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Poll: Zwifters, How do you use Zwift?

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Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.
View Poll Results: How do you use Zwift
To stay in shape.
12
63.16%
Somewhere else to ride when the weather outside is terrible
11
57.89%
Pure recreation - I enjoy exploring the worlds and like tooling around.
3
15.79%
Want to improve my fitness and it provides the tools to help me
7
36.84%
I like to test my fitness level, and it has FTP test
4
21.05%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 19. You may not vote on this poll

Poll: Zwifters, How do you use Zwift?

Old 01-21-22, 12:05 AM
  #1  
rsbob 
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Poll: Zwifters, How do you use Zwift?

Please note: this is not for cranky pants people who want to chime in that they would never use Zwift.

With that out of the way…..how do you use it?
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Old 01-21-22, 12:30 AM
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I use it for multiple reasons.

When the weather is crap and I still want to get in miles, it’s super handy’

I want to stay in shape during the off season and not have to ramp back up again in the Spring

Even though I am a a recreational rider, I am competitive against myself and like the training programs, rides with the bots, and FTP tests (well I don’t like the FTP test, but do like monitoring the results).

Age 67 FTP of 228 or 3,0 watts/Kg
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Old 01-21-22, 04:56 AM
  #3  
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In my 3rd winter using Zwift, it helps me keep some level of cycling fitness for the spring. As I've gotten older (61) I find I have less tolerance for the cold. In my 20's I did cold water SCUBA diving-coldest dive was air temperature of 27 degrees and windy. Now I won't ride my bike outside if the temperatures is in the low 40's.
Before Zwift and smart trainers I'd use exercise bikes in the gym; that just made me hate life. With Zwift and a smart trainer the sessions are much more engaging and I don't have to deal with the cast of characters at a gym

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Old 01-21-22, 06:40 AM
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https://www.bikeforums.net/indoor-stationary-cycling-forum/
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Old 01-21-22, 08:49 AM
  #5  
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Purely to counter act beer drinking and football watching in bad weather. When it gets warmer, I suspend my account until it gets cold again. I couldn't take it as my primary activity. That said, I am on Level 22.
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Old 01-21-22, 09:40 AM
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For more than one reason, its a nice indoor way to ride longer miles and stay engaged in cycling without going crazy. To stay in shape of course. I think Zwift is a really fun platform. Its just fun for me. AND in the northern winters its the only way to ride a bike safely!
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Old 01-21-22, 11:47 AM
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If there was a 50+ area for stationary cycling I would have posted it there. This group here seems to be wiser, more cordial, respectful and less snippy than other areas of BF so I knew I would receive thoughtful responses here or I would have.

Am also interested in other seniors FTPs relative to their ages. I know it is totally individual but I bet others wonder as well.
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Old 01-21-22, 12:27 PM
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This year, I've done most of my training inside, based on TrainerRoad. TR has a huge library of workouts, better plans, and machine-learning adjustments to your training. It has a very stripped down user interface, which you may like. Or not. On days when it's a steady state endurance or tempo ride, I'll usually watch Netflix. When there are lots of short/hard intervals, I need to concentrate on the workout, but I like having the visual distraction of Zwift, so I'll run them concurrently.

I also enjoy the social aspect of Zwift. During the winter, my team has had a semi-regular social ride on Monday evenings. You can set a group ride with a virtual rubber band that keeps the entire group together, which means that no one gets dropped and (more importantly with this group) no one can ride off the front. We are all on Discord so there's the usual banter/gossip/***** talking that you'd get on your IRL group rides, but we're all in our own garages. I also think it's kind of cool to be riding with riders from all over the world that I don't even know, but we've all got something in common.

BTW, my FTP is 3.45 w/kg. I'm 54. About 10 years ago, I was close to 4. I don't think I can quite get there again, but 3.75 is probably within reach as long as I stay consistent and (more importantly) mind the denominator.

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Old 01-22-22, 09:11 PM
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I recently stopped zwift to just use Rouvy. I found that i was getting a bit bored with zwift riding the same routes over and over again. no challenge, too predictable. I did like the other riders but sometimes just too many. It would be nice if they had a filter to allow hiding riders that are stopped, or below a certain w/kg.

but, i certainly used zwift during crappy weather and had to restart earlier than normal last year due to CA fire smoke wafting over to Reno.

as for my FTP...237 @ 62.5 kg. will be 55 in about 4 weeks.
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Old 01-23-22, 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by rsbob
If there was a 50+ area for stationary cycling I would have posted it there. This group here seems to be wiser, more cordial, respectful and less snippy than other areas of BF so I knew I would receive thoughtful responses here or I would have.

