Cycling Thread 2

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Passed 1000km on the year this morning, was hoping to get it done last week but a cold came on a put me down for a few days.

Haven't ridden more than 10km on the year, but rest season is over, back on the fluid trainer to start the training plan this week

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Passed 1000km on the year this morning, was hoping to get it done last week but a cold came on a put me down for a few days.

that is some very impressive mileage given the weather over the past two months.

the only time in the past month my fatbike has moved was so that i could sweep out my garage.

[bossy22]

I rode the Alpe Du Zwift yesterday. It was tough. Went through 4 bottles of water for the duration of the climb. 1036m in 12km. I tried to pace myself and my wattage was pretty consistent up until km 8, and then it started to drop off and the suffering really started. Was a good test. I'd do it again.

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by bossy22

I rode the Alpe Du Zwift yesterday. It was tough. Went through 4 bottles of water for the duration of the climb. 1036m in 12km. I tried to pace myself and my wattage was pretty consistent up until km 8, and then it started to drop off and the suffering really started. Was a good test. I'd do it again.

I've only done it once as well and it was definitely a grind towards the end.

Zwift is really doing some great things with the app these days and the community they're trying to foster. The races are lots of fun and the group rides are great. The events they put on every few months help keep me motivated for force me to try different routes.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by KTrain

I've only done it once as well and it was definitely a grind towards the end.

Zwift is really doing some great things with the app these days and the community they're trying to foster. The races are lots of fun and the group rides are great. The events they put on every few months help keep me motivated for force me to try different routes.

Yeah, it's been good. I did the chasing Cancellera ride last week. It was easy but fun. This week I'm doing the Absa Cape Epic workout with Annika Langvad. I think it's going to hurt. I like that you can setup group rides. A friend of mine runs the 4iiii wiiiith friiiiends ride every week. It's in the evenings though, and I like to ride late morning.

[ken0042]

With Zwift how do they do the inclines? Is it simply more resistance, or is there more to it? Just thinking back to the old Lifecycles from the mid 90s and how they did their "hills."

With outdoor cycling, hills are often my killer.

[kermitology]

Anyone have trainer recommendations for Zwift?

[bossy22]

If you have a smart trainer, resistance is altered based on the slope. With the Alpe, the climb is actually the same as the alpe d'huez, but with zwift scenery. If it's a downhill, the resistance is pretty much let off depending again on the slope and you fly down the hills.



Also it takes into account your ftp and can adjust group workouts based on percentages of your actual ftp if you are in erg mode. So in the chasing Cancellera workout we all road as a big group, and while some people were hitting 600 watts, I was hitting 290 watts because that's what the program was basing it on a percentage of ftp. If you have your ftp setup incorrectly though, like too high, you wouldn't hit your required ftp and drop back.


It works really well, and it's a lot more engaging than just spinning I find. It's somewhat accurate to what I can do outside, except for the downhills. You don't have to hit the brakes in zwift.


Also, you don't need a smart trainer, but you do need speed and cadence. it wouldn't as well, but it's doable.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Anyone have trainer recommendations for Zwift?

I have a kickr core and I really like it. I had a tacx vortex, and had connection issues, and got tired of trying to connect so I could ride. I hear that's sorted out now. I also had a kickr snap, and that worked really well. I wanted direct drive though, so I sold the snap and got the core this past December.

[squiggs96]

I got sick of the cold weather so I bought a Wahoo Fitness Kickr Power trainer. I’ve only ridden once on it so far, but it’s awesome. I love that you take your rear wheel off and you ride in your normal setup. The data outputs are great. Using the app to increase the resistance to simulate hills is extremely interesting to me. I’m going to set up a zwift account this weekend and try some of their courses and group rides.

[Ryan Coke]

Cool info, thanks. You have me thinking about getting a trainer, maybe for next winter.

In case anyone else was wondering what FTP is, here’s what I found in the Zwift website.

If you’re new to Zwift, or new to cycling and unsure what FTP means, you are not alone. It’s a question asked by many on their way to better performance. FTP, or Functional Threshold Power, is one of the key training terms used in cycling. The short definition: it’s the maximum average amount of power you can sustain for an hour. Sounds intimidating? Don’t let it, as Zwift has workouts to determine yours.

Think of FTP as a benchmark for you to try and beat, the same way you try to beat your max rep at the gym. It’s a number that indicates your current level of fitness, and sets the bar for improvement. It also shapes your training zones in workouts, personalizing your experience. Don’t bother comparing your FTP to anyone else’s – we all start somewhere.

[Ryan Coke]

What are the main advantages/disadvantages of direct drive vs wheel on?

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by bossy22

A friend of mine runs the 4iiii wiiiith friiiiends ride every week. It's in the evenings though, and I like to ride late morning.

I rode that one last week. It was a fun. In general group rides are great because you get some conversation on the ride with people all over the world and you can pick groups that fit your fitness level.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by KTrain

I rode that one last week. It was a fun. In general group rides are great because you get some conversation on the ride with people all over the world and you can pick groups that fit your fitness level.

Yeah this too. You can see the level of the ride. I know to stay away from A and B rides because I'd get my butt kicked. D and E, I can do no problem. C if I want to push myself.

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

What are the main advantages/disadvantages of direct drive vs wheel on?

From what I've read, they're more accurate because you're not dealing with tire inflation variances and for some you don't need to do a "spindown" (the calibration setup). You also don't have to buy a trainer tire. It might even be quicker to take your bike off and on for outdoor riding because you don't have to switch tires, just pop your tire back on.

The downside is cost. You're paying almost twice as much as the wheel on.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

What are the main advantages/disadvantages of direct drive vs wheel on?

Direct drive you get more incline and a little more accuracy. I find it to be a little smoother and quieter as well...but they are more expensive. The Kickr snap was an awesome trainer and would recommend it. I just like the core more.

[habernac]

Ugh, ice. Hit the deck this morning. Thankfully, it was a slo-mo wipeout so nothing hurt. Will be so glad when this crap is all gone.

[Bigtime]

First day back riding since Saturday, it was nice to see that some of the monster puddles were smaller or completely gone. However that was tempered by some new big puddles in other spots!

[KTrain]

I pulled out the "nice weather" bike for a few rides this week. While a sloppy mess, it felt much better to be out there than on the trainer.

A few months of more intense riding on the trainer to be less fat, riding outside, even in the gravel, felt much easier.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by habernac

Ugh, ice. Hit the deck this morning. Thankfully, it was a slo-mo wipeout so nothing hurt. Will be so glad when this crap is all gone.

Sorry to hear. Mornings are rough, I've had to detour around Confederation park, as yesterday it had a river running through it and it is presumably all frozen up.


Looking forward to getting the studs off, but I will hold off until the weekend, which has some snow forecast. See how that plays out.