This winter's Zwift plan
#1
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This winter's Zwift plan
It is so tempting to go all out every time I ride Zwift, but it is exhausting mentally. And with so much being written lately about doing 80% of our riding (or running or whatever) at a slow pace, I am shooting for that this winter.
My plan is to ride no more than 3 days per week, but 2 of them easy, just riding around. Then maybe once race, TT or fast ride. That is if I can find a race at my level. Getting dropped on the lead-in is no fun.
My plan is to ride no more than 3 days per week, but 2 of them easy, just riding around. Then maybe once race, TT or fast ride. That is if I can find a race at my level. Getting dropped on the lead-in is no fun.
#2
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I use the pace partners to slow down my Zwift rides on Endurance Pace days, and still it's hard to stay at an easy pace.
Interesting that riding at a slower pace in the virtual is harder than in the real.
Interesting that riding at a slower pace in the virtual is harder than in the real.
#3
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It is so tempting to go all out every time I ride Zwift, but it is exhausting mentally. And with so much being written lately about doing 80% of our riding (or running or whatever) at a slow pace, I am shooting for that this winter.
My plan is to ride no more than 3 days per week, but 2 of them easy, just riding around. Then maybe once race, TT or fast ride. That is if I can find a race at my level. Getting dropped on the lead-in is no fun.
My plan is to ride no more than 3 days per week, but 2 of them easy, just riding around. Then maybe once race, TT or fast ride. That is if I can find a race at my level. Getting dropped on the lead-in is no fun.
#4
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I think it's probably best to set aside one day a week and do HIIT. I'm not sure 3 days a week of riding is really enough, but maybe just a half hour before doing some weightlifting.
The thing that seems to be bad is doing intermediate level training because it actually tears you down. Doing 3 days a week of HIIT would probably be worse though.
If you get dropped on the lead in to your race, go do one of the zwift workouts
The thing that seems to be bad is doing intermediate level training because it actually tears you down. Doing 3 days a week of HIIT would probably be worse though.
If you get dropped on the lead in to your race, go do one of the zwift workouts
#5
It is so tempting to go all out every time I ride Zwift, but it is exhausting mentally. And with so much being written lately about doing 80% of our riding (or running or whatever) at a slow pace, I am shooting for that this winter.
My plan is to ride no more than 3 days per week, but 2 of them easy, just riding around. Then maybe once race, TT or fast ride. That is if I can find a race at my level. Getting dropped on the lead-in is no fun.
My plan is to ride no more than 3 days per week, but 2 of them easy, just riding around. Then maybe once race, TT or fast ride. That is if I can find a race at my level. Getting dropped on the lead-in is no fun.
#6
Full Member
I've been planning on trying the new pace partners now that the days are getting shorter and cooler.
But I also wonder if Zwift has some sort of offseason/winter maintenance training program?
But I also wonder if Zwift has some sort of offseason/winter maintenance training program?
#7
Be warned, "just riding around" is not what they mean. They mean Zone two which requires first you have an accurate FTP to be able to lock in Zone 2. Zone two is not leisurely its more like a brisk pace. Zwift is great in that if you hit the G key it will tell you what zone you are currently in. Assuming of course your FTP is accurate.
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#8
Senior Member
My winter plan is same as last year’s, watch the weather and road conditions like a hawk and ride outside as much as possible. Use Zwift when I can’t ride outside, hopefully only 20-30 times all winter, using the app on my iPhone to do a workout so I don’t have to look at the screen, while watching a movie or cyclocross race or something on a larger screen.
#9
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Sure, outside is better than virtual, but while a 4 hour IRL ride is fun, a one hour Zwift ride is mentally exhausting. It's just hard to not go full gas all the time.
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#10
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how this for a challenge...do the Four Horsemen. I did that last year or the year before. it was a b@ll buster.
i'm tempted to do it again but not planning on zwift this year. probably rouvy again or fulgaz.
i'm tempted to do it again but not planning on zwift this year. probably rouvy again or fulgaz.
#12
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I'm indoors only now, and agree; it takes a lot more discipline to ride for hours indoors. And there's no coasting. Well, not like the road, anyway. But you adjust. I remember reading about how Lon Haldeman, the ultra-marathon cyclist used to train in his basement on rollers in the dark for hours at a time to build his mental discipline! That's a bit extreme, but, well, it takes a bit to master indoor riding.
#14
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Fall is a beautiful time to ride here. Tomorrow I have about a 4 hour ride planned through the hills. Easy on the flats, crank it on the climbs. Time flies by.
But an hour in the basement, even with Zwift, is a killer. Sometimes the dog barks to make it more realistic or someone comes to the door with a delivery.
We are working on a solution, the Mrs. and I: go south for the winter!
But an hour in the basement, even with Zwift, is a killer. Sometimes the dog barks to make it more realistic or someone comes to the door with a delivery.
We are working on a solution, the Mrs. and I: go south for the winter!
#15
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Fall is a beautiful time to ride here. Tomorrow I have about a 4 hour ride planned through the hills. Easy on the flats, crank it on the climbs. Time flies by.
