Zwift Chat

[bridgy]

Completed my upgrades on the SL8 this morning. At the moment I'm lacking the motivation to hurt myself much in the mornings, so I've been doing Z1/Z2 with Coco for the majority of my morning rides, and will probably continue to do so until Christmas. What is the best bike to do distance-based upgrades on next? (I'll switch to the Cadex TT bike for when I do workouts.)

In terms of road bikes there's not really anything better than the SL8 to upgrade that uses distance for upgrades. An upgraded TT bike is handy for TTs in ZRL etc but uses time rather than distance for upgrades as you know. The Specialised Aethos as a pure climbing bike may also occasionally come in handy as well but that uses elevation gain for upgrades (as do MTBs).

I suppose you could do a gravel bike?

Other than that, the only potential benefit you could look at is going for the Specialised Project 74 Halo bike which I believe is the fastest bike in Zwift on the flat when fully upgraded (but crap uphill!) - but you'll have to first fully upgrade two other Specialised Bikes and then do another 8,000km on the Project 74 to unlock it - a very long term undertaking!

 

[Norry1]

In terms of road bikes there's not really anything better than the SL8 to upgrade that uses distance for upgrades. An upgraded TT bike is handy for TTs in ZRL etc but uses time rather than distance for upgrades as you know. The Specialised Aethos as a pure climbing bike may also occasionally come in handy as well but that uses elevation gain for upgrades (as do MTBs).

I suppose you could do a gravel bike?

Other than that, the only potential benefit you could look at is going for the Specialised Project 74 Halo bike which I believe is the fastest bike in Zwift on the flat when fully upgraded (but crap uphill!) - but you'll have to first fully upgrade two other Specialised Bikes and then do another 8,000km on the Project 74 to unlock it - a very long term undertaking!

I'm doing the Aethos at the moment. I have to keep remembering to switch back to the SL8 when I do a race.

 

[Legs]

In terms of road bikes there's not really anything better than the SL8 to upgrade that uses distance for upgrades. An upgraded TT bike is handy for TTs in ZRL etc but uses time rather than distance for upgrades as you know. The Specialised Aethos as a pure climbing bike may also occasionally come in handy as well but that uses elevation gain for upgrades (as do MTBs).

I suppose you could do a gravel bike?

Other than that, the only potential benefit you could look at is going for the Specialised Project 74 Halo bike which I believe is the fastest bike in Zwift on the flat when fully upgraded (but crap uphill!) - but you'll have to first fully upgrade two other Specialised Bikes and then do another 8,000km on the Project 74 to unlock it - a very long term undertaking!

Thanks for this, Paul.

Since Zwift nerfed the gravel Crr, there's no point having gravels bikes. I'm most inclined to work on the Aethos, but that doesn't lend itself to doing with the Pace Partners. Maybe I should do easy workouts on flat courses for my steady rides, and do everything on the TT bike until I've clocked the requisite hours?

 

[bridgy]

Thanks for this, Paul.

Since Zwift nerfed the gravel Crr, there's no point having gravels bikes. I'm most inclined to work on the Aethos, but that doesn't lend itself to doing with the Pace Partners. Maybe I should do easy workouts on flat courses for my steady rides, and do everything on the TT bike until I've clocked the requisite hours?

Oh yeah, I forgot that about the gravel bikes.

I've just been riding the TT bike recently instead of pace partners for everything other than actual races (unless it's a TT of course!). I did make a start on the Aethos whch to be honest isn't that different to riding alone on a TT bike - just riding alone and slowly up big hills instead! But I changed to the TT bike as I'll make use of it more in ZRL.

I look forward to getting the TT bike and Aethos done and then going back to the slightly more interesting pace partner group rides! I don't think I can be bothered to even start trying to unlock or upgrade any Halo bikes!

 

[alex_cycles]

Thanks for this, Paul.

Since Zwift nerfed the gravel Crr, there's no point having gravels bikes. I'm most inclined to work on the Aethos, but that doesn't lend itself to doing with the Pace Partners. Maybe I should do easy workouts on flat courses for my steady rides, and do everything on the TT bike until I've clocked the requisite hours?

A nasty month of no draft got me the 40 hours on the TT bike. Didn't really enjoy it though, but I used the level 5 Cadex this morning and it felt like it was at least useful for something. I did miss drafting and Pace Partners though.

 

[Legs]

Oh yeah, I forgot that about the gravel bikes.

I've just been riding the TT bike recently instead of pace partners for everything other than actual races (unless it's a TT of course!). I did make a start on the Aethos whch to be honest isn't that different to riding alone on a TT bike - just riding alone and slowly up big hills instead! But I changed to the TT bike as I'll make use of it more in ZRL.

