Zwift - what's the deal?
10-09-17, 05:47 PM
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Zwift - what's the deal?
I've seen a lot of references to it on here, so I went to their website (i suppose - https://zwift.com/) and can't make heads or tails of it. Is there a FAQ or For-Dummies version that tells what it is and how it works?
Kinda reminds me of the old Infintii ads, before you could actually buy one...
Kinda reminds me of the old Infintii ads, before you could actually buy one...
10-09-17, 05:59 PM
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I've seen a lot of references to it on here, so I went to their website (i suppose - https://zwift.com/) and can't make heads or tails of it. Is there a FAQ or For-Dummies version that tells what it is and how it works?
Kinda reminds me of the old Infintii ads, before you could actually buy one...
Kinda reminds me of the old Infintii ads, before you could actually buy one...
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/zwift-turbo-trainer-game-171798
10-09-17, 06:01 PM
#3
Non omnino gravis
It's video game cycling. All you need to do it is a smartphone, a BT-capable speed sensor, and a dumb trainer, but the more stuff you have the throw at it, the more immersive the experience. I spent about a month on Zwift while sidelined with a broken hand. My bike has a power meter, so Zwift will use that to determine speed (from whatever w/kg derived algorithm it uses) and I just paired the PM and HRM to the Zwift app on my phone. After about a week of squinting at a phone screen, I got a $15 output cable off of Amazon and hooked it up to an old 32" TV.
If a Smart trainer is in your budget, the computer-controlled resistance makes it even better.
You're still sweating on a trainer, but Zwift proves to be a very effective distraction. I ended up doing 500 miles of it, doing Zwift 4-5 times a week-- which is impressive to me, as the best I can mentally survive on a regular training session is about 45 minutes 3 times a week. Added bonus for people (like me) who are motivated by such things: in the first week, you can pick up around 200 Strava PRs.
If a Smart trainer is in your budget, the computer-controlled resistance makes it even better.
You're still sweating on a trainer, but Zwift proves to be a very effective distraction. I ended up doing 500 miles of it, doing Zwift 4-5 times a week-- which is impressive to me, as the best I can mentally survive on a regular training session is about 45 minutes 3 times a week. Added bonus for people (like me) who are motivated by such things: in the first week, you can pick up around 200 Strava PRs.
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10-09-17, 06:06 PM
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It's video game cycling. All you need to do it is a smartphone, a BT-capable speed sensor, and a dumb trainer, but the more stuff you have the throw at it, the more immersive the experience. I spent about a month on Zwift while sidelined with a broken hand. My bike has a power meter, so Zwift will use that to determine speed (from whatever w/kg derived algorithm it uses) and I just paired the PM and HRM to the Zwift app on my phone. After about a week of squinting at a phone screen, I got a $15 output cable off of Amazon and hooked it up to an old 32" TV.
If a Smart trainer is in your budget, the computer-controlled resistance makes it even better.
You're still sweating on a trainer, but Zwift proves to be a very effective distraction. I ended up doing 500 miles of it, doing Zwift 4-5 times a week-- which is impressive to me, as the best I can mentally survive on a regular training session is about 45 minutes 3 times a week. Added bonus for people (like me) who are motivated by such things: in the first week, you can pick up around 200 Strava PRs.
If a Smart trainer is in your budget, the computer-controlled resistance makes it even better.
You're still sweating on a trainer, but Zwift proves to be a very effective distraction. I ended up doing 500 miles of it, doing Zwift 4-5 times a week-- which is impressive to me, as the best I can mentally survive on a regular training session is about 45 minutes 3 times a week. Added bonus for people (like me) who are motivated by such things: in the first week, you can pick up around 200 Strava PRs.
