They've messed with the ride dynamics recently, and it's a mess. I've seen the same riding with fboab on the RGV course - I'm doing 2w/kg to her 1.5 to try and catch up, and she's pulling away.
Post by: TimC on 03 February, 2021, 08:14:34 am
Post by: Chris S on 03 February, 2021, 08:24:59 am
Post by: TimC on 03 February, 2021, 08:35:37 am
Post by: L CC on 03 February, 2021, 12:13:24 pm
Female rides complain about this ALL THE TIME regarding group rides led by men on flat courses.
(That doesn't deny it's buggy as, but I'm shorter than Mr Smith which also aids my speed wrt his)
Post by: Legs on 03 February, 2021, 12:46:10 pm
What Chris said. I think they've recently mucked around with the CdA values, and it has changed the balance of speed vs power. For some reason, Zwift portrays me as a big bloke. I'm quite heavy (90kgs ish) but not very tall (174), and it shows me as someone who'd fit quite well in the England front row! My 150W non-drafting speed on the flat used to be around 35kmh; it's now about 32. So catching anyone is a major pain! The TdZ rides I've done have ended up as solo efforts very quickly....I think that tiny people with modest power do very well out of the Zwift algorithms. I'm tall but quite skinny (74kg, 190cm) and I got dropped on a chaingang the other night when doing 3.4W/kg, while a tiny Portuguese rider got round at 2.8W/kg (which would have me riding comfortably). I suppose it may be down to my relative inexperience with bunch riding in Zwift...
Post by: L CC on 03 February, 2021, 01:33:40 pm
@ 74kg your 255 is a 91kg rider's 2.8w/kg.
What route was your chaingang on? It could be a different story on a hillier route.
Also, the draft effect is huge- more than 30%. You don't have to be particularly bad for someone who is very good to have it much easier.
Post by: Defblade on 03 February, 2021, 09:06:44 pm
For that matter, I haven't worked out the random confetti showers either. So many mysterious things happen in Zwift.
Someone has something to celebrate:
Setting a PB
Hitting their weekly time or distance goal
(Possibly: finishing a workout?)
If they were on the same route as you and nearby (they may have been going the other way, you'll still get the confetti), you'll see what's what going under their name on your list of nearby riders, and they'll have a thumb for you to give them a ride on if you haven't given them one already this session.
Post by: Ruthie on 03 February, 2021, 09:13:43 pm
Post by: sizbut on 03 February, 2021, 09:46:00 pm
It favours heavier riders.
@ 74kg your 255 is a 91kg rider's 2.8w/kg.
What!? The 91kg rider needs to do 313 watts to match the lighter riders 255. If the same height, then without drafting, the heavier rider has to produce more power just to hold the same speed.
The Zwift algorithm and real life both favour shorter and lighter riders. That just physics. The fly in the ointment for lighter riders is when the other riders extra weight is the right muscles to deliver that extra power and more and to sustain it.
Post by: drossall on 03 February, 2021, 10:18:06 pm
If they were on the same route as you and nearby (they may have been going the other way, you'll still get the confetti), you'll see what's what going under their name on your list of nearby riders...Not on a tablet with my screen size and sweat in my eyes and on my glasses, I won't. ::-)
Post by: L CC on 04 February, 2021, 07:25:32 am
I'm afraid not. On the flat, raw watts is king.It favours heavier riders.
@ 74kg your 255 is a 91kg rider's 2.8w/kg.
What!? The 91kg rider needs to do 313 watts to match the lighter riders 255. If the same height, then without drafting, the heavier rider has to produce more power just to hold the same speed.
The Zwift algorithm and real life both favour shorter and lighter riders. That just physics. The fly in the ointment for lighter riders is when the other riders extra weight is the right muscles to deliver that extra power and more and to sustain it.
You can see this in all the e-racing at lower ranks - it's the heavier riders at the front of the race. As you get higher up the cats, the riders are lighter, but raw watts will still beat w/kg while the road is flat.
This is true in real life, too. We've all got a big mate we like to tuck behind on the flat. Why do you think tandems are so fast? Raw watts and a smaller frontal area- until the road goes up.
In real life there are more micro slopes, the fake terrain in zwift is much more binary in flat or hilly.
Here's my last TTT. I did my fair share of pulls but my lardy arse did not have to do the w/kg of the other women in the team - because my raw watts are higher.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210204/caf437fbef98b3d73314b7e82a494a07.jpg)
Post by: sizbut on 04 February, 2021, 09:06:30 pm
And all thing being equal doesn't include tandems which is clearly different from a solo rider. But if you want to include them then yes, the smaller/lighter tandem pair will do better than the larger/heavier crew.
Post by: DuncanM on 05 February, 2021, 09:16:21 am
As said, all things being equal, same slope, no drafting (including no snapshots of a time trial team, drafting each other) - the smaller lighter rider has the advantage. 2 riders able to both generate X watts, the smaller and/or lighter rider will do better. Simple pure undeniable physics.But that's not what is being said.
I'm afraid not. On the flat, raw watts is king.So if you are 50kg and do 4W/kg, and I'm 80kg and do 3W/kg, my 240W will drag me away from your 200W on the flat. You'd kill me on the climbs where W/kg matters, but on the flat, pure unadulterated W wins every time. There's a reason why the majority of climbers don't TT well.
Post by: grams on 05 February, 2021, 09:24:56 am
As said, all things being equal, same slope, no drafting (including no snapshots of a time trial team, drafting each other) - the smaller lighter rider has the advantage. 2 riders able to both generate X watts, the smaller and/or lighter rider will do better. Simple pure undeniable physics.
On a flat road the dominant force by far is aero drag. Weight makes no (direct) difference to aero drag. Therefore two riders with the same amount of aero drag outputting the same power (in absolute watts, not w/kg) will go the same speed, even if one weighs twice as much as the other.
Post by: TimC on 05 February, 2021, 09:30:07 am
Post by: Legs on 05 February, 2021, 11:27:12 am
Not quite; it's W/cdA. Of course, Zwift has no way of knowing what your A is. There are some calculations that go on behind the scenes in Zwift to assign you a particular A depending on your height and weight. Presumably this is tabulated from sampled data, but they are necessarily average values. Clearly this takes no account of an athlete's flexibility, body shape and actual bike position (when I was 20, I could ride all day on the drops and keep a flat back and low position; now I'm nearing 40, I don't think I could do that any longer!).As said, all things being equal, same slope, no drafting (including no snapshots of a time trial team, drafting each other) - the smaller lighter rider has the advantage. 2 riders able to both generate X watts, the smaller and/or lighter rider will do better. Simple pure undeniable physics.But that's not what is being said.I'm afraid not. On the flat, raw watts is king.So if you are 50kg and do 4W/kg, and I'm 80kg and do 3W/kg, my 240W will drag me away from your 200W on the flat. You'd kill me on the climbs where W/kg matters, but on the flat, pure unadulterated W wins every time. There's a reason why the majority of climbers don't TT well.
Post by: Legs on 06 February, 2021, 02:10:21 pm
Post by: gibbo on 06 February, 2021, 03:40:30 pm
I stuck with the gravel bike regardless but the following day just for a laugh I did the same ride again but changed to a MTB. The difference was amazing. I managed to shave off ~2 mins per lap and found myself overtaking the drop handlebar bikes whilst comparing my W/Kg effort against theirs. Mine was lower and I was going faster. There were a couple of guys on TT bikes - each to their own ;D
I know it's virtual but I really enjoyed riding the mountain bike.
Post by: Legs on 06 February, 2021, 04:04:13 pm
Post by: JonBuoy on 06 February, 2021, 04:36:31 pm
It was slightly worrying how many people shot past me on the lead-in to the off-road section but once we got there the tables were turned and I found it quite entertaining reading all of the bleating messages from people on road bikes :) People were trying to tell them how to swap bikes and there were messages like 'You MUST STOP Pedalling!'
I thought that it was neat the way that you could easily spot the wheels on the Tron bikes through the dust clouds as you hunted them down ;D
Post by: L CC on 06 February, 2021, 07:51:53 pm
I was 699th/900ish on the short course. I may have put in a teeny effort at the end, not to be 705th, but really, I only race when it's a race. Mostly.
Post by: sizbut on 06 February, 2021, 08:39:29 pm
But for a starter for 10, here are the figures for 4 cyclist, each trying to hold a steady 40km/h:
- 100kg: 334W
- 85kg: 325W
- 70kg: 314W
- 60kg: 312W
If we throw in some slope and only ask them to hold a modest 20km/h:
- Weight | Flat | +5% |+10%|+15%
- 100kg | 65W | 365W | 663W | 823W
- 85kg | 60W | 319W | 572W | 802W
- 70kg | 56W | 272W | 487W | 698W
- 60kg | 53W | 241W | 428W | 613W
The lighter rider needs less power for any given speed. Increasingly so on slopes.
Now let's hold the power (127W) and weight (85kg) steady and adjust size. What speed will they hold on the flat:
- 10% Larger: 11.9km/h
- Medium: 13.2km/h
- 10% Smaller: 15.0km/h
The smaller rider can go faster for the same power.
Combine the two factors and in every scenario its better to be lighter and smaller.
Post by: sizbut on 06 February, 2021, 08:52:15 pm
Practised today on Windows PC and direct drive trainer (accurately goes to 0 Watts in less than 3 seconds):
- Stop pedaling.
- Press A, Esc, T.
- Click Frame and select the required bike.
- Click Close.
- Pedal.
Post by: grams on 06 February, 2021, 09:02:58 pm
- 100kg: 334W
- 85kg: 325W
- 70kg: 314W
- 60kg: 312W
You'll note the 60 kg rider needs to put out 5.2 W/kg but the 100 kg rider only needs 3.3 W/kg. One of those is far more achievable for an amateur than the other.
For riding on the flat, it's better to be bigger.
Post by: sizbut on 06 February, 2021, 10:44:55 pm
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 06 February, 2021, 10:52:59 pm
Post by: drossall on 07 February, 2021, 12:34:36 am
Did anyone try TdZ stage 7?I used a gravel bike - I bought the Cervelo Aspero specially for that kind of thing. I've never bothered with the mountain bike, and I'd forgotten that I'd got one. I'd seen it said that road bikes weren't ideal for the jungle - I did it on a TT bike once by mistake :-) - but it only looks slightly rough to me and something that a decent steel road bike would take in its stride. Certainly hadn't occurred to me that it would actually need an MTB. I am a road rider, but I do have a real MTB, so I've no particular objection to them - I just thought it was atom bomb and canary territory.
On the Fondo today, people were swapping bikes for the jungle section. I've never bothered with that either. I suppose I should, but really, swapping bikes in a sportive? So I just rode a road bike. Not sure how much difference it made really.
I've got to repeat the TdZ stage tomorrow - my connection failed and I lost the ride, after I got on-screen confirmation that I'd completed it, so maybe I should try a different bike.
Post by: sizbut on 07 February, 2021, 09:31:26 am
Lower watts/kg needed for a given speed because more total watts produced. grams already explained it. Not many folk produce >5 W/kg for extended periods. Lots of people can do 3 W/kg.
That's assuming that bigger automatically means more power - enough to neutralise the weight/aero disadvantage and then some to spare. Sadly that isn't true. I'll agree that a bigger frame on which to attach muscle and lever them provides the potential for more power - but it's not automatic. I'm the same size and weight as Andre Greipel but can't manage even half his peak power. I wish.
I know a superbly fit 100kg Zwifter, every inch of his body is finely honed muscle - and on anything beyond a 100 metre sprint my 85kg flab wins because all I have is leg muscle, not the extra 15kg of huge arms, abs and pecs.
Size a rider can't do much about apart from good aero, but weight they can. For any rider, reduce weight equals go faster. Yes, there are limits. In G's last book his discusses the difference between his track weight and road weight. He also mentions discovering his weight limit, the point at which lossing any more weight causes a power drop - presumably the point at which he's lost everything else that isn't muscle.
The working of size and weight can at least be modelled. Doing the same for the human body and power is much harder, much less predictable and absolutely not guaranteed.
ps. the average weight of the UCI pro peleton in 2017 was 70kg, but I guess they don't know anything.
Post by: TimC on 07 February, 2021, 09:43:00 am
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 07 February, 2021, 10:00:47 am
Given the amount of climbing in the Tour de France and the daily time limits, there is a strong selection pressure for lighter riders. That doesn’t apply to riding Dutch and Belgian kermesses and American criteriums, where big strong riders prosper.
You can point out instances where outliers confound the trend but the trend exists. Bigger is usually stronger and stronger is usually faster on flat ground.
Post by: grams on 07 February, 2021, 11:04:35 am
The physics of Zwift is hugely simplified compared to real life [...] One is that a 100kg rider at 3w/kg on the flat will always outpace a 60kg rider at 3w/kg.
Noooooooo..... this holds true in real life too!
Let's look at these numbers again:
- 100kg: 334W
- 85kg: 325W
- 70kg: 314W
- 60kg: 312W
Despite the huge variation in weight, they're barely any different. On a flat road, 300-ish watts gets you 40 km/h, no matter how much you weigh.
Post by: DuncanM on 07 February, 2021, 11:30:23 am
Filippo Ganna = 82kg.
The only ones under 70kg were Wiggins, Dumoulin (both listed at 69) and Jaja way back when (and in San Sebastian when it was quite hilly).
Or Paris Roubaix - long and flat. The only rider in the last 30 years to list under 70kg was Philippe Gilbert at 69kg but he's clearly the outlier (both Boonen and Cancellara weighed >80kg and the heaviest is Backstedt at 94kg!).
In general, especially if it is hilly, a lighter rider is more likely to win, but on flat ground, absolute power matters more than weight. The link posted to the equations demonstrates that, on the flat, weight is only a factor in the drag caused by rolling resistance (assuming CdA stays the same). So if you are training a general cyclist, you might want them to lose weight up until the point where they lose power, but if you were training someone to ride on the flat, power is more important than weight and that's where the focus should be (which is why the track team didn't care about how much G weighed, only the amount of power he could generate).
Post by: sizbut on 07 February, 2021, 11:59:20 am
The physics of Zwift is hugely simplified compared to real life [...] One is that a 100kg rider at 3w/kg on the flat will always outpace a 60kg rider at 3w/kg.
Noooooooo..... this holds true in real life too!
Let's look at these numbers again:
- 100kg: 334W
- 85kg: 325W
- 70kg: 314W
- 60kg: 312W
Despite the huge variation in weight, they're barely any different. On a flat road, 300-ish watts gets you 40 km/h, no matter how much you weigh.
No. The figures show the heavier ride having to waste 6% of their power just to stay equal. Over an hour plus race, that's a lot of extra energy to find.
Post by: sizbut on 07 February, 2021, 12:01:46 pm
Post by: DuncanM on 07 February, 2021, 12:59:41 pm
You don't think a 100kg rider has >6% more power than a 60kg rider (at the pro level)? If you are 100kg cyclist, you're not someone carrying a big upper body around, you are just a huge individual, with giant lungs and legs.
Post by: citoyen on 07 February, 2021, 01:15:54 pm
I quoted average weight of the whole UCI pro peleton. If you want to selectively sample individual examples from individual races that fit your argument that's poor science.
I don’t know about the science but I know I would never put money on Domenico Pozzovivo to win a flat time trial.
Post by: morbihan on 07 February, 2021, 01:28:59 pm
Im into a block of climbing at the moment as training for TCR.
Im currently doing steady rate climbs with my real weight plugged in.
I'll be switching the weight up in the coming days to simulate bike luggage and ride at the same steady/endurance rate.
I'll note the different times up Alpe Du Swift etc.
Post by: TimC on 07 February, 2021, 01:40:46 pm
The physics of Zwift is hugely simplified compared to real life [...] One is that a 100kg rider at 3w/kg on the flat will always outpace a 60kg rider at 3w/kg.
Noooooooo..... this holds true in real life too!
Let's look at these numbers again:
- 100kg: 334W
- 85kg: 325W
- 70kg: 314W
- 60kg: 312W
Despite the huge variation in weight, they're barely any different. On a flat road, 300-ish watts gets you 40 km/h, no matter how much you weigh.
No. The figures show the heavier ride having to waste 6% of their power just to stay equal. Over an hour plus race, that's a lot of extra energy to find.
We seem to be talking at cross purposes. Remembering that it's Zwift, not RL, we're talking about, W/Kg is the de facto comparative measure used in-game. Race categories are divided by W/Kg, group rides are defined by the target W/Kg, and so on. Although imperfect, it's the most effective way of categorising riders in the game. An FTP of 3W/kg is probably a reasonable dividing line between the amateurs, like me, and the people who take it a bit more seriously. 3 W/kg for me is 285W right now, and that's well beyond my virtual FTP. Yet I can fairly comfortably (FACV of 'comfortably') put out 1000W for 5-10 secs or so on a sprint. So I ride in 'D' Cat rides, have no hope of winning any races whatsoever, but can place pretty high up in sprints whatever the category.
In real life, my FTP is a bit higher than it is on my Tacx Neo, and my peak sprinting power is much the same, but I wouldn't expect to get anywhere near the younger, lighter riders in any competitive aspect. Which is why I never race in any form, and rarely (even in normal times) ride with other people. There are basically a lot more factors at play than there are in the game - one being I don't care enough to push hard outside! And I'm ancient.
Post by: L CC on 07 February, 2021, 06:09:29 pm
Up hills, being heavier is a disadvantage. No one is disputing that.
I regularly place higher in virtual races against women who put out more w/kg than me, because I put out more watts. As long as it's fairly flat.
Perhaps we should race - my 2w/kg will beat sizbut's 2w/kg on a Tempus Fugit TT because it is flat and my watts are higher. I also have an advantage being female and 160cm, Zwift knows I am built like a cannonball and makes me slippy.
Post by: TimC on 08 February, 2021, 12:34:57 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 08 February, 2021, 12:00:18 pm
The HR variations are considerable and sometimes someone hits a high but the power output doesn't seem to match. There can be quite a large variation between riders' average HR for much the same performance. My average is between 146 and 150 over a longish ride with a peak of 169/170, over 220-age, but I feel ok with it. I rarely race people, only myself!
Using HR as a training aid is not something I have really grasped!
Post by: gibbo on 08 February, 2021, 01:50:27 pm
I'll race you, fboab! For 100m, perhaps. Then I'll be back to 'hello sky, hello, sea, hello sloth (wtf is a sloth doing on a phone wire?)' and enjoying myself. Somewhat.
I'm concerned for the wellbeing of that sloth since I've ridden past it many times and it hasn't moved. I reckon it may have died and rigor mortis has set in leaving it hanging there.
Just a thought. ;)
Post by: Legs on 08 February, 2021, 03:25:37 pm
Post by: L CC on 08 February, 2021, 03:28:37 pm
Since I got my first HRM I have had a look at my fellow 'rode withs' just to make sure I am 'normal'! (someone who passed me going up got 100km/h on the descent, must have tall gears!)As I'm sure has been covered umpteen times before- 220- age only works on a population level; and what HR vs Power looks like is only worth comparing between your own performances not next to anyone else's. The other thing is cadence- that high cadence all the plans want cyclists to do 'for efficiency' raises your heart rate more than mashing.
The HR variations are considerable and sometimes someone hits a high but the power output doesn't seem to match. There can be quite a large variation between riders' average HR for much the same performance. My average is between 146 and 150 over a longish ride with a peak of 169/170, over 220-age, but I feel ok with it. I rarely race people, only myself!
Using HR as a training aid is not something I have really grasped!
(Generally anyone quoting the 220-age thing always comes out with "mine's much higher than that; I'm amazeballs". Just as balance; I think my HR makes me 70 ;D)
Post by: L CC on 08 February, 2021, 03:30:24 pm
It probably died from all the riders whacking it trying to give a high 5 as they ride past..I'll race you, fboab! For 100m, perhaps. Then I'll be back to 'hello sky, hello, sea, hello sloth (wtf is a sloth doing on a phone wire?)' and enjoying myself. Somewhat.
I'm concerned for the wellbeing of that sloth since I've ridden past it many times and it hasn't moved. I reckon it may have died and rigor mortis has set in leaving it hanging there.
Just a thought. ;)
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 08 February, 2021, 07:21:48 pm
Since I got my first HRM I have had a look at my fellow 'rode withs' just to make sure I am 'normal'! (someone who passed me going up got 100km/h on the descent, must have tall gears!)As I'm sure has been covered umpteen times before- 220- age only works on a population level; and what HR vs Power looks like is only worth comparing between your own performances not next to anyone else's. The other thing is cadence- that high cadence all the plans want cyclists to do 'for efficiency' raises your heart rate more than mashing.
The HR variations are considerable and sometimes someone hits a high but the power output doesn't seem to match. There can be quite a large variation between riders' average HR for much the same performance. My average is between 146 and 150 over a longish ride with a peak of 169/170, over 220-age, but I feel ok with it. I rarely race people, only myself!
Using HR as a training aid is not something I have really grasped!
(Generally anyone quoting the 220-age thing always comes out with "mine's much higher than that; I'm amazeballs". Just as balance; I think my HR makes me 70 ;D)
Maybe, but really I have never taken much interest in such things before I started getting stats from Zwift. I've never been a competitor in any kind of race since my schooldays, cycling or otherwise.
Clearly the 220-age thing is quite useless.
As far as cadence goes, my average is invariably c.70 for some reason. However I can't believe the figures when I do the steep climbs and get onto the lowest gear. It says I am doing 30-33 when the whole point of shifting down was to keep to 60-70 which is what it feels like. My last ride at one point -a very steep incline - it says I am getting 191 watts with a cadence of 31. That rpm seems most unlikely.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 08 February, 2021, 07:25:42 pm
I'll race you, fboab! For 100m, perhaps. Then I'll be back to 'hello sky, hello, sea, hello sloth (wtf is a sloth doing on a phone wire?)' and enjoying myself. Somewhat.
I'm concerned for the wellbeing of that sloth since I've ridden past it many times and it hasn't moved. I reckon it may have died and rigor mortis has set in leaving it hanging there.
Just a thought. ;)
I was pleased to spot the Pterodactyl recently and also the warning sign about the Yeti. I never saw it though.
Post by: drossall on 08 February, 2021, 09:55:54 pm
I've got to repeat the TdZ stage tomorrow - my connection failed and I lost the ride, after I got on-screen confirmation that I'd completed it, so maybe I should try a different bike.I did repeat it, and was much faster on the stock Zwift MTB than on the posh Cervelo gravel bike. Not sure why, except that Zwift physics makes it that way ???
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 08 February, 2021, 11:10:10 pm
And a PB on the course seemed to get me 250xp as well.
