Zwift, any good?
Comments
-
Thats not so expensive getting up and running with £250.
Can you steer around the track too, or is it just a leg spin thing?0 -
I'm still undecided which way to go. Am I right in thinking that the only route on zwift is a 5.7 mile loop?
No. There are 2 courses so far, and indications of a third (a new junction on the island mentioned above). The second one is a 10 mile loop (Richmond UCI worlds course)
how do you choose which way to go at the junction? do you have to pick before you set off or can you just 'turn' as you get there?
i'm quite keen on trying zwift but would like the idea of getting a smart trainer that can increase and decrease resistance as I go along the course so might have to wait until I have nothing better to spend the money on!www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes0 -
I took the beta of Zwift at the earliest opportunity....and whilst it has come on leaps/bounds it is still only 2 courses...great graphics etc, but not enough variety, as even with the workouts..you just do the selected w/out on one of the 2 tracks...at the moment think I will stick with Trainer Road and sufferfests ...I am DEFINITELY not knocking Zwift...I think the potential is massive....but my idea is pay for just the one program, and at the moment I don't think its better than TR.
Vinny0 -
Thats not so expensive getting up and running with £250.
Can you steer around the track too, or is it just a leg spin thing?
There's no steering, your avatar moves entirely from your power output and nothing else - i.e. there's no braking either!0 -
how do you choose which way to go at the junction? do you have to pick before you set off or can you just 'turn' as you get there?
There's just the junction at the moment which you can't turn down, nobody knows yet how this will be implemented.0 -
The interactivity and fun element will go through the roof if they can incorporate steering and braking into the mix! I hope it comes one day.0
-
how do you choose which way to go at the junction? do you have to pick before you set off or can you just 'turn' as you get there?
There's just the junction at the moment which you can't turn down, nobody knows yet how this will be implemented.
As the U-turn (to do the loops in reverse) is a keystroke (ctrl + Down arrow i think) or a button on the companion mobile app. I suspect they will as a right & left turn option in the same way. Guessing here of course...0 -
how do you choose which way to go at the junction? do you have to pick before you set off or can you just 'turn' as you get there?
There's just the junction at the moment which you can't turn down, nobody knows yet how this will be implemented.
As the U-turn (to do the loops in reverse) is a keystroke (ctrl + Down arrow i think) or a button on the companion mobile app. I suspect they will as a right & left turn option in the same way. Guessing here of course...
Yes I hope it's like that. However I know they are concerned with making sure there are enough people on the course at any one time, and adding in more options may spread things out. Personally that doesn't greatly concern me, my normal time to use Zwift is 6am-7am when it's quiet anyway, but I know a for a lot of people the social element is everything.0 -
Zwift now has the ability to use bluetooth sensors if you pair them to the iPhone app. May be useful for some if you don't want to buy an ANT+ dongle first.0
-
I've gone ahead and bought the Tacx Vertex Smart...looking forward to trying it tomorrow
I've heard mentions of a few Zwift 'maps' - The Island, Watopia and Richmond. Is this correct, are there three?
I believe some training modes have been added too now - is this functionality as good as TrainerRoads, which I frequently hear being mentioned around training.0 -
I love Zwift! Normally hate the turbo and often climb off after half a hour or mid way through a Sufferfest :oops: but with Zwift I can't help but races against anyone and everyone around me! Even when trying to do the workouts I can't help but race!
The group rides are a bit pointless for me as I struggle to just stay in the pack, let alone be able to race on the last lap. But in general I'm able to sit quite happily on Zwift for upwards of an hour doing the workouts.0 -
I love Zwift! Normally hate the turbo and often climb off after half a hour or mid way through a Sufferfest :oops: but with Zwift I can't help but races against anyone and everyone around me! Even when trying to do the workouts I can't help but race!
Your comment amuses me. I hate it when people riding on the road people adjust their speed and attempt to stay on my wheel after I overtake them.
I find it bizarre that people attempt to do this in a virtual world. It happens a hell of a lot.
