Narhay

Anyone here zwifting? I recently started after picking up some wahoo sensors and it has motivated me to stay on with my stationary training. My dumb cycleops fluid trainer resistance is not very accurate but the sweat doesn't lie.

I have my 2011 carbon bmc on my trainer so maybe not so c&v but the fitness gained should help with the fleet when the nice weather comes back around.

DMC707

What kind of sensors are you using ? Id love to get up and running with zwift - i dont want to race anyone, but the just riding along feature would make trainer rides less boring

Spaghetti Legs 

There’s an option to ride steel bike with classic wheels so you can do the virtual C+V. Weather hasn’t turned bad for me yet so I haven’t retreated to the trainer yet but I like to do Zwift. My actual bike that I use is my old Teschner TT bike.

Russ Roth

I've tried zwift and set up my bike with a cadence sensor and a wahoo trainer that has a built in power meter and speed sensor that can communicate with my phone. Even casting screen to the tv and letting it estimate the speed for inclines and such I found it didn't make the riding any more enjoyable. Ended up putting the tv actually on and letting the phone record the results without looking at the screen. But I've been wanting to try something better and the cyclops hammer trainer is down to 650 although you need a separate cadence sensor. Rouvy seems to have less people but I really appreciate the scenery more and the interactive nature so that the resistance changes to match topography really makes it more enjoyable. 40 min of watching the screen with that one went painfully fast. I'm sure the zwift interactive is probably just as good but I find I do prefer the real life scenery. The weather has been good enough to ride so I haven't spent too much time on it; wife likes the interactive trainer so much she wanted her own bike hooked up to her own separate trainer, which, while expensive, is cheaper then the peloton she was originally asking for. Next paycheck will result in a pair of heart rate monitors for some of the interval training programs.

RobbieTunes

I'm taking indoor classes, with a trainer/coach that sets up my bike and then tells me what to do, re: cadence or power, as I ride a course with varying resistance that equates to grades, etc. It uses Computrainer, screens, etc.

It's more challenging than I thought, a bit less boring than I thought, and more beneficial but less fun than mindlessly pedaling and binge-watching some Netflix series.

If anything, it's made me lower my "floor temperature" for outdoor riding. Wind is always annoying , but a 25mph wind on a 40-deg day makes you savvy quicker.

smontanaro 

Sorry, what is Zwift? Maybe like Peloton but with your own bike and trainer?

danmyersmn

Russ Roth

Its a program you can use with your own phone, tablet, or apple tv which allows you to ride/race in real time against other people or do training programs. It does use your bike which needs to be equipped with a power meter, speedometer, and cadence sensor which should all use bluetooth or ant+. The basic smart trainer I've got has a power meter and speedometer built in and does a lousy job of estimating cadence. For around 450 you can get a smart trainer that is like a traditional trainer but is able to self-adjust resistance to a limited extent based on the program you choose.

mstateglfr 

I use a road bike thats a Tange 1 frame from 89 with mid-level modern parts(9sp tiagra shifters and 10sp 105 derailleurs with an old 80s Sake crank). I have a Fluid2 dumb trainer, so I use a Cateye speed and cadence sensor to determine watts. A $7 Ant+ dongle that hooks into my laptop transfers the speed and cadence sensor data to the game. I push the image to a TV so I dont have to look at a laptop screen the whole time.
$40 for the Cateye speed and cadence sensor
$7 for the Ant+ dongle

Thats all you need to start riding.

I cover my frame's top and down tubes with pipe insulation to keep out sweat, and run a fan because itd be absurd to not.

The game is a blast. I think the power average is generally accurate, based on quality spin bikes I have used. I 100% know I ride faster in Zwift than in real life, but there is no wind in the game so Ill claim that as the reason, even if it isnt really why. I finish races in the middle of my group each time and am a mess after each one so thats about right since I wouldnt do well in one in real life.
I dont engage in the social aspect of the game- I just havent bought into it yet. A handful of people from around the world are following me and I have no idea why. They are people who were in races with me that finished around me. Its neat, I guess, I just dont really understand what to do with that aspect of the game. Its a feature I dont use, but that doesnt mean its a bad feature. I can tell many really thrive on the social aspect, so its super neat that its available.