I am strangely enjoying it.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 09 February, 2021, 07:08:09 am
Zwift: ‘The super tuck is here to stay’ inside the game]
On the heels of the UCI's decision to ban the position outside, the world's largest cycling game doubles down on its aerodynamic benefit. (https://www.velonews.com/news/zwift-the-super-tuck-is-here-to-stay-inside-the-game/)
Phew!
Post by: L CC on 09 February, 2021, 09:43:44 am
Post by: drossall on 09 February, 2021, 01:45:49 pm
Stage 8 was fun. Laps of London doing 35-40kph in the he bunches for 170W.I like the flat group rides for that reason. I've done some at nearly 25mph, which is out of the question for the real me. It's quite realistic on the hilly ones - I just drop off as soon as the road turns up :-[
And a PB on the course seemed to get me 250xp as well.
I am strangely enjoying it.
I'll probably do the Paris one tonight because it's shorter and I've got limited time today. Maybe London at the weekend if it's still open.
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 09 February, 2021, 05:02:19 pm
Post by: Legs on 12 February, 2021, 03:04:31 pm
Post by: Chris S on 12 February, 2021, 10:18:52 pm
I joined late so have 1 and 2 to do then had a glitch on 6 so have that to do as well to finish the whole thing
Yeah, I only have three, but I'm having a lot of trouble summoning any fucks to give, TBH.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 13 February, 2021, 09:53:04 am
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 13 February, 2021, 11:23:12 am
Post by: grams on 13 February, 2021, 01:05:06 pm
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 13 February, 2021, 02:05:12 pm
Am I weird for wanting an elevation graph that's legible, relevant to the course I'm on and runs consistently from left to right?NO! That really annoys me. The elevation graph is too small. doesn't seem to be intuitive and just not right
Post by: Legs on 13 February, 2021, 03:07:23 pm
Post by: gibbo on 13 February, 2021, 03:23:38 pm
Am I weird for wanting an elevation graph that's legible, relevant to the course I'm on and runs consistently from left to right?NO! That really annoys me. The elevation graph is too small. doesn't seem to be intuitive and just not right
There are several things about the software that aren't great, IMO. Just one is when you finish a route and fancy choosing another you have no option other to quit and log back in.
Post by: Legs on 14 February, 2021, 07:45:58 pm
Why can't you find out your progress on challenges without starting a ride?
Why does the companion app show you people's age and height, but not their weight or FTP?
Why is event spectating (https://zwiftinsider.com/race-spectating/) so complicated?
Why can you not specify your weight to decimal places of a kilogram? (I'm currently in imperial because 73.5kg ~ 162lb)
Post by: L CC on 14 February, 2021, 09:49:28 pm
You can also go from one route to another without leaving, but it's a hack : set up a meetup. Zwift will save your effort as two rides, which is a bit of a pain if you want it as a single activity for Strava/ Training Peaks/ whatever. I have Zwift on my phone that I never use for Zwifting, just for changing my outfit /bike when I'm not in the game, checking where I am in challenges, how far to levelling up or which badges I'm missing.
It surprises/appals me how much of the structure of the game is legacy stuff from when Jon Mayfield made it to give himself something to look at when he was training.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210214/9023457d0f35de56e7f9573ecad7698d.jpg)
Post by: Legs on 15 February, 2021, 07:51:10 am
I'd initially had Zwift on my phone for the purposes you suggest, but had deleted it because it guzzles the battery.
I was aware of the meetup hack, but it's a bit wank. I'm always a bit nervous about exiting activities because Zwift is not great at saving and processing activities, and my laptop often gets the Blue Circle of Doom (Not Responding) when transitioning. I did a TT a few weeks ago and Zwiftpower has been unable to get the FIT file data. Apparently that sometimes happens if you exit too quickly after crossing the finish line. Since then, I'll always softpedal to at least the end of the current mile (picking up the XP!). But I did another TT on Saturday which shows up fine in Zwiftpower but it's not registered properly on my Zwift profile and hasn't come through to Strava. :demon:
Post by: Legs on 15 February, 2021, 11:31:14 am
... Apparently that sometimes happens if you exit too quickly after crossing the finish line. Since then, I'll always softpedal to at least the end of the current mile (picking up the XP!)...
This reminds me - how irritating is it that you can't bring up analysis on part of a ride - the power, speed, cadence stats in Zwift for my rides are all lower than they ought to be because they take the enforced cool-down into account!
Post by: L CC on 15 February, 2021, 11:42:17 am
I was aware of the meetup hack, but it's a bit wank.Yup.
I feel like this about so much of it. It feels like it would be so so easy to just sort out these stupid niggles- but it obviously isn't or they would have done it- users have been complaining for ever.
I did a TT a few weeks ago and Zwiftpower has been unable to get the FIT file data.Ever since Zwift bought ZP and brought it in house this has been happening. It's not how soon you exit, it's the connection between Zwift and Zwiftpower. One man ("sticky") used to run ZP, but it was brought into Zwift and has been a bit shit ever since. If you do big events (Tour de Zwift at popular times, WTRL ZRL) your stats just don't get brought over properly.
They've grown faster than they have capacity for, thanks to lockdowns.
We want to think that the purpose of Zwift is to give us, the user, a really good experience, but it's not. It's to make money. And while they're still attracting both users and investment income faster than they're shedding users through irritation at the shortcomings, they're still winning.
Post by: Notsototalnewbie on 15 February, 2021, 11:56:39 am
The second I crossed the 'finish line', Zwift quit. The ride shows up in my activities but no other stats. The fit file is 'malformed' according to Strava. First time that's happened.
Post by: gibbo on 15 February, 2021, 12:19:37 pm
I started a 90 minute workout by mistake yesterday then thought sod it and forced myself to finish it.
The second I crossed the 'finish line', Zwift quit. The ride shows up in my activities but no other stats. The fit file is 'malformed' according to Strava. First time that's happened.
I had the same thing recently, not with a workout but on a group 100km ride. Bit pissed off really but given the shit that's going on I've put it down to a first world problem and got over it quickly. Interestingly Zwift/ Zwiftpower did record 97.3km of the ride.
If the FIT file is malformed, according to Zwift, then they can't retrieve the data. I tried to fix the file using an online tool but to no avail.
Post by: Notsototalnewbie on 15 February, 2021, 02:58:33 pm
I started a 90 minute workout by mistake yesterday then thought sod it and forced myself to finish it.
The second I crossed the 'finish line', Zwift quit. The ride shows up in my activities but no other stats. The fit file is 'malformed' according to Strava. First time that's happened.
I had the same thing recently, not with a workout but on a group 100km ride. Bit pissed off really but given the shit that's going on I've put it down to a first world problem and got over it quickly. Interestingly Zwift/ Zwiftpower did record 97.3km of the ride.
If the FIT file is malformed, according to Zwift, then they can't retrieve the data. I tried to fix the file using an online tool but to no avail.
Yeah, I'm certainly not quite as upset as some of the people I found posting on various forums (not this one) when I googled the issue. I wasn't bothered enough to try to fix it and from what you said it might not have worked anyway. I still got the actual exercise and that's the main thing. I'll be a bit put out if it starts happening repeatedly.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 15 February, 2021, 03:03:54 pm
Why can't you change your bike and kit without starting a ride?
Why can't you find out your progress on challenges without starting a ride?
Why does the companion app show you people's age and height, but not their weight or FTP?
Why is event spectating (https://zwiftinsider.com/race-spectating/) so complicated?
Why can you not specify your weight to decimal places of a kilogram? (I'm currently in imperial because 73.5kg ~ 162lb)
For ages I thought I had missed some way of doing those things (apart from decimal kg, my scales are not that clever!) so I am pleased it's not just me.
I'd a problem the other day when Zwift simply would not let me end a ride when I decided to. I did a few extra km thanks to that ???
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 19 February, 2021, 06:39:26 pm
Post by: Legs on 19 February, 2021, 07:49:24 pm
Post by: gibbo on 19 February, 2021, 07:50:46 pm
Well done Chris. At least you get the snazzy jersey to keep, though!You can even buy the full kit to wear IRL!
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 20 February, 2021, 07:39:04 am
That would be sad!!Well done Chris. At least you get the snazzy jersey to keep, though!You can even buy the full kit to wear IRL!
Post by: JonBuoy on 20 February, 2021, 08:12:50 am
Unfortunately they have sold out of the right size of jersey (to fit my avatar)That would be sad!!Well done Chris. At least you get the snazzy jersey to keep, though!You can even buy the full kit to wear IRL!
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 20 February, 2021, 08:27:17 am
Unfortunately they have sold out of the right size of jersey (to fit my avatar)That would be sad!!Well done Chris. At least you get the snazzy jersey to keep, though!You can even buy the full kit to wear IRL!
Post by: BrianI on 20 February, 2021, 09:00:36 am
Post by: JonBuoy on 20 February, 2021, 09:10:12 am
Post by: grams on 20 February, 2021, 09:43:42 am
One feature I'd like in Zwift, is the ability to turn off other competitors and be able to be solo without hundreds of other competitors slowing your system down
Join an event and wait a minute or two at the start.
(or try your best, depending...)
Post by: PaulF on 20 February, 2021, 09:51:37 am
One feature I'd like in Zwift, is the ability to turn off other competitors and be able to be solo without hundreds of other competitors slowing your system down
Just turn off your WiFi. Ride will continue but you’ll be on your own.
Post by: Legs on 20 February, 2021, 12:08:55 pm
Post by: grams on 20 February, 2021, 12:20:48 pm
(http://www.fondantfancies.com/zwiftiwekuni.jpg)
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 20 February, 2021, 07:43:17 pm
Is this wotsit based on a real place in France?
Not that I know of and with google image search, only exists on zwift.. The street lamp is all wrong and the tree species are not to be found in France, either.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 20 February, 2021, 07:51:10 pm
They invited me to do the group Uber Pretzel next Saturday:o Looks like a bridge too far for me but I will have go. It is only one lap..
Epic fail! I did the KOM and Telegraph Hill plus the descent, 656m of climbing and 660 calories but I knew it was bad omen when I got passed by T. Christmas. Knowing I wasn't going to finish before Christmas I quit:o
Post by: Legs on 21 February, 2021, 09:57:34 am
Post by: giropaul on 22 February, 2021, 09:19:52 am
I see comments about group rides. I try to Google how to join, and I clearly lack the assumed basic knowledge.
I’ve found that I need the “ companion app”, and I’ve downloaded this ( it said free, but then seemed to take a payment, but that hopefully is just verify who I am).
So, please, in simple terms how do I join a group ride? Are they scheduled at certain times, or just virtually there?
Many thanks in advance for any pointers.
Post by: grams on 22 February, 2021, 09:28:13 am
- Private ones set up by mates or clubs. You need to know someone organising one to join these.
- Events/races. These are in the top right of the screen after you log in, or you can signup at https://www.zwift.com/events or https://zwifthacks.com/app/events/ These happen at a fixed time. You need to sign up for them, then start riding in any of the standard worlds. A few minutes before the event a banner will appear asking you to switch to the event.
- Virtual partner rides. Select Watopia on the home screen and a choice of virtual partners will appear in the rider list. These are big groups following a computer generated pace rider around.
Post by: L CC on 22 February, 2021, 09:30:54 am
Easier still is here: https://zwifthacks.com/app/events/?
Use the filter to pick a date/ group
Choose a ride or race around the time you want to ride at a pace you can keep
Click through to enter on Zwift
From 30 minutes before the event starts you will be offered the option to join, from the riding screen in Zwift.
If this doesn't make sense let me know and I'll do screen grabs.
Post by: TimC on 22 February, 2021, 09:37:02 am
Group Rides are scheduled. You find them within the 'Events' page on the Companion app (or from the Zwift Events (https://www.zwift.com/events?enableFeatureFlags=new_cancel_feature%2Cp1z%2Cmissions%2Clocale_es_eu%2Cgift_card_end_of_life%2CNEWTAGSYSTEM%2Cpartner_connections%2Csettings2021) web page. Within each ride entry is a description of the ride type, anticipated pace, and a big '+' sign. Click on that to be scheduled to join. Set up an alarm so you know when it's coming (the page will give you optional alarms). A few minutes before the appointed time, log in to the game. Once you're logged in, you'll see a list of events on the top right with your selected event highlighted with an orange 'joined' label. DON'T CLICK ON IT! That'll 'un-join' you! Just get into the game (clicking 'Ride'), and at an appropriate time around 5 minutes before the event, a dialogue will come up saying your event is about to start and offering to automatically take you there. You have the option to go straight there. If you ignore the invite by pressing 'not yet' - perhaps because you're on another ride, or you're warming up, the 'Join' dialogue will reappear. If you're late for the ride (usually because Zwift demands to update just as you start it up) you can normally join it within 30 minutes after the start. If you do this, the app may take you to the leading group of riders - who may be well ahead of the official 'ride leader'. Beware of this - it's easy to get caught up with the fliers and lose out on the fun of being with the group.
Enjoy it - the group rides can be really fun, particularly if you get involved in an accompanying Discord voice channel which allows all the banter you'd expect on a club ride, without incessant 'Car up' warnings!
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 23 February, 2021, 04:08:59 pm
3R Volcano Circuit Sprint Flat Race - 1 Lap (6.6km/4.1mi 20m) (A)
They'd only let me enter as cat. A and as there only 6 minutes to go I guess all the others were full. I decided it would be too fast for me and looked for an alternative but I kept getting told my event started soon so as it was only 6 km decided to do it for the experience.
After the start I took it easy waiting for the pack to disappear up the road. Although torrents of riders did go by I still had company so I decided to stick with any peloton I could. For at least 2/3rds I managed to keep up but then suddenly the pack I was with accelerated away - my top speed was their ambling along speed - and just vanished leaving me to find another tow. Could have been worse! In my group I was 21st out of 22 but over all categories I was 75 out of 130 which is my usual kind of spot for sprints and hill climbs. Next time I will try category C.
Post by: L CC on 23 February, 2021, 05:39:25 pm
They'd only let me enter as cat. A
Eh?
However much complaining happens, it's very unusual to not be able to enter your category. The only exception is that you can't enter women-only events as a bloke (or vice versa- but there are very few men-only events). They don't 'fill' - there isn't any way of capping numbers.
Post by: grams on 23 February, 2021, 05:45:37 pm
But yeah, there's no limit, and as long as the race hasn't actually started you can enter up to the last second (and some events allow late joining).
Post by: L CC on 23 February, 2021, 05:46:40 pm
On the Apple TV it's super fiddly selecting
ANYTHING
God that remote is shite.
Post by: giropaul on 23 February, 2021, 07:09:19 pm
You don't need the companion app. It just makes it easier than the Zwift website.
Easier still is here: https://zwifthacks.com/app/events/?
Use the filter to pick a date/ group
Choose a ride or race around the time you want to ride at a pace you can keep
Click through to enter on Zwift
From 30 minutes before the event starts you will be offered the option to join, from the riding screen in Zwift.
If this doesn't make sense let me know and I'll do screen grabs.
Many thanks.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 23 February, 2021, 07:56:35 pm
They'd only let me enter as cat. A
Eh?
However much complaining happens, it's very unusual to not be able to enter your category. The only exception is that you can't enter women-only events as a bloke (or vice versa- but there are very few men-only events). They don't 'fill' - there isn't any way of capping numbers.
It was the only option that appeared. Of course I could have missed something but nothing I can think of. I find Zwift's interface quite off beat, takes getting used to.
It's no big deal.
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 23 February, 2021, 09:31:34 pm
I did my first race tonight. I threw myself into the B group and came a lowly 72 out of 73 but I got a bump in my FTP and I can build on that. I think that a race or similar could become my balls out effort for the week as per other discussions.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 26 February, 2021, 04:58:25 pm
Post by: Legs on 26 February, 2021, 05:35:57 pm
Post by: Jaded on 26 February, 2021, 05:42:23 pm
On the Apple TV it's super fiddly selecting
ANYTHING
God that remote is shite.
It isn't a remote. It's a wet dream.
Post by: grams on 26 February, 2021, 05:42:36 pm
Have had issues with my smart trainer over cadence readings. On the Radio Tower Hill I was being told my cadence was 30 to 35 with a speed of 6 to 8 km/h. The gears I was using made either the speed wrong or the cadence. Given my performance against other riders, it has to be the cadence. It has behaved similarly on other steep climbs. I'm not sure I can actually pedal that slow on steep climbs without falling off.
What measurement system are you using? AFAICT on my smart trainer at least, cadence and power are calculated inside the trainer and all Zwift is doing is displaying. Your performance on screen (and therefore your on screen speed) is governed solely by power.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 26 February, 2021, 08:19:46 pm
Not a major issue and the manufacturer is taking a look.
Post by: citoyen on 26 February, 2021, 09:46:41 pm
They’ve let me pause it for 8 weeks. Will I be able to extend the pause at the end of that period or do I have to make the choice between renew or cancel?
Post by: grams on 26 February, 2021, 09:57:43 pm
Post by: citoyen on 26 February, 2021, 10:33:13 pm
It's almost always better to "cancel" rather than pause. It doesn't actually delete your account, just stops payments. You can use it till the end of the month you've paid for and you can still do 25 km per month if you get bored.
Right, thanks. It seemed to imply that if I cancelled I would lose my progress/XP. Tbh, the only reason I would care about that is to unlock parts of the map, so I would have to seriously consider how much of a draw that is.
Post by: grams on 26 February, 2021, 11:28:36 pm
Post by: gibbo on 27 February, 2021, 08:21:53 am
Post by: drossall on 27 February, 2021, 10:28:55 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 27 February, 2021, 02:34:58 pm
Post by: Notsototalnewbie on 01 March, 2021, 09:47:29 am
I'll probably keep mine running. I've found it really convenient to do 40-60 minutes on Zwift, whereas I'd rather go out for 2-3 hours on a "real" ride.
Same. I need to ride crap busy roads for almost an hour before I get to anything remotely pleasant so I'd rather jump on Zwift if an hour is all I have.
Post by: drossall on 01 March, 2021, 05:53:42 pm
Post by: Legs on 01 March, 2021, 06:00:40 pm
I'm also enjoying the racing aspect of Zwift, which is something I wouldn't be getting on the open road. I probably wouldn't go back to outdoor competition even if/when we get out of the pandemic state.
Post by: Defblade on 01 March, 2021, 09:45:51 pm
I'd say the hours in the garage have been well worth it, the only segments on strava not showing gold for personal best were where I was having to slow/stop repeatedly for large numbers of families/couples/dogs/toddlers etc on the busier sections of the mixed use path I was on.
Short hills that used to leave me knackered/panting are now just a pleasant(?) burn in the legs, and the 6 miles of gentle but constant climb on the way back just zipped past.
Sadly, I'll be back in the garage for a while now though, as the temperature is still dropping hard in the evenings, and too cold (it was just on the right side yesterday afternoon) upsets my slightly asthmatic lungs.
Post by: L CC on 02 March, 2021, 09:35:36 am
The convenience of Zwift is that I only need to sling on a pair of shorts and (sometimes) a pair of socks, fill up a bottle, open up the laptop and I'm good to ride. I can finish riding whenever I want to, or if I need to.
I'm also enjoying the racing aspect of Zwift, which is something I wouldn't be getting on the open road. I probably wouldn't go back to outdoor competition even if/when we get out of the pandemic state.
^
That. I've got 'countryside' 200m from my front door, I'll TT outside but there's no way on earth I'd be doing bunch racing- have you seen the mess I make of myself cycling outside without adding wheels to hit into the mix. I have travel quite a long way before I can get 10 miles of flat which may also be a factor.
I'd miss my team too. The support has been an absolute necessity while we're in various degrees of lockdown. When we can travel I have a round the world trip with free accommodation available ;D
Post by: Notsototalnewbie on 02 March, 2021, 09:57:14 am
The other thing is that unfortunately some of the 'lockdown driving' round here has really got to me and I have to fight huge waves of anxious thoughts to get out the door on the bike and quite often the anxious thoughts win. I know I need to deal with this as I do love being outside, but in the mean time at least I'm getting some exercise and keeping some semblance of fitness.
Post by: citoyen on 02 March, 2021, 01:51:23 pm
I like the idea of Zwift, I just can't motivate myself to do it regularly - also the racing aspects don't appeal so much, and I haven't got a set-up that enables me to make best use of the social aspects either. I'm a bit bored of some of my local roads but I have enough of a choice of decent routes to make going outside more appealing, and all on my doorstep, so I'm fortunate in that respect.
My son, by contrast, is in the middle of an FTP builder training programme and turned down my invitation to go for a ride outdoors the other day because he had a Zwift workout scheduled!
Anyway, I have as mentioned put my membership on pause for now. I can decide later whether I want to renew or cancel. The fact that you can pause membership whenever you like is definitely a good thing - none of that long-term contract nonsense.
Post by: L CC on 03 March, 2021, 09:37:42 am
Just walking into to a room and riding makes the energy of activation very low.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 03 March, 2021, 09:47:01 am
Post by: Legs on 04 March, 2021, 07:55:43 am
Post by: gibbo on 04 March, 2021, 07:59:45 am
OMG I did my first Gorby workout this morning, with 5 minutes intervals at 310W. I now hate Zwift! :demon:I bet you can give it up any time you like though 😆
Post by: Legs on 04 March, 2021, 08:07:38 am
Post by: gibbo on 09 March, 2021, 01:19:57 pm
I started going back down and caned it as much as I could and saw 99kph come up, I was pretty much spent but gave it a bit extra before seeing 100kph tick over. Power was just under 700Watts.
That's 2 badges for the ride and I'm now within 10% of completing the Everest challenge. Of course the speed is completely unrealistic and IRL I guess the fastest I've ever been must be high 40's MPH and that was pretty scary really.
Just wondering if anyone has managed 100kph IRL on their bike?
Post by: Legs on 09 March, 2021, 01:30:54 pm
I don't think I've gone much past 80kph on Zwift yet. Whenever I've been at the top of a hill, I'm normally f**ked from having ridden up it, so I haven't pushed especially hard on the way down. Being 189cm and 72kg doesn't help much. I can never be arsed to use power-ups unless I'm racing.
Emonda is a useful bike to have. I've got Emonda / DT wheels for hilly races, and Zwift Aero / Zipp 808 for flat charges. I'm not sure there's much point clogging up my garage with other bikes until I get the Tron.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 09 March, 2021, 02:16:11 pm
Recently, descending Epic KOM, I was passed by a rider just at the moment they got the 100km/h badge. No way I could draft that.
Post by: drossall on 09 March, 2021, 05:06:55 pm
Just wondering if anyone has managed 100kph IRL on their bike?Sean Yates was famously clocked doing 70mph down an Alp :o - like many pros, he wasn't the fastest uphill and had to catch up somewhere. I've heard that riders frequently leave the camera motorbikes behind. That may have something to do with the cyclists getting large prizes for being first to the bottom of course ;)
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 09 March, 2021, 05:46:20 pm
Post by: L CC on 09 March, 2021, 06:17:14 pm
I suspect LW&B would have gone much faster than the 70 we managed were there not cars (held up by solo riders ahead of us) in the way. I closed my eyes.
