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The book "bicycling science" is quite interesting as it talks about the physiology/heat etc...
As has been said... for every 1 watt of power, you make 4-5 watts of heat...
So my 300watts at the cranks = 1200 watts of heat to get rid of...
Your muscles are basically naff if they get too hot... hence.... get rid of heat=better cycling performance....
Also why riding outdoors leeches heat much better than indoors..
So...get tonnes of fans doods....
I'll try a session WITHOUT fans and feedback!
DrP
Could I get some advice here please...
I'm just about to put an indoor trainer together. I have a Kickr, 40TV, and Apple TV. I've yet to buy some fans.
I also have an old amplifier and speakers that I can connect to the TV. Are these necessary?
Having never used a smart trainer or Zwift, etc before: I guess I'm asking, "Do I need a good sound system?"
Or other training apps... Do they use music? Or play your own whilst using an app for the trainer?
TIA
I play my own music from Spotify when I’m using trainer road. Wear Bluetooth headphones.
The right music really helps you grind on through stuff I find - or push you to a faster cadence on intervals.
I also have an old amplifier and speakers that I can connect to the TV. Are these necessary?
What? No, there's nothing in the Zwift world that needs high quality sound! I think you are over-estimating the level of immersion that is on offer here 🙂
I use headphones, because the fans and trainer make a noise, so I want to block that out. I'd use nice noise cancelling buds if I could afford it but I use my sweat-resistant Anker ones with passive noise blocking that were £40 - they are pretty good.
If you are zwifting with someone, then don't use the mic on your device and/or don play music that's not on headphones. Cos a computer mic will pick up fan noise etc and if you play music it comes through as garbled noise. But in team races it's good to be able to talk to each other.
Yep, headphones are probably better as you'll need it quite loud on speakers if you have a couple of proper fans.
I don't use over ear headphones as they'd be covered in sweat after 10 minutes ago I use some in ear ones.
“Do I need a good sound system?”
Nah.... headphones playing via your phone..
The companion app (on teh phone) makes the odd "countdown bleep", but no Zwift world sounds..
DrP
I just use a £40 bluetooth speaker playing Solar Radio in the background, to be honest if you're racing you completely miss the music on anyway as you're thinking/concentrating on the riding.
I'm going to try the 16.10 today even though it doesn't suit me and put Crosshairs theory to the test on the fan/airflow and get the big fan throwing a load of air about for the race.
Thanks fellas,
I'm going to use the room for resistance training too, so I'll position the speakers for gym work and use my old buds for turbo-training. I like some proper noise when working out!
I guess music is a personal thing, but i use it to help get me through some tough sections or to drive me on during a race. I have a small Bose speaker, but may upgrade to something more substantial. The louder the better!
So get a good set of headphones, or a speaker set-up, but as many have said, get it for the music, not the odd sounds Zwift might throw out.
I have a soundbar with subwoofer if I want music but that's mostly not when Zwifting.
I've done a few rides "with" mates using Discord to chat. Fan/turbo noise hasn't been a problem at my end or theirs. The noisiest thing about my setup at the moment is a squeek as my left shoe rubs on the pedal.
Or other training apps… Do they use music?
Systm definitely has music (on the Sufferfest videos), as well as dialogue on the On Location and Inspiration videos. I bought a couple of cheap external speakers for my ancient laptop, which was great when I still had the wheel-on trainer. I bought a Kickr last year and TBH they're not really necessary any more as the new trainer is close to silent. They do sound a bit better, though.
Is this the wrong place to ask which wheel off trainer to get for a newbie? I had a roadie on a dumb fan resistance turbo last winter/spring and think I'd do it again, but it was super noisy(too noisy to use in spare bedroom when others have gone to bed). If I can get a s/h KickR Core for £350 is that a no brainer?
I'm fairly sure it's been scientifically proven* that listening to something like this gives you an extra 50w...
*Not in any way factual
Is this the wrong place to ask which wheel off trainer to get for a newbie?
Of course not...
TBH I'd figure out your budget and go Tacx OR Kickr OR Elite...
All kinda to a high/lower end model..