Pic of setup. I get an unfinished part of our basement to sweat and burn. I dislike how long zwift takes to load and have wondered if it would load faster on an appletv.
This is 7min before a race that i crushed the first 25% and watched most everyone pass me on the last 75%!

bikemig 

I just picked up a zwift compatible trainer and I'll be setting it up soon. I'm looking forward to this. Virtual C&V sounds good.

jadocs

Zwift is great and very enjoyable if you have the right setup. If you are set on using C&V bike and are limited on what kind of trainer will work with it, I recommend getting some generic rollers (if you are on a budget) and using wireless Wahoo speed, cadence sensors. I would run zwift on a TV (the larger the better) to provide immersion into the environment. It's not quite the same running zwift on a tablet or phone. You can hardwire a phone or tablet with zwift to a TV with a lightning/HDMI cable to have a larger screen. If you have a new generation 4k Apple TV, you can run zwift on it without hardwiring a phone or tablet. With the rollers, you will really be riding your bike which adds to the enjoyment/realism vs. being locked in to a trainer. If you have a power meter that's even better because you can connect the power meter to zwift so you will then have speed, cadence and power data while you are riding. Now if you're not on a budget, I highly recommend "smart rollers". Smart rollers are just like other smart trainers like the Wahoo Kickr, Wahoo Snap, etc... except you are really riding your bike. With smart rollers you can connect wirelessly and zwift will automatically adjust the resistance based on the slope you are riding. It will also display your speed and power metrics (without a power meter) so you will not need a speed sensor or power meter. The best smart rollers (actually only one of three that are in existence that I know of) are from Inside Ride - E-Motion Rollers

It is what I use, and can honestly say that it is just as enjoyable to ride as outdoors. Some days, I even prefer it to an outdoor ride.

himespau 

I did it a few years ago, but just restarted it again. I've been off the bike completely for over a year until about a week ago due to what I thought was a sprained knee but turned out to be a tumor that ended up eating the top half of my fibula. Recovery has been slow, but I really wanted to get back on my bike (but am terrified of falling off and damaging my surgically reconstructed knee before it's ready), so I reactivated my Zwift account (it's gotten more expensive but added a lot of places instead of the single island since the last time I was online).

Since my only complete bike at the moment is a 1989/90(ish) Concorde Aquila, I'm sort of riding vintage. I've got powertap wheels to communicated with the computer. For a trainer, I have a set pf Sportcrafters rollers with the progressive resistance roller and the heavy flywheel roller and a forkstand (again afraid of falling and damaging my fragile knee). I have this setup on top of a homemade sort of dolly made of 2x4's and casters. The dolly is on a hinged plywood sheet with tracks made of 1x2s. The casters of the dolly are between pairs of 1x2s and I have bungeed each end of the dolly to the ends of the hinged plywood sheet. This allows the whole thing to sort of move forward and backward as I move around on the bike or get up on the pedals to try to do the limited sprinting my conditioning will allow (or just rest my sitz bones that are not used to sitting in the saddle after so long off).

I find that Zwift encourages me to work harder and stay on longer (still not very long) than just watching videos on netflix and casually riding along. Having a five year old constantly asking, "Daddy, why are all those people passing you or going through you?" also keeps me from slacking off.

dwing

Was using Kinetic Road Machine with Zwift, but, just picked up a Snap.

TXsailor

I tried Zwift a few years ago but it didn't work well with my slow internet connection and older computer. I ended up using TrainerRoad and still do. I have used it with a regular fluid trainer and a smart trainer and it works well with either. You don't ride through any scenery but are getting a actual workout designed by a coach. You do a FTP test that makes it so the workouts are right for your power level. They also have a good poccast that is free. Lots of their stuff is for people who race and I don't but it will work for anyone. I usually watch something on TV while I let the smart trainer control the workout. I run TrainerRoad off my phone.

RobbieTunes

That social aspect is kind of the hook that moves the workout up the ladder from mindless. It's also the aspect that, sooner or later, I'd decide to 'have some fun with" and would likely get banned.

I do appreciate the thought behind Peloton, where the coach can talk directly to the riders, wherever they are, to encourage them, communicate, etc. While a feeling of inclusion has never been on my menu, I recognize that it's universally appreciated, and it's far more comfortable for most people. I'm one of those people who have no problem going to a movie or to a restaurant or play alone. That being said, I think many of us who ride outdoor solo may not feel the same about riding indoor solo, so it adds a good human nature aspect to the networked workouts.