I got the 100kph badge descending in Bologna. I expect I've hit it on the radio tower, but never checked.
Post by: drossall on 09 March, 2021, 07:06:50 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 09 March, 2021, 07:34:07 pm
Just wondering if anyone has managed 100kph IRL on their bike?Sean Yates was famously clocked doing 70mph down an Alp :o - like many pros, he wasn't the fastest uphill and had to catch up somewhere. I've heard that riders frequently leave the camera motorbikes behind. That may have something to do with the cyclists getting large prizes for being first to the bottom of course ;)
Cyclists have a thin footprint on the road. They can can take a straighter line through bends than a a camera motorbike or car. What's more, TdF riders have two lanes to use to smooth the bends with no upcoming traffic to worry about.
The big danger for amateurs like me is that my wheels can be inside the white line but I can lean a long way over it if not careful and be in the path of oncoming traffic. We can't match the pros with their clear roads.
Just as long as 100kph is the only thing you hit, it's fine...
Have been up and down the Portet d'Aspet. As I started the 9% descent I thought of Casartelli and took it very easy. As I into the shade of the trees a mini digger was crossing the road in front of me. Not haring down, I managed to avoid it. That was weird, I thought. I usually make the most of descents.
Post by: Lightning Phil on 09 March, 2021, 07:38:41 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 10 March, 2021, 05:07:56 pm
Post by: gibbo on 10 March, 2021, 05:30:55 pm
Look out for the bear in Titan's Grove. It nearly got me when I slowed for a breather..I saw it fall out of the tree earlier this week! Made me laugh 😆
Post by: Legs on 18 March, 2021, 11:45:44 am
They're nominally 'rides' rather than races, but sure to be racy at the front end.
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 18 March, 2021, 01:17:35 pm
Post by: L CC on 18 March, 2021, 04:02:17 pm
I noticed the double points and signed up!Same. I
Post by: Legs on 18 March, 2021, 05:51:33 pm
Post by: L CC on 18 March, 2021, 06:15:04 pm
Post by: TimC on 18 March, 2021, 10:21:42 pm
Return to Home Screen!
At last!
Post by: gibbo on 18 March, 2021, 10:31:33 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 20 March, 2021, 09:42:01 am
I got going anyway and decided to go all out and see how well I could do. About 5 minutes in, a large pop up suggested I renew my subscription which I thought was very odd timing but not wanting to slow down I just clicked renew and carried on. Despite the darkness crowds of spectators were at each big corner and a few clapped and waved. Nearing the top I got the usual clock, timing me in at just under the half hour. I was determined to get inside 30 minutes and with 200m to go it was at 29:41 with the last digit pushing to go higher. On the line I just made it and the KOM arch flashed up - despite not having seen another rider I had won King of the Mountains! (No other riders were listed however so I was also lanterne rouge.) But.. when I ended the ride the usual 'save ride' did not appear :o :facepalm:
At that point I expected to wake up and find it was all a dream, but so far I haven't managed to do that..
Post by: PaulF on 20 March, 2021, 10:02:34 am
Return to Home Screen!
I Googled this but I’m none the wiser. What does it do? Presumably a feature that hasn’t irritated me yet :)
Post by: JonBuoy on 20 March, 2021, 10:05:14 am
Post by: PaulF on 20 March, 2021, 11:17:20 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 20 March, 2021, 12:18:35 pm
Even so I'd like to get the ride on Zwift if I could find the way to do it.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 20 March, 2021, 05:20:06 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 01 April, 2021, 09:22:16 am
Post by: PaulF on 03 April, 2021, 08:34:53 am
Got my pace wrong initially but now working steadily through the pack. At this rate the lantern rouge should pass me in about ten minutes.
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 03 April, 2021, 09:51:56 am
Post by: PaulF on 03 April, 2021, 09:57:14 am
Doing my second Zwift race now.
Got my pace wrong initially but now working steadily through the pack. At this rate the lantern rouge should pass me in about ten minutes.
Well didn’t quite go as planned. Zwift decided my subscription had expired despite me actually getting the renewal receipt just before the ride and I got kicked out with 10k to go.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 03 April, 2021, 02:25:35 pm
Doing my second Zwift race now.
Got my pace wrong initially but now working steadily through the pack. At this rate the lantern rouge should pass me in about ten minutes.
Well didn’t quite go as planned. Zwift decided my subscription had expired despite me actually getting the renewal receipt just before the ride and I got kicked out with 10k to go.
From my post above:
Quote
About 5 minutes in, a large pop up suggested I renew my subscription which I thought was very odd timing but not wanting to slow down I just clicked renew and carried on. Despite the darkness crowds of spectators were at each big corner and a few clapped and waved. Nearing the top I got the usual clock, timing me in at just under the half hour. I was determined to get inside 30 minutes and with 200m to go it was at 29:41 with the last digit pushing to go higher. On the line I just made it and the KOM arch flashed up - despite not having seen another rider I had won King of the Mountains! (No other riders were listed however so I was also lanterne rouge.) But.. when I ended the ride the usual 'save ride' did not appear
I have (almost) got over it now..
Post by: PaulF on 03 April, 2021, 03:37:10 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 06 April, 2021, 04:14:33 pm
Worse news is that Zwifthub is closing down. It's author "Feeney announced he has moved to a new software development role with Wahoo Fitness – The Sufferfest". I'd like to think Zwift could buy Zwifthub as it is a valuable enhancement.
Post by: L CC on 06 April, 2021, 09:00:27 pm
None of the info is unique- almost all replicated by zwiftinsider.
Post by: Chris S on 06 April, 2021, 10:19:27 pm
ETA: I don't kid myself that startups from California ever manage to do the decent thing. They do what their investors tell them to do.
Post by: drossall on 06 April, 2021, 11:24:36 pm
I always found it a bit disappointing- it worked as a tick list but with prettier pictures. Or was I missing something crucial?
None of the info is unique- almost all replicated by zwiftinsider.
- It's a tick list that you can use to choose your route without having to start a random ride, just to access the list (as in Zwift)
- It's all on one page, rather than in separate pages per country, as in Zwift Insider
- You can filter and sort the list by various useful criteria (distance, routes you've done, country, etc.)
- Zwift Insider doesn't have a record of what rides you've done
Post by: L CC on 07 April, 2021, 06:57:40 am
Post by: drossall on 07 April, 2021, 08:38:36 am
Post by: L CC on 12 April, 2021, 03:21:07 pm
https://zwifthacks.com/a-new-way-to-track-your-route-badges/
I think I could even claim this is improved tickboxery as you can view the upcoming events list and they will show your tickboxery.
Looks like Jesper (https://zwifthacks.com/author/admin/)is pretty responsive to feature requests, too.
Post by: giropaul on 14 April, 2021, 04:32:18 pm
- even when I’m doing a fairly hard effort lots of riders come flying past. Is the answer that I’m just too old and unfit and should give up cycling?
- why do some riders have a picnic tray on their bike?. In fact, I suddenly found one on my bike yesterday.
Post by: PaulF on 14 April, 2021, 04:44:51 pm
I’ve just got used to being passed in Zwift. In fact it’s fairly close to my experience on a proper road as well :)
Post by: Defblade on 14 April, 2021, 09:28:39 pm
Some of the people going past you are on faster bikes, some are on wildly inaccurate dumb trainers, many are weight doping their profiles (or otherwise cheating), some you pass again shortly afterwards (probably without realising) when they run out of puff from their sprint effort... and some of them are just much, much faster than you... and me ;)
Post by: TimC on 14 April, 2021, 10:26:18 pm
Post by: drossall on 14 April, 2021, 10:52:48 pm
The picnic tray also changes colour along with the zone you're working in.Are the picnics any good? I've never tried one.
Post by: L CC on 15 April, 2021, 07:44:42 am
Post by: Legs on 15 April, 2021, 09:25:29 am
The Gorby is tough but just about manageable, provided you're close to the level of aerobic fitness that corresponds to your input FTP.
Debbie's sessions really push your 1 minute efforts, especially as your legs start to feel heavy at the end of the session. Highly recommended.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 15 April, 2021, 09:29:13 am
The picnic tray also changes colour along with the zone you're working in. When yours is red, and someone cruises past you with theirs on blue :-[
Some of the people going past you are on faster bikes, some are on wildly inaccurate dumb trainers, many are weight doping their profiles (or otherwise cheating), some you pass again shortly afterwards (probably without realising) when they run out of puff from their sprint effort... and some of them are just much, much faster than you... and me ;)
I never realised that about the picnic trays (I don't do workouts :hand:) I did notice that sometimes when the trays are alongside I can sometimes see the watts the rider is reaching. Being overtaken no longer bothers me although I do like a good sprint for the line sometimes if I think I can pull it off.
On Saturday I have signed up for the Four Horsemen. I gave it a go once and got roughly a third way up the Alpe; this time I want to get at least halfway before my legs give out.
This news was interesting - one way to get out of jail, if only virtually.
https://zwiftinsider.com/the-breakaway/
Post by: drossall on 15 April, 2021, 06:01:24 pm
Post by: gibbo on 15 April, 2021, 06:03:27 pm
I've always got a quiet satisfaction from overtaking people with picnic trays when I'm just on a normal ride ;D Although it's almost certainly down to whether the readings from my trainer or theirs are more accurate ::-)Not necessarily since workouts are structured for both high and recovery efforts.
Post by: Defblade on 15 April, 2021, 09:30:35 pm
The picnic tray also changes colour along with the zone you're working in.Are the picnics any good? I've never tried one.
Yes. Welsh cakes on mine :)
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 15 April, 2021, 10:12:27 pm
Quote
As some Zwift racers have already pointed out on the forum thread, hiding weight and height data is a double-edged sword. Yes, it should reduce unwarranted harassment while removing some triggers which can lead to disordered eating. That’s a good thing. But it will also make it nearly impossible for racers to spot weight/height dopers – and generally, racers have been relied upon to spot this sort of cheating, since race organizers have enough work on their hands.
https://zwiftinsider.com/community-welfare-update/
Disordered eating?! One of the big pluses about cycling whether virtual or real is that it means I can eat what I like! Who are these fanatics?
Post by: Jaded on 15 April, 2021, 11:59:19 pm
Post by: L CC on 16 April, 2021, 10:25:45 am
ZWIFT ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY WELFARE AND ANTI-HARASSMENT UPDATEAre you kidding?QuoteAs some Zwift racers have already pointed out on the forum thread, hiding weight and height data is a double-edged sword. Yes, it should reduce unwarranted harassment while removing some triggers which can lead to disordered eating. That’s a good thing. But it will also make it nearly impossible for racers to spot weight/height dopers – and generally, racers have been relied upon to spot this sort of cheating, since race organizers have enough work on their hands.
https://zwiftinsider.com/community-welfare-update/
Disordered eating?! One of the big pluses about cycling whether virtual or real is that it means I can eat what I like! Who are these fanatics?
I hope so: Pro cyclists- my favourite drug cheats with eating disorders.
Obviously this is much worse for women. Publicly visible weight data is triggering for loads of female athletes.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 16 April, 2021, 10:56:02 am
Post by: Legs on 16 April, 2021, 02:34:36 pm
ZWIFT ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY WELFARE AND ANTI-HARASSMENT UPDATEAre you kidding?QuoteAs some Zwift racers have already pointed out on the forum thread, hiding weight and height data is a double-edged sword. Yes, it should reduce unwarranted harassment while removing some triggers which can lead to disordered eating. That’s a good thing. But it will also make it nearly impossible for racers to spot weight/height dopers – and generally, racers have been relied upon to spot this sort of cheating, since race organizers have enough work on their hands.
https://zwiftinsider.com/community-welfare-update/
Disordered eating?! One of the big pluses about cycling whether virtual or real is that it means I can eat what I like! Who are these fanatics?
I hope so: Pro cyclists- my favourite drug cheats with eating disorders.
Obviously this is much worse for women. Publicly visible weight data is triggering for loads of female athletes.
The best thinking on this subject on the Zwift Forums:
Quote
With regards to ZP and weight. Do you think people with eating disorders or an increased propensity to develop one will suddenly stop thinking about dropping their weight to improve their performance just because they can’t see competitors weight?
Now they will look at results and see people going faster than them and if they are inclined to think about weight and eating habits then they will assume it’s because the rider weighs less than they did. The reverse of this is you’ve also removed any positive motivation to counter these ideas by removing evidence of when a rider of similar weight or indeed heavier rider performs better than they did.
Post by: L CC on 16 April, 2021, 03:20:51 pm
Your quote from the forums is not from someone who finds it triggering. We should listen people who have a problem to help us solve that problem, not judge it.
Disordered eating?! One of the big pluses about cycling whether virtual or real is that it means I can eat what I like! Who are these fanatics?
Women. I can eat what I like, but only because I prefer being fat to constantly feeling deprived. Fat is a feminist issue. I'm ambivalent about this introduction but I'm clearly a lot more empathetic that you guys as to why it might be wanted.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 16 April, 2021, 05:11:04 pm
Also, I didn't know 'fat was a feminist issue' so I googled it. This is the explanation i discovered:
Why is Fat a Feminist Issue? (https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/why-is-fat-a-feminist-issue/)
It begins..
Quote
OK, so. I have to make a confession. At first, I didn’t know that fat was a feminist issue.
I really didn’t. When I started reading about fat activism and getting involved in it, I saw it as being its own thing: another kind of activism fighting against another form of inequality. I considered it to be related to feminism in the same way that most types of inequality-fighting activism are interrelated, but I didn’t think much more of it. After all, feminism fights against inequality towards women, and fat activism fights against inequality towards fat people. While people can obviously be both fat and women, it never occurred to me that fat discrimination and sexism were interwoven.
It kinda boils down to (white) male privilege, it seems. Is that fair comment? As a white male it's not so easy to appreciate the downside of not being one.
Post by: Legs on 16 April, 2021, 05:36:55 pm
Post by: Kim on 16 April, 2021, 06:07:18 pm
Disordered eating?! One of the big pluses about cycling whether virtual or real is that it means I can eat what I like! Who are these fanatics?
[lengthy rambling post sent to the bit bucket]
What fboab said, basically. Sometimes people just want to go for a bike ride / play computer games without having to think about all that food/body stuff. Why shouldn't they?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 17 April, 2021, 07:34:57 am
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2021, 12:59:14 pm
Post by: Legs on 19 April, 2021, 06:54:59 pm
https://zwifthacks.com/how-to-use-a-10-bluetooth-media-button-as-a-handlebar-mounted-zwift-game-controller/ (https://zwifthacks.com/how-to-use-a-10-bluetooth-media-button-as-a-handlebar-mounted-zwift-game-controller/)
Post by: JonBuoy on 19 April, 2021, 07:19:29 pm
Post by: L CC on 20 April, 2021, 10:37:45 am
The first port of call for Zwift in tackling cheating must surely be the easiest one: to lock in height. Unless you have body-altering surgery or have activated an ejector seat, you do not shrink by any more than a 1cm a decade. So get height data locked in and keep it visible. Only over-40s should be allowed to decrease their in-game height, by 1cm say, per five years. How do you get the initial values? Verification by other (following) Zwifters? If you get your height called out (perhaps by someone who knows you IRL), you should be required to prove your height. Height data is not private - you can see how tall someone is IRL by the simple expedient of looking at them, so, if anything, should be made more prominent.Hiding weight data is not about cheating. You're conflating two separate, but interconnected issues. Zwift do nearly nothing to stop cheating, certainly in community events. Why should they- it's not driving more people from the platform than they are attracting.
Post by: TimC on 20 April, 2021, 11:19:37 am
I rarely race, and when I do I don't expect to win anything so I don't really care what anyone else does, but I do belong to ZwiftPower so the results posted there at least exclude those who race out of category.
Post by: Legs on 20 April, 2021, 12:06:27 pm
I think you've misread my post.The first port of call for Zwift in tackling cheating must surely be the easiest one: to lock in height. Unless you have body-altering surgery or have activated an ejector seat, you do not shrink by any more than a 1cm a decade. So get height data locked in and keep it visible. Only over-40s should be allowed to decrease their in-game height, by 1cm say, per five years. How do you get the initial values? Verification by other (following) Zwifters? If you get your height called out (perhaps by someone who knows you IRL), you should be required to prove your height. Height data is not private - you can see how tall someone is IRL by the simple expedient of looking at them, so, if anything, should be made more prominent.Hiding weight data is not about cheating. You're conflating two separate, but interconnected issues. Zwift do nearly nothing to stop cheating, certainly in community events. Why should they- it's not driving more people from the platform than they are attracting.
Post by: L CC on 20 April, 2021, 12:25:34 pm
I entirely agree.
This change isn't about cheating. Yes, people cheat by weight doping - both ways. Riders fake their weight upwards to stay in lower divisions and fake their weight downwards to have higher w/kg.
Zwift don't really care. The fact they've done nothing about sandbaggers or blatant weight doping is evidence of that. They've undertaken this change in response to a number of requests from (mostly) female athletes who think the additional focus on weight is unhealthy for them.
ETA - inclusivity, or at least the appearance of it, is important to Zwift. They introduced 'black' hairstyles and 'ethnic' facial features. They've made statements and made it easier to report on harassment, and they run Pride, Black, Womens celebratory events.
Post by: grams on 20 April, 2021, 11:19:27 pm
Hope this forces Zwift to update their app, which doesn't support arrow keys on third party remotes, unlike literally every other Apple TV app.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 21 April, 2021, 08:19:43 am
Quote
Last week we announced Zwift’s plans to remove rider height and weight from ZwiftPower, among other changes (read the full post here).
Response to our post as well as Zwift’s own post in their forum were resoundingly negative from members of the Zwift racing community. While most Zwifters seemed to understand and even appreciate the intent behind the change, there was concern that removing this information would result in increased height/weight doping.
Post by: L CC on 21 April, 2021, 09:03:39 am
New Apple TV remote with hardware arrow keys (https://www.apple.com/uk/apple-tv-4k/)! Backwards compatible with old ones!I bloody hope so.
Hope this forces Zwift to update their app, which doesn't support arrow keys on third party remotes, unlike literally every other Apple TV app.
Post by: L CC on 21 April, 2021, 09:10:56 am
So a bunch of (mostly) women ask for a mental health improving change and a bunch of (mostly) men say but it's making cheating easier so it doesn't happen.
Whatevs.
To be fair they're keeping it visible on zwiftpower but hiding it in game and in the companion app. Could be worse. It's not like there's anywhere near as many women on Zwift as men. Particularly racing.
Post by: Legs on 22 April, 2021, 11:53:40 am
Post by: Legs on 23 April, 2021, 11:44:18 am
Still feel that I ought to do the shorter Mountain 8 Stage 5, just for completeness (and a few more XP).
Post by: gibbo on 23 April, 2021, 11:51:02 am
Post by: L CC on 23 April, 2021, 11:59:59 am
I'm going to repeat stage 1 multiple times just to accumulate the XP on a fast flat route.I've already done it 3 times and can see a few opportunities next week.
I've been putting off Stage 5 on the bike. I think I'd get more XP in the same time doing Coco laps of the desert. I hate that bloody radio tower. It's too much like Peth Bank (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=418024&Y=547716&A=Y&Z=115) from Lanchester to Burnhope, and you can't get off and walk like I do there.
I finished the
Post by: gibbo on 23 April, 2021, 12:07:33 pm
I think I'd get more XP in the same time doing Coco laps of the desert.
If Coco went at my pace and not his/ hers (not sure of the sex of the pace partners anymore - but that's probably another topic of its own) then I'd do it but I find the pace too variable and don't enjoy it.
Post by: Legs on 23 April, 2021, 02:34:28 pm
I've been Zwifting less than four months, and I'm more than halfway to the Tron bike and more than halfway to Level 26 (which would allow me to buy the best TT bike), so tbh I'm not too fussed about trying to rack up XP or drops especially quickly.
Post by: L CC on 23 April, 2021, 04:50:17 pm
It's weird, my avatar rides the same bike almost all the time, the same kit all the time and I still do events to unlock jerseys and 'manage' my riding to rack up XP.
This gamification shit is eveeeeeeel.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 26 April, 2021, 07:33:20 am
I won’t take the Zwift menu at face value again..
Post by: Legs on 26 April, 2021, 11:10:50 am
Gave myself a thrashing around the Mountain 8 last night to complete my set of long and short stages. Had a decent ride up the reverse Epic but lost contact with third place guy on the Radio Tower. Found myself sprinting out fifth place at the end; it was so close I’m not 100% sure I got it, and my rival isn’t on ZwiftPower...
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 27 April, 2021, 06:51:39 am
https://zwiftinsider.com/zwifthub-acquired/
* like me..
Post by: Chris S on 27 April, 2021, 09:16:24 am
Post by: Defblade on 27 April, 2021, 09:49:27 pm
(Although I have just moved all my info onto Zwift Hack's similarly useful offering)
Post by: drossall on 27 April, 2021, 11:04:23 pm
Some good news for Zwift Hub fans*:Excellent. Thanks for posting.
Post by: Legs on 03 May, 2021, 07:23:22 pm
Would I be better off on a road bike and getting a super tuck? Or do you get the same super tuck effect on TT bikes? Should I choose the most aero bike, or the heaviest? Would I just be better off waiting until all the stars align on a group ride/race to give me the requisite draft?
Post by: Chris S on 04 May, 2021, 11:31:15 am
Obviously, being shorter and 30Kg heavier helps :facepalm:.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 04 May, 2021, 11:33:10 am
If I have to reach anything like 950w then I know I will never do it! Although I am 182cm, 74kg.
Yesterday, I was giving it welly down Innsbruck KOM but as soon as I rested and went into supertuck my speed went up while on the same gradient.
Also yesterday I was easily passed by someone on the flat doing 1w/kg less than me which seemed weird. Then we started to climb and they were toast. Maybe they are the kind of rider who can do 100km/h downhill?
edit: Chris S, you weren't in Innsbruck y'day pm were you?
Post by: PaulF on 04 May, 2021, 11:45:01 am
Post by: L CC on 04 May, 2021, 12:48:36 pm
As I'm not using Zwift as much as the weather gets warmer (the last few days excepted!) what happens to my history - especially progress toward the Tron bike :) - if I cancel my subscription?Nothing- it pauses until you re-activate it.
I got mine on the descent of the Bologna TT course if that helps.
Obviously, being shorter and 30Kg heavier helps :facepalm:.
Much shorter here. And I think I was only 15kg heavier when I got it. :facepalm:
Pack Sub 2 vs Bologna IIRC.