I look forward to getting the TT bike and Aethos done and then going back to the slightly more interesting pace partner group rides! I don't think I can be bothered to even start trying to unlock or upgrade any Halo bikes!

That seems sensible. Unlike many others, I don't really feel that I'm riding 'with' other riders when I'm doing a PP ride - it's been a useful way of eking out a couple of extra km/h to get the SL8 upgrades done quicker, but I'm just as content to freeride solo or to do a workout.

 

[Legs]

A nasty month of no draft got me the 40 hours on the TT bike. Didn't really enjoy it though, but I used the level 5 Cadex this morning and it felt like it was at least useful for something. I did miss drafting and Pace Partners though.

A case in point. What's the benefit in drafting? Your goal in each session is to accumulate time spent on the saddle, and the training effect you get is completely dependent on how hard you choose to press the pedals. Whether or not there are other avatars on the screen is irrelevant, isn't it?

 

[alex_cycles]

A case in point. What's the benefit in drafting? Your goal in each session is to accumulate time spent on the saddle, and the training effect you get is completely dependent on how hard you choose to press the pedals. Whether or not there are other avatars on the screen is irrelevant, isn't it?

You're a machine though. I'm a human being A lot of it is probably in the head and we are not all the same.

You said the exact same thing when we did a Jungle Circuit race a while back, but several of us can (or could at the time - before they nuked the Crr) feel the difference.

Riding on your own all the time can be quite boring. I started watching Netflix which I'd never done before while Zwifting.

When I'm free-riding while paying attention I will often find small groups to ride with or individuals to "compete" with for a bit of fun.
On a TT bike that little game is pointless. But you're a workout man. I fkn hate workouts.

 

[bridgy]

You're a machine though. I'm a human being A lot of it is probably in the head and we are not all the same.

You said the exact same thing when we did a Jungle Circuit race a while back, but several of us can (or could at the time - before they nuked the Crr) feel the difference.

Riding on your own all the time can be quite boring. I started watching Netflix which I'd never done before while Zwifting.

When I'm free-riding while paying attention I will often find small groups to ride with or individuals to "compete" with for a bit of fun.
On a TT bike that little game is pointless. But you're a workout man. I fkn hate workouts.

I'm kind of with Alex on this! Logically there's no difference in theory but drafting in a group you're kind of forced to maintain your power at a certain level so as not to get dropped and this makes it slightly more engaging for me. I also can't be bothered with workouts!

I do also like free extra speed in races though so am willing to temporarily put up with riding round alone on either a TT bike or up a load of long climbs for the freebies!

 

[ColinJ]

At the moment, I am more interested in training rather than racing, probably because I am not fit enough to do a decent performance in a race!

If/when I got to a reasonable level then I might take more interest in racing.

Meanwhile, I am looking forward to testing myself on some challenging virtual climbs. I really like the idea of trying to beat a ghost avatar that is replaying my PB ride.

I still haven't started my Zwift trial. I think that TPV and MyW might actually be better fits for me.

 

[Norry1]

At the moment, I am more interested in training rather than racing, probably because I am not fit enough to do a decent performance in a race!

If/when I got to a reasonable level then I might take more interest in racing.

Meanwhile, I am looking forward to testing myself on some challenging virtual climbs. I really like the idea of trying to beat a ghost avatar that is replaying my PB ride.

I still haven't started my Zwift trial. I think that TPV and MyW might actually be better fits for me.

Worth doing a short ride on TPV today - you get entered in a draw for a free KICR Core 2

 

[ColinJ]

Worth doing a short ride on TPV today - you get entered in a draw for a free KICR Core 2

Wow, that's a good prize!

I have a guest arriving shortly though, and a barely-used new Victory turbo trainer upstairs, so I think that I'll let someone else win it!

 

[CXRAndy]

Cheers Paul. Was hoping it wouldn't be the case but that does make sense. Has he tried posting on the Facebook group @CXRAndy ? Would certainly be a big asset to a team

I've sent him the link to try, Michael

He wanted to race ZRL, given his significant jump in power over the summer. Hes only raced about 12 times, mainly because he's been doing mid to iron-man triathlons.

He's a bit of a diesel, able to just hold 350W

Ideal for TTT and flatter rolling courses

 

[Dorset Boy]

Why not ride your TT bike in a pace partner group that is lower than the one you would normally ride in. It gets the hours in and gives you the company you desire. The easier group will compensate for the lack of drafting.

 

[alex_cycles]

Why not ride your TT bike in a pace partner group that is lower than the one you would normally ride in. It gets the hours in and gives you the company you desire. The easier group will compensate for the lack of drafting.

Because at least 90% of the Zwift subs is a license to whinge.
Actually I did consider doing that at some point but in the end opted for the Netflix "switch off" option, which did the job OK. I generally prefer to look where I'm going though

How did the rest of you get on in your TTT guys?