Zwift Chat

[IrishAl]

Unless he uses the Bkool for power in Zwift - we’ll never know. Would be nice if both powersource and trainer info was available on ZwiftPower.

I must have a play around later to see if I can get the power data from both the Bkool and the Assiomas for the same ride. I guess if I use the Bkool paired to Zwift and then the assioma pedals to my garmin I can get both .FIT files and then put them together in excel. DC Rainmaker has a tool but it costs a few $$ to run.

I agree that you have to take zwift with a pinch of salt and use it to improve your own performance as theres so many ways to deliberately or accidentally cheat (weight, height, calibration, motor doping). I have joined a group in Facebook called Zwiftransparency where you can upload a video of your weight and height just to prove at least that side is right. I've updated my ZT passport with a few IRL strava sectors that some of you might have ridden on...links might not work but you can get them from my ZT passport in the signature if you recognise the sector. I see a few of you have done some of these climbs.

Mallorca, Spain - Puig Major climb from Soller - “Puig Major 10km Climb” - 6.3 miles @ 6% - 00:37:12 - http://bit.ly/2GKsbOJ
Mallorca, Spain - Sa Calobra to Coll dels Reis - “Sa Calobra to Coll dels Reis (official)” - 5.9 miles @ 7% - 00:36:43 - http://bit.ly/2LaC7Xq
Mallorca, Spain - Pollenca to Formentor view point - “Cap Formentor to 1st view point” - 2.0 miles @ 6% - 00:10:02 - http://bit.ly/2W8lFbi
Tenerife, Spain - Los Christianos to Teide - “Teide” - 20.3 miles @ 6% 2:35:35 - http://bit.ly/2V8MY92
Calpe Region, Spain - Parcent to Coll de Rates - “Coll de Rates official” - 3.7 miles @ 5% - 00:22:38- http://bit.ly/2PyZ84Z

 

[bobinski]

I must have a play around later to see if I can get the power data from both the Bkool and the Assiomas for the same ride. I guess if I use the Bkool paired to Zwift and then the assioma pedals to my garmin I can get both .FIT files and then put them together in excel. DC Rainmaker has a tool but it costs a few $$ to run.

I agree that you have to take zwift with a pinch of salt and use it to improve your own performance as theres so many ways to deliberately or accidentally cheat (weight, height, calibration, motor doping). I have joined a group in Facebook called Zwiftransparency where you can upload a video of your weight and height just to prove at least that side is right. I've updated my ZT passport with a few IRL strava sectors that some of you might have ridden on...links might not work but you can get them from my ZT passport in the signature if you recognise the sector. I see a few of you have done some of these climbs.

Mallorca, Spain - Puig Major climb from Soller - “Puig Major 10km Climb” - 6.3 miles @ 6% - 00:37:12 - http://bit.ly/2GKsbOJ
Mallorca, Spain - Sa Calobra to Coll dels Reis - “Sa Calobra to Coll dels Reis (official)” - 5.9 miles @ 7% - 00:36:43 - http://bit.ly/2LaC7Xq
Mallorca, Spain - Pollenca to Formentor view point - “Cap Formentor to 1st view point” - 2.0 miles @ 6% - 00:10:02 - http://bit.ly/2W8lFbi
Tenerife, Spain - Los Christianos to Teide - “Teide” - 20.3 miles @ 6% 2:35:35 - http://bit.ly/2V8MY92
Calpe Region, Spain - Parcent to Coll de Rates - “Coll de Rates official” - 3.7 miles @ 5% - 00:22:38- http://bit.ly/2PyZ84Z

Some cracking times there AL. I have compared them with strava times for other strong riders i know and you are up near the top. Nothing worse than a lightweight rider with power

 

[theboxers]

We'll I've completed Tow Stg 3. .

As a demo of what Zwift is doing and capable of . As a part of a multi stage event not so much .

 

[LoneRider90]

I change frame and wheels for terrain and my ride objectives . Hilly course it's S-works Venge and light wheels. Flatter courses I'll add the disc wheels. When I want to do all the work I'll go TT bike and discs. Sometimes I'll switch to Cervelo S5 or Madone for a change. So much choice. Rude not to play around

I've watched the Pritchard videos for wheels and frames which is the reason that I've got so many options! Plus what makes it harder is that he tested up the Alpe which is pure climbing, I'm wanting to know the best set up for the KOM up and down plus a bit of rolling terrain too. I on't want to go full climbing bike if it's then going to be rubbish on the other 40km of the ride! I'm still working towards the Venge and the disk wheel so don't have that option yet! Nor the Tron! I'm thinking the aero wheels are mainly flat terrain wheels (not really downhill neither?). Nothing on the big loop is particularly flat because it's either the KOM or rolling apart from the section around the volcano. Going to put my zipp 202's onto the climbing cannondale frame (3rd best climbing frame behind tarmac pro and safety bike but he doesn't mention the Venge so assuming it's a flat bike?) and hope the gains twice up the KOM will be worth it!

I know it's all marginal gains and doesn't really matter but there's probably a mental aspect to performing a bit better if you know your set up is bang on. Plus if it can speed up my ride by 10 minutes then great, I'm still putting in the effort and will be on 100% so there's no real negative from a training perspective.

 

[mjd1988]

I've watched the Pritchard videos for wheels and frames which is the reason that I've got so many options! Plus what makes it harder is that he tested up the Alpe which is pure climbing, I'm wanting to know the best set up for the KOM up and down plus a bit of rolling terrain too. I on't want to go full climbing bike if it's then going to be rubbish on the other 40km of the ride! I'm still working towards the Venge and the disk wheel so don't have that option yet! Nor the Tron! I'm thinking the aero wheels are mainly flat terrain wheels (not really downhill neither?). Nothing on the big loop is particularly flat because it's either the KOM or rolling apart from the section around the volcano. Going to put my zipp 202's onto the climbing cannondale frame (3rd best climbing frame behind tarmac pro and safety bike but he doesn't mention the Venge so assuming it's a flat bike?) and hope the gains twice up the KOM will be worth it!