Your 'problem' is as nothing to my 'next badges required'. Alpe <1hr, 25x Alpe and vEveresting :hand:
I've got more chance at the sprint ones- I might get 600W on a very good day but 7/8/9/1000? Not a hope.
Post by: Legs on 04 May, 2021, 01:18:16 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 04 May, 2021, 01:33:31 pm
Post by: JonBuoy on 04 May, 2021, 02:05:32 pm
Post by: L CC on 04 May, 2021, 02:36:19 pm
The sprint ones and Alpe <1hr all require strength and fitness - Alpe x25 just requires persistence, and vEveresting requires opportunity and madness (but is eminently possible).I don't have a problem with strength or fitness, I'm well into the 75th percentile there. I just need to lose 30kg and I could do the sub hour Alpe. I'd still be obese.
There aren't very many women in their 50s who can put out 700+ watts. Happy to see anecdata introducing them - we're open to recruits for the virtual team. ;D
Post by: Legs on 04 May, 2021, 04:30:11 pm
There aren't very many women in their 50s who can put out 700+ watts.
That is kind of my point - you need a certain level of fitness and/or strength to achieve those badges. There aren't many men in their 30s who can put out 1000+ watts!
To do the Alpe 25 times, OTOH, can be achieved at minimal speed/power through sheer bloody-mindedness. If it takes someone 2.5 hours (which is half a short Audax), and they do the Alpe once a fortnight, they get the badge in less than a year!
Post by: TimC on 04 May, 2021, 04:34:45 pm
Post by: giropaul on 04 May, 2021, 07:29:39 pm
The sprint ones and Alpe <1hr all require strength and fitness - Alpe x25 just requires persistence, and vEveresting requires opportunity and madness (but is eminently possible).I don't have a problem with strength or fitness, I'm well into the 75th percentile there. I just need to lose 30kg and I could do the sub hour Alpe. I'd still be obese.
There aren't very many women in their 50s who can put out 700+ watts. Happy to see anecdata introducing them - we're open to recruits for the virtual team. ;D
Cycling Weakly has a regular 10 mile Zwift event - I’m assuming that there is some sort of control and calibration - the top women average 200-240 watts, top men up to high 300s.
Post by: drossall on 04 May, 2021, 09:18:33 pm
I managed to get a load of the high power badges as a result of some kind of trainer glitch. As far as I can tell there is no way of handing them back which is slightly frustrating as I now don't have them to aim for.Same here. I was using at the time an even more basic set-up than now, with cadence, speed and HRM sensors. The cadence/speed sensor went haywire and, getting close to the end of an Innsbruck lap, I suddenly found myself doing 40mph everywhere. I'd got about three speed/power badges in the space of a mile before the Zwift bot stepped in and told me that my activity looked suspicious. I had to replace the sensor in the end, once I'd tracked down the fault by swapping things out for spares.
You're right about not having them to go for any more but, realistically, there's no way on earth I'd have got most of them anyway.
Post by: drossall on 04 May, 2021, 09:22:20 pm
...Alpe x25 just requires persistence...Clearly I don't have that. I'm level 26 now, and I only went up the Alpe for the second time two days ago. 25 times may take a while. Some time, I suppose I'll have to have a go at Mont Ventoux. Perhaps.
Post by: Legs on 04 May, 2021, 10:28:12 pm
Post by: Defblade on 05 May, 2021, 09:42:03 pm
Now I need to add:
97kph is my highest, annoyingly, even off the radio tower. I'm 93kg currently, so I should go downhill ok, but I reckon the 6'4" sail I call a body is holding me back a bit.
As for the power badges... to take TimC's format: I'm 50 on Sunday, I've touched just over 1400w, I can crank out 900-1000 briefly at will... but again it falls off quickly. Love the 200 meter sprints! Zwiftpower says my 15secs is 880w, 1min is 396w and my FTP is just 227w. I actually ride somewhere between 205-215 generally on Zwift.
I hate the Alpe, and reckon I'd hate MV even more... it's just a loooooong slow tedious grind for me (about 1hr20 for the Alpe). And I got the Lightweights second time up!
Give me a rolling route where you can blast the ups and relax on the downs any day of the week - plays to my strengths ;)
Post by: Legs on 06 May, 2021, 08:04:19 am
As for the power badges... to take TimC's format: I'm 50 on Sunday, I've touched just over 1400w, I can crank out 900-1000 briefly at will... but again it falls off quickly. Love the 200 meter sprints! Zwiftpower says my 15secs is 880w, 1min is 396w and my FTP is just 227w. I actually ride somewhere between 205-215 generally on Zwift.Nice! Maybe we should do a meetup and draft each other off the radio tower!
I can do 900W for 8-9s but it falls off a cliff and my 15s power is 776W according to Zwiftpower. I've scraped 1040W; I don't think the 1100 badge is out of reach, but 1200 seems very unlikely! Zwiftpower thinks my 1min power is 565W but I did 590 the other day, and my FTP is 293W at the moment. I don't really have enough time to put in long, steady rides either on Zwift or on the road, so most of my Zwift riding is workouts or races.
Post by: Defblade on 06 May, 2021, 10:01:53 pm
I've scraped 1040W; I don't think the 1100 badge is out of reach, but 1200 seems very unlikely!
IIRC, I hit that max on the sprint workout from last year's academy : https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/zwift-academy-2020/2-sprint-profile (https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/zwift-academy-2020/2-sprint-profile)
That workout just very specifically sets you up for your best sprint performance (and is really quite boring otherwise) so might be worth a go one day when you're feeling strong.
Post by: Legs on 06 May, 2021, 10:49:15 pm
IIRC, I hit that max on the sprint workout from last year's academy : https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/zwift-academy-2020/2-sprint-profile (https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/zwift-academy-2020/2-sprint-profile)Cool, thanks, I might try that one out. There are a whole lot of other punishing workouts I'd like to give a go: besides the famed Wringer and McCarthy Special, there's this one, which is probably not actually possible to complete, but I'm sure would be Type II fun to try: https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/coaches-challenge/day-1-minute-man (https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/coaches-challenge/day-1-minute-man) :demon:
That workout just very specifically sets you up for your best sprint performance (and is really quite boring otherwise) so might be worth a go one day when you're feeling strong.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 15 May, 2021, 07:29:57 pm
Post by: drossall on 16 May, 2021, 06:30:07 pm
Which left me wondering what to do. Abandon, when I've finally mostly completed the London Half Pretzel, or pedal round the rest on one leg. The sane thing to do is obvious. And then there's what I did...
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 16 May, 2021, 08:20:43 pm
Post by: Legs on 17 May, 2021, 10:26:39 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 17 May, 2021, 11:56:33 am
Post by: grams on 17 May, 2021, 12:08:18 pm
Ripping the pedal out of the left crank? What does that mean? Is it an in-game glitch?
I presume it was an ultra-realistic glitch.
Post by: drossall on 17 May, 2021, 04:42:38 pm
Forgot it was reverse-threaded and own strength?No. Last year I had a go at a couple of pairs of pedals that hadn't been shifted for years. I removed them, some with a lot of difficulty, cleaned up the threads, and put them back with copper grease. I suspect that that process removed too much thread in this case. Should have left it alone!
Post by: Legs on 17 May, 2021, 05:55:39 pm
Post by: Defblade on 17 May, 2021, 06:40:21 pm
Shouldn't the Half Pretzel be done on one leg anyway?
"The Half Pretzel" always reminds me of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu9GteQWh38 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu9GteQWh38)
The Big Yin, so NSFW ;)
Post by: drossall on 17 May, 2021, 07:06:44 pm
Ah, commiserations! It was the use of the words ‘Zwift garage’ that threw me...It was a joke. Obviously, if your pedal's coming off when you're Zwifting, no amount of spare bikes in your garage is going to help.
Post by: Legs on 18 May, 2021, 03:46:18 pm
Post by: Defblade on 18 May, 2021, 08:20:26 pm
I think I've added about 3mph overall, my flat speed has increased drastically to comfortably over 20mph a lot of the time... still a bit poor at climbing (see previous post about grinding slowly up the Alpe!) and careful descending, so I don't gain as much on the downs as I lose on the ups ;D
Post by: Legs on 19 May, 2021, 08:51:07 am
Nice one.
I've been Zwifting since January and my first event was a TdZ ride where I was breathing out of my ears to do 3W/kg for just over half an hour. Now I've raised my FTP by 50W, upgraded to A category and last night was doing pulls of 4.7W/kg in a ZRL TTT. My everyday fitness and health is noticeably better.
I haven't ridden IRL, except with my children, since 29 September 2020! My youngest is just 4 and is pretty proficient on his Islabike Cnoc - we did 5 miles in just over 40 minutes at the weekend around country lanes! I ride my wife's gas-pipe hybrid which allows me to do swift dismounts and give him a gentle push up some of the steeper and longer inclines ;D
Post by: gibbo on 19 May, 2021, 02:26:26 pm
:thumbsup:
Nice one.
My youngest is just 4 and is pretty proficient on his Islabike Cnoc - we did 5 miles in just over 40 minutes at the weekend around country lanes!
I thought the way this sentence was going was "My youngest is just 4 and is pretty proficient on his Islabike Cnoc - we did 5 miles in just over 40 minutes at the weekend around country lanes and I beasted him..." ;D ;D ;D
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 19 May, 2021, 05:41:27 pm
(Unlocked the Emonda today. Same as my bike!)
Post by: Legs on 19 May, 2021, 05:48:25 pm
Even I would consider that to be unsportsmanlike...:thumbsup:
Nice one.
My youngest is just 4 and is pretty proficient on his Islabike Cnoc - we did 5 miles in just over 40 minutes at the weekend around country lanes!
I thought the way this sentence was going was "My youngest is just 4 and is pretty proficient on his Islabike Cnoc - we did 5 miles in just over 40 minutes at the weekend around country lanes and I beasted him..." ;D ;D ;D
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 19 May, 2021, 06:30:49 pm
Even I would consider that to be unsportsmanlike...:thumbsup:
Nice one.
My youngest is just 4 and is pretty proficient on his Islabike Cnoc - we did 5 miles in just over 40 minutes at the weekend around country lanes!
I thought the way this sentence was going was "My youngest is just 4 and is pretty proficient on his Islabike Cnoc - we did 5 miles in just over 40 minutes at the weekend around country lanes and I beasted him..." ;D ;D ;D
Give it a couple of years and it will be "and he beasted me".
Post by: Legs on 19 May, 2021, 09:35:36 pm
That workout just very specifically sets you up for your best sprint performance (and is really quite boring otherwise) so might be worth a go one day when you're feeling strong.I’m going to try out that workout some time to try for 1100W - I reached past 1050 last night while warming up for my ZRL event.
I’ve never done a workout that involved ‘free ride’ sectors yet. What happens to the resistance when you’re doing that? I normally do workouts in erg mode but that obviously doesn’t cope well with sudden and big changes in power. Does the resistance in a free ride take the form of the terrain you’re riding? If so, would it be good to do that sprint workout on AdZ to help get the power out?
Post by: Defblade on 19 May, 2021, 10:12:42 pm
I’ve never done a workout that involved ‘free ride’ sectors yet. What happens to the resistance when you’re doing that? I normally do workouts in erg mode but that obviously doesn’t cope well with sudden and big changes in power. Does the resistance in a free ride take the form of the terrain you’re riding? If so, would it be good to do that sprint workout on AdZ to help get the power out?
I'm not entirely sure I got it cracked exactly right... best done using the companion app, I think IIRC... on the workout screen, there's a small box where you can turn ERG off and if you do that, it's replaced by an incline slider, so think you go from ERG to 0% grade, then you can set the slider to the grade you like to pedal against. But I could be wrong! ;)
Post by: Legs on 20 May, 2021, 05:45:48 pm
Post by: Legs on 20 May, 2021, 05:48:29 pm
Post by: gibbo on 20 May, 2021, 05:55:51 pm
Anyone ridden Makuri yet? I worldhacked last night and I must say, it looks gorgeous. There have been hints aplenty that there’s more expansion of this new world in the pipeline... (but I’m not holding my breath!)Yep, just completed two routes. :thumbsup:
Post by: Legs on 24 May, 2021, 08:06:34 pm
Post by: PaulF on 24 May, 2021, 11:03:39 pm
Anyone ridden Makuri yet? I worldhacked last night and I must say, it looks gorgeous. There have been hints aplenty that there’s more expansion of this new world in the pipeline... (but I’m not holding my breath!)
Yes, did one of the routes. Looks pretty!
Post by: drossall on 24 May, 2021, 11:22:02 pm
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 25 May, 2021, 06:58:29 am
Post by: Legs on 25 May, 2021, 08:38:47 am
https://zwiftinsider.com/yumezi-bike-choice/ (https://zwiftinsider.com/yumezi-bike-choice/)
Post by: drossall on 25 May, 2021, 08:47:09 am
I got an upgrade to the Emonda and some new wheels and then did “Sea to Tree “. Do you think I should get it serviced in case the dust and gravel have damaged it?You do worry don't you. But I'm still trying to figure out whether carrying a gravel bike on my back along the road sections of the countryside loop would be worthwhile and, if I then dump the road bike in the hedge when I swap, it will still be there when I get back.
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 25 May, 2021, 09:52:47 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 25 May, 2021, 12:13:02 pm
My team bring the spares for me. 🤣
You may laugh but one day..
Post by: Defblade on 25 May, 2021, 10:25:33 pm
I already doubled the RAM and added an SSD (old parts kicking around spare), so some serious upgrades needed to be made... off to ebay...
Now I've splashed some serious cash on the problem, I've got a new CPU coming (Pentium G2030 => Xeon E3-1220) and, for the first time in this system, a graphics card (NVidia GT430, up from onboard Intel HD. Anything faster needed added power connectors, which the PSU in there doesn't have ::-) ).
Expected system performance gain on the order of 500%. Total cost just over 30 quid ;D ;D ;D
If it's not into double figures, I'll look at the config files for turning the leaves off ;)
Post by: TimC on 25 May, 2021, 10:28:46 pm
This new island is killing my Zwifting PC. Zwiftalizer says my frame rates are in single figures a lot of the time and although it sampled a low of 7, I'd not be surprised if it got down to 2 at times. Apparently a lot of do with CPU bottlenecking with all the tree foliage.
I already doubled the RAM and added an SSD (old parts kicking around spare), so some serious upgrades needed to be made... off to ebay...
Now I've splashed some serious cash on the problem, I've got a new CPU coming (Pentium G2030 => Xeon E3-1220) and, for the first time in this system, a graphics card (NVidia GT430, up from onboard Intel HD. Anything faster needed added power connectors, which the PSU in there doesn't have ::-) ).
Expected system performance gain on the order of 500%. Total cost just over 30 quid ;D ;D ;D
If it's not into double figures, I'll look at the config files for turning the leaves off ;)
Wow. My 2015 MacBook Pro i5 runs it perfectly well, at 40+ fps. Whatever your problem is, I honestly doubt it's hardware - unless it's positively ancient. Zwift really isn't demanding of hardware.
Post by: PaulF on 25 May, 2021, 10:40:10 pm
Post by: drossall on 25 May, 2021, 10:43:01 pm
Post by: PaulF on 26 May, 2021, 07:21:13 am
I’m with Tim on this. Runs fine on my old iPad as well. Be surprised if it were the wrong type of leaves.
Having said that I got a message mid-ride that said I had 5 days to install a mandatory update. The “release notes”, and I use the term with caution :-D , mentioned graphics issues in the new world.
Don’t know though if it’s just an IOS update.
Post by: Legs on 26 May, 2021, 10:47:37 am
Stupidly excited about the last ZRL (Zwift Racing League) event of the series tomorrow - it's on Surrey Hills, so it packs more than 1000m of climbing into 46km. If you sort the riders in my division by 20 min W/kg, I'm top of the list, but unfortunately there are no prizes for being the winner on paper!Great fun, finished 5th in a field of 86, scored points at all the primes, felt pretty strong throughout. ;D
Post by: L CC on 26 May, 2021, 10:56:24 am
I peaked too early this year with a bronze in the first race of S2
Post by: Legs on 26 May, 2021, 11:19:53 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 26 May, 2021, 05:24:02 pm
Post by: Legs on 27 May, 2021, 09:03:19 pm
Because I... well, because I'm an idiot, and because I couldn't find anywhere else on the web to download it from, I transcribed The Sufferfest's Violator workout into .zwo today. If anyone wants to do a workout with 64 sprint intervals, drop me a PM and I'll try uploading it somewhere or send it by email...
Post by: Defblade on 27 May, 2021, 11:11:21 pm
This new island is killing my Zwifting PC. Zwiftalizer says my frame rates are in single figures a lot of the time and although it sampled a low of 7, I'd not be surprised if it got down to 2 at times. Apparently a lot of do with CPU bottlenecking with all the tree foliage.
I already doubled the RAM and added an SSD (old parts kicking around spare), so some serious upgrades needed to be made... off to ebay...
Now I've splashed some serious cash on the problem, I've got a new CPU coming (Pentium G2030 => Xeon E3-1220) and, for the first time in this system, a graphics card (NVidia GT430, up from onboard Intel HD. Anything faster needed added power connectors, which the PSU in there doesn't have ::-) ).
Expected system performance gain on the order of 500%. Total cost just over 30 quid ;D ;D ;D
If it's not into double figures, I'll look at the config files for turning the leaves off ;)
Wow. My 2015 MacBook Pro i5 runs it perfectly well, at 40+ fps. Whatever your problem is, I honestly doubt it's hardware - unless it's positively ancient. Zwift really isn't demanding of hardware.
Oh, it's positively ancient all right.
The base PC is maybe 10 years or so old, and was probably the cheapest thing ebuyer had at the time as it was just for my wife's office work. It was running a Pentium with onboard Intel HD (just HD, not HD 2000/2500/3000 or anything!). I was amazed to find it would run Zwift in the first place - glad it did though ;)
It has been running Watopia etc ok (mind you, it took a dive in the Jungle Loop group ride during the Tour of Watopia recently with 300 rider's dust ahead of me!), but was struggling with Japan. On Zwift forums, people who have much more depth for these things than me were saying that it's bottlenecking CPUs while GPUs are sitting at maybe 60%, and they're guessing it's all the vegetation... so I'll take their word for it.
Anyhow, Zwiftalizer says my fps have gone from min/avg/max of 7/14/21 to 13/21/50 which is clearly quite a big jump; the experience has reached occasionally jerky instead of watching-it-on-a-flip-chart... that'll do for now :)
Post by: TimC on 28 May, 2021, 07:38:14 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 28 May, 2021, 12:33:49 pm
https://youtu.be/l2tS6IrTs_s
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 28 May, 2021, 06:48:41 pm
Post by: giropaul on 28 May, 2021, 07:14:01 pm
For starters - if a ride/ etc is on the list on the right side of the initial screen can anyone join in? I’ve not tried a race, but I find some group rides let me in, some don’t show the option
- is there an etiquette or can one just join in if it’s available?
- I ( think) I get the a,b,c groupings, but why is virtually everyone pushing over 3 Watts/kilo, many over 4. Based on my experience as a Wattbike instructor I don’t believe a lot of these figures are true reality, but maybe I’m just rubbish and need to take up bowls.
There’s lots more I don’t get, but that will do for now - thanks in advance.
Post by: TimC on 29 May, 2021, 12:36:05 am
It's fact that cheating exists on Zwift. Indeed, it's almost endemic. However, lots of people who rely on 'Zwift Power' to estimate their power output from very limited data input are probably being flattered by the system. It's also true that lots of people have discovered how to game the system by adapting the data entry protocols to give a false picture of their abilities. Of course, Zwift works on a simple algorithm of weight, height and power, and there's a degree of trust in what people enter. It should be no surprise to learn that a significant number of people aren't honest. But the study of almost any segment on Strava will lead to the same conclusion!
Post by: drossall on 29 May, 2021, 07:43:59 am
Post by: PaulF on 29 May, 2021, 10:18:20 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 29 May, 2021, 11:19:33 am
Although I have climbed most of the famous Pyrennean and Alpine cols and Ventoux. In the latter case which was most recent, I found Zwift was remarkably similar to my real life experience.
My current best effort FTP based on Wahoo Elmt Bolt, Zwift and Strava is c.210watts or 2.83 w/kg. On most Zwift rides about a third of riders finish before I do or are faster on sprints*, although I have no idea how that is calculated. I'm quite happy with that.
* I don't do organised races!
Post by: drossall on 29 May, 2021, 03:13:11 pm
Post by: Legs on 31 May, 2021, 06:41:59 am
It’s probably my age, but I’m struggling to get my head around bits of Zwift.I’ve never tried clicking the rides at the top right of the screen because I have never wanted to do them and they don’t have the appearance of being clickable. Many aspects of Zwift are a bit ‘mystery meat navigation’, though... I’ve only ever joined events through Companion or through the Zwifthacks calendar and the Zwift website.
For starters - if a ride/ etc is on the list on the right side of the initial screen can anyone join in? I’ve not tried a race, but I find some group rides let me in, some don’t show the option
- is there an etiquette or can one just join in if it’s available?
- I ( think) I get the a,b,c groupings, but why is virtually everyone pushing over 3 Watts/kilo, many over 4. Based on my experience as a Wattbike instructor I don’t believe a lot of these figures are true reality, but maybe I’m just rubbish and need to take up bowls.
There’s lots more I don’t get, but that will do for now - thanks in advance.
I’m not sure 3w/kg is excessive for a steady Z2/Z3 ride for many riders, but YMMV. I’ve only done a few group rides and they’ve mostly been paved as advertised. The Pace Partners are a good way of getting easy miles in (and loads of drops, if that’s your thing).
Post by: drossall on 31 May, 2021, 09:46:28 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 31 May, 2021, 10:21:11 am
Around two thirds of the way up, although my power is quite consistent, the situation is becoming very different; there are many fewer riders and my overtakes are increasingly rare. A higher proportion are now overtaking me, some of them making it look effortless. So long as I forget about them and concentrate on my own ride I almost always get there.
One ride I didn't manage was the challenge of the Four Horsemen, being underprepared and overdoing the early bits. About 1km from the top of the Alpe and I had to pack.. Unfinished business - there'll be a next time..
Post by: yoav on 03 June, 2021, 08:57:08 am
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 03 June, 2021, 11:46:28 am
Post by: drossall on 03 June, 2021, 01:03:14 pm
You do know that you don’t have to do the ride in one go? Start a ride, pause, come back to it, even days later and it will carry on where you left off. Of course, you have to leave Zwift running on the device in between. I have an old computer running Zwift and I did The Four Horsemen over 3 sessions on successive days. Now I’m girding to try the Uber Pretzel. Cheating? Who cares. It even works if you start in a world other than Watopia which isn’t always available, your ride continues in the world you started in, just with fewer riders.I did wonder about the rules on pausing rides. Obviously not in events, as that would be silly. But I occasionally need to stop for all sorts of reasons, even because the battery on my tablet is running down, and I'd never figured out whether I needed to be back within (say) 3 minutes.
