Thinking about getting a Zwift, any good?

[Venod]

I used zwift when it was free but was not impressed enough to subscribe, I recently I started a free trial and it has improved tremendously, its still a bit too gamey IMO and would be better without the gimmicks, (power ups, tron bikes etc) but I appreciate some people like the game aspect.
Still undecided if I carry on at the end of the free trial, I also have Tacx/Garmin films which are very high quality real routes.

 

[CXRAndy]

I have been using Zwift for a while and I've been wondering how people do it socially...

We chat away on here, see same riders on your events, build friendships from there.

 

[CXRAndy]

I used zwift when it was free but was not impressed enough to subscribe, I recently I started a free trial and it has improved tremendously, its still a bit too gamey IMO and would be better without the gimmicks, (power ups, tron bikes etc) but I appreciate some people like the game aspect.
Still undecided if I carry on at the end of the free trial, I also have Tacx/Garmin film which are very high quality real routes.

We do this, I mean a group of us on this forum- along with the thousands around the world- this is what makes it entertaining

View: https://youtu.be/NJW7DJtJh40

 

[rivers]

I have been using Zwift for a while and I've been wondering how people do it socially...

My friends and I use discord. We organised group rides over the pandemic and just chatted away for what was sometimes several hours on Zwift. We still use it to communicate when racing

 

[Twizit]

My friends and I use discord. We organised group rides over the pandemic and just chatted away for what was sometimes several hours on Zwift. We still use it to communicate when racing

^^^ this. My local cycle mates all got into Zwift through lockdown and still use it through winter months and when poor weather on weekends. Discord works well to chat nonsense to each other whilst cycling a route. Better way to pass the time than solo riding.

This said I also use the training programmes quite a lot, as much to give me something to focus on rather than just aimless cycling around a virtual world on your own - I find that quite boring but have gone up to 2 hours at a time on a workout - amazing what distraction can get you through. Always have podcasts playing in the background too.

 

[rivers]

^^^ this. My local cycle mates all got into Zwift through lockdown and still use it through winter months and when poor weather on weekends. Discord works well to chat nonsense to each other whilst cycling a route. Better way to pass the time than solo riding.

This said I also use the training programmes quite a lot, as much to give me something to focus on rather than just aimless cycling around a virtual world on your own - I find that quite boring but have gone up to 2 hours at a time on a workout - amazing what distraction can get you through. Always have podcasts playing in the background too.

Over lockdown we were all doing some sort of training program. And on Sundays, we had a long ride on whatever training program we were on. It definitely made it easier to spend 3-4 hours on the trainer. Once we could go out in a groups of 6, we were all incredibly fit.

 

[Legs]

We do this, I mean a group of us on this forum- along with the thousands around the world- this is what makes it entertaining

View: https://youtu.be/NJW7DJtJh40

In case the other participants in this thread are not aware, there's a mega-thread of Zwift-related banter and discussion here.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

We do this, I mean a group of us on this forum- along with the thousands around the world- this is what makes it entertaining

View: https://youtu.be/NJW7DJtJh40

Shame you have all those riders in front of you. Spoils the view…

 

[CXRAndy]

Shame you have all those riders in front of you. Spoils the view…

No time to look at the view, it's all about effort and tactics

 

[Ming the Merciless]

No time to look at the view, it's all about effort and tactics

But how do you get past not much room on either side to get past.

 

[CXRAndy]

But how do you get past not much room on either side to get past.

The algorithm moves you around the riders Infront if you're traveling faster than they are. You can also power straight through if there is no space.

It was setup last year that you could ride through riders even in a small group, but the updates have changed it to ride around others where possible, making it more realistic.

If you have the steering feature setup, then you can't ride through riders you need to steer passed them. There are some advantages to having steering,like taking shorter ,tighter lines around bends gaining distance on your competition

If you watch the event carefully, most avatars try to move around other avatars, but occasionally avatars overlay as they pass each other.

I've been really lucky, in all the years of racing on Zwift, I've not been knocked off yet

 

[Venod]

Do you still get the digital doping in races, ie power ups and faster bikes or is it more of a level playing field ?

 

[CXRAndy]

Do you still get the digital doping in races, ie power ups and faster bikes or is it more of a level playing field ?

The higher your level, better kit is available - gains are marginal but useful.

Power ups still present, again can be extremely handy when deployed appropriately.

Analysis of rider performance is a bit more thorough, so obvious manipulation is detected. Also other riders can report suspicious performances

 

[Proto]

My friends and I use discord. We organised group rides over the pandemic and just chatted away for what was sometimes several hours on Zwift. We still use it to communicate when racing

Same here. Over lockdown my club (High Wycombe CC) organised club runs and training rides. Discord and headphones and it was social indeed. We had as many as 30 of us riding together. Usual chat and banter, “Dave, slow down at the front, we’ve dropped Steve” sort of thing. Just a gang of mates talking bikes, racing and general bollocks for an hour or so.

Did a Zwift ride with my chum Andy who has bought a house in Pollenca, Majorca. So we met up on Zwift yesterday for a catch up whilst we rode together.

And if you want to go out with the fast boys and worry about keeping up, just adjust your weight to make it more ‘comfortable’.

Without Zwift my turbo trainer would be an ornament.

 

[Legs]

Did @sophie2wheelz ever get a Zwift?