I know it's all marginal gains and doesn't really matter but there's probably a mental aspect to performing a bit better if you know your set up is bang on. Plus if it can speed up my ride by 10 minutes then great, I'm still putting in the effort and will be on 100% so there's no real negative from a training perspective.

Zwiftinsider.com has good speed tests over a range of circuits for frames and wheelsets. It's updated fairly recently- for example the safety bike went from best climber to worst climber in a recent update!

 

[peterob]

Some cracking times there AL. I have compared them with strava times for other strong riders i know and you are up near the top. Nothing worse than a lightweight rider with power

Bah. Still a way to go to compete with the likes of Contador, Lopez and Kwiatkowski on those segments

 

[peterob]

Great work again Pete!
I had another crack at stage 1 again today...00:40:08....about a minute quicker than my first go but 9 seconds slower than your time
If i had realised it was so close I would have taken more turns onthe front of the group I was in but I was too busy sheltering for the sprint which I ended up messing up in any case.

I must have been on a good day on stage 1!

Great time though....stretching your lead still further in the league standings

 

[LoneRider90]

Zwiftinsider.com has good speed tests over a range of circuits for frames and wheelsets. It's updated fairly recently- for example the safety bike went from best climber to worst climber in a recent update!

That's good news! Hated how that ridiculous safety bike was so good!

Thanks for the reminder about Zwiftinsider, getting my geek on looking at all these numbers now. One thing that's immediately standing out though... is the Tron actually worth the effort? My evo on 202's is probably as good up the alpe and if I can unlock the lightweights they'll go 17 seconds quicker! Going to look to see if the Tron is better in other areas.

Edit: Actually I give up, still don't understand it. The pure climbing numbers of the Alpe is easy, the rest is just another language. Watopia Fig 8... Zwift TT bike with 808s is 42 seconds quicker than the Tron and 45 seconds quicker than Spec Shiv??? This is only over 18.4 miles? What the hell have I spent my drops for?? Haha confused!

 

[Norry1]

Cheers @Whorty. I did wonder if I'd see you on the leaderboard approaching my little group. Felt I could have gone faster but lost the wheels of the faster guys on both of the climbs. I won the sprint from my little group at the end which indicates I had something left in the tank.

All stage 4 results now included in the league. Some really close results in Stage 4 as well as plenty of strong rides.

This week is a catch up week, so plenty of opportunity to complete a missed stage or look to put in a faster effort

View attachment 464419

Nice work

Just noticed @peterob, you did exactly the same time as me on Stage 4

 

[Whorty]

Cheers @Whorty. I did wonder if I'd see you on the leaderboard approaching my little group. Felt I could have gone faster but lost the wheels of the faster guys on both of the climbs. I won the sprint from my little group at the end which indicates I had something left in the tank.

All stage 4 results now included in the league. Some really close results in Stage 4 as well as plenty of strong rides.

This week is a catch up week, so plenty of opportunity to complete a missed stage or look to put in a faster effort

View attachment 464419

Planning a go at stg 1 again today at 5 o'clock. See if I can gain all those 3 seconds that I'm languishing behind @CXRAndy

 

[peterob]

Nice work

Just noticed @peterob, you did exactly the same time as me on Stage 4

Yeah there were a clutch of us aroundabout the same time on Stage 4. We'll have to try and coordinate to race at the same time....although Stage 5 is a TT I think so no real advantage to that next week.

 

[Whorty]

Yeah there were a clutch of us aroundabout the same time on Stage 4. We'll have to try and coordinate to race at the same time....although Stage 5 is a TT I think so no real advantage to that next week.

The bigger, stronger guys will destroy us lower power guys on that pan flat TT. Expect to see the likes of Andy and Tommy putting in some cracking times.

 

[peterob]

The bigger, stronger guys will destroy us lower power guys on that pan flat TT. Expect to see the likes of Andy and Tommy putting in some cracking times.

Is it a short TT? Should suit me too if so (< 10 miles)

 

[Whorty]

Is it a short TT? Should suit me too if so (< 10 miles)

I think it's the new flat route, so about 20km (12 miles?).

 

[bridgy]

That's good news! Hated how that ridiculous safety bike was so good!

Thanks for the reminder about Zwiftinsider, getting my geek on looking at all these numbers now. One thing that's immediately standing out though... is the Tron actually worth the effort? My evo on 202's is probably as good up the alpe and if I can unlock the lightweights they'll go 17 seconds quicker! Going to look to see if the Tron is better in other areas.

Edit: Actually I give up, still don't understand it. The pure climbing numbers of the Alpe is easy, the rest is just another language. Watopia Fig 8... Zwift TT bike with 808s is 42 seconds quicker than the Tron and 45 seconds quicker than Spec Shiv??? This is only over 18.4 miles? What the hell have I spent my drops for?? Haha confused!

I think you're comparing the tests at 225 watts vs the tests at 300 watts when you see the Zwift TT bike being 45 seconds quicker than the Spec Shiv (i.e the Spec Shiv time is at 225 watts and the Zwift TT bike is at 300 watts - therefore faster). It's confusing as they haven't done all the bikes at the different watts.

The Zwift TT is indeed showing as 42 seconds quicker than the Tron - both at 300 watts - but it has long been know the TT bikes are fastest (unless it's a big climb like the Alpe) so not a major surprise. Obviously, what you gain from pure speed on the TT bike you lose - and some - by the lack of drafting in races, so still best to use the Tron bike in a race.