Plainly not. Thanks. Pausing just means stop pedalling and leave Zwift running?
It also seems to be better now at detecting and recovering from unintended drop-outs. I've even been able to resume after a tablet crash - Zwift seems prone to overload my tablet with power demands if I let it drop even to 40% charge, meaning that the tablet crashes and restarts.
Post by: L CC on 03 June, 2021, 02:46:54 pm
I've started events that were time limited, sat in the pen and done them later.
I've ridden the 4 Horsemen twice. You guys are lightweights ;D
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 03 June, 2021, 03:27:32 pm
Even on events it's fine to just pause.You only get the points once!
I've started events that were time limited, sat in the pen and done them later.
I've ridden the 4 Horsemen twice. You guys are lightweights ;D
Post by: L CC on 03 June, 2021, 04:00:19 pm
Post by: drossall on 03 June, 2021, 05:12:22 pm
Even on events it's fine to just pause.Don't suppose it works too well in races ;D
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 04 June, 2021, 08:12:36 am
You do know that you don’t have to do the ride in one go? Start a ride, pause, come back to it, even days later and it will carry on where you left off. Of course, you have to leave Zwift running on the device in between. I have an old computer running Zwift and I did The Four Horsemen over 3 sessions on successive days. Now I’m girding to try the Uber Pretzel. Cheating? Who cares. It even works if you start in a world other than Watopia which isn’t always available, your ride continues in the world you started in, just with fewer riders.
Aaaargghh!
Never knew that, thanks for not leaving me in ignorance ;D
I don't mind doing a couple of hours non-stop but it'd have helped enormously to have had a break just before the Alpe on the 4 Horsemen.
Post by: drossall on 04 June, 2021, 08:26:00 am
I did think about doing the 4 horsemen as part of my work up to going on holiday. My plan was to get to the top of each hill, let the bike starting going down the other side, climb off and have toilet break, meal stop, leg massage and then to get back on again.Isn't there something about it detecting you pedalling (or not)? Nice idea though ;D
And I believe that there's a supertuck thing where you do a couple of magic moves to make it recognise the supertuck, and then you can stop pedalling? Or am I making this all up?
Post by: drossall on 04 June, 2021, 08:27:52 am
Post by: L CC on 04 June, 2021, 08:50:15 am
Super Tuck happens automatically if you have 0 cadence and 0 watts at 56kph and a descent steeper than 4%
Separate question. Has anyone tried the training programmes? I dabble in club time trials, always have, for fun. But I'm the kind of cyclist who has always believed that real, systematic training is cheating. So I've taken no interest in Zwift's training programmes, even though I'm over half way through the levels now. Wondering vaguely whether to put a toe in the water, just for a change.There's some discussion in the base training thread and here (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=116010.0)
Post by: drossall on 04 June, 2021, 09:01:53 am
Post by: PaulF on 04 June, 2021, 09:35:20 am
I did think about doing the 4 horsemen as part of my work up to going on holiday. My plan was to get to the top of each hill, let the bike starting going down the other side, climb off and have toilet break, meal stop, leg massage and then to get back on again.Isn't there something about it detecting you pedalling (or not)? Nice idea though ;D
And I believe that there's a supertuck thing where you do a couple of magic moves to make it recognise the supertuck, and then you can stop pedalling? Or am I making this all up?
Yes, it notices that you've stopped pedalling and lets you freewheel which continues until you run out of momentum. If you're fast enough you'll supertuck as fboab describes. I didn't think anyone actually stayed on the bike on the way down the Alp ;D
Post by: yoav on 04 June, 2021, 10:48:23 am
Post by: drossall on 04 June, 2021, 08:53:27 pm
I didn't think anyone actually stayed on the bike on the way down the Alp ;DI stayed on the bike all the way down Mont Ventoux yesterday ::-)
Post by: Legs on 09 June, 2021, 11:34:35 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 09 June, 2021, 11:38:45 am
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 09 June, 2021, 12:44:02 pm
Post by: Legs on 09 June, 2021, 01:22:18 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSShxn5fDVI&t=216s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSShxn5fDVI&t=216s)
Post by: yoav on 12 June, 2021, 07:13:10 am
Anybody using the ZwiftHacks? Do they improve the experience? I am interested in storing my Zwift badges outside the game so that I can keep track of which routes I have completed so I can plan my riding
I just printed off a list of the routes from the Zwift Insider website which I have pinned up next to my trainer setup and tick them off as I do them.
Another tip is to install Zwift on your phone, not for actual riding but just to check on your record of badges etc.
Post by: Legs on 17 June, 2021, 06:55:55 am
I’m really struggling to get the 100km/h badge on Zwift.Yay! I managed it at Bologna last night on my post race cool down (Cervelo P5/DT Swiss). I was doing a few sprints to loosen up my legs and one of them happened to coincide with the steep bit of the hill. I was looking at the power field on the HUD, really, and just glanced across to see my speed at 97km/h and rising… ;D
Post by: L CC on 17 June, 2021, 08:47:17 am
Post by: gibbo on 17 June, 2021, 01:03:51 pm
Apparently the latest update has badge-checking?
I just updated so I could see this enhancement. I like it since it's right there when you to select a route. I also noticed that a route I had previously completed Zwift says I haven't...
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 17 June, 2021, 02:54:15 pm
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 19 June, 2021, 01:49:02 pm
Post by: giropaul on 25 June, 2021, 08:45:34 am
My real ftp is about 2 Watts/kilo. Pitiful I know; too many kgs and not enough watts. However, I can ride in a purposeful real world group, and am not the first to get dropped by any means if the hammer goes down.
- my Zwift “ category “ is obviously D. If I join a Zwift D group ride I persistently get passed by people doing 3watts/kg and more. For some rides, that list ABCD seem to become A events in the screen descriptors when the ride starts.
There seems very little for D riders, despite that demographically one would expect these riders to be a big constituent of the membership. I can’t see that people new to cycling will immediately be producing big numbers. I can’t really believe that so many Zwifters are capable of being a first cat ready, or a sub-55 25 time trialist, that some of the numbers would suggest.
I use a Wattbike ( not an Atom) . I hope that this is accurate. I see comments on Rouvy and Zwift discussion sites that some bike-on trainers are more generous than others. Maybe my Wattbike needs recalibrating, but that’s unlikely ( I’ve used and worked with Wattbikes for a fair few years).
So I guess the answers are
- I am a very poor rider and shouldn’t expect to join Zwift activities.
- there’s a lot of unconscious or conscious “ doping” going on,
- there are very few real D rides available, and where they are, there’s no check on “ringers”
Or is it just me?
Post by: L CC on 25 June, 2021, 09:56:07 am
If you're in a race, chances are there will be people who aren't genuine Ds. Why you want to win against people you know are not in your category, I'll never know, but it happens. Ignore them, and see your true result on zwiftpower (https://zwiftpower.com/).
If you're in a group ride... well... it depends on the group. If it's an Event (Fondo, Tour Ride, Sponsored, 'ride with #sportyceleb') it is unlikely to stick to the advertised pace. There will be too much testosterone and the #sportyceleb is not an experienced group rider.
If it's a regular group ride run by a Zwift Team- you might be in luck. As you're a bloke, chances are you're not suffering from the lightweight lady issue where the 75kg leader does 2w/kg on the flat and the 50kg lady has to do close to 3w/kg to keep up. Some groups are much better at it than others. But all groups suffer from 'flyers' where some people join a group ride and fly off into the distance. Stay around the yellow beacon and you'll have more chance to be fine.
Groups I've found stick to advertised pace:
Pack
Herd
ZER
ZHCC
REVO
Ascenders
Groups I've found DON'T
CIS
SAS
Zwift Poland
ZRG
KISS
Pride (these may not have a leader- it's a free for all)
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 26 June, 2021, 08:03:39 am
When I go out on the road I find my performance can be very similar to Zwift figures but it does depend on conditions. A headwind is ok if balanced by a tailwind but traffic spoils the test. My real world bikes are old steelies so not as race-ready as my Zwift mount. I have sparkly wheels now :smug:
Post by: gibbo on 27 June, 2021, 06:58:20 pm
Are you riding or racing?
If you're in a race, chances are there will be people who aren't genuine Ds. Why you want to win against people you know are not in your category, I'll never know, but it happens. Ignore them, and see your true result on zwiftpower (https://zwiftpower.com/).
If you're in a group ride... well... it depends on the group. If it's an Event (Fondo, Tour Ride, Sponsored, 'ride with #sportyceleb') it is unlikely to stick to the advertised pace. There will be too much testosterone and the #sportyceleb is not an experienced group rider.
If it's a regular group ride run by a Zwift Team- you might be in luck. As you're a bloke, chances are you're not suffering from the lightweight lady issue where the 75kg leader does 2w/kg on the flat and the 50kg lady has to do close to 3w/kg to keep up. Some groups are much better at it than others. But all groups suffer from 'flyers' where some people join a group ride and fly off into the distance. Stay around the yellow beacon and you'll have more chance to be fine.
Groups I've found stick to advertised pace:
Pack
Herd
ZER
ZHCC
REVO
Ascenders
Groups I've found DON'T
CIS
SAS
Zwift Poland
ZRG
KISS
Pride (these may not have a leader- it's a free for all)
I’ve done a few KISS rides and for the most part, in my experience, they have stuck to the advertised pace. I did a sub 2 ride last Friday and my average was 2.1 in the end. There was ride leader for some reason but a regular took charge and did a good job. I’m not saying there weren’t fliers, there always are some but still a good group ride.
Post by: L CC on 27 June, 2021, 07:34:10 pm
It depends on the leader. I have trouble on REVO rides where the leader is a lightweight lady (we are a women's team after all) and her sub 2 is 110W making it quite tediously slow for me on the flat. She'll then proceed to drop me like a stone when we climb. This is a fair reflection of real life though
.
Post by: Legs on 28 June, 2021, 07:21:30 am
Post by: gibbo on 28 June, 2021, 06:46:48 pm
Are you riding or racing?
If you're in a race, chances are there will be people who aren't genuine Ds. Why you want to win against people you know are not in your category, I'll never know, but it happens. Ignore them, and see your true result on zwiftpower (https://zwiftpower.com/).
If you're in a group ride... well... it depends on the group. If it's an Event (Fondo, Tour Ride, Sponsored, 'ride with #sportyceleb') it is unlikely to stick to the advertised pace. There will be too much testosterone and the #sportyceleb is not an experienced group rider.
If it's a regular group ride run by a Zwift Team- you might be in luck. As you're a bloke, chances are you're not suffering from the lightweight lady issue where the 75kg leader does 2w/kg on the flat and the 50kg lady has to do close to 3w/kg to keep up. Some groups are much better at it than others. But all groups suffer from 'flyers' where some people join a group ride and fly off into the distance. Stay around the yellow beacon and you'll have more chance to be fine.
Groups I've found stick to advertised pace:
Pack
Herd
ZER
ZHCC
REVO
Ascenders
Groups I've found DON'T
CIS
SAS
Zwift Poland
ZRG
KISS
Pride (these may not have a leader- it's a free for all)
I’ve done a few KISS rides and for the most part, in my experience, they have stuck to the advertised pace. I did a sub 2 ride last Friday and my average was 2.1 in the end. There was ride leader for some reason but a regular took charge and did a good job. I’m not saying there weren’t fliers, there always are some but still a good group ride.
Looks like I lied! Not KISS rides it was Saris. Sorry.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 28 June, 2021, 06:47:34 pm
I kept going till I’d done the distance my route was supposed to take and on completion, on Zwift it resembles a good drawing of an untidily coiled spring. Although I was alleged to have ridden with numerous others most of them I never saw.
Post by: Kim on 28 June, 2021, 10:31:45 pm
Zwift went all Harry Potter on me. It started off ok and I’d done quite a bit of the descent on the Makuri Islands Temple KOM. Then I left the road heading straight at a tree which I cycled through effortlessly. I then passed through undergrowth and sailed over a small ravine before crossing a long stretch of water. At one point I disappeared underground, emerging in the middle of a road beside a pedestrian who ignored me. Nothing could stop me; I even cycled up a 37% at 36km/h. At one point most of the scenery was above my head; was the world upside down or was it me?
That'll be the Mortagne-au-Perche expansion pack.
Post by: PaulF on 28 June, 2021, 10:35:50 pm
Zwift went all Harry Potter on me. It started off ok and I’d done quite a bit of the descent on the Makuri Islands Temple KOM. Then I left the road heading straight at a tree which I cycled through effortlessly. I then passed through undergrowth and sailed over a small ravine before crossing a long stretch of water. At one point I disappeared underground, emerging in the middle of a road beside a pedestrian who ignored me. Nothing could stop me; I even cycled up a 37% at 36km/h. At one point most of the scenery was above my head; was the world upside down or was it me?
I kept going till I’d done the distance my route was supposed to take and on completion, on Zwift it resembles a good drawing of an untidily coiled spring. Although I was alleged to have ridden with numerous others most of them I never saw.
And that, children, is why drugs are banned from cycling ;D
Post by: Legs on 01 July, 2021, 10:33:04 pm
Tidy darts!I eventually got round to doing the workout tonight. It’s okay until the last set of intervals, which are 8x 5s on/5s off, then 4x 10s on/10s off, then 2x 15s on/15s off… and when I say ‘on’, I mean 175%+ FTP! Hard work!
Because I... well, because I'm an idiot, and because I couldn't find anywhere else on the web to download it from, I transcribed The Sufferfest's Violator workout into .zwo today. If anyone wants to do a workout with 64 sprint intervals, drop me a PM and I'll try uploading it somewhere or send it by email...
Somehow I not only got the 1100W badge, but I peaked at 1178W, so 1.21kW is almost in reach! 😁
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 02 July, 2021, 11:59:27 am
Zwift went all Harry Potter on me. It started off ok and I’d done quite a bit of the descent on the Makuri Islands Temple KOM. Then I left the road heading straight at a tree which I cycled through effortlessly. I then passed through undergrowth and sailed over a small ravine before crossing a long stretch of water. At one point I disappeared underground, emerging in the middle of a road beside a pedestrian who ignored me. Nothing could stop me; I even cycled up a 37% at 36km/h. At one point most of the scenery was above my head; was the world upside down or was it me?
I kept going till I’d done the distance my route was supposed to take and on completion, on Zwift it resembles a good drawing of an untidily coiled spring. Although I was alleged to have ridden with numerous others most of them I never saw.
And that, children, is why drugs are banned from cycling ;D
Thinking about it, it was exactly 3 weeks after my 2nd covid jab. Suspicious, if you ask me..
Post by: Defblade on 02 July, 2021, 09:01:48 pm
Tidy darts!I eventually got round to doing the workout tonight. It’s okay until the last set of intervals, which are 8x 5s on/5s off, then 4x 10s on/10s off, then 2x 15s on/15s off… and when I say ‘on’, I mean 175%+ FTP! Hard work!
Because I... well, because I'm an idiot, and because I couldn't find anywhere else on the web to download it from, I transcribed The Sufferfest's Violator workout into .zwo today. If anyone wants to do a workout with 64 sprint intervals, drop me a PM and I'll try uploading it somewhere or send it by email...
Somehow I not only got the 1100W badge, but I peaked at 1178W, so 1.21kW is almost in reach! 😁
Good work! Nearly there ;)
Post by: Legs on 04 July, 2021, 08:59:43 am
Post by: grams on 04 July, 2021, 09:12:41 am
Post by: Legs on 04 July, 2021, 09:29:36 am
Edit - actually, the 60s was mostly in the lungs and at least partly in the head: very deeply unpleasant, especially in the last few seconds…
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 04 July, 2021, 07:42:33 pm
Cheers, Jon. I rode a Zwift TT yesterday morning, which I sacked off at half-distance because my power was starting to wobble and I was just about to drop off the cliff. I soft-pedalled the return leg but put in a 15s and 60s effort to bump up my stats on ZwiftPower: 955W and 616W respectively. I think these sprint workouts and Watopia Wall efforts are paying off. :thumbsup:
You'll be that blur that passed me t'other day. :o
Post by: Legs on 05 July, 2021, 11:04:27 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 06 July, 2021, 12:52:57 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 11 July, 2021, 02:49:02 am
Post by: Legs on 15 July, 2021, 08:28:10 pm
Post by: drossall on 15 July, 2021, 10:42:57 pm
Now I find I am 2kg lighter than my last weigh-in. The 100km/h descent ain’t gonna happen.You could become the only instance on Zwift of a rider whose weight is overstated?
Post by: L CC on 16 July, 2021, 03:52:10 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 16 July, 2021, 10:32:33 am
Now I find I am 2kg lighter than my last weigh-in. The 100km/h descent ain’t gonna happen.You could become the only instance on Zwift of a rider whose weight is overstated?
No racing involved, I just forgot to hop on the scales a few times, honestly.
When I get time I will see if I can drop the necessary 10 or 12 minutes from the AdZ but it seems unlikely.
One thing I do notice having lost a total of 13kg since covid is that
a. a lot of my trousers (and a favourite cycling jersey) now fit again
b. the rest are too big.
c. sitting in the saddle after a couple of hours or so is no longer at all uncomfortable
Post by: Legs on 20 July, 2021, 11:36:02 am
I'm planning to do the Uber Pretzel early in the morning on 31 July. By then, I'll have got 47,650m of climbing under my belt towards the Tron bike, with the intention that I tick over to 50,000 at the summit of the Alpe. If you happen to be pootling around Watopia that morning, be sure to drop me a Ride On! My longest Zwift ride so far is 50km so it'll be a bit of a journey into the unknown...
Post by: Defblade on 20 July, 2021, 08:17:31 pm
All good, apart from the clothes-not-fitting thing :thumbsup:
I'm planning to do the Uber Pretzel early in the morning on 31 July. By then, I'll have got 47,650m of climbing under my belt towards the Tron bike, with the intention that I tick over to 50,000 at the summit of the Alpe. If you happen to be pootling around Watopia that morning, be sure to drop me a Ride On! My longest Zwift ride so far is 50km so it'll be a bit of a journey into the unknown...
If you're not time limited, I'd strongly suggest getting off the bike for 5 or 10 minutes every hour. Keep plenty of hydration to hand and don't neglect eating, either - little and often. Good luck!
(I've got about 7000m to go... if all my real life rides this year counted, I'd have mashed it long ago :) )
Post by: drossall on 20 July, 2021, 09:10:59 pm
I've never been a climber, but I thought I ought to choose an objective. I must have been going at it for nearly a year - riding quite a lot in the winter, but not really doing anything to choose hilly routes or in any other way get there quicker. At first, I assumed that I just had to Everest it; it was a bit of a shock to get there and discover that I had twice more to go.
I have a mad, perverse plan to finish it off by doing the Tempus Fugit route, which must have pretty-much the least climbing of any in the game. That will take a bit of advance planning and route choice for the preceding rides though :P
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 21 July, 2021, 08:13:51 am
All good, apart from the clothes-not-fitting thing :thumbsup:
I'm planning to do the Uber Pretzel early in the morning on 31 July. By then, I'll have got 47,650m of climbing under my belt towards the Tron bike, with the intention that I tick over to 50,000 at the summit of the Alpe. If you happen to be pootling around Watopia that morning, be sure to drop me a Ride On! My longest Zwift ride so far is 50km so it'll be a bit of a journey into the unknown...
If you're not time limited, I'd strongly suggest getting off the bike for 5 or 10 minutes every hour. Keep plenty of hydration to hand and don't neglect eating, either - little and often. Good luck!
(I've got about 7000m to go... if all my real life rides this year counted, I'd have mashed it long ago :) )
Bon courage with the Uber Legs :thumbsup:
Re getting off the bike, I had to interrupt an attempt on the Alpe to unexpectedly pick Mrs A up from town early. I was midway up stage 5 but I’d lost my rhythm and even got a bit crampy. I made it but it was no fun. Any breaks I take in future will be where I can warm up again before doing climbs!
Having been using Zwift to train for my twice cancelled Alpine trip* I am now 12km above my Tron bike award. I like the sparkly effect but haven't really noticed any other difference.
*now booked for 2022
Post by: Legs on 21 July, 2021, 08:44:15 am
Got up the Alpe yesterday evening in a new PB of 48:05, in the Specialized Roval event. A bit disheartening to read this morning on Zwift Insider just how much of that might have been down to the event-assigned frame and wheels! Still, it was a ‘power best’ over the segment as well (296W at 73kg). I think it’d be nice to try rounding off the UP with a sub-hour ascent (~230W), but that might be quite tricky!
Post by: drossall on 21 July, 2021, 07:18:19 pm
Got up the Alpe yesterday evening in a new PB of 48:05...Depressed :'( I'm somewhere around 80 minutes. Zwift's feature most faithful to real life is its reproduction of my inability at climbing.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 21 July, 2021, 08:02:55 pm
Post by: drossall on 21 July, 2021, 09:54:47 pm
I don't really know why. I quite like hills; after all, I get enough time to contemplate them. So I've only ever done it twice. Curiously, I did enjoy Ven Top, when I did that not long ago. Maybe I should try the Alpe again; my philosophy has always been that, if you're having trouble with a hill, you should find a bigger one (because that will change your perception that the first is really hard).
Post by: Legs on 22 July, 2021, 08:04:09 am
I like the sparkly effect but haven't really noticed any other difference.The difference between any of the bikes is virtually imperceptible, even if you’re racing. You’ll save a handful of seconds in a TT by choosing slightly better equipment. But I rate my TT performances in terms of power rather than speed. To my mind, there’s no value in being able to complete a leisure ride 30s faster.
What is quite useful is being able to fine-tune the amount of effort you want to put into group rides, e.g. by riding a gravel bike with Coco Cadence or a MTB with Dan Diesel.
Post by: L CC on 22 July, 2021, 11:00:07 am
(I wear a TT helmet in our TTT for the extra slippy-ness - which Zwift claim doesn't exist. They lie. If you look faster you go faster, trufax)
Post by: drossall on 29 July, 2021, 09:13:35 am
I've got about 20,000ft to go for my Tron bike, because I always cycle in ImperialMy Android app has just updated itself, so I was watching the version numbers. There is a possibility that the app may reach the target before I do ;D
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 30 July, 2021, 03:02:26 pm
Post by: L CC on 30 July, 2021, 04:10:09 pm
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 30 July, 2021, 04:23:41 pm
Post by: Legs on 31 July, 2021, 10:41:02 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 31 July, 2021, 11:56:51 am
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 31 July, 2021, 03:18:56 pm
I think so. Mr Smith is on Windows and I'm on Apple TV - mine fires up much faster.Just installed the app on Apple TV and it is incredibly fast to load compared to the PC. And that is on a decent PC (but not an SSD)
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 31 July, 2021, 04:39:55 pm
I currently use Zwift on a PC and it takes a long time to load even on a 70Mb download. Is it faster on appleTV or other systems?
