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Zwift

ElfedElfed Posts: 459
edited September 2017 in Indoor training and turbo forum
Hi, I'm after some advice on Zwift.

I've a Wahoo Kickr and a Zwift account but my pc and laptop aren't up to running it as they're too old, previously used it on a borrowed laptop.

The obvious answer is to buy a new laptop but it's something I'd never use except for Zwift, could anyone recommend another way I can hook up to a 50" TV.
Hub pc maybe or tablet or even a laptop as a last resort.

Thanks
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Posts

  • bsharp77bsharp77 Posts: 533
    iPhone or iPad?
    Both work perfectly, you can connect via airplay or direct with a lightning to hdmi cable.
    Hassle free, instant loading, ive moved completely from using a pc/Mac for zwift, trainer road and sufferfest to using my phone connected to a 42" tv.
  • jgsijgsi Posts: 5,062
    Until they roll out the Android support, the list of supported devices for IOS Zwifting is on here
    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zwift/id1134655040

    IPhone SE cheapish to get off Ebay ..when I say cheapish of course
  • jgsijgsi Posts: 5,062
    then join in the general bitchiness on Zwift, especially its racing.... you'll find it very 'cliquey'.
  • Mikey23Mikey23 Posts: 5,306
    Or alternatively avoid bitchiness and join one of the excellent social riding groups such as the lovely Pack. Have fun and in good company...
  • ElfedElfed Posts: 459
    I'm on Android unfortunately.

    So if I'm using it through an iPad I can cast to a TV?
  • ElfedElfed Posts: 459
    JGSI wrote:
    then join in the general bitchiness on Zwift, especially its racing.... you'll find it very 'cliquey'.

    I've not experienced that, although I was just on the standard rides not races.
  • bendertherobotbendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Elfed wrote:
    I'm on Android unfortunately.

    So if I'm using it through an iPad I can cast to a TV?

    Depends if you can cast your iPad to a TV in the first place. If so, yes.

    You need a certain level of iPad to be able to run it in the first place. You don't have to cast thought, I got a cheap HDMI connector and mirror the screen. Works fine.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • ElfedElfed Posts: 459
    It sort of looks like I'll have to buy a laptop or hub pc, I've nothing running iOS.

    Any recommendations?
  • jgsijgsi Posts: 5,062
    Elfed wrote:
    JGSI wrote:
    then join in the general bitchiness on Zwift, especially its racing.... you'll find it very 'cliquey'.

    I've not experienced that, although I was just on the standard rides not races.

    The prevalence of the so called faux pro teams does not help conviviality.
    It is no wonder that Zwift official have a very much 'nothing to do with us' approach to its platform races.
  • bendertherobotbendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Elfed wrote:
    It sort of looks like I'll have to buy a laptop or hub pc, I've nothing running iOS.

    Any recommendations?

    http://zwift.com/get-started

    It's a slight minefield, so I bought an iPad Air 2 from ebay. Guaranteed to work and has a screen.

    Not difficult to find a PC spec to match but you'll need all the gubbins.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • ElfedElfed Posts: 459
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Elfed wrote:
    It sort of looks like I'll have to buy a laptop or hub pc, I've nothing running iOS.

    Any recommendations?

    http://zwift.com/get-started

    It's a slight minefield, so I bought an iPad Air 2 from ebay. Guaranteed to work and has a screen.

    Not difficult to find a PC spec to match but you'll need all the gubbins.

    Do you use the iPad's screen or cast to a TV? Thanks
  • bendertherobotbendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Elfed wrote:
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Elfed wrote:
    It sort of looks like I'll have to buy a laptop or hub pc, I've nothing running iOS.

    Any recommendations?

    http://zwift.com/get-started

    It's a slight minefield, so I bought an iPad Air 2 from ebay. Guaranteed to work and has a screen.

    Not difficult to find a PC spec to match but you'll need all the gubbins.

    Do you use the iPad's screen or cast to a TV? Thanks

    Either. The iPad screen is big enough but sometimes I connect it with a £10 lead to the TV.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • ElfedElfed Posts: 459
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Elfed wrote:
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Elfed wrote:
    It sort of looks like I'll have to buy a laptop or hub pc, I've nothing running iOS.

    Any recommendations?

    http://zwift.com/get-started

    It's a slight minefield, so I bought an iPad Air 2 from ebay. Guaranteed to work and has a screen.

    Not difficult to find a PC spec to match but you'll need all the gubbins.

    Do you use the iPad's screen or cast to a TV? Thanks

    Either. The iPad screen is big enough but sometimes I connect it with a £10 lead to the TV.

    That's good to know, are the graphics ok on the bigger screen and in 1080p or is it a lesser output? Thanks
  • StillGoingStillGoing Posts: 5,209
    I use either an iPhone or iPad and connect to Apple TV (v2) connected to an NEC 40" monitor. That seems ot give better graphics quality than using a PC with Windows 10 via ANT+. The latest Apple TV (4th gen) has Zwift as an app.

    https://youtu.be/NGjQTf8JlPs
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • ianlashianlash Posts: 147
    philthy3 wrote:
    I use either an iPhone or iPad and connect to Apple TV (v2) connected to an NEC 40" monitor. That seems ot give better graphics quality than using a PC with Windows 10 via ANT+. The latest Apple TV (4th gen) has Zwift as an app.

    https://youtu.be/NGjQTf8JlPs

    Yes, Apple Tv 4th gen is about the cheapest way. £139 new or £119 refurbished from Apple. Not tried it myself. I use an iPad Mini 4 on the handlebars. Bit small but works well.
  • MiddleRingerMiddleRinger Posts: 678
    ^ Yep the latest Gen Apple TV is the cheapest way to get Zwift running (assuming Bluetooth).