But an hour in the basement, even with Zwift, is a killer. Sometimes the dog barks to make it more realistic or someone comes to the door with a delivery.
We are working on a solution, the Mrs. and I: go south for the winter!
But an hour in the basement, even with Zwift, is a killer. Sometimes the dog barks to make it more realistic or someone comes to the door with a delivery.
We are working on a solution, the Mrs. and I: go south for the winter!
#16
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I find ways to help the time pass. Sometimes I'll use the phone to run Zwift and watch a movie on the computer. Most times I'll just listen to some music. You get used to it. Zwift has, as you likely know, a ton of incentives in most rides to hold your attention. Like sprints.
I know that I am not going to make big fitness gains riding indoor, but I want to be close enough so that early spring rides are not a death march.
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#17
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I listen to music also, with Bose Sport ear buds. Big TV's are getting cheap, so I might use Zwift as an excuse to buy one for my basement.
I know that I am not going to make big fitness gains riding indoor, but I want to be close enough so that early spring rides are not a death march.
I know that I am not going to make big fitness gains riding indoor, but I want to be close enough so that early spring rides are not a death march.
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#18
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34 º here today with a light rain. So I am going to dust off my train, boot up my laptop and give Z a go. I think there is an update, but not planning an organized event today, just reacquainting myself with Watopia. Or maybe the new island roads.
Last week the temp was in the 70's. This week 20's and 30's.
Last week the temp was in the 70's. This week 20's and 30's.
#19
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So complicated!
I hadn't used my laptop in months...mainly for Zwift now that I am retired, so it had to download and install a Windows update and reboot several times.
Then Zwift had to update and install. Connection problems and slow to load but finally in!
But by then I was 45 min into my "warm up" and had enough. Try again another day.
I hadn't used my laptop in months...mainly for Zwift now that I am retired, so it had to download and install a Windows update and reboot several times.
Then Zwift had to update and install. Connection problems and slow to load but finally in!
But by then I was 45 min into my "warm up" and had enough. Try again another day.
#20
So complicated!
I hadn't used my laptop in months...mainly for Zwift now that I am retired, so it had to download and install a Windows update and reboot several times.
Then Zwift had to update and install. Connection problems and slow to load but finally in!
But by then I was 45 min into my "warm up" and had enough. Try again another day.
I hadn't used my laptop in months...mainly for Zwift now that I am retired, so it had to download and install a Windows update and reboot several times.
Then Zwift had to update and install. Connection problems and slow to load but finally in!
But by then I was 45 min into my "warm up" and had enough. Try again another day.
#21
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My laptop is very old, but thanks anyway for the "I prefer Macs!" Never heard that before.
#22
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Got my new setup running yesterday.
First, thanks to the Apple TV suggestion. About 1/10 what a new laptop would have cost. And very quick to connect. Got a 58" TV and Klipsch soundbar & subwoofer from Costco on Black Friday. With a wall mount, the whole thing cost about $700 and I can now also watch games on a big TV without competing with the Mrs. who really, really wants to watch The Bachelor.
Only negative was when my wife came downstairs to check it out and asked, "why is everyone passing you?"
I need to do some wire management, but was eager to get going.
First, thanks to the Apple TV suggestion. About 1/10 what a new laptop would have cost. And very quick to connect. Got a 58" TV and Klipsch soundbar & subwoofer from Costco on Black Friday. With a wall mount, the whole thing cost about $700 and I can now also watch games on a big TV without competing with the Mrs. who really, really wants to watch The Bachelor.
Only negative was when my wife came downstairs to check it out and asked, "why is everyone passing you?"
I need to do some wire management, but was eager to get going.
#23
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Winter is always “sweet spot” time for me, with most rides at L3/Tempo power. I usually do three rides a week of those (2 at 40-45, 1 at 65minutes) and one endurance-focused ride of an hour or so. The endurance ride gets replaced with an outdoor ride when I’m feeling up for it (or my club mates shame me into suffering the cold!).
Also, I do one 40 minute and the 60 minute sweet spot rides on consecutive days, with one day off before the weekly 3rd sweet spot. I think going back-to-back helps tax the system in the absence of long hours.
When I go into winter strong, this routine keeps me from losing to much, but as dmanthree said upthread, there’s always an adjustment come Springtime. 10 years ago, before everyone and their mamma was on Zwift, it was a real jump start on the season, but now, it’s barely keeping me from getting dropped on the spring opener!
Also, I do one 40 minute and the 60 minute sweet spot rides on consecutive days, with one day off before the weekly 3rd sweet spot. I think going back-to-back helps tax the system in the absence of long hours.
When I go into winter strong, this routine keeps me from losing to much, but as dmanthree said upthread, there’s always an adjustment come Springtime. 10 years ago, before everyone and their mamma was on Zwift, it was a real jump start on the season, but now, it’s barely keeping me from getting dropped on the spring opener!
#25
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FWIW, I've run Zwift on a high-end Macbook and a budget Asus Windows laptop. Yes, the Mac runs better, but, well, based on the price difference it should. But I got by fine on the Asus. I like Macs, b ut use what you like!