I use a recent iPad hooked to a games monitor. It’s as instant as a very instant thing.
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 31 July, 2021, 09:04:16 pm
Post by: Legs on 01 August, 2021, 02:35:37 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 01 August, 2021, 02:55:10 pm
A couple of days ago I just managed the Alpe on its own in 71'25", my fastest time so far and I was very pleased with it. My trainer is on 100% because I like things to be as close to real as possible. I'm booked to do the Raid Alpine, Nice to Geneva, starting in June 2022 but I don't expect to break any records TBH. Zwifting will help hugely though and one day I will try the Uber..
Post by: Legs on 15 August, 2021, 07:57:03 pm
Racing would not be quite so much fun at the moment because I feel I’d be close to my limit, just trying not to get dropped by the As.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 19 August, 2021, 12:18:17 pm
Managed Ven-top a few days ago. Just under 2 hours which means I am just over 87 thousandth on the leader board which has 118618 on it. Must do better..
Post by: Legs on 19 August, 2021, 12:45:11 pm
2 hrs on Ven-top is decent! It's a tough climb to stay mentally focussed on...
Post by: Legs on 28 August, 2021, 07:54:28 am
It’s certainly going to make the workouts challenging from here on!
Post by: DuncanM on 28 August, 2021, 10:26:29 am
Good luck on your next few workouts!
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 28 August, 2021, 08:19:05 pm
Strava tells me I rate 205, an improvement of 0.67%. I didn’t like the 20 minute ftp test either.
Post by: Legs on 29 August, 2021, 08:15:09 am
I’m light-years away from Kenny de Ketele in ability (also a stone heavier and a fair bit taller), but it’s a nice comparison!
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 31 August, 2021, 07:50:18 am
Quote
in partnership with UNICEF, every ride completed during the Series will unlock a life-saving polio vaccine for a child. With the Vitality UNICEF Ride Series, Vitality is helping UNICEF vaccinate thousands of children with life-saving polio vaccines around the world.
I’ve some sympathy for both of these comments below the article:
Quote
I don’t think it’s a particularly good thing to ‘gamificate’ vaccins for children. Why not distribute as much vaccins as possible, in stead of making it depend on the amount of rides completed? Sucks to be the kid that doesn’t get a shot because Fartdrafter2000 didn’t complete his ride..
It reminds me of all those cringey FB-posts with the “If I get 1000 likes, I will do this and that!”
Countered by this:
Quote
Vitality aren’t a charity, they’ve partnered with UNICEF as it says. The way it will work is that UNICEF are providing the vaccines regardless but vitality will fund a portion based on number of rides carried out. It’s a two way thing, vitality get exposure and possibly revenue from people joining and UNICEF get a little help in funding the vaccines. The risk is always a little cynicism when business and charity meet, but you just have to focus on it being for a good cause. UNICEF won’t be preventing a vaccine from being used just because a ride didn’t take place.
I enjoyed the ride which was strangely different for me. It was for riders of nearly all levels but they’d turned off the rider board so I had no clue as to where I was. A large peloton simply left me behind and on a sprint at c.5.9 km I was almost last out of 45 riders. After that it was just me and the road ahead for ages with no idea what was behind. Then a bunch overtook and I found I could keep up. I was faster on climbs slower on descents - it was a pretty flat route. As we neared the end the pace hotted up and I was determined to keep near the front, sprint for the line and so not be nearly last again!
At school I’d known one or two kids crippled by polio so believe it’s good if the need for vaccinations gets a bit of publicity.
Post by: Legs on 09 September, 2021, 04:20:51 pm
Post by: drossall on 09 September, 2021, 05:18:08 pm
I've got about 20,000ft to go for my Tron bike, because I always cycle in Imperial ;D Not that I really want it; I probably won't bother riding it, as the Zwift worlds are fantasy enough for me, without adding a fantasy bike as well ::-)Success! Finished the climbing challenge on Tempus Fugit
I've never been a climber, but I thought I ought to choose an objective. I must have been going at it for nearly a year - riding quite a lot in the winter, but not really doing anything to choose hilly routes or in any other way get there quicker. At first, I assumed that I just had to Everest it; it was a bit of a shock to get there and discover that I had twice more to go.
I have a mad, perverse plan to finish it off by doing the Tempus Fugit route, which must have pretty-much the least climbing of any in the game. That will take a bit of advance planning and route choice for the preceding rides though :P
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 09 September, 2021, 06:56:13 pm
Did that ride as my 4th and final UNICEF event. I don’t even remember going up anywhere.
Post by: Legs on 09 September, 2021, 07:04:21 pm
Success! Finished the climbing challenge on Tick Tock, which must have the least gradient and climbing of pretty-much any course in any world. Just because I could ;DNice! Well done drossall! :thumbsup:
Post by: drossall on 09 September, 2021, 08:51:11 pm
Did that ride as my 4th and final UNICEF event. I don’t even remember going up anywhere.I was watching the counter carefully. You climb by at least five feet in the caves, for example ;D And in some of the steeper parts, I think you can do as much of ten feet of climbing in a mile ;D ;D
Post by: pdm on 11 September, 2021, 09:13:34 am
After the Baseline ride, Zwift somehow decided my FTP was 330W ! :o (Last measured at 295W a few months ago)
The first workout was therefore duly failed, cracking on the second effort - therefore had to crank down to 95% for the rest to be able to complete it....
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 11 September, 2021, 07:45:46 pm
I’d like to believe it..
Post by: Legs on 14 September, 2021, 09:38:03 am
I'm in tricky Zwift territory; having an FTP of around 4.2 W/kg, I'm not competitive in A-cat races, and I don't want to demoralise myself by doing lots of TTs and seeing my performance inevitably plateauing. I need to work on producing repeatable 1-2 minute efforts to keep up in mass-start races, but need the stimulus to push my FTP higher...
Post by: drossall on 27 September, 2021, 06:02:07 pm
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/8qi877mfhid2ask/trainer-setup-small.jpg?raw=1)
Post by: PaulF on 02 October, 2021, 01:40:19 pm
Bad news: they’re all vertical :(
Post by: gibbo on 02 October, 2021, 01:49:02 pm
Post by: Legs on 08 October, 2021, 10:44:35 pm
Post by: PaulF on 17 October, 2021, 10:22:19 am
Good news: I’m less than 5000m from the Tron bike.
Bad news: they’re all vertical :(
Unlocked it earlier this morning :)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pT0Kf3qz/E7-ED0-F31-BBB3-4-B79-A17-D-85-EE6092650-B.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Post by: Legs on 17 October, 2021, 03:35:42 pm
Post by: gibbo on 17 October, 2021, 05:06:44 pm
Nice one :thumbsup:
Unlocked it earlier this morning :)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pT0Kf3qz/E7-ED0-F31-BBB3-4-B79-A17-D-85-EE6092650-B.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 18 October, 2021, 08:53:52 am
Post by: Defblade on 26 October, 2021, 08:54:07 pm
First thing is, annoying that the 26,600-odd vertical metres I did in the RW hasn't magically appeared on my Tron count... still nearly 3k to go there ;D
In the meantime, I'm suddenly finding it much harder to engage with - too... clinical, I guess.
I've gotten pretty fit over the last 18 months, lost about a stone and a half, but with the time I have to put into riding and my (lack of) overall ability I can't see myself getting significantly fitter or lighter, so with Zwift I'm now looking at all the figures and knowing that xKg over y distance at z% climb will always come out the same - and finding it a bit demotivating.
I know this must be the same back in the RW, but it doesn't feel so much like it... probably helps I don't have a power meter!
Once it gets colder and there's little chance of grabbing a RW ride (my lungs complain if I ride when it's much below 10'c) I'll probably sign up to a training plan and maybe that will overcome this feeling.
Also, I'm tempted to try some of the other providers of similar platforms out there, but as Zwift already appears to be the one where it's most focused on the game side with others looking they are far more about the stats, I'm not hopeful.
Anyone else get this sort of feeling, and any tips to break through it?
Thanks in advance :thumbsup:
Post by: L CC on 27 October, 2021, 09:21:08 am
Quote
Zwift noted that basically, people fall into three core buckets when they ride Zwift:
A) Train: Either doing a structured or group workout, or a training plan
B) Compete: Doing a race or series of races
C) Explore: Group rides/runs, free rides/runs, badge hunting, and tours
Within those three buckets, Zwift says that:
– 50% of Zwifters fall into the ‘Train’ bucket at least once each month
– 20% of Zwifters will ‘Compete’ in an event at least once a month
– 80% of Zwifters will do something in the ‘Explore’ bucket at least once a month
I get bored with it- I know the roads, I've got all the badges I'll ever get, the group ride chit chat can be tedious.
But I'm in a team, and I race (badly). That's pretty motivating.
Post by: Defblade on 27 October, 2021, 08:55:19 pm
In the real world, what motivates you to ride?
I get bored with it- I know the roads, I've got all the badges I'll ever get, the group ride chit chat can be tedious.
But I'm in a team, and I race (badly). That's pretty motivating.
In the real world, to a great extent it's freedom and getting away from stresses of work etc - being in the moment, I think they'd call it these days - also there's the thrill of speed :demon: (downhill!).
Then, I like how being fit makes me feel in myself, but I'm not fixed on cycling to achieve that - until my knee went dodgy, it was years of karate and using my crosstrainer. I do like to get better/faster in my riding, but to me that's simply a side effect of increasing my fitness... it shows me that the exercise is working rather than being a motivational goal in itself, if you see what I mean.
My life is fairly busy - I have enough trouble fitting a low volume Zwift training plan in, and I would not want to commit to any sort of race series/team etc as I can't be sure when I can Zwift, or for how long.
Currently trying to do 30-60 mins Mon/Wed/Fri evenings after work and longer rides either Sat or Sun, depending (hoping to be outside for those for a while yet).
I have enough structure there and enough willpower to drag me out to the garage each night as above... but I'm feeling it is a bit of a drag just now.
Post by: gibbo on 28 October, 2021, 09:08:07 am
Monday sees me starting the Build Me Up training program, again. Looking forward to having sore legs for the next 12 weeks, not.4 weeks in and as predicted my legs are permanently sore ::-). The Build Me Up Program seems much harder this time round. My FTP is a bit higher than when I last did it but the Unicorn workouts are sooo hard and long and last night the Purple Unicorn required me to drop my FTP down otherwise I would never have completed it. Even with the derated FTP saw me on my knees come the end.
Post by: JonBuoy on 28 October, 2021, 09:29:44 am
Last night I finally got round to doing the Zone Benchmarking workout with my FTP still set where it ended up last in April. I had had a 90 minute 'warmup' thrashing the MTB around in the last glimmer of daylight but I was pleasantly surprised that the zones felt somewhere near right. We shall see how I get on with the 'real' workouts...
Post by: PaulF on 28 October, 2021, 12:21:19 pm
Post by: JonBuoy on 28 October, 2021, 01:04:38 pm
Post by: PaulF on 28 October, 2021, 04:48:28 pm
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 29 October, 2021, 03:57:46 pm
Will definitely be back for more. I don't know how you can ride the race and chat.
Post by: yoav on 29 October, 2021, 05:42:56 pm
Post by: drossall on 29 October, 2021, 09:19:54 pm
In the real world, what motivates you to ride?I'm in a similar position - including the (badly) bit! We've had inter-club TTs for years with two or three other local clubs. They went onto Zwift in lockdown, and that was fun. A repeat for the winter has just been announced, so I'll do that. I do like the sportives as well - I don't do chat because I'm using a basic tablet and it's fully occupied just showing me the road. Never done any training and probably never will.
I get bored with it- I know the roads, I've got all the badges I'll ever get, the group ride chit chat can be tedious.
But I'm in a team, and I race (badly). That's pretty motivating.
But there are routes that I do like, and Zwift lets me do 30 or 60 minutes when I probably wouldn't bother in the real world. So not having too much of a boredom problem, even 18 months in.
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 30 October, 2021, 07:55:01 pm
Certainly the most entertaining and motivating way of getting a hard 45 minute workout which was about 70 minutes with warm up and cool down.
I would certainly never go that hard outside on the road.
Post by: yoav on 31 October, 2021, 04:03:25 pm
Looking at Zwift Power afterwards, I can see that lots of people ride in groups way lower than the power they make. Egos have a lot to answer for 😀
Post by: Legs on 02 November, 2021, 10:07:44 am
Looking at Zwift Power afterwards, I can see that lots of people ride in groups way lower than the power they make. Egos have a lot to answer for 😀So a complete twatbucket with a 20min power of 4.33w/kg was riding as a D in the 3R race I did last night. He must have missed the first selection, but on the second lap up Box Hill I was doing 330W and he was catching me hand-over-fist! ???
Post by: gibbo on 02 November, 2021, 11:50:00 am
Cheating in Zwift is well documented. I've seen stack loads of threads on the various Zwift forums which includes posts by people who openly admitted to cheating. Makes for some interesting reading.Looking at Zwift Power afterwards, I can see that lots of people ride in groups way lower than the power they make. Egos have a lot to answer for 😀So a complete twatbucket with a 20min power of 4.33w/kg was riding as a D in the 3R race I did last night. He must have missed the first selection, but on the second lap up Box Hill I was doing 330W and he was catching me hand-over-fist! ???
I got DQ'd from my first ever race. I was a complete novice to Zwift and racing so I had no idea where I ranked within the category system. I opted for D, got DQ'd and readup as to why. I now enter C cat rides and am accurate with respect to weight but see other Cat C people pissing all over me...
Post by: drossall on 02 November, 2021, 06:56:23 pm
Post by: Andy W on 04 November, 2021, 01:46:19 pm
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 04 November, 2021, 02:31:49 pm
The connection is with a simple HDMI cable. If you are using it on a tablet you probably have socket to which an hdmi adapter can be connected. Alternatively chromecast or other systems are available.
Post by: giropaul on 04 November, 2021, 10:09:29 pm
I've tried free trial of zwift on a tablet and am likely to sign up for annual subscription. I'd like to use a TV mounted on a wall bracket. Does the TV need to be Bluetooth? I'm using a Wattbike
Which variety of Wattbike? The Atom is interactive on gradients I believe, the older ones you need to increase effort/ gear for hills.
I use an older Pro version, works fine with the Zwift app. Possibly too well, because Wattbikes are usually cruelly accurate on power, as opposed to some other setups.
Post by: PaulF on 19 November, 2021, 05:03:32 pm
Lots of bright lights and the big city, think I like it :thumbsup:
Post by: JonBuoy on 19 November, 2021, 05:09:57 pm
Post by: Defblade on 19 November, 2021, 11:08:10 pm
Also, at least one of the sprints isn't working at all, and the upcoming sprint/kom warnings appear to be non-existent, and some have no hint of their length, which makes pacing impossible. You'd think they'd have that sort of basic function sorted by now...
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 27 November, 2021, 05:38:05 pm
Post by: Legs on 29 November, 2021, 10:28:19 am
Post by: drossall on 29 November, 2021, 01:38:01 pm
Bit of a washout as a group ride, even if the ride itself was OK.
Post by: TimC on 29 November, 2021, 02:14:18 pm
Post by: gibbo on 29 November, 2021, 03:26:35 pm
The other guys on the ride all got kicked out too.
Post by: drossall on 29 November, 2021, 07:31:13 pm
That's a loss of connection to the Zwift server. Most likely at your end, but could be anywhere in the system.Interesting. I've never quite worked out how much of the courses and scenery and so on are stored locally, and how much obtained on demand. So I assumed that the fact that I was still able to ride meant that I was still connected.
Post by: PaulF on 29 November, 2021, 08:26:46 pm
Post by: grams on 29 November, 2021, 08:42:19 pm
If it were streaming it might be able to switch worlds a bit quicker.
I'd love to know how drafting behaviour is implemented, since everyone influences one another which in turn influences your relative positions which influences your drafting, so it needs a pretty tight feedback loop. I presume there's some horrible bodge somewhere.
Post by: TimC on 30 November, 2021, 05:06:29 am
That's a loss of connection to the Zwift server. Most likely at your end, but could be anywhere in the system.Interesting. I've never quite worked out how much of the courses and scenery and so on are stored locally, and how much obtained on demand. So I assumed that the fact that I was still able to ride meant that I was still connected.
It's a great trick to deploy if you want to ride alone. Load up the program, then disable the computer's connection to the internet. Ride any course (if you have the course hack) in glorious solitude!
Post by: L CC on 30 November, 2021, 10:24:27 am
I might have been known to do this on well subscribed events where there is a cacophony of 'mooing'. If you've never experienced this phenomenon- lucky you.That's a loss of connection to the Zwift server. Most likely at your end, but could be anywhere in the system.Interesting. I've never quite worked out how much of the courses and scenery and so on are stored locally, and how much obtained on demand. So I assumed that the fact that I was still able to ride meant that I was still connected.
It's a great trick to deploy if you want to ride alone. Load up the program, then disable the computer's connection to the internet. Ride any course (if you have the course hack) in glorious solitude!
Post by: gibbo on 30 November, 2021, 12:46:30 pm
I might have been known to do this on well subscribed events where there is a cacophony of 'mooing'. If you've never experienced this phenomenon- lucky you.Assume you mean The Herd rides? I'm a "member" of The Herd and whilst others seem to love it [the mooing], I don't and changed my rider name to drop the reference. Maybe I'm less of a pack animal than I thought. Oh wait, I'm a Pack member too. I'm confused as to my identity now :facepalm:.
Post by: JonBuoy on 30 November, 2021, 01:09:04 pm
I started to enjoy it once I had stopped and seen the results :smug:
Post by: L CC on 30 November, 2021, 01:24:05 pm
If it was a Herd ride I'd be less bothered, but when there's 1000 riders doing a Fondo / Tour/ whatever ride and someone randomly moos.. and 50 of their Herdmates all join in? Ugh.I might have been known to do this on well subscribed events where there is a cacophony of 'mooing'. If you've never experienced this phenomenon- lucky you.Assume you mean The Herd rides? I'm a "member" of The Herd and whilst others seem to love it [the mooing], I don't and changed my rider name to drop the reference. Maybe I'm less of a pack animal than I thought. Oh wait, I'm a Pack member too. I'm confused as to my identity now :facepalm:.
Post by: drossall on 30 November, 2021, 01:42:01 pm
Post by: Legs on 03 December, 2021, 09:03:13 pm
Post by: grams on 03 December, 2021, 09:19:49 pm
Post by: drossall on 03 December, 2021, 09:33:47 pm
Post by: JonBuoy on 03 December, 2021, 09:37:33 pm
Post by: PaulF on 03 December, 2021, 11:15:44 pm
One of my team’s captains has set us all a target 5s power to attain by Christmas. My first target was 1000W, which was a bit low for me, so he’s upped it to 1200W, which I’ve never even achieved momentarily! I’d be delighted if I could get the 1.21 Gigawatts badge (actually 1.2kW) - my best is 1178W so far…
I’m humbled. I thought I was doing well when I hit 550W on a 10s sprint today. Obviously could try harder.
Post by: L CC on 04 December, 2021, 08:37:52 am
Mr Smith is tantalisingly close to 1000.
Post by: TimC on 04 December, 2021, 04:14:58 pm
Post by: Legs on 04 December, 2021, 10:58:23 pm
Post by: Legs on 20 December, 2021, 10:41:37 am
Last night I did a Masochism Special, which is a 1000W instantaneous sprint every minute, on the minute, as many times as you can manage. My previous best had been 13, but I pushed myself to do 32 yesterday evening. The first 5 or so are quite easy, but then... Normally, my fan keeps my sweat under control, but it was streaming into my eyes and making my hands ridiculously slippery yesterday. It might have been easier on a level, smooth 'road', because where I failed was on the offroad KOM, where I noticed wheelspin for the first time in Zwift.
(https://www.cyclechat.net/attachments/2021-12-19_1959213-jpg.622873/)
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 20 December, 2021, 12:12:39 pm
Post by: L CC on 20 December, 2021, 12:43:46 pm
Post by: Legs on 20 December, 2021, 05:02:41 pm
What is really upsetting is that for you that is only a TSS of 81!!I think Zwift thinks my FTP is 310, whereas I doubt it's more than 290 at the moment.
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 20 December, 2021, 08:14:05 pm
Post by: Legs on 21 December, 2021, 07:39:23 pm
Post by: Phil21 on 30 May, 2022, 10:23:14 pm
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 31 May, 2022, 09:08:43 am
Post by: Legs on 01 June, 2022, 06:05:23 am
Post by: Phil21 on 01 June, 2022, 08:02:14 am
Post by: Phil21 on 13 June, 2022, 09:50:26 pm
Looks like a heart rate monitor might be a good idea too. I splurged some of the money I saved in the Zwift sale on a Wahoo KICKR headwind fan which can link to your speed or HR...linking to speed doesn´t work very well when you´re going uphill slowly but working hard!
Post by: Legs on 15 June, 2022, 12:14:29 pm
I run it on a fairly ancient Windows laptop and it's okay. I'm hoping to get a TV and HDMI to it when I get round to tidying up my Zwifting suite - it's a bit of a mess atm. I've tried riding on an iPhone 7 screen before and, while it's okay for just pootling or workouts, it's much too small for racing.
For controlling, I run an AutoHotkey script on the laptop and have a Bluetooth remote button thingy on my handlebars so that I can navigate, activate power-ups, take photos, adjust workout bias etc without having to fiddle with the laptop. There's a good guide here (https://zwiftinsider.com/bluetooth-eracing-controller/).
HRM is essential if you're interested in racing - most races won't give you a classified 'zwiftpower' finish if you don't have a monitor. I use a Garmin Dual - connection can be flaky at times.
In spite of the rampant cheating, racing on Zwift is brilliant and brilliantly addictive. There's a separate race classification website called zwiftpower which is a goldmine of data and rankings. Registering (https://zwiftinsider.com/zwiftpower-signup/) is a bit of a convoluted process, but it's a one-time thing.
Post by: Phil21 on 15 June, 2022, 01:07:10 pm
For controlling, I run an AutoHotkey script on the laptop and have a Bluetooth remote button thingy on my handlebars so that I can navigate, activate power-ups, take photos, adjust workout bias etc without having to fiddle with the laptop. There's a good guide here (https://zwiftinsider.com/bluetooth-eracing-controller/).
Now that is a great idea. Thanks!
