Zwift Chat

[cyberknight]

I think you’ve answered your own question as to why your numbers don’t feel right CK.

If you’re on the Strava Cyclchat group maybe make your time up the alp private so it doesn’t get confused with tImes that have been recorded using power meters.

not on the strava group i wasnt aware there was one

 

[alex_cycles]

Stage 8 was horrible.

Actually hate the elevation map, it isn't reflective of what's coming up and keeps switching direction of travel and disappearing, really grim as expected the last 6km to be a bit bumpy based on the map and didn't realise you had to go up that stupid virtual road again.

I also hate the Zwift elevation map - it's way too hard to follow, and not consistent directionally, so for the last few stages I grabbed the map from strava and annotated significant points (e.g. start and finish of climbs etc.) Might seem a bit geeky, but I've found it really helpful knowing when a "b'stard climb" is coming up so I can make sure I'm not toasted before it starts. I find if you know when the hill ends it gives you motivation to keep pushing to the top.

 

[<Tommy>]

not on the strava group i wasnt aware there was one

@kipster is the admin.

Regarding your set up - It’s not the end of the world of course… you can still give yourself just as good a workout in terms of the effort you put out. But the times, power, etc won’t be realistic. They will be reliable in the sense you can take note of your effort and refer back to it after future efforts. But they won’t bare a relatable comparison to ‘true’ numbers. Eg maybe next time you go up the alpe you do it in 46 minutes which is progress for you. But it bares no relation to other peoples times so I think it’s better personally not to put it up on leader boards.

In an ideal world you can raise the funds for a power meter for next winter. It’ll really improve things for you if you stick with the turbo.

 

[straas]

I also hate the Zwift elevation map - it's way too hard to follow, and not consistent directionally, so for the last few stages I grabbed the map from strava and annotated significant points (e.g. start and finish of climbs etc.) Might seem a bit geeky, but I've found it really helpful knowing when a "b'stard climb" is coming up so I can make sure I'm not toasted before it starts. I find if you know when the hill ends it gives you motivation to keep pushing to the top. View attachment 629730

That is some dedication! I think you could go even more Blue Peter and add a little dot on a slider and move it as you go.

Could be difficult with the sweat though...

 

[alex_cycles]

That is some dedication! I think you could go even more Blue Peter and add a little dot on a slider and move it as you go.

Could be difficult with the sweat though...

As one of the weaker riders in the GC, I needed all the help I could get . This actually helped me enormously to manage my efforts.
None of it would be necessary if Zwift had a proper elevation map a bit more like "Climb Pro" on Garmin Edges and big enough to be useful.

 

[CXRAndy]

Stage 8

I literally fell out of the conservatory after, to the wife laughing

 

[cyberknight]

@kipster is the admin.

Regarding your set up - It’s not the end of the world of course… you can still give yourself just as good a workout in terms of the effort you put out. But the times, power, etc won’t be realistic. They will be reliable in the sense you can take note of your effort and refer back to it after future efforts. But they won’t bare a relatable comparison to ‘true’ numbers. Eg maybe next time you go up the alpe you do it in 46 minutes which is progress for you. But it bares no relation to other peoples times so I think it’s better personally not to put it up on leader boards.

In an ideal world you can raise the funds for a power meter for next winter. It’ll really improve things for you if you stick with the turbo.

I only plan to turbo till im fixed enough to get back on the road , unfortunatly there is no way i can afford a decent turbo as the last few months i have been about £300 short on sick pay and with the coming price rises its not looking good .It is what it is .
I will not post on here again .

 

[Peter Salt]

blowing out my ass at the end of that
View attachment 629724

That time would require nearly 4.5W/kg. Not doubting your dedication, but doubting the accuracy of that dumb trainer

 

[alex_cycles]

That time would require nearly 4.5W/kg. Not doubting your dedication, but doubting the accuracy of that dumb trainer

Got a mate who was using VPower on a dumb trainer to ride with us. He was kicking out consistent "400 W" and he's weaker than me in real world rides on the road.

Then he got a smart trainer and his first comment was "F*** this is hard".
We all knew it was coming.
We all laughed a LOT

 

[CXRAndy]

I also hate the Zwift elevation map - it's way too hard to follow, and not consistent directionally, so for the last few stages I grabbed the map from strava and annotated significant points (e.g. start and finish of climbs etc.) Might seem a bit geeky, but I've found it really helpful knowing when a "b'stard climb" is coming up so I can make sure I'm not toasted before it starts. I find if you know when the hill ends it gives you motivation to keep pushing to the top. View attachment 629730

This was my crib sheet for the escalator

I made a mental note for stage 8 what time I'd liked to see at the base of each climb. I lost the wheel of so many groups running upto the final ascent, I was contemplating stopping

 

[<Tommy>]

@cyberknight, hopefully I didn’t offend you… I don’t go out of my way to put peoples noses out of joint, I just say it the way I see it.

This page really is an excellent resource for turbo related questions as we’ve all been doing it for so long. So feel free to pop by if you have any more questions 👍

 

[straas]

This was my crib sheet for the escalator
View attachment 629733

I made a mental note for stage 8 what time I'd liked to see at the base of each climb. I lost the wheel of so many groups running upto the final ascent, I was contemplating stopping

Disheartening isn't it.

My tactic for these has been to go hard for the first km or so, then latch onto a group behind that suits me.

Works ok but has meant I go from 60th - 150th place on the first climb, putting out 350w and being passed like a wet turd stuck to the porcelain.

 

[<Tommy>]

Got a mate who was using VPower on a dumb trainer to ride with us. He was kicking out consistent "400 W" and he's weaker than me in real world rides on the road.

Then he got a smart trainer and his first comment was "F*** this is hard".
We all knew it was coming.
We all laughed a LOT

Lots of us here came from bkool pro trainers which were very generous to say the least! But I guess we all knew they were flattering us so it kind of softened the ego blow when we made the switch.

On the more subtle side of the spectrum you often see people drop back in the back when they go from one brand of turbo to another. But to my mind it helps me to take everything with a pinch of salt.

 

[kipster]

All this planning for rides is making mine look totally inadequate.
1. Leave it 5 minutes from the start of the ride
2. Jump on bike
3. Rush back to house to get drink
4. Pedal like mad for a couple of minutes
5. Try hard to stay in group
6. Make up some places on the climbs
7 . Try not to lose places on the descent
8. Go to 5
9. Finish

I rearly look at the elevation profile, it's just a pretty much all in ride and the HR is high whether climbing or not. I'm set at 100% for the ride feel thingy.

I plan to do stage 8 tomorrow, I'm not sure today's 57 miles outside in the wind was the best prep.

 

[alex_cycles]

All this planning for rides is making mine look totally inadequate.
1. Leave it 5 minutes from the start of the ride
2. Jump on bike
3. Rush back to house to get drink
4. Pedal like mad for a couple of minutes
5. Try hard to stay in group
6. Make up some places on the climbs
7 . Try not to lose places on the descent
8. Go to 5
9. Finish

I rearly look at the elevation profile, it's just a pretty much all in ride and the HR is high whether climbing or not. I'm set at 100% for the ride feel thingy.

Yes but you're a lot better than me (but I'm working on improving). I have to do all that in order to "not be last" by 1 second