Am also interested in other seniors FTPs relative to their ages. I know it is totally individual but I bet others wonder as well.
Yes! I love new metric to obsess over. My W/Yr is 2.1 (watts per year). However, if I keep the same power output as I get older, my metric gets lower.
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Old 01-23-22, 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by bblair
Yes! I love new metric to obsess over. My W/Yr is 2.1 (watts per year). However, if I keep the same power output as I get older, my metric gets lower.
bummer indeed.
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Old 01-23-22, 05:21 PM
  #12  
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not really answerable. All of the above? And not in the poll is that there is a social component.

Also, the poll mixes zwifting with indoor training. For example, I do indoor training to stay in shape. I do it in zwift because it makes indoor training less boring. If there were no zwift or other equivalent apps, I'd still ride my trainer at times during the winter.
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Old 01-23-22, 07:21 PM
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I'm 30 days into a subscription and so far, enjoy it for keeping fit in winter. Here in Maryland, for me, it needs to be above 45 degrees to ride outside and in Jan/Feb, we just don't get that many days.
So far, I've riding by myself. Last Thursday,I rode with my brothers club, 19 riders and they really pushed me. Last winter, with my trainer and television, I never got past a 30 minute ride, too boring. Zwift entertains me enough for an hour ride. My brother his club buddies were all texting each other during the ride, while I'm struggling to keep up, no idea how they do that!
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Old 01-23-22, 10:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Warbird21
I'm 30 days into a subscription and so far, enjoy it for keeping fit in winter. Here in Maryland, for me, it needs to be above 45 degrees to ride outside and in Jan/Feb, we just don't get that many days.
So far, I've riding by myself. Last Thursday,I rode with my brothers club, 19 riders and they really pushed me. Last winter, with my trainer and television, I never got past a 30 minute ride, too boring. Zwift entertains me enough for an hour ride. My brother his club buddies were all texting each other during the ride, while I'm struggling to keep up, no idea how they do that!
Many use the voice function in text. I do - but you have to keep your sound volume low on your monitor/TV so your voice can be picked up. But if you are gasping for air - good luck
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Old 01-23-22, 10:29 PM
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I work with a cycling coach to more efficiently improve my cycling. She programs in my trainer rides (2-3/ week) on Training Peaks. It automatically downloads to Zwift, and I ride them. It allow her to more closely monitor my progress. It also has me dialed in more accurately since I don't have a power meter on my bike.

I will rarely use it in place of outdoor riding, but I have from time to time.
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Old 01-24-22, 05:51 AM
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Originally Posted by rsbob
Many use the voice function in text. I do - but you have to keep your sound volume low on your monitor/TV so your voice can be picked up. But if you are gasping for air - good luck
I've yet to find the chat function!
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Old 01-24-22, 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Warbird21
I've yet to find the chat function!

I learned discord is a bit easier when on group rides if supported.
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Old 03-18-22, 01:36 PM
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I prefer FulGaz for it's on-bike filmed routes from all over the world. No competition and only rudimentary group rides (at this time), but just like outdoors I prefer riding alone and on my own schedule.
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Old 03-18-22, 08:20 PM
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When I first started Zwifting in 2017 I was amazed to be riding along with thousands of other riders around the world competing in group rides and races while the snow and sleet whirled around outside my window. Many years later I'm still happy to be riding indoors during the winter when I would otherwise be forced to find alternative options to staying in shape and dreaming of spring when I could get back on the bike to ride again.
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Old 03-18-22, 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by DougG
I prefer FulGaz for it's on-bike filmed routes from all over the world. No competition and only rudimentary group rides (at this time), but just like outdoors I prefer riding alone and on my own schedule.
If it only worked with a smart trainer, it looks like it would be awesome.
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Old 03-19-22, 04:54 AM
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Originally Posted by rsbob
If it only worked with a smart trainer, it looks like it would be awesome.
??? It does only work with a smart trainer. I use it with a Kickr Core.
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Old 03-20-22, 04:31 PM
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Originally Posted by DougG
??? It does only work with a smart trainer. I use it with a Kickr Core.
I read the web site but must have missed the interactive descriptor. My bad.
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Old 03-20-22, 04:48 PM
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I use Zwift for all the reasons listed, however primarily for workouts/training and as a backup for riding/training when the weather is not good or I have time constraints. I have a coach who uses TrainingPeaks to set workouts for me on Tuesday and Thursday, I ride track or bunch on Saturday and race crits on Sunday, rinse and repeat. Early 50s with 262 FTP.
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Old 03-22-22, 08:08 AM
  #24  
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I like Zwift and use it, like others, when the weather is poor. I have no idea what my FTP is. I know I should do the test. And I should actually read some of the instructions/material about how to use the program but I've never bothered to read any of that. I use my fitbit to give me a read out of my heart rates zones and use that for training purposes.
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Old 03-22-22, 08:22 AM
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How do you use Zwift?

I use it for structured training, especially intervals. I use it with a smart trainer 3 days a week unless the weather keeps me inside; then I do an endurance workout.
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