HRM is essential if you're interested in racing - most races won't give you a classified 'zwiftpower' finish if you don't have a monitor. I use a Garmin Dual - connection can be flaky at times.
I also bought a Garmin Dual, it should arrive sometime next week. Unfortunately I am a long, long way from being able to race, very overweight at the moment. I just want to get used to the platform and maybe try some workouts. Riding on the trainer still feels a little odd, somewhat unstable though it really isn't.
Post by: Legs on 16 June, 2022, 07:13:10 pm
Unfortunately I am a long, long way from being able to race, very overweight at the moment. I just want to get used to the platform and maybe try some workouts. Riding on the trainer still feels a little odd, somewhat unstable though it really isn't.There are regular time trial races on Zwift, on the pan-flat Tempus Fugit course and the hilly Bologna course, and they're good fun in a masochistic way, as well as being a great way to benchmark your fitness. If you're 'very overweight' at the moment, you'd see rapid improvements in your time on the Bologna course in particular as your w/kg improves. Ride On! :thumbsup:
I've now got an Echo Dot set up in my Zwifting suite, so I can listen to Enya without earphones while I'm turning myself inside out. Can also transmit messages to Mrs Legs and the children inside the house: 'Alexa, announce 'bring me some more water please!"'
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 17 June, 2022, 12:22:28 pm
Post by: gibbo on 20 June, 2022, 01:35:42 pm
Can also transmit messages to Mrs Legs and the children inside the house: 'Alexa, announce 'bring me some more water please!"'
I tried this once and it worked but with the proviso I never ask again... I think I also heard the words "You should be better prepared!".
Post by: Legs on 23 June, 2022, 10:16:35 am
Post by: Legs on 24 August, 2022, 08:26:39 pm
(https://www.cyclechat.net/attachments/59892c56-25a1-4bcc-bd7e-c088aecda33f-jpeg.658584/)
Post by: Legs on 24 August, 2022, 08:41:45 pm
Post by: Phil21 on 25 August, 2022, 11:06:04 am
How’s the Zwifting experience going, Phil21?
It hasn't recently, but I have a good excuse - I have just moved house and I did my own packing so I had to have everything packed up in advance. I actually unpacked the turbo trainer last night and will be setting up Zwift this evening! The good news is that I can now move it indoors (was in the garage previously) so the setup is going to be much nicer. Was on Amazon pricing big cheap TVs last night :-)
Post by: Defblade on 27 August, 2022, 06:36:36 pm
Finally managed the 1200W badge today!
(https://www.cyclechat.net/attachments/59892c56-25a1-4bcc-bd7e-c088aecda33f-jpeg.658584/)
Nice one :thumbsup:
Post by: gibbo on 23 September, 2022, 03:17:39 pm
I use an Apple Tv to run Zwift and also a PC both connected to a wall mounted TV.
The connection is with a simple HDMI cable. If you are using it on a tablet you probably have socket to which an hdmi adapter can be connected. Alternatively chromecast or other systems are available.
Hi Chris - wondered if you'd know?
I'm looking into getting an Apple TV box but know nothing about how the interconnection between the various pieces of kit required need some more info. Eg, how does the Kickr connect to the apple TV? I notice there are several generations of Apple TV boxes so if I were to buy a preloved one would they all work or do I need a certain generation and above?
Post by: Lightning Phil on 23 September, 2022, 05:14:55 pm
Finally managed the 1200W badge today!
(https://www.cyclechat.net/attachments/59892c56-25a1-4bcc-bd7e-c088aecda33f-jpeg.658584/)
How many minutes did you hold it for?
Post by: L CC on 23 September, 2022, 05:25:18 pm
Apple TV 4th Gen onwards will work- but only via bluetooth, and they have only 3 connections. Mine's a 2018 vintage, and the trainer sends cadence&power (1) I have HRM (2) and the ATV reserves one for its remote. If your trainer won't send power & cadence together you need a bridge to combine 2 of the sensors- I think you can do this through the companion app.I use an Apple Tv to run Zwift and also a PC both connected to a wall mounted TV.
The connection is with a simple HDMI cable. If you are using it on a tablet you probably have socket to which an hdmi adapter can be connected. Alternatively chromecast or other systems are available.
Hi Chris - wondered if you'd know?
I'm looking into getting an Apple TV box but know nothing about how the interconnection between the various pieces of kit required need some more info. Eg, how does the Kickr connect to the apple TV? I notice there are several generations of Apple TV boxes so if I were to buy a preloved one would they all work or do I need a certain generation and above?
Deets here from DCR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaPsZVFAzH0
Post by: gibbo on 23 September, 2022, 05:55:40 pm
Apple TV 4th Gen onwards will work- but only via bluetooth, and they have only 3 connections. Mine's a 2018 vintage, and the trainer sends cadence&power (1) I have HRM (2) and the ATV reserves one for its remote. If your trainer won't send power & cadence together you need a bridge to combine 2 of the sensors- I think you can do this through the companion app.I use an Apple Tv to run Zwift and also a PC both connected to a wall mounted TV.
The connection is with a simple HDMI cable. If you are using it on a tablet you probably have socket to which an hdmi adapter can be connected. Alternatively chromecast or other systems are available.
Hi Chris - wondered if you'd know?
I'm looking into getting an Apple TV box but know nothing about how the interconnection between the various pieces of kit required need some more info. Eg, how does the Kickr connect to the apple TV? I notice there are several generations of Apple TV boxes so if I were to buy a preloved one would they all work or do I need a certain generation and above?
Deets here from DCR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaPsZVFAzH0
Cheers, fboab.
Post by: drossall on 23 September, 2022, 07:32:56 pm
Finally managed the 1200W badge today!I got that when my cadence/speed sensor blew up and started producing wild readings. I suddenly accelerated to 40mph and got three badges in the space of a mile, at which point Zwift decided something funny was going on and blocked any further rewards. Unlikely I'll ever get it the honest way, and no way to repudiate it anyway.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 23 September, 2022, 08:44:11 pm
I am feeling a bit aggrieved after my last ride, attempting the Bigger Loop. I was going well having done the Epic KOM and so on, then I reached the turn off to the Alpe and as soon as I went past it my progress indicator and ride title disappeared. ISTR I had about 20km to go and I rode on until I'd done 54km but no coconut - I'd done the route but Zwift didn't award my badge. Almost my last route to bag in Watopia, too. Even Strava said I'd done it.
It's the principle of the thing..
Post by: gibbo on 27 September, 2022, 11:36:50 am
Apple TV 4th Gen onwards will work- but only via bluetooth, and they have only 3 connections. Mine's a 2018 vintage, and the trainer sends cadence&power (1) I have HRM (2) and the ATV reserves one for its remote. If your trainer won't send power & cadence together you need a bridge to combine 2 of the sensors- I think you can do this through the companion app.I use an Apple Tv to run Zwift and also a PC both connected to a wall mounted TV.
The connection is with a simple HDMI cable. If you are using it on a tablet you probably have socket to which an hdmi adapter can be connected. Alternatively chromecast or other systems are available.
Hi Chris - wondered if you'd know?
I'm looking into getting an Apple TV box but know nothing about how the interconnection between the various pieces of kit required need some more info. Eg, how does the Kickr connect to the apple TV? I notice there are several generations of Apple TV boxes so if I were to buy a preloved one would they all work or do I need a certain generation and above?
Deets here from DCR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaPsZVFAzH0
Cheers, fboab.
Big arse TV hung on the garage wall and Apple TV box installed. Didn't connect the cadence meter, my fault, and the screen size wasn't quite right as clipped the image. Both sorted very easily and everything works as expected - I'm a convert to using Zwift this way meaning my laptop is now redundant!
The TV is probably a bit close due to space constraints but it gives the impression of being right on the wheel of the rider in front (my preferred position).
Post by: PaulF on 28 September, 2022, 09:12:21 am
Post by: gibbo on 28 September, 2022, 09:52:14 am
Good news; I did a FTP test this morning and it's up by 10%, the bad news is that workouts will be 10% harder :(
Are you doing the Zwift Academy rides? I've done the benchmark test (I'm a sprinter, apparently, much to the amusement of my cycling buddies) and x3 of the subsequent workouts. Wondering if I will have improved when the second benchmark test comes around? My FTP is (was) 265 but I found I had to drop down to about 92% of that otherwise I would have ground to a halt.
Post by: PaulF on 28 September, 2022, 10:19:47 am
Post by: L CC on 28 September, 2022, 11:08:57 am
I'm doing the Academy and am about 15% worse than when I started last year. Yay. It said I was a TT-er but mostly because it's too polite to say 'a bit shit'Good news; I did a FTP test this morning and it's up by 10%, the bad news is that workouts will be 10% harder :(
Are you doing the Zwift Academy rides? I've done the benchmark test (I'm a sprinter, apparently, much to the amusement of my cycling buddies) and x3 of the subsequent workouts. Wondering if I will have improved when the second benchmark test comes around? My FTP is (was) 265 but I found I had to drop down to about 92% of that otherwise I would have ground to a halt.
Post by: gibbo on 29 September, 2022, 01:19:32 pm
No, not doing anything structured at the moment; it's more pick a workout that looks interesting and fits my available timeApparently Zwift have made the Academy rides "on demand" now. I thought I'd try it out tomorrow rather than try and make my time fit around their timetable.
Post by: Legs on 29 September, 2022, 08:05:58 pm
Post by: L CC on 30 September, 2022, 08:51:29 am
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 07 October, 2022, 10:14:43 pm
Post by: TimC on 07 October, 2022, 11:18:53 pm
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 08 October, 2022, 07:33:22 am
Post by: TimC on 08 October, 2022, 09:40:48 am
Post by: Legs on 10 October, 2022, 08:54:36 am
Titans Grove KOM: 1:37 -> 1:30 (537W)
Sprint: 23.5 -> 22.8 (855W)
Volcano Climb: 8:22 -> 7:59 (318W)
and got a season's best 1-min power (610W).
I'm not convinced that the ZA workouts are ideally suited to training up what my current weakness is, which is 20-min power. Unfortunately I think that's going to require some SST and Gorbies...
Post by: L CC on 10 October, 2022, 08:58:09 am
I'm not convinced that the ZA workouts are ideally suited to training up what my current weakness is, which is 20-min power. Unfortunately I think that's going to require some SST and Gorbies...Racing. You know this makes sense.
I also finished ZA over the weekend but any improvement was marginal. Which is a shame, as I really really need some.
Post by: Legs on 10 October, 2022, 09:28:45 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 13 November, 2022, 05:42:08 pm
I am Mark Cavendish :thumbsup:
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 25 December, 2022, 03:49:50 pm
I was beaten by a ‘WattFabrik’ rider.
Post by: Defblade on 07 January, 2023, 08:47:12 pm
I think my FTP has fallen somewhere between 10-20%, and I'm not doing much over 30 minutes at a time - I really don't want to stress my body into any sort of relapse. (So I'm not inclined to do any sort of FTP test at the moment!)
But it's good to be back, and I'm hoping the fitness will pick up fairly quickly with regular work.
Post by: Legs on 12 January, 2023, 12:56:06 pm
Are you doing any of the Tour de Zwift events? I’m a little bit OCD so, having done Stage 1, I’m definitely going to have to find the time to get in rides for all eight stages! ;D
Post by: L CC on 12 January, 2023, 01:27:27 pm
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 12 January, 2023, 02:23:37 pm
My wife and I now share a Peloton+. They do powwerzone training with teams and competitions. I have now signed up for 4 rides per week with additional off bike strength classes and have to complete them to help my team be platinum!!
Post by: drossall on 12 January, 2023, 05:46:37 pm
Ah yes, another series to diligently complete to collect a hideous (and this one is particularly hideous) kit I'll never wear...Isn't that quite like IRL?
Post by: Defblade on 12 January, 2023, 09:41:15 pm
Are you doing any of the Tour de Zwift events?
No, I quickly decided they'd be too much for me at the moment. I tried the 50 minute SST(short) work out the other day, and despite turning the ERG down to 90% and then 80%, I had to bail before 40 minutes. So I'm sticking to flattish 30ish minute rides at the moment, just to get my legs moving again.
In the meantime, I'm due to have some bollock surgery (epididymal cyst removed) in a couple of week's time, so that's likely to put the recovery on hold for a week or two after as well!
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 13 January, 2023, 09:26:32 am
I have completely stopped Zwift. Wonderful freedom to ride for fun and enjoyment.
My wife and I now share a Peloton+. They do powwerzone training with teams and competitions. I have now signed up for 4 rides per week with additional off bike strength classes and have to complete them to help my team be platinum!!
Peloton+ sounds like enslavement! What if you fail in your tasks?
Any form of structured training is a complete no-no for me. I only measured my FTP once, about 18 months ago and now I don't need to know. It is where it's at.
I did the cat A tdz ride y'day and was very happy to be about 200th out of 500 with a very satisfying(for me) sprint to the line. I may do the whole tour or I may not. The kit is indeed hideous.
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 13 January, 2023, 10:52:30 am
Post by: sojournermike on 13 January, 2023, 08:35:32 pm
A real positive is that my wife wants to ‘start to do some cardio’ so she can spin on the ‘little turbo’ alongside - and I can spin along and climb as fast or slow as I like and we’ll always be together!
Post by: drossall on 13 January, 2023, 11:18:09 pm
Any form of structured training is a complete no-no for me. I only measured my FTP once, about 18 months ago and now I don't need to know.I am currently at level 36 in Zwift. I have never done any Zwift training programme of any form. If I had, of course, I'd have earned more rewards and been at least level 38! Like you, I enjoy the TdZ type rides.
Post by: morbihan on 30 January, 2023, 04:59:05 pm
Post by: JonBuoy on 30 January, 2023, 06:17:18 pm
anyone using the Tour De Zwift series to get some winter training in?
Yep. I am currently using the trainer to get some exercise while I recover from a knee injury that I suspect was brought on by the trainer ::-)
I like the way that I can either pootle along or go for it and there are always groups to ride with/catch/whatever.
I am using it to tick off a few route badges. Just done the Stage 7 C ride (as I already had the A and B route badges) which wasn't particularly long so then I grabbed another one that I hadn't done.
Looking forward to Stage 8 to explore another imaginary world.
Post by: drossall on 30 January, 2023, 06:50:25 pm
Looking forward to Scotland, as I'll be up there taking Scouts cycling at around the same time as the World's.
Post by: morbihan on 30 January, 2023, 11:11:29 pm
Im looking forward to Scotland too.
Ms Morbihan and myself haver both been ticking them off. Sometimes all three distances or a couple, or just the one. Our schedules are pretty flexible right now which helps a lot.
Ive ended up using it as a race type scenario for the most part with a decent warm up then trying to nose towards the head of the race.
For me that invariably means the second group, missing out on the front fliers, or further back on the climbier courses.
Ironically we have some nice weather conditions outside at the mo, but its just so easy jumping on the turbo and particularly with the hard efforts there's no worry of traffic/interruptions.
I like the multi national nature of it and after initially not warming to of Zwift in general, have really had an about face and taken to it.
It's such a good way of mixing up the cycling part of life.
Ms Morbihan had a shyte time with chemo last year but was able to do some rides in between treatments. Now she is all clear and post treatments and she is loving the TDZ and the herd rides as a way of getting her fitness back.
best of luck with the last couple of courses.
Wonder what's coming up after this?
Post by: MattH on 31 January, 2023, 07:44:22 am
At the moment I'm enjoying it, and got sucked into TDZ on stage four. It's certainly pushing me a bit to keep up in a pack (finishing around the 1/3 of the field mark in cat C), and giving a bit of focus. There'll be the first three stages to do in the catch up week though, if I want to complete the set. And it's bumped my FTP up again. I probably ought to do another test now I'm more used to it.
It'd be nice if there was a bit longer on availability for each stage, possibly with an overlap; I was away this weekend, so not at home on Friday when stage 6 became available, and only arriving back early evening on Sunday - so "had" to do it that evening. Luckily my usual riding time is 11pm, so could jump on the last possible slot, though I was somewhat tired having spent part of the day walking in the hills in Wales before driving home. It can't be that unusual for people to be away for a weekend. But, it was still fun.
Stage 7 was a relatively easy ride, looking forward to stage 8.
Post by: Legs on 31 January, 2023, 09:08:11 am
It'd be nice if there was a bit longer on availability for each stage, possibly with an overlap; I was away this weekend, so not at home on Friday when stage 6 became available, and only arriving back early evening on Sunday - so "had" to do it that evening. Luckily my usual riding time is 11pm, so could jump on the last possible slot, though I was somewhat tired having spent part of the day walking in the hills in Wales before driving home. It can't be that unusual for people to be away for a weekend. But, it was still fun.I did Stage 6 at 5am on Friday for this reason. I've been doing the 'Standard' rides, mostly in 5am timeslots, and picked up a top-ten placing on six of the seven stages so far (I know, I know, it's not really a race, but it sure feels like it at the front!). I might have to go back to London in the make-up week and try for a top-ten there to complete the set.
(https://www.cyclechat.net/attachments/1675156038461-png.676261/)
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 31 January, 2023, 09:31:05 am
anyone using the Tour De Zwift series to get some winter training in?
Just earned my masochists' badge. Totally shocked when it appeared. :o
Post by: Legs on 31 January, 2023, 09:44:19 am
Just earned my masochists' badge. Totally shocked when it appeared. :oAwesome. I'm on 21 AdZs so far. I'm planning to do 23, 24 and 25 in the same ride - it'll be about 3.5hours, which is a long ride for me.
Post by: L CC on 31 January, 2023, 01:22:30 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230131/d15ec66a7265aa4c774348be76700749.jpg)
Post by: JonBuoy on 31 January, 2023, 03:17:08 pm
Anyone want to finish this off for me? I'm OK with single leg drills but not for >an hour.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230131/d15ec66a7265aa4c774348be76700749.jpg)
Admit it - you just want the lovely kit :P
I can't help with the full kit but have a backwards cap going spare if you want to look a bit of a twat.
Post by: morbihan on 03 February, 2023, 04:55:43 pm
To date I entered 12 of the events in varying distances. Going pretty hard at them for me. Efforts ranged from 248 to 321 watts NP. (I'm 79 kg, late 50's)
I managed a 6th on one of the flatter events but was generally dropped by the climbers on lumps and have no sprint.
I'll probably do another distance over the weekend but am feeling the repeated efforts.
Ms Morbihan has managed them all too, its been a big hit in the house.
Anyone else done the Scotland route?
Post by: drossall on 03 February, 2023, 05:32:17 pm
Post by: JonBuoy on 03 February, 2023, 06:42:49 pm
ETA: I appear to have an insect bite on my right knee. It looks like the Wahoo Midginator is functioning well ::-)
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 04 February, 2023, 04:29:11 pm
Did the 32km yesterday. It was a fierce pace after half way. I came in at my usual place with 2/3rds in front and 1/3rd behind. Hardly any Scots to be seen although lots of North Americans apparently visiting the old country. Typical Zwift realism!
Post by: gibbo on 06 February, 2023, 09:13:25 am
Anyone want to finish this off for me? I'm OK with single leg drills but not for >an hour.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230131/d15ec66a7265aa4c774348be76700749.jpg)
I missed stage 6 so will do it this week. I notice it's the Three Sisters stage (hilly-ish) which doesn't appeal one bit so I've signed up for the shortest/ least climbing option just to complete the full series. In my defence my legs are a bit shot from over-Zwifting at the end of last week and weekend.
Post by: Legs on 06 February, 2023, 01:26:52 pm
Post by: drossall on 06 February, 2023, 01:30:38 pm
I missed stage 6 so will do it this week.Me too - just that one to go. Difficult to fit in because the climbing is going to make it slow and I've got commitments every night, pretty much :-\
Post by: MattH on 06 February, 2023, 01:40:57 pm
To be fair, I only signed up for Zwift during January, and didn't realise TdZ was a thing until stage 4 was on.
Last night was my first go at AdZ; I didn't have a lot of time, so just did the first 300m of ascent (corner 15?) - basically I rode until my nominal cut-off time then to the next corner, before doing a u-turn and rolling back down. Looking forward to doing the whole thing though, I just need to set aside some time to do it.
Post by: drossall on 06 February, 2023, 05:10:39 pm
Post by: MattH on 06 February, 2023, 11:09:20 pm
Now just got to figure out when I can fit in stage 1.
Post by: morbihan on 06 February, 2023, 11:27:20 pm
I jumped on one this morning.
306 watts average got me about 40th place in B cat. Yikes!
Over and done on 18 mins so like a Crit.
Interestingly looking at the stats, the A cat was a good bit slower. Weight of numbers sucking the B's along I guess.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 07 February, 2023, 10:45:15 am
I notice it is possible to get back to past events on 'Companion' by a date change, but I have not had time for further investigation.
If you did enter a long-past event and was the only rider, what would happen? Might try it later today.
Post by: Legs on 07 February, 2023, 11:08:09 am
You can also get into non-calendar worlds by setting up a meet-up, or by using the world tag hack (https://zwiftinsider.com/world-tag/) if you're on PC or Mac.
Post by: JonBuoy on 07 February, 2023, 11:33:52 am
Post by: JonBuoy on 07 February, 2023, 12:41:40 pm
IWAPOT
Only 21 more levels to go ::-)
Post by: Legs on 08 February, 2023, 11:39:34 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 08 February, 2023, 01:14:25 pm
I turned my fan up to the max, and chipped 90s off my PB up AdZ yesterday morning in the 3R race, down to 46:33 (308W at 73.5kg). Annoyingly, I didn't even place as top 'B' in the race because I was outsprinted by a German fella who sat on my wheel for the last few switchbacks. I was focussed purely on getting a fast time, rather than playing cat-and-mouse, but he'd probably have pwned me in the sprint anyway.
Will try turning up the fan. So far my PB is 67', never worried about the seconds.
Post by: PaulF on 08 February, 2023, 01:40:35 pm
Much easier than that, do a workout (which allows you to select any world which isn't event-only), then skip through the workout blocks if you just want to free-ride.
…
Can’t access Scotland yet that way - at least I couldn’t this morning. Think you need to wait until the world is officially released.
Post by: MattH on 10 February, 2023, 08:37:55 pm
I do need to have a look at my setup though. I'm on the Trice XL, which means I get to sit down, though I can't get out of the saddle on climbs. The problem is that I had to raise the front wheels so that the rear triangle would clear the trainer. It's sat on some crates, but they are a bit high really; I need to see if I can lower the front end a bit so my legs aren't quite as airborne. Similarly, the top of the seat is a bit uncomfortable on my shoulders; I've not noticed that outside so think it's because I'm leaning back more. At the moment a towel is padding that, and the headrest I made helps me stay comfy. I might need to look at padding on the seat, or maybe making the trike a bit more horizontal will help.
At some point I'll put an upright bike on it to give that a try.