Road Fan

Which Kinetic are you leaving behind? Is it available?

dwing

Hi RF, I have the Road Machine 2.0 set up side by side with the Snap now and no plans to move it on. I prefer the Kinetic fluid trainer for following Zwift training programs because of the "death spiral" issue that happens with the controllable trainers. When the training program calls for short sustained high intensity burst "for the 10th time".. I don't like that the controlled resistance Snap (all controllable trainers) spirals into a lockup when I can hit and maintain the target. The Kinetic allows me to continue just like I was out on the road.

However, the fun factor of feeling the hill climbs and realistic shifting using the Snap is is awesome and 15 minute free ride with a couple hundred feet of climb can be be quite a workout. Either works great with vintage road bikes wheel-on, but, if I had to choose only one I'd go with a Snap. My local bike shop had a sale and I picked it up 400$ new.

mstateglfr 

The ability of the smart trainer to adjust resistance for climbing would be neat to have. For my dumb trainer, i pedal the same as flat road and just go slower when climbing a hill. Its good enough for what I had at the time though.

I saw an earlier post from you about this- the bike I chose was based on it being the least used of my bikes. I figured itd be best to put the wear on that bike's components since I ride it outside the least. I like drop bars for Zwift since it has so many hand positions(i am constantly moving my hands around, Im guessing its how I deal with never getting to coast) and allows for back position changes too.

jadocs

On my dedicated trainer bike, I am considering removing the bar tape and just use a towel over the handlebars. I have found that bar tape will soak in all that sweat and stink to high heaven. It's like using the same socks over and over. Removing the bar tape will allow proper wipe down of bars and towels can be washed after use.

bikemig 

i picked up a saris m2 trainer on Black Friday. The price was great and it works with 120, 130, or 135 rear wheels. I may use a mtb with a trekking bar as that gives me plenty of hand positions. The unit was back ordered and I just received so I’ll set it up soon. The weather has been pretty mild in Des Moines though so maybe it’s time to get back on the road

mstateglfr 

Yeah, a trekking bar could work well since it would give you a ton of different reach and hand positions. Its a Trek with the trekking(no pun) bar that you have, right?...or a Stumpy?

bikemig 

it’s a trek with a trekking bar 😊. I’ll get a training tire for it. The drop bar stumpy is a fine winter bike.

canklecat

My Cycleops trainer doesn't really feel much like a real ride, especially trying and failing to mimic hill climbs. I've heard the same complaint from other folks who do use more sophisticated trainers.

I don't really need a program to motivate me. Getting dropped by younger cyclists on group rides is my motivation. But I understand those can be useful for many folks. Mostly I use the trainer for short HIIT sessions, and occasionally for long Zone 2 sessions while watching a movie or binge watching TV. I'm not very good at long Zone 2 rides outdoors -- I always turn them into tempo or fartlek sessions, and eventually I'm trying to beat my best times on every segment.

What really improved my average speed was getting more aero. Engine work, sure. But core work to get stronger and more flexible, along with more form fitting kit, really made the difference. And I need to ride outdoors in the wind to enforce the aero posture. It's too easy to sit up and ride in a position that's most comfortable on the indoor trainer. That doesn't translate to real world conditions. And the most aero positions may not recruit some muscle as efficiently. I've noticed using aero bars I'm not generating as much power, but I'm still going the same speed or faster. Lots of little things you don't get from a trainer session.

The biggest advantage I got from the indoor trainer was changing my methods and switching from spinning to mashing. The sludge-like resistance of the indoor trainer was good for forcing myself to mash the biggest gear I could sustain at around 60 rpm. That did translate to getting stronger and faster outdoors.

I'm fortunate to be in an area where I can ride outdoors pretty much year 'round, with the exceptions of a few days at a time with messy weather or ridiculous cold. I don't mind riding in the cold but my sinuses rebel and I get sinus headaches, and face masks only help a little. I don't mind hot weather.

Markoshawn

Anyone using narrow spacing on their snap? Instructions say 130 or 135 but the backend of the trainer looks sturdy enough to handle it.

dwing

I'm using the Snap with a Shimano 600 126 spacing (bike in pic above) no issues whatsoever with securely locking the wheel & sturdiness. It was def a concern when I made the purchase, and the first time I set it up the adjustment axle lock (NDS) wouldn't turn in enough to lock securely. I took measurements of spacing it stopped at, went back to the LBS , and the floor model dialed in more than enough. So, went home & used a channel lock wrench and it started turning in... more than enough to get the hub secured. It seemed like the mfg applied some thread lock that stopped it for 130 spacing. I did have to shorten the skewer that came with the Snap because the end stuck out too much and wouldn't allow the the DS cup to clamp in properly.