Bcool - Zwift..Is it `real` cycling?

[steveindenmark]

I know how easy it is to start an arguement on here

I am not a paid up member to Strava but I do use it to see what mileage I am doing during the week. I belong to a couple of groups that you will not have heard of as I find it interesting to see how my mileage compares to other people who ride the same bike as me. Its not important if I am top or bottom of the pile, its just an interest.

I am riding about 200km a week at the moment. Most of that is my commute to work. Someone has recently turned up in my group who is doing twice that mileage and I was impressed. I wondered where in the world they are riding. Having looked at their rides they are in the UK and it appears they have not been on a road for a month but sat in the house on a trainer.

Do they look at the list at the end of the week and beam with pride? Its only a question

Or should trainer rides be kept off non trainer rides as electric bike rides should?

Someone beat me to the top of the mileage chart a couple of weeks ago. They got on the trainer at 9pm on a Sunday and rode 2km to beat my mileage by 1km It made me laugh.

If the weather keeps like this I think I will have to get on a trainer for the first time in my life. I have all the gear but prefer to ride outside. I am hoping I will not be bored to death after 10 minutes and my rides will not appear in my Strava groups..........or maybe they will

 

[Milkfloat]

I think you know the answer - it is 'why do you care what other people do?' Although, you have raised yet again one of the world's deepest philosophical conundrums - how do you marry up non real life rides with 'if it ain't on Strava it didn't happen'.

BTW Strava allows you to mark rides a virtual rides, it fact it does it automatically for my rides sessions.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Couldn't care less. I spent more time riding a bike yesterday than 99% of my clubmates, their choice to stay indoors and do nothing is fine by me.

Accept that methods vary, people have different tolerances to wet/cold/icy conditions and avoid quoting the velominati = everyones a winner

 

[steveindenmark]

Chill out, stop worrying who is "beating" you to the top of the chart.

Chill out ? I think its funny. I have taped the throttle of My electric bike open and put it on the trainer. Im drinking my soup while its clocking up the miles.

 

[Drago]

Its no more real cycling than Gran Turismo is real driving, but if it keeps them happy then why not?

 

[vickster]

Its no more real cycling than Gran Turismo is real driving, but if it keeps them happy then why not?

Although at least on a turbo, you are turning the pedals even if 'virtual training' whereas there are no real wheels turning on a computer game

Granted in neither are you actually going anywhere

For me, turbo (or gym etc) = time spent exercising, there's no mileage involved as you don't go anywhere

My turbo session from last night in front of the football on Fitbit

 

[MiK1138]

Although at least on a turbo, you are turning the pedals even if 'virtual training' whereas there are no real wheels turning on a computer game

Granted in neither are you actually going anywhere

For me, turbo (or gym etc) = time spent exercising, there's no mileage involved as you don't go anywhere

My turbo session from last night in front of the football on Fitbit

Agree with this Mileage is a measure of distance. so Strava should only record Effort or Suffer Score from a trainer ride

 

[vickster]

Agree with this Mileage is a measure of distance. so Strava should only record Effort or Suffer Score from a trainer ride

think you only get those in premium (if actually interested)

 

[Red17]

Agree with this Mileage is a measure of distance. so Strava should only record Effort or Suffer Score from a trainer ride

Hours is useful if it's trainer rides

 

[bpsmith]

Can I assume that this would follow for running on a treadmill or rowing on a rowing machine?

Personally, I don't see why mileage doesn't count indoors.

Hours is equally as useless as mph on a trainer, if it's being used to compare to other rides as there are so many variables.

If we're going to pick one true variable then surely it should be Power?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Time is the only constant here, a minute is always 60 seconds, the question is what you do with it. Everything else can vary, right down to tyre pressure, ambient temp or amount of chain lube.

Yet, a pedal twiddle for 30 mins or 5min intervals just below FTP for the same time yield different results irrespective of how/where power is measured or calculated

 

[steveindenmark]

I managed to escape pedalling indoors. Fortunately, in Denmark, clearing the cycle paths is as important as clearing the roads.

 

[steveindenmark]

There are other benefits to cycling outdoors. The food tastes better.

 

[vickster]

I managed to escape pedalling indoors. Fortunately, in Denmark, clearing the cycle paths is as important as clearing the roads.

Same as the UK then.

 

[vickster]

There are other benefits to cycling outdoors. The good tastes better

the good what?