Zwift, TR, Sufferfest etc

[Doughnuts01]

ok. Just jumped on Zwift. I'm sure I'll have questions..

Damn, this shit is hard!

[kathleenturneroverdrive]

Thanks. I've used ERG mode, I've just always also shifted. in search of a cadence that feels best.

In theory you shouldn't have to change gears in ERG mode because ERG adapts to your cadence by adjusting resistance levels. It's not automatic though, on my setup ERG can take up 20(ish) seconds to account for big jumps in watts/cadence.

[scharny]

Anyone here use RGT? I'm recovering from knee surgery so I'm stuck in virtual bike land at least until late February; Zwift has already gotten a bit stale.

[XtrPickels]

Thanks. I've used ERG mode, I've just always also shifted. in search of a cadence that feels best.

Set the gear for straight chainline and pedal at the cadence you prefer. The computer will adjust.

If you change gearing, you're ultimately changing the inertia of the flywheel.
High gearing = fast flywheel = more inertia = more representative of road feel on flats
Low gear = slow flywheel = less inertia = need to apply power earlier in the stroke as if you were climbing or riding through grass etc. .

Some trainers lack the ability to go low enough in resistance for low workloads (especially for smaller / less fit riders).
In this case a low gear is needed to ensure the minimal workload (speed x resistance) is low enough for their needs.

[rideit]

I have concerns that ERG/single cog would tear through cassettes really quickly. But I only use $20.00 cassettes on the Wahoo....
I guess you could just go up or down a cog when one starts skipping?

[EWG]

I have concerns that ERG/single cog would tear through cassettes really quickly. But I only use $20.00 cassettes on the Wahoo....
I guess you could just go up or down a cog when one starts skipping?

Hasn't been a problem for us so far. But yeah, cheap cassettes.

But where are you finding $20 11spd cassettes?

[rideit]

QBP
I exaggerated, they are $25.00, it turns out.

EDIT: I totally forgot that the cassette on my trainer bike is 9 speed.
HG400.
Carry on.

[huckbucket]

Set the gear for straight chainline and pedal at the cadence you prefer. The computer will adjust.

If you change gearing, you're ultimately changing the inertia of the flywheel.
High gearing = fast flywheel = more inertia = more representative of road feel on flats
Low gear = slow flywheel = less inertia = need to apply power earlier in the stroke as if you were climbing or riding through grass etc. .

Some trainers lack the ability to go low enough in resistance for low workloads (especially for smaller / less fit riders).
In this case a low gear is needed to ensure the minimal workload (speed x resistance) is low enough for their needs.

Thanks man. Every time I've used ERG mode I've hated it. Maybe I'll revisit.

[Flounder]

wife and I share a tacx genius, it isn't that hard to swap bikes, just takes a couple minutes. I'm not into cartoon video game racing and have been using Rouvy, I like riding 'real' routes and roads, and it has pretty good HD vid of classic climbs or bits of races, or training shit if you want, they also have scheduled races if you're into that. I treat it like a poor mans riding vacation in other countries since I get real video of the route, ha! It's pretty cheap compared to Zwift too, think we paid $10usd/mth on a 6month plan and you can have a couple family members on the same plan.

This is where I'm at as well only with a kickr snap. Got the set up last new years and used it to drop 25 pounds and made this bike season a whole lot better. Currently trying out sufferfest but will probably go back to rouvy. I don't do well with people telling me what to do and sufferfest seems quite rigid. My bike is a campy and the Mrs is on Shimano so we'd need 2 wheel off trainers. She doesn't ride much so the occasional swap isn't bad. Did have to do a return on the 1st snap as it developed a loud noise, seems they had manufacturing issues. New one shipped to the door and they paid to have the old one shipped back.

[Doughnuts01]

If you are trying to ride a route on Zwift, do you need to select a certain route at the entry screen? Then let it guide you through that route? Once finished with that particular route do you have to "save and exit" your ride to choose another route?

[XtrPickels]

If you are trying to ride a route on Zwift, do you need to select a certain route at the entry screen? Then let it guide you through that route? Once finished with that particular route do you have to "save and exit" your ride to choose another route?

Yes. Although, I've never save, exited, and started another route. Typically just continue to putz around after the route finishes if I need additional time.

However, I typically just ride an easy workout while riding Alp D' Zwift to get vert toward the Tron bike. By doing the workout, you don't have to shift with all the pitch changes and I can focus on not focusing by watching TV.