You may think you are racing with people when you do it but I doubt many strangers give a toss about you.
Muppets even change their speed when you catch them and you are doing a work out.0 -
I love Zwift! Normally hate the turbo and often climb off after half a hour or mid way through a Sufferfest :oops: but with Zwift I can't help but races against anyone and everyone around me! Even when trying to do the workouts I can't help but race!
Your comment amuses me. I hate it when people riding on the road people adjust their speed and attempt to stay on my wheel after I overtake them.
I find it bizarre that people attempt to do this in a virtual world. It happens a hell of a lot.
You may think you are racing with people when you do it but I doubt many strangers give a toss about you.
Muppets even change their speed when you catch them and you are doing a work out.
Says the man bragging about overtaking people... On a workout no less!
It's not that bizarre. I mean lots of people play Gran Turismo online, what's the difference really... The game is structured to encourage you to race (with the KOM and so on), so why not? If it helps someone to train a bit more than they would otherwise then what's the problem.0 -
I love Zwift! Normally hate the turbo and often climb off after half a hour or mid way through a Sufferfest :oops: but with Zwift I can't help but races against anyone and everyone around me! Even when trying to do the workouts I can't help but race!
Your comment amuses me. I hate it when people riding on the road people adjust their speed and attempt to stay on my wheel after I overtake them.
I find it bizarre that people attempt to do this in a virtual world. It happens a hell of a lot.
You may think you are racing with people when you do it but I doubt many strangers give a toss about you.
Muppets even change their speed when you catch them and you are doing a work out.
If you don't give a toss about what other riders are doing, why post about it? :roll:0 -
I had my first go tonight, yeah its not for me I think, I tried for a few sprints etc and bagged an orange jersey but have no idea what the hell that means, the software is terrible and I'm using a top of the range laptop with windows 10.
Are zwift trying to steal garmins position as most clunky software company?Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
I had my first go tonight, yeah its not for me I think, I tried for a few sprints etc and bagged an orange jersey but have no idea what the hell that means, the software is terrible and I'm using a top of the range laptop with windows 10.
Are zwift trying to steal garmins position as most clunky software company?
Fair enough if you don't like it, but to call the software terrible is just wrong.
Ive used Zwift since the first beta and it has been the most polished of any cycling training software available.
If you want clunky software go look at Tacx or Bkool for some quirky behaviour.0 -
Not had a single problem with it since I started using it (though I am only doing it on and off at the moment)
What were you using to record your power? I think a lot of smart trainers are a bit buggy - when I used my bkool I got wildly different power readings from it - including being able to put out about 2000 watts for 40 seconds at one point as it 'caught up' with me on a downhill - although the bkool in general has sh1te software. A power meter gives a much better experienceFat chopper. Some racing. Some testing. Some crashing.
Specialising in Git Daaahns and Cafs. Norvern Munkey/Transplanted Laaandoner.0 -
Zwifts novelty soon wore off for me unfortunately. I want to make real gains over the winter, so have signed up to TrainerRoad. I cant rate it highly enough, its a lot more than just riding at x watts for x minute intervals.0
-
I've gone ahead and bought the Tacx Vertex Smart...looking forward to trying it tomorrow
I've heard mentions of a few Zwift 'maps' - The Island, Watopia and Richmond. Is this correct, are there three?
The Island was way back in testing phases, it doesn't exist now. So there is Watopia (which is also an island to confuse matters), and the UCI Worlds Course in Richmond.
You can't choose between them, they are on Richmond for half the week and Watopia for the other half.
While Zwift is an excellent system the lack of courses, the inability to choose between them and that they are quite short is a massive shortcoming at the moment. They are working on doing more, but it's been a long wait so far.I believe some training modes have been added too now - is this functionality as good as TrainerRoads, which I frequently hear being mentioned around training.
I've used both and for me, Zwift workouts are every bit as good as Trainer Road, but I've never taken workouts that seriously I just know that Trainer Road kicked my arse and Zwift does too 0
