Few Turbo / Zwift Questions

myideal
myideal Posts: 231
edited January 2017 in Indoor training and turbo forum
Hi,

The more I use Zwift and the Turbo the more new questions that come up. :D

Maybe a silly question, but should u be shifting up and down the gears on the turbo or should I ideally be keeping it in a contestant to work harder, as the resistance increases? I've been shifting like I would on a ride, but not sure if I should be doing that or not?

Also did a climb up Zwift mountain the other day. Now is that climb a realistic eqvulant to somewhere in the world? I'm just trying to work out if getting better at that is going to help me in the summer take on some of the hills in the UK?

On the London route again is Box Hill climb realistic? I know people talk about how tough it is in real life, hence wondering how realistic is the Zwift version of the ride?
«1

Comments

  • BlueHorizon
    BlueHorizon Posts: 3
    Not sure how it works on Zwift (I use TrainerRoad), but if you have a smart trainer in ERG mode the trainer will adjust the resistance for you based on the gradient, then you change gear as you would normally to make that load easier or harder to push - Zwift will calculate your speed based on power output. If you are on the workouts in Zwift then the resistance will probably change dynamically to keep you at the same power output regardless of cadence or gear, so you can leave it in the same gear (that's how TrainerRoad works). If you have a non-smart trainer like me, you need to shift as normal to increase power output for the same cadence and you don't get any extra resistance for the hills. I'm saving up for a smart trainer next year!

    Simulating climbs on the trainer is not like the real world unfortunately, but will help. There is no gravity pulling you backwards so the muscle set that you use won't be exactly the same and won't condition the muscles fully and the core is underused. You can raise the wheel so the bike is pointing up a bit and that will also help condition the muscles in the way they are used when climbing, but it doesn't feel quite the same. I think it will definitely help with the aerobic conditioning you need for climbs, but lacks the muscular endurance specificity for climbing, at least that's what I've found, it helps, but doesn't directly transfer to the hills.

    How the Zwift hills compare to real life, I'm interested to hear too...
  • MiddleRinger
    MiddleRinger Posts: 678
    If you have a smart trainer that automatically changes the resistance and can simulate higher gradients then yes it will help with riding hills outside. There is no substitute to riding hills outside though!

    Box Hill real life is easier and you tend to finish the segment at the car park at the cafe rather than blast past, haha! It's similar in time to climb (the Zwift Box is takes longer for me) and the gradient that Zwift shows is fairly accurate. It all helps, that's why it's called training.
    ~ ~ How fast is fast enough? ~ ~ ~ ~ Tempo Cyclist - Tasmania ~ ~
  • myideal
    myideal Posts: 231
    Yes it's a smart trainer (Tacx Flow Smart). That is interesting to know that Box Hill is realistic, I just wanted to make sure in my mind that I'm not pushing myself harder and making improvements (in Zwift at the moment) that will never show on the road in spring.

    I am certainly hoping I can take these winter miles on the trainer and use them to enhance my riding outside in the summer.

    Am i also right in thinking that the miles on Zwift are slightly harder because down hill you are always peddling, whereas someone like me (previously) on the road would rest up at this point?
  • KevinA
    KevinA Posts: 492
    myideal wrote:
    Yes it's a smart trainer (Tacx Flow Smart). That is interesting to know that Box Hill is realistic, I just wanted to make sure in my mind that I'm not pushing myself harder and making improvements (in Zwift at the moment) that will never show on the road in spring.

    I am certainly hoping I can take these winter miles on the trainer and use them to enhance my riding outside in the summer.

    Am i also right in thinking that the miles on Zwift are slightly harder because down hill you are always peddling, whereas someone like me (previously) on the road would rest up at this point?

    If you go into the settings you can change the difficulty on the climbs (ie the higher you go the more realistic the resistance is that you feel on the trainer

    You should treat the trainer/zwift as a real ride so if you think its too easy, change gear, too hard, change gear, going down hill you can free wheel so that your not burning energy or hammer it and try and get 100km/h haha
  • tangled_metal
    tangled_metal Posts: 4,021
    I'm thinking of getting the tacx flow turbo. It's a good, budget turbo i think and bang for bucks is good. If this was not available for £190 I doubt I'd get a smart turbo since i don't think there's another model at that sort of money.

    What else did you need to use its smart functions? Tablet and traineroad or zwift subscription i guess. Does it connect to tablet via Bluetooth?
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    Yes connect by Bluetooth then calibrate and your good to go. I would just download the free Tacx app to get you started for then you can sort Zwift or whatever when you have given it a try out.
  • tangled_metal
    tangled_metal Posts: 4,021
    Thanks. Makes sense to get used to tacx app and the turbo before going fully smart with zwift. I assume at the basic level the tacx app would turn the turbo into a kind of gym bike with gradient profiles using power to change the difficulty. It'll be fun trying things out.
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    Just to add if your tablet is not an iPad you will need the ant+ dongle as Bluetooth will not be an option for connection.
  • myideal
    myideal Posts: 231
    Does anyone know how the Zwift Alps compare to mountain climbs around the world? Is that a realistic simulation of a long climb?
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    myideal wrote:
    Does anyone know how the Zwift Alps compare to mountain climbs around the world? Is that a realistic simulation of a long climb?

    Here's my climb up the mountain. https://www.strava.com/activities/780502397

    It's usually 25-30 mins so not several hours like alpine climbs.

    You could also check Road Grand Tours which simulates the Stelvio
  • myideal
    myideal Posts: 231
    Wow climbing it twice. Once was enough for me as that was a killer as I got to the end of it. I was blowing like a train. Lol

    Think I'll aim to complete that same route as that looks like a really good one, however maybe a few weeks away for me doing that yet.