Post by: Kim on 11 February, 2023, 12:55:28 am
Similarly, the top of the seat is a bit uncomfortable on my shoulders; I've not noticed that outside so think it's because I'm leaning back more. At the moment a towel is padding that, and the headrest I made helps me stay comfy. I might need to look at padding on the seat, or maybe making the trike a bit more horizontal will help.
For the truncated 2020 BHPC season, I raced barakta's ICE Sprint. (It was, alas, no match for Chairman Al's Shiny! New! Windcheetah, which bagged the multi-track trophy.)
I found that I was getting bruises on my shoulder-blades, in a way that I'd *never* had on it in road-riding conditions. The problem seemed to be that the mesh was bottoming out on the supporting strut, and no amount of tightening the straps with reasonable force was sufficient to prevent it. In the end, taking inspiration from TEAM ORANGE (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=113381.msg2540365#msg2540365), I gaffer-taped some closed-cell foam over the seat to spread the load a bit, which was good enough for a couple more cumulative hours of racing where I was going to be soaked in sweat anyway.
(My usual preference is for hardshell seats, which - assuming they fit properly - don't have this problem.)
Post by: MattH on 11 February, 2023, 09:30:13 am
I could try pushing the rear triangle in a little more, which would push the seat a little more vertical, but I think the real solution will be either to get a taller seat or make up an extension that incorporates a headrest then a new cover for the whole seat to avoid there being a joint to either rub or pinch. As you say, hardshell looks like the right kind of answer (assuming they don't get too sweaty).
Post by: Legs on 11 February, 2023, 10:37:10 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 11 February, 2023, 03:51:31 pm
Sometimes there is only a single rider in Team Greece Climbing TT Race Cat A so all you have to do is get up Ven-top, take all day if you like.
Post by: drossall on 12 February, 2023, 12:10:19 am
Finally managed it earlier this evening, at pretty much the last opportunity. Luckily the Climber's Gambit turned out not to finish up at the ski station, so was shorter than I feared.I missed stage 6 so will do it this week.Me too - just that one to go. Difficult to fit in because the climbing is going to make it slow and I've got commitments every night, pretty much :-\
Post by: Legs on 12 February, 2023, 07:40:16 am
Here's a tip: the only race I have got a placing was in cat A Team Greece Climbing TT Race.Yeah, I’ve seen that they get rather scant fields…
I think I must have a screw loose because I rather like doing TTS on Zwift, but I don’t think there’s any sense doing different courses all the time without a consistent field to benchmark myself against. I love Bologna because it really rewards a big 8-minute over-threshold effort!
TBF I rather like the 3R races where all cats start together - in that way I can gauge myself against the strong Bs as well as the As.
Post by: drossall on 12 February, 2023, 09:51:54 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 19 February, 2023, 02:18:30 pm
Here's a tip: the only race I have got a placing was in cat A Team Greece Climbing TT Race.Yeah, I’ve seen that they get rather scant fields…
I think I must have a screw loose because I rather like doing TTS on Zwift, but I don’t think there’s any sense doing different courses all the time without a consistent field to benchmark myself against. I love Bologna because it really rewards a big 8-minute over-threshold effort!
TBF I rather like the 3R races where all cats start together - in that way I can gauge myself against the strong Bs as well as the As.
I'm a cat C, but now and then I do enter a race in the cat above. My target is to avoid coming last! What happens is that I find a group I can keep up with, probably near my FTP, and ride with them as long as possible. Probably 2/3rds after the start they decide to get a move on and I get left behind, still going close to my FTP. Near the finish I usually get passed by someone who has woken up and can do the last bit at 6 w/kg whereas I am too knackered to get much above 4. I think it tests me more than riding in my proper category and so far I have not been lantern rouge!
Can't see any reason to ride in the lower category and anyway category enforcement seems the rule now mostly.
Post by: Legs on 20 February, 2023, 12:13:07 pm
I'm a cat C, but now and then I do enter a race in the cat above. My target is to avoid coming last! ... I think it tests me more than riding in my proper category and so far I have not been lantern rouge!
Definitely with you on this one. I did the first of the latest Zwift TT series yesterday - one lap around the Glasgow course - and managed 8th/11, though I later found out that two of my three scalps were B-riders 'racing up' in A. I reckon I could have got 6th with a bit of course reconnaissance - the start line was quite a long way beyond the start pen, and I burnt a few matches riding hard before I reached the line. There was even a reasonable downhill right before the timing beam!
Post by: morbihan on 20 February, 2023, 04:45:32 pm
I'm bog standard B but entered the A.
What I found interesting was that the Zwift power race results in the A aligned much more closely with the individual power abilities of the racers were as with the B's its all over the place.
Needless to say I was in the rear echelon after the elastic snapped on the first proper ramp, regardless of a handy feather.
I may continue to nip into an A, if nothing more than to practice the TT once uncoupled.
Post by: drossall on 20 February, 2023, 05:32:00 pm
I reckon I could have got 6th with a bit of course reconnaissance - the start line was quite a long way beyond the start pen, and I burnt a few matches riding hard before I reached the line.This is something I haven't figured out. I just go from the off. But I always end up with a time 30 seconds or so longer than the timer on my screen shows when I finish. That's the opposite situation to what you seem to be describing - the clock starts when I leave the pen. As I read what you're saying, the clock should start at the course start.
There must be some information on this pretty basic stuff about Zwift time trials, but I've never found it. I'm thinking for example of the British Cycling weekly ones.
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 23 February, 2023, 04:41:55 pm
Today converted the Zwift steed from triple to double as the triple was losing me time doing unnecessary changes. Larger cassette, longer chain and the front shift limited to the two outers. A test run in New York went ok, so tomorrow it's the 'Climbers Gambit', attempting the Rapha Rising challenge. I suppose triples are old hat now.
Post by: Legs on 23 February, 2023, 07:58:31 pm
Post by: morbihan on 23 February, 2023, 08:19:18 pm
We have a smart bike so the gears are plugged in.
I have found that the go-to gear I use racing on the flat and small bumps is 52/16 and either side of that on the cassette, so low 3's on the ratio.
Ive noted that the watts generally go up when I drop down a gear. feels kind of counter intuitive to how I would imagine, but its there to see on the read out.
RPM tends to be 80 to 90.
I don't tend to use the smaller rings racing unless its a monster climb (and I try to avoid racing hills), but do when cruising. The computer allows you a huge spread on the sprocket of course which isn't realistic on a physical bike.
I did use the. 3rd tiny 28 ring when doing the taxc mountain climbs.
Post by: drossall on 23 February, 2023, 10:23:34 pm
I have found that the go-to gear I use racing on the flat and small bumps is 52/16 and either side of that on the cassette...That's going some. I'm still using the single-speed set-up I described on page 1 here, on 50*19 I think. So 70" to your 85.5". But it works really well for me and at least I'm not worrying about what gear to choose all the time.
I had forgotten how important this thread was in getting me going on Zwift.
Post by: MattH on 12 March, 2023, 12:29:05 pm
I'm actually not too worried as I'm not a serious zwifter, just interested. If she likes it, we'll just sort out a trial account then a full one.
Post by: Legs on 13 March, 2023, 09:53:31 am
If she's doing it for the sake of having a bit of scenery to see as she rides, and some feedback about her power, and isn't too fussed about having 'real' riders around her, perhaps she could set up a free RGT account instead?
Post by: gibbo on 13 March, 2023, 11:12:09 am
Last week, at the expense to all the group rides I normally do, I only did ToW rides so I can level up quicker.
Post by: JonBuoy on 13 March, 2023, 12:56:45 pm
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52744903749_ea71b32397.jpg)
Post by: morbihan on 13 March, 2023, 01:18:32 pm
I did all three distances on the TOW last week, as did Ms Morbihan. The workout space needs airing out!
Ive found it a good way to get some threshold efforts done without playing in the traffic outside.
Post by: Phil21 on 14 March, 2023, 12:42:23 pm
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225476683606?hash=item347f752756:g:GNUAAOSwKQ9kDaek&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4K5FMBSZv6gNAGmJ%2BsgWCVn8MBPM8J1tBrP1ciJKItk9LpmCHC6cYWg1cHO0LADBOiHjGVL%2B2fF5E3tyqJDbQJ6Ol09r%2BtvbNzawXWueVhR0NUdSYwrsR0obxopEs5fXAV0CEPXfIThRm6x6riuSPi7aiUuuMArvUAgW5Fr%2FLOlrlY1KCvYm%2FtnvhURjW1XuwoQzDzheesD8qsQKEUHjfea1QKILhA%2Bu3tJxYcNSTV9amLFrquWHu7DG2WPFhw0UcjsYTmwqbpyRrIOshS7kR%2FCoce8Yy3Oi68vg4Y6CYXpR%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR87ZzPvbYQ
I don't care about the cosmetics as long as the gears are in working condition.
Do you think it's a reasonable price?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 15 March, 2023, 09:36:29 am
My neighbour told me facebook market was a good place for 2nd hand bikes.
Post by: Phil21 on 16 March, 2023, 10:24:44 pm
Seems expensive for something you'll just be using for Zwift. I use an old tourer with a steel frame. It has the right geometry and enough gears. Heavy though, it you are lugging it up to the attic.
My neighbour told me facebook market was a good place for 2nd hand bikes.
I suspected it was, though I don't really have much idea of how much used bikes go for. I'm going to see a more local one at the weekend for 200 GBP. I'm so busy at the moment I don't want to have to spend any time building a frame up or anything.
I'm not on facebook so that rules that out.
Post by: morbihan on 21 March, 2023, 10:48:50 am
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 21 March, 2023, 01:38:46 pm
Post by: Legs on 22 March, 2023, 09:30:36 am
Post by: JonBuoy on 22 March, 2023, 09:45:37 am
I'm going to need to get onto a 4am ride to get the Quatch Quest stage 3 ride done before my family comes down for breakfast at 6am. Alternative would be to do it in the evening and be full-on antisocial with my wife. I've not done any of the other ToWracesrides but QQ is one of the routes I've not completed yet.
I entered yesterday evening's 17:00 version of the same ride as an 'easy' way of ticking off the badge and to see how the covid recovery is going. By 17:05 I had my answer :(
Saturday's 200k audax should sort me out ::-)
Post by: Legs on 22 March, 2023, 10:33:36 am
Saturday's 200k audax should sort me out ::-)... or finish you off!
I DOMSed myself at parkrun on Saturday and am still feeling a bit tender, so pleased to be able to tick this one off. The crests of the 'bridge' are at 95% FTP.
(https://dgtzuqphqg23d.cloudfront.net/Q4UW-__g9Tr9CeWgyJtmO_kjg37qh4ut2lwcPkseCqE-2048x1151.jpg)
https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/gp-lama/lamas-sydney-harbour-bridge (https://whatsonzwift.com/workouts/gp-lama/lamas-sydney-harbour-bridge)
Post by: drossall on 22 March, 2023, 01:15:41 pm
Post by: L CC on 22 March, 2023, 01:46:15 pm
The first one I left my poor mini-me at the side of the road for 3 hours.
The second one I late joined and left her for 2 hours while I iced and elevated.
The 3rd I late joined the same event as Mr Smith was actually riding and for the first time, My Apple TV failed to connect to my trainer. Instead, it connected to Mr Smith's, adamantly refused to recognise mine, after 4 attempts I gave up trying (I still pedalled away with my HR connected) and he powered both of us. Late joining after 20+ minutes dropped me almost at the top of the volcano in position 400(ish) while Mr Smith plodded away in 1300(ish).
My prowess in the runs is worse- late joining after 20 minutes left me with less than a km to row this morning. I ended up rowing extra as I was embarrassed to have got changed for 650m. It's hard work with only one leg pushing- the other still can't bend enough to row, let alone put any power through.
Still, I'm getting some of that double XP (having been stuck at the max level 21 running for a year it's nice to see that bar move again) and will have yet another virtual kit I'll never wear.
Post by: drossall on 22 March, 2023, 01:55:34 pm
... and will have yet another virtual kit I'll virtually never wear.
Post by: L CC on 22 March, 2023, 01:58:40 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 22 March, 2023, 08:04:57 pm
I was just happy to do it, although I took at least 40 minutes more than a Cat A rider would!
Post by: Legs on 23 March, 2023, 09:10:58 am
I'm going to need to get onto a 4am ride to get the Quatch Quest stage 3 ride done before my family comes down for breakfast at 6am. Alternative would be to do it in the evening and be full-on antisocial with my wife. I've not done any of the other ToWI did 'full-on antisocial' last night because Jo had some work-work that she needed to get done.racesrides but QQ is one of the routes I've not completed yet.
(https://dgtzuqphqg23d.cloudfront.net/DLX48sckvfot-WjvNgifLb07P9gtoGm172KJuQ3n_MQ-2048x1151.jpg)
I managed to hold my own on Titans Grove, and crested the Epic KOM with the leaders, but then got dropped on the descent, ploughed a lonely furrow through the Jungle, and my legs fell off on AdZ, probably in part because of my tough workout in the morning. Not in a hurry to do that one again.
Post by: MattH on 06 April, 2023, 07:32:25 am
Doing the short Sand and Sequoias Tour of Watopia the night before last, there's a section that's quite winding, with rollers making you go up and down quickly. The sort of road I find really good fun out in that huge room with the blue ceiling. It was really quite odd; I know I'm susceptible to it when playing some computer games, but for the first time I felt motion sickness on Zwift. I think it was a combination of the increased movement on screen, plus being on the upwrong meant the slight wobble of the trainer is amplified due to being much higher up and away from the pivot point (to be clear, there isn't much movement, but it is perceptible).
Post by: drossall on 06 April, 2023, 10:37:51 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 09 April, 2023, 08:43:50 pm
Post by: TimC on 10 April, 2023, 02:11:44 pm
Post by: gibbo on 11 April, 2023, 07:53:37 am
There's one on Thursday that I could possibly do but it's really not very convenient at all. I guess I could sit in the pen for 60mins and start when I'm ready? I'd be starting and finishing last ::-)
Post by: L CC on 11 April, 2023, 08:51:33 am
There's one on Thursday that I could possibly do but it's really not very convenient at all. I guess I could sit in the pen for 60mins and start when I'm ready? I'd be starting and finishing last ::-)
Welcome to my world :-[
Late join for 30 minutes on all of them?
Post by: JonBuoy on 11 April, 2023, 09:13:17 am
I'm going to need to get onto a 4am ride to get the Quatch Quest stage 3 ride done before my family comes down for breakfast at 6am. Alternative would be to do it in the evening and be full-on antisocial with my wife. I've not done any of the other ToWracesrides but QQ is one of the routes I've not completed yet.
I entered yesterday evening's 17:00 version of the same ride as an 'easy' way of ticking off the badge and to see how the covid recovery is going. By 17:05 I had my answer :(
Saturday's 200k audax should sort me out ::-)
I was still testing positive on the Friday before the audax so gave it a miss.
Finally tested negative on 29th March and did the long version of stage 4 of ToW on 31st. I got in a decent group, didn't feel too bad and quite enjoyed it but noticed afterwards that my heartrate seemed fairly high for the power I was producing.
Yesterday the forecast was poor so I entered the long version of stage 2 of ToW. Half way through I was annoyed to see sunshine streaming through the windows and thought that I may have made a poor decision. Then there was a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder followed by a period of torrential rain :smug:
All the non-sprinty power numbers were remarkably similar to the previous ToW ride but both the max and average heart rates were down by 14bpm :thumbsup:
Post by: gibbo on 11 April, 2023, 09:55:12 am
I believe so. I think I'll join, sit in the pen, go back to work then start riding when I can.There's one on Thursday that I could possibly do but it's really not very convenient at all. I guess I could sit in the pen for 60mins and start when I'm ready? I'd be starting and finishing last ::-)
Late join for 30 minutes on all of them?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 11 April, 2023, 10:40:47 am
It may well have tried to upload to Strava, but Strava may have rejected it as the time of recording and a significant number of datapoints will have been identical to the original upload. Try deleting that and trying again.
Sorted, thanks!
Post by: Phil21 on 08 May, 2023, 08:34:31 pm
Coming down was .... interesting. I had to look away from the screen as all the turns, coupled with the smart trainer increasing and decreasing resistance over the humps such that it felt like I was flying at times, made me quite nauseous.
Post by: drossall on 08 May, 2023, 09:40:13 pm
Coming down was .... interesting. I had to look away from the screen as all the turns, coupled with the smart trainer increasing and decreasing resistance over the humps such that it felt like I was flying at times, made me quite nauseous.I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like that. Don't think I'd be any good descending a real Alp.
Zwifting can get pretty intents at times.
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/a70lyni1nq7sptq/ZwiftingGetsInTents-small.jpg?raw=1)
Post by: gibbo on 09 May, 2023, 11:52:09 am
Post by: PaulF on 09 May, 2023, 01:23:32 pm
I went up Alpe du Zwift for the first time today. I will not tell you my time, but I was the second slowest person up the mountain :-) But at least I have a "PR" in each of the stages now, should help with pacing in the future.
Coming down was .... interesting. I had to look away from the screen as all the turns, coupled with the smart trainer increasing and decreasing resistance over the humps such that it felt like I was flying at times, made me quite nauseous.
You still did better than me; I tried on Saturday and gave up, exhausted at about turn 10. Managed Epic KOM this morning but suffering now.
Post by: Phil21 on 09 May, 2023, 05:17:22 pm
I went up Alpe du Zwift for the first time today. I will not tell you my time, but I was the second slowest person up the mountain :-) But at least I have a "PR" in each of the stages now, should help with pacing in the future.
Coming down was .... interesting. I had to look away from the screen as all the turns, coupled with the smart trainer increasing and decreasing resistance over the humps such that it felt like I was flying at times, made me quite nauseous.
You still did better than me; I tried on Saturday and gave up, exhausted at about turn 10. Managed Epic KOM this morning but suffering now.
The legs were hurting a bit by the end that's for sure. Epic KOM is the first climb on the Four Horsemen right? Did that one on Saturday including a trip to the radio tower, that was steep. Then it goes up AdZ, but I had to give up the ride when I got halfway up AdZ because the legs were gone. That's why I tried that climb in isolation. It's nice to have seen the top.
I have a Garmin heart rate monitor linked up to Zwift, and I find it hugely useful for pacing. So much so I would like to buy a new GPS for the real-life bike that supports it. (Next year, a treat for getting fit).
Post by: Phil21 on 09 May, 2023, 05:39:20 pm
Coming down was .... interesting. I had to look away from the screen as all the turns, coupled with the smart trainer increasing and decreasing resistance over the humps such that it felt like I was flying at times, made me quite nauseous.I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like that. Don't think I'd be any good descending a real Alp.
In real life I don't think you'd get around a 180° bend at 70kph!
Re your tent...outside Zwifting seems a little odd - why not just go for a ride?
Post by: drossall on 09 May, 2023, 06:30:00 pm
In real life I don't think you'd get around a 180° bend at 70kph!No, but the height is the issue. If you'd got your eyes closed, you probably wouldn't get around that bend at 7kph. I keep watching the TdF and thinking, "I couldn't ride down that!"
Re your tent...outside Zwifting seems a little odd - why not just go for a ride?
Regarding the tent, it was something of a one-off. My normal set-up is on the patio, as we don't have a garage or spare room. If it's really wet, I negotiate for use of the kitchen. On that particular occasion, I'd put the event shelter up for some other reason (I think we had family round or something, maybe even in Covid at the point where meeting was only allowed outdoors). Later, it rained, so I set up under the shelter.
Patio Zwifting has some benefits. Everyone else spends £lots on cooling fans that I get for nothing ;D :thumbsup:
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/8qi877mfhid2ask/trainer-setup-small.jpg?raw=1)
Post by: TimC on 10 May, 2023, 12:16:15 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 13 May, 2023, 06:10:48 pm
I don't think I've ever actually cycled back down the Alpe but rather jump off the bike and do a bit of stretching whilst my avatar goes into super tuck mode and racks up quick km until it eventually levels off.
Recently rode up the Lutscher and then did the reverse.
The gradients going up should have been a lot more super tuckable going down than they actually were. So unfair >:(
Post by: Legs on 18 June, 2023, 07:54:19 am
Last night I subjected myself to 60x 5second sprints (every minute, on the minute), all at >1000W peak. Time passes really quickly when you spend nearly all of the workout time trying to recover for the next effort!
(https://www.cyclechat.net/attachments/fc14f753-27b1-4231-851b-2392e98e1b78-jpeg.695238/)
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 19 June, 2023, 04:25:20 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 20 June, 2023, 06:50:42 pm
Post by: gibbo on 19 October, 2023, 10:56:12 am
I even went back and repeated stage 1 as a felt I held back a bit on the first attempt. I'm not repeating the same stage 3 course since it's a climbing one...
Anyone completed all stages via the on-demand feature?
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 25 October, 2023, 11:03:27 am
Quote
Anyone completed all stages via the on-demand feature?
Hell no. One at a time, please! It's not a race..It's not a race..It's not a race..It's not a race.. Ok, It's a race..
Post by: Jaded on 31 December, 2023, 03:14:34 pm
Post by: Legs on 31 December, 2023, 04:58:52 pm
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 03 January, 2024, 07:33:38 pm
Still puzzled about how it works!
Post by: Legs on 04 January, 2024, 09:14:20 am
Zwift has a difficulty rating scale for workouts from 1-5, which I think is worked out as a function of duration and overall TSS. Only Z1- and Z2-focussed workouts are going to be ‘social easy rides’!
Post by: L CC on 04 January, 2024, 09:17:31 am
Post by: TimC on 04 January, 2024, 09:21:34 am
Post by: Legs on 04 January, 2024, 02:08:37 pm
Post by: TimC on 04 January, 2024, 05:33:59 pm
Oh, that’s interesting (although completely pointless, really!)
That's what I thought!
Post by: Jaded on 04 January, 2024, 05:37:02 pm
I'm regularly surprised by how poor the understanding of how Zwift and trainers work and interact is, among long time users (including me).
Also not long time users ;D
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 04 January, 2024, 06:55:27 pm
Thank you
Post by: LateStarter on 06 January, 2024, 07:51:11 am
but I did my 40 minutes with an average cadence of 95,
Still puzzled about how it works!
What Trainer, my Tacx Flux won't allow me to do much more than low 70s, very very heavy all the time even downhill, I think I have a dud but it's out of warranty so I guess that's it! I am not buying a trainer costing more than my bike. I will just go to the park and pretend I am zwifting
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 06 January, 2024, 05:11:48 pm
It’s my second one. The first had trouble because at some points it halved my cadence so I was climbing at about 30rpm. Sent Wahoo all the reports and they swapped it for a brand new one. Luckily I had kept all the packing. The problem was a weak Bluetooth signal I believe.