Zwift Chat

[alex_cycles]

Personally I have an Element Bolt and it's a doddle to use.

We have endless Garmin Vs Wahoo banter on our club rides. It's a bit like Canon vs Nikon.

At the end of the day it seems to me that all of them are pretty good but a lot of people are crap with tech and have no idea how to use whichever bike computer they buy. I expect that doesn't apply in here as there is a certain degree of tech-savvy required to get a Zwift setup up and running.

 

[Whorty]

We have endless Garmin Vs Wahoo banter on our club rides. It's a bit like Canon vs Nikon.

At the end of the day it seems to me that all of them are pretty good but a lot of people are crap with tech and have no idea how to use whichever bike computer they buy. I expect that doesn't apply in here as there is a certain degree of tech-savvy required to get a Zwift setup up and running.

Nikon, clearly🤣🤣🙃

 

[Peter Salt]

Yes. YOu get the .FIT files directly on the device itself or can download .FIT, .GPX or .TCX from Garmin Connect.

Ah, great! Thank you.

Same with Strava, right? Once you have a bike computer you can just upload the file instead of faffing around with the app and record button?

 

[berty bassett]

Ah, great! Thank you.

Same with Strava, right? Once you have a bike computer you can just upload the file instead of faffing around with the app and record button?

A lot of them now just upload automatically once it’s set up

 

[Del C]

@Norry1 @Whorty have you seen the news about TOC and the date change - AGAIN!! Don't think I can make the new date unfortunately so I'm going to have to defer to 2023 I think. Amazing to think I paid for this in 2019!

I got the email today.

I’m in two minds whether to bother. When I signed up in 2019 I think quite a few of us were looking to ride. Would have been my first time.

I can see my only options are ride, defer to 2023 or lose my money. I’ve sort of lost interest after all this time, so I may just write it off, especially as it seems quite possible that n @bridgy @Norry1 and @Whorty are unlikely to make it

 

[bridgy]

I got the email today.

I’m in two minds whether to bother. When I signed up in 2019 I think quite a few of us were looking to ride. Would have been my first time.

I can see my only options are ride, defer to 2023 or lose my money. I’ve sort of lost interest after all this time, so I may just write it off, especially as it seems quite possible that n @bridgy @Norry1 and @Whorty are unlikely to make it

Why not just defer to next year and see how you feel then? That's what I've done

 

[Whorty]

Why not just defer to next year and see how you feel then? That's what I've done

I'll probably do the same

 

[BurningLegs]

Ah, great! Thank you.

Same with Strava, right? Once you have a bike computer you can just upload the file instead of faffing around with the app and record button?

Yes. Without a bike computer you need to use the strava app during a ride to record. Limiting factor is usually battery life of a smart phone.

With a bike computer, it records locally then uploads to strava once complete (the premium computers will log rides live) via an app on your phone when you get home.

I’ve got a very cheap Bryton 420 (think I paid £109). Heart rate and power sensors pair perfectly every time, and once I take my phone out my pocket and launch the Bryton app my ride is on Strava within 30 seconds.

As you move up the product ranges you get better quality screens, the ability to map on the device and route live (rather than follow a track which is pushed to the device), a nicer/easier user interface, and better support.

I kind of loathe having a bike computer on my stem and having a far more capable device (iPhone) in my pocket! Sometimes I take a power bank and just use my phone on rides, but the limiting factor is still battery life!

 

[Peter Salt]

Yes. Without a bike computer you need to use the strava app during a ride to record. Limiting factor is usually battery life of a smart phone.

With a bike computer, it records locally then uploads to strava once complete (the premium computers will log rides live) via an app on your phone when you get home.

I’ve got a very cheap Bryton 420 (think I paid £109). Heart rate and power sensors pair perfectly every time, and once I take my phone out my pocket and launch the Bryton app my ride is on Strava within 30 seconds.

As you move up the product ranges you get better quality screens, the ability to map on the device and route live (rather than follow a track which is pushed to the device), a nicer/easier user interface, and better support.

I kind of loathe having a bike computer on my stem and having a far more capable device (iPhone) in my pocket! Sometimes I take a power bank and just use my phone on rides, but the limiting factor is still battery life!

Thanks for clarifying.

Yes, 'Why not just use a phone?' was bouncing around my brain but then I realised that even entry level bike computers offer a lot of battery life. I could technically have my current phone in the pocket and hotspot to another (older) phone on the stem but even with a dimmed screen it won't last for 12h... And I won't get the .fit files for other apps.

I've noticed that some places are selling the (discontinued?) Edge 520 for as little as the Edge 130. That looks like a good deal/idea?

 

[Del C]

Why not just defer to next year and see how you feel then? That's what I've done

That’s probably the right thing to do

 

[JuhaL]

A lot of them now just upload automatically once it’s set up

Yup but first you need to go Strava settings to give data permissions for social connections and/or partner integrations. Personally when I do only indoor rides i disconnect connection with Garmin because i try to prevent double data from Zwift because data from Zwift goes to Strava too.

 

[Norry1]

I got the email today.

I’m in two minds whether to bother. When I signed up in 2019 I think quite a few of us were looking to ride. Would have been my first time.

I can see my only options are ride, defer to 2023 or lose my money. I’ve sort of lost interest after all this time, so I may just write it off, especially as it seems quite possible that n @bridgy @Norry1 and @Whorty are unlikely to make it

The World Champs in Trento is my main target event so I need ToC to (hopefully) qualify. I've changed my hotel booking to 11th June and am 90% sure I'll be there.

 

[BurningLegs]

Do you have any other qualification routes @Norry1 ?

 

[<Tommy>]

Thanks for clarifying.

Yes, 'Why not just use a phone?' was bouncing around my brain but then I realised that even entry level bike computers offer a lot of battery life. I could technically have my current phone in the pocket and hotspot to another (older) phone on the stem but even with a dimmed screen it won't last for 12h... And I won't get the .fit files for other apps.

I've noticed that some places are selling the (discontinued?) Edge 520 for as little as the Edge 130. That looks like a good deal/idea?

I had the edge 520. I sold it to get the wahoo elemnt bolt and I found it a big improvement.

Now I have the elemnt roam too, which has a larger screen so is better for mapping.

The thing about using phones is if you keep it in your pocket then you obviously don’t get the instant live days. If you have it on the bars and you crash then your phone is in the firing line. And like you say the battery life is a factor too.

It does depend on what your planning to use it for. What type of rides.

 

[<Tommy>]

I have 70mm rims on my commute bike at the moment. If you see me sailing over your house tomorrow AM, do feel free to give me a wave!