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGjQTf8JlPs

    Oh and Zwift is as "cliquey" as you want it to be. Get get on and train. :-)
    ~ ~ How fast is fast enough? ~ ~ ~ ~ Tempo Cyclist - Tasmania ~ ~
  • dannbodgedannbodge Posts: 1,152
    Most normal PCs will run it.
    Mine is a £200 laptop from Tesco.
    Yes it only runs it at 576p but it's perfectly functional.
  • ElfedElfed Posts: 459
    Dannbodge wrote:
    Most normal PCs will run it.
    Mine is a £200 laptop from Tesco.
    Yes it only runs it at 576p but it's perfectly functional.

    I'm looking at refurbished laptops or a pc which would have a better graphics card.
    Don't really want spend more than £250 if I can help it.

    I'm planning on riding more through the winter this time if possible as what I've found is just doing trainer work is fine for your legs and lungs but is terrible for upper body and core strength, so takes me a while to get back to being bike Fit again.
  • bendertherobotbendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Elfed wrote:
    Dannbodge wrote:
    Most normal PCs will run it.
    Mine is a £200 laptop from Tesco.
    Yes it only runs it at 576p but it's perfectly functional.

    I'm looking at refurbished laptops or a pc which would have a better graphics card.
    Don't really want spend more than £250 if I can help it.

    I'm planning on riding more through the winter this time if possible as what I've found is just doing trainer work is fine for your legs and lungs but is terrible for upper body and core strength, so takes me a while to get back to being bike Fit again.

    An iPad Air 2 is guaranteed to work currently and do so very well.

    What I did was this. Find a load of censored in the house I didn't need, PS4, Xbox games, Blu Ray, DVD etc and price them up on CEX. Then find the iPad I needed.

    A list of good iPad Air 2's here.

    https://uk.webuy.com/search/index.php?s ... 2&section=

    I ended up with about £150 trade in of stuff and managed to find (overkill) a mint condition 128GB Wifi and Cellular for £340. Cost to buy therefore £190 for a pretty much top of the range iPad.

    Everything I have is android but for Zwift this is a really good choice. It just works.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • ElfedElfed Posts: 459
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Elfed wrote:
    Dannbodge wrote:
    Most normal PCs will run it.
    Mine is a £200 laptop from Tesco.
    Yes it only runs it at 576p but it's perfectly functional.

    I'm looking at refurbished laptops or a pc which would have a better graphics card.
    Don't really want spend more than £250 if I can help it.

    I'm planning on riding more through the winter this time if possible as what I've found is just doing trainer work is fine for your legs and lungs but is terrible for upper body and core strength, so takes me a while to get back to being bike Fit again.

    An iPad Air 2 is guaranteed to work currently and do so very well.

    What I did was this. Find a load of censored in the house I didn't need, PS4, Xbox games, Blu Ray, DVD etc and price them up on CEX. Then find the iPad I needed.

    A list of good iPad Air 2's here.

    https://uk.webuy.com/search/index.php?s ... 2&section=

    I ended up with about £150 trade in of stuff and managed to find (overkill) a mint condition 128GB Wifi and Cellular for £340. Cost to buy therefore £190 for a pretty much top of the range iPad.

    Everything I have is android but for Zwift this is a really good choice. It just works.

    Do you just use the iPad's screen mounted on the bars or propped up?

    All this talk of indoor training and thoughts of getting dark early is making me depressed, loll.
  • frisbeefrisbee Posts: 691
    Android support is supposed to be coming out at some point. Its been seen on android devices at shows.
  • ElfedElfed Posts: 459
    frisbee wrote:
    Android support is supposed to be coming out at some point. Its been seen on android devices at shows.

    I run a Pixel Xl so that would be good.
  • bendertherobotbendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Elfed. At the moment propped up using a 8 quid apple case knock off. I might get a bar mount
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • ElfedElfed Posts: 459
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Elfed. At the moment propped up using a 8 quid apple case knock off. I might get a bar mount

    I guess, when you think of it, an iPad on the bars and a larger screen further away is probably going to look roughly the same size , if that makes sense.

    Thanks
  • StillGoingStillGoing Posts: 5,209
    Elfed wrote:
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Elfed. At the moment propped up using a 8 quid apple case knock off. I might get a bar mount

    I guess, when you think of it, an iPad on the bars and a larger screen further away is probably going to look roughly the same size , if that makes sense.

    Thanks

    Beg to differ and if I'm on the rollers, it's a damned sight easier to view the big screen than an iPad screen.

    54yy6a.jpg
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • Mikey23Mikey23 Posts: 5,306
    Ipad mini on my handlebars with the tacx mount works fine for me in the garage. Uses up the battery pretty quickly though!
  • ianlashianlash Posts: 147
    Mikey23 wrote:
    Ipad mini on my handlebars with the tacx mount works fine for me in the garage. Uses up the battery pretty quickly though!

    Same setup for me, but not noticed a battery issue. I see the Apple TV option is still in beta, so not a good option yet.
  • ElfedElfed Posts: 459
    philthy3 wrote:
    Elfed wrote:
    bendertherobot wrote:
    Elfed. At the moment propped up using a 8 quid apple case knock off. I might get a bar mount

    I guess, when you think of it, an iPad on the bars and a larger screen further away is probably going to look roughly the same size , if that makes sense.

    Thanks

    Beg to differ and if I'm on the rollers, it's a damned sight easier to view the big screen than an iPad screen.

    54yy6a.jpg

    Nice man cave!
  • bendertherobotbendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    I did a mere hour today of medium level holding 200w/180w intervals and am done in! :(
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • jgsijgsi Posts: 5,062
    Ive about 5000m to do to get the TRON
    Tower repeats ad nauseam
    This weekend
    now tht makes x50
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