gsteinb

so the weight doped rider can really kick some ass?

Alaska Mike

Happens every day. Somebody will have their trainer resistance off, their weight set way low, or have some other "unintentional" issue, and they'll be riding around at 7-8w/kg for an hour.

There are a lot less now that beta has ended, which means the ones with "issues" can be dealt with more effectively. They're still out there, though. You just ignore them and do whatever it is you want to do.

That said, Aki is still a damn virtual doper.

Grumpy McTrumpy

I'm mostly avoiding the Zwift races during base, but I did a lot of them last spring and a few in summer. They feel more like real races than any other online thing.

Alaska Mike

Finally slipped under 12 seconds (11.89) on the reverse sprint during a solo effort. Then my calves exploded all over my trainer. That hurt.

himespau 

I think it sounds like a great way to make indoor riding a lot less tedious. Once I finally get around to getting a powermeter (probably building a powertap wheel), I'm going to give it a try (I use rollers indoors). Probably would be cheaper just to buy a popular "dumb" trainer, but I like the rollers and would eventually like to be smart about training more methodically, so a powermeter would be good for that long term. I had been thinking about getting a used wired powertap hub now that they can be had so cheap, but then Zwift came out, and I'm back to wanting something that's Ant+.

Hermes

@shovelhd This looks like a perfect adjunct to compliment your winter outdoor riding and I suspect over time it will get better.

I have a dongle and speed sensor and etc. I may give it a try.

Silvercivic27

Being able to talk to each other with a headset would make zwift pretty awesome.

carpediemracing 

My trainer is leaking. Last few sprints were way off. I'm avoiding sprints because power just pegs at 1200w while I'm seeing 1000-1100 on the SRM. Leaking doesn't mean no resistance, just less resistance.

Anyway right now if I ride it's not right.

carpediemracing 

Team Speak 3. There's a tutorial somewhere on FB on setting it up, it's a YouTube video by our Domestique.

carpediemracing 

I can't hang with the Cs in the "social rides", forget about the races.

Alaska Mike

Are you having an issue with the SRM reading waaaaayyyy too high initially? A buddy of mine has that issue for the first 15 minutes or so of every ride before it settles down. I haven't tried mine yet on Zwift, and just use the Quarqs. The SRM is on the TT bike, and I've been riding it on a running track in a inflatable dome. They open it up to bikes a couple hours on Sunday mornings, and a few of us have been doing TT training in there recently. Nice change of pace from the trainer, and it's the most time I've spent on that bike in years.

Your peak power and short duration w/kg is much higher than mine, so leaking trainer or not, you still have me beat.

I'm going to put my aluminum bike on the trainer tonight to see if it's any faster on Zwift than the carbon bike I've been using. I figure my aerodynamic position is different on it in relation to my fan, so that should be worth a few hundred watts at threshold. At least.

macca33

I've been riding Zwift since around May this year using a Wahoo Kickr and it is a fairly good jigger. The concept of 'virtual' races, etc makes it very enjoyable and with the new workouts, you have the ability to JRA, ride specific workouts, or join in on some very competitivie races. Like everything in the internet world, it can be cheated, but for those who wish to use it as either a training or recreational tool (or both) it can have benefits.

I'll wait until Winter 2016 to subscribe, but will do so, as it is worthwhile and good fun.

cheers

Alaska Mike

I was figuring that there would be a shift from southern hemisphere flags to northern hemisphere flags as the seasons changed. I'm probably going to suspend my subscription in March or April once I can ride and race outside again.

carpediemracing 

I use the SRM as reference (it's wired so doesn't register with Ant+/Zwift). However, as a reference, it's not useful because the spider battery is dying, so the wattages are all over the place.

Thinking of getting a noisier trainer, mag or something, so I don't have to deal with the fluid. Or a leakless Kinetic fluid resistance unit.

spdntrxi

I have 1 more ride in my trial period.. the I get automatic 2 months (premium strava) Really wish I could choose the months but they kickin right away after the trial ends.

Ygduf

kinetic +1000

Alaska Mike

If you want noisy, might I suggest a LeMond Revolution? Mine is jet engine loud during sprints, but has great "road feel" and will never leak. That's a trade-off I'm more than willing to make. After 5 years of heavy use, mine is still going strong. Plus, I can't hear the kids screaming at each other...

Grumpy McTrumpy

The 1-up trainer is fairly quiet.

carpediemracing 

Thanks. I don't mind noise but my budget is non-existent. I did find a semi-local used 1Up, seeing if it's available.

A direct drive would be the dream, and a smart direct drive that tilts left/right would be the ultimate. Perhaps in my next life stage/career.

dz_nuzz

I have a Rock and Roll for a while I have been enticed by the Kickr for both direct drive and the smart trainer aspect: I just can't give up the beautiful feel of the movement on the Rock and Roll. Now if someone would just mix these things together me and CDR would be in heaven (If not maybe in the poor house)

Alaska Mike

I had a first generation Rock and Roll and hated it. The movement was jerky as the rubber flexed and despite numerous attempts to fix it, it never got much better. The resistance unit made it feel like I was riding a 'cross bike through mud, without the fun. I went through a lot of trainers before I found the LeMond. While great strides have been made with flywheels and other tweaks, there really isn't another trainer that feels the same. I'm sure everyone is telling me the same thing, but I can't hear them anymore.

DC Rainmaker's trainer suggestions are always a solid place to start.

carpediemracing 

@dz_nuzz I know that someone adapted one of the smart direct drive trainers to a rocking stand. They have a commercial set up (multiple trainers in a room, organized rides, etc). I think it was in the Zwift FB page but I have no idea about it other than the trainers were blue I think.

gsteinb

If you're going to sell Caddies you need to do it in Jersey.

shovelhd

I have an original, grey, leak free KK with the upgraded tension screw that I won't be using anymore. I was saving it for race warmups but I am no longer racing. I got it cheap, so you can have it cheap.

carpediemracing 

One of the guys at work asked me if I had any coffee. I looked up at him.

"Coffee is for closers."*

I guess you had to be there.

*Glengary Glen Ross. Aka Caddies, Steak Knives, and probably other things I didn't know about until I watched it.