    I'm sort of looking forward to nailing these climbs of Zwift. Always felt that was the weakest part of my road cycling - hence hoping the miles now indoors will really help me when I get out on the road.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    On the route options choose "The Pretzel" it's a killer :)
  • dabber
    dabber Posts: 1,982
    Also have a look at VeloReality.
    https://veloreality.com/

    I did their Tourmalet (East) ride yesterday.
    12.5 miles and 4282 feet of climbing. Nice HD video and good gradient transitions on the smart trainer. And bloody hard work.
    They do a lot of climbs. I've got the Ventoux, Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont and the complete Marmotte which includes Alpe D'Huez which I'm planning to do soon..
    “You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!”

    Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut
  • myideal
    myideal Posts: 231
    I can tell I'm getting into this cycling as both of those sound like they are going to hurt me ....However I want to do them!

    Is that Veloreality free or do you have to pay for those videos? I'm on a phone so the website link doent work that well on the mobile.

    Any news on when that volcano on Zwift is coming? Suspect that could bring some serious epic climb as well? One of those won't be easy to climb.
  • dabber
    dabber Posts: 1,982
    The VeloReality videos are typically £6.98 each and they also do what they call Grand Tours (like the Marmotte) which are a collection of several video that link together. These vary in price but work out a bit cheaper than buying each of the included videos seperately. They're doing a 30% discount on the Grand Tours at the moment.

    You can download their application for free and also the Paterberg demo. The application also lets you create your own intervals as well. It's worth dowloading and having a go on the fully functional demo. If you do laps of the Paterberg it will give you a decent workout as well.

    I should stress that I'm nothing to do with VeloReality but I like their products and have also had some contact with them which has been very positive.
    “You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!”

    Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut
  • myideal
    myideal Posts: 231
    Out of interest has anyone done 100k in one ride on Zwift? Just thinking I may set it as a challenge tomorrow afternoon, if that is realistic. Think maybe not the mountain route though. Lol
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    myideal wrote:
    Out of interest has anyone done 100k in one ride on Zwift? Just thinking I may set it as a challenge tomorrow afternoon, if that is realistic. Think maybe not the mountain route though. Lol

    100km? I've done it a few times. People do 100 miles every day. Furthest online now is 167 miles. Record in one ride is like 1,050 miles.
  • NeXXus
    NeXXus Posts: 854
    myideal wrote:
    Out of interest has anyone done 100k in one ride on Zwift? Just thinking I may set it as a challenge tomorrow afternoon, if that is realistic. Think maybe not the mountain route though. Lol
    Yep, there's an achievement to unlock for it. Means sod all but I've only got the 100mile one to do, I did it on the watopia figure 8 course
    And the people bowed and prayed, to the neon god they made.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    I still want to do the 100 miles but it's just finding time for it.
  • myideal
    myideal Posts: 231
    Well I went in the garage with the plan of 100km on Zwift ...

    Then noticed a hilly route race , so thought I'd join that and then do the other 60k afterwards ...

    ... Needless to say got caught up in the racing and pushed way too hard over those 4 laps (came middle out of 104 starters, so pleased) but made me realise if I'm going to do 100km I need to focus and ride it completely differently to how I'm treating these races.

    That said I do think Zwift is working as I'm sure a couple of weeks ago I would never have managed 4 laps of the hilly route at an average of 25kph ...Clearly I know I'm miles off many of you on here ...But it takes time :D
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    I really dont recommend doing 100 miles on a turbo even tho it is Zwift... sorry it's Zwift heresy.
    Turbo time is precious time.. thats why their races work as a principle..
    p issing away the hours on a turbo.... well really..
  • NeXXus
    NeXXus Posts: 854
    JGSI wrote:
    I really dont recommend doing 100 miles on a turbo even tho it is Zwift... sorry it's Zwift heresy.
    Turbo time is precious time.. thats why their races work as a principle..
    p issing away the hours on a turbo.... well really..
    I'm with you on this, but I'm a gamer so collecting an achievement/unlock appeals to that urge. It's like a weapon skin in Counter Strike:Global Offensive that does sod all for the accuracy of the AK47 but looks cool because it's blue/ pro player signature drop
    And the people bowed and prayed, to the neon god they made.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Why not? If you have the time it's no different to doing 100 miles outside?
  • myideal
    myideal Posts: 231
    I started the pretzel today as a group ride, but didn't have the 2.5 hrs it was going to require so had to leave after 1 1/2 hrs.

    That said I had done just over half and wow that is a challenge. My legs are aching now just from that ...However I'm determined that I'm going to complete that ride as it's probably a really good one for banking fitness and training for the roads. Those long climbs and the flats before the hills are probably building more fitness than I realise.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    I think a lot also sacked off the Kiss100 race for same reason.. I did the 50k Ottowa instead.
  • myideal
    myideal Posts: 231
    Zwift is getting popular. Over 2800 online at one point tonight and 135 started the BARS time trial tonight alone.

    Even noticed a runner aswell.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    myideal wrote:
    Zwift is getting popular. Over 2800 online at one point tonight and 135 started the BARS time trial tonight alone.

    Even noticed a runner aswell.

    Yup, I admin the Zwift Running group (and moderate the cycling group come to that). You can access running by a hidden feature in the iOS app.
  • myideal
    myideal Posts: 231
    What's happening with this volcano update? Not seen anything mentioned for a while as wasn't it meant to go live at the end of last year?
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    They are dragging their heels big style. It could be as soon as tomorrow.
  • myideal
    myideal Posts: 231
    Oh right. Any reasons why do we know?

    The whole Zwift thing must be making them good money now as it's always just so busy and constantly growing it appears.

Categories