PRO Tip: Ride up the Alp in workout mode for max "drops", then turn around and cost back down in regular mode for even more drops...

[Doughnuts01]

Just started and I'm on level 6... Don't think I can access Alp D' yet...

[kathleenturneroverdrive]

If you are trying to ride a route on Zwift, do you need to select a certain route at the entry screen? Then let it guide you through that route? Once finished with that particular route do you have to "save and exit" your ride to choose another route?

Yes. But when you're riding you may hit a fork and have the option to go in different directions. If you just want to stay on the route you selected at the beginning don't choose anything and the rider will go that direction.

To ride a different route within the world you're in, or another world (like going from Watopia to NYC) you have to save and exit. But you can also just keep riding/choosing different directions at the turns when they pop and go wherever you want.

I think at 6 you have access to the Alp de Zwift - it's called the Road to Sky ride on the route menu.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Yeah, select the routes at the very first screen and do the ride and don't take any turns until the end of the route and you get the popup on your screen saying, "You earned the ROUTE NAME badge....Keep exploring"

I wasted an insane amount of time just riding around and never doing routes. I should be on level 20 something now. I was level 8 two days ago and now I am on level 10.....just from completing actual routes.

www.zwiftinsider.com is your friend.

[Yanos]

Another tip, make sure to set the challenge to "climb Mt. Everest." Its the only way to get the Tron bike and any climbing prior to setting the challenge doesn't count.. Don't ask how many feet of climbing I had prior. Only 40k' to go...

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[jamal]

Garage floor is a little uneven so instead of my system of cardboard shims I stuck some leveling feet in a sheet of wood. Then used laser level to make sure it was flat and also that the bike was vertical and the saddle straight. You really notice things being a little off sitting on the trainer so knowing that the bike is straight lets me narrow down little fit adjustments.



Last of our wed night races tonight, on the volcano climb route. I had a plan to make the top of the climb hard and that worked out but then I just let my attention lapse a little at the very end. I'm not sure I actually earned that result but last week it appeared that I won and it bumped me to 3rd so whatever I guess.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6gv8DSlzl0

[Iowagriz]

Congrats on the podium Jamal. Is that with missing race #1? Or, did you get some credit for the makeup race that evening?

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[jamal]

It looks like I got 4th overall in the series, but the results at the finish line haven't been very accurate, apparently because of the way they count distance for everyone in meetups. I was actually like 5th tonight and it put me 3rd. Last week I thought I won but was 3rd in the results. I guess that does at least even out.

[rideit]

Any of you have a Wahoo tickr?
I have a few questions...

[Iowagriz]

Yes on the Tickr. It works well 98% of the time. Batteries seem to last a year. If I don't get a signal usually a complete unsnap from both ends and a resnap does it.

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[buttahflake]

Any of you have a Wahoo tickr?
I have a few questions...

Haven’t we covered this already, like twice?
Get the fucking arm band unit and shut the fuck up!

[justcuz]

Yes on the Tickr. It works well 98% of the time. Batteries seem to last a year. If I don't get a signal usually a complete unsnap from both ends and a resnap does it.

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I too have a tickr (purchased before arm bands were a thing..and armbands are more mullah). It's "OK". Sometimes I have to wet the plastic side sensor things to get it to work properly in addition to unsnapping both sides.

How do you enter the Mt Everest challenge? Somewhere on the "menu" I assume.

[Iowagriz]

Everest, in game, then menu

Not sure if menus all look the same for each type of device, but upper right, a big box, labeled Challenges or similar. There are 3 challenges. Everest for vert, California for a bike based on miles (tarmac?), Italy also based on miles, also for a bike (Pinarello?)

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[rideit]

My question is one that I didn’t see an answer for. Curious if you can get the HR to display on the Element Bolt in live time, and if you can set HR alarms while riding outside.
I searched...

[Dee Hubbs]

My question is one that I didn’t see an answer for. Curious if you can get the HR to display on the Element Bolt in live time, and if you can set HR alarms while riding outside.
I searched...

That should work no problem. Your Element should pick up all the BLE signals that Zwift is picking up, with out any interfering with Zwift. You just need to set up the the Element for how you want it to display, and what alerts you want.
I do the same with my Garmin computer, when I want to do a long slow recovery ride, I set my Garmin Computer to beep at me when I go above Zone 2 Power.