DrP
The new Zwift hub direct drive trainer might be worth looking at, £450.
What do people run in term of PC to get the highest quality Zwift graphics?
GeForce GTX 1650 4GB, i3 9100f processor, 16Gb ram. Runs zwift on max with OBS streaming (make sure you minimise OBS window or zwift stutters), discord (using nvidia noise cancelling on the mic) and chrome managing the stream. Ran fine with 8Gb ram till I added the noise cancelling.
What do people run in term of PC to get the highest quality Zwift graphics?
There's a new (ultimate?) setting that trumps the old highest one (ultra?). For that you still 'only' need an older GTX1080 card. Anything newer than (1650, 2050 etc) that will run at least the Ultra in 1080 or 1440.
But we're still talking Wii Sports rather than Doom Eternal graphics. Zwift is massively inefficient at everything. It'll max out a single core* on even the fastest processors just modeling other users, and those (ultimate) graphics really should be running on an iGPU/APU, but somehow they're not.
*and it won't multi-thread.
So any PC where the card is still actually supported by Nvidia (gtx 9xx series and above) will run it in some way. Somewhere around the 1050/1650 is the sweetspot where it actually renders things like the dinosaurs roaming around.
I’m just about to put an indoor trainer together. I have a Kickr, 40TV, and Apple TV. I’ve yet to buy some fans.
I also have an old amplifier and speakers that I can connect to the TV. Are these necessary?
Having never used a smart trainer or Zwift, etc before: I guess I’m asking, “Do I need a good sound system?”
Or other training apps… Do they use music? Or play your own whilst using an app for the trainer?
I've got a hifi plugged into the tv, because I have a hifi plugged into the tv. It's not necessary, but I prefer it to headphones.
I run spotify in the background because I can control it from my phone and otherwise zwift just makes a noise like riding a road bike (wooshy, clicky bike noises) which gets dull quickly.
GeForce GTX 1650 4GB, i3 9100f processor, 16Gb ram. Runs zwift on max with OBS streaming (make sure you minimise OBS window or zwift stutters), discord (using nvidia noise cancelling on the mic) and chrome managing the stream. Ran fine with 8Gb ram till I added the noise cancelling.
Mine's identical to this, runs the 'ultra' graphics barely ticking over at 1080 (because it's plugged into a TV).
Rutland have a turbo trainer for £350 that’s direct drive. No idea what it’s like but it’s seems pretty cheap.
This is one corner of my do-yourself-some-harm-barn, its like a pain cave but with better light.
There is a biggish wall mounted fan on an google smart switch, and a wahoo headwind just above the tv.
Zwift is on apple tv, and the tacx is on a homemade wobble board based on inline skates and tennis balls and some bungy cords.
The tray is mounted on the end of an old canoe paddle and folds up into the wall on a hinge from a broom handle.
I do like zwift racing, but I don't seem to be getting majorly better, maybe I need to do some actual training.
I only get notably better on Zwift when I do crit races.
I've not tried following any structured programme so I'm going to try the Zwift Academy, starting next week. That'll account for a few of my "100 days of exercise" too.
Back on it.
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ATV that needs new batteries for the remote and the garage door open.
Stereo is a cheap Sony job in the corner.
I’m just getting back into it too. A month or two of injury, long holidays and a lot of excuses has seen my fitness fall off a cliff. Did a Cleveland Wheelers 12 mile TT tonight, and I was knackered. Shocking how fast you fall…
I’ve moved to an Apple TV. So far, it’s been a lot less hassle than using a laptop or iPad, and I can leave it in the garage so no hassle carrying it backwards and forwards. Cadence from the Kickr so the two Bluetooth limitation isn’t an issue even without Companion app.
Less hassle = more likely to use it.
Jeez. Mine is a shit show 😂
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52339655080_6c0541e2c3_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52339655080_6c0541e2c3_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2nK5pYd ]PXL_20220906_195235163[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/me96kka/ ]STW stumpy01[/url], on Flickr
Elite Direto with a PC built by Dave Higgins (he of the Zwift PC Facebook page) and 22" monitor. It'll run Ultra no problem.
The table is a Planet X one and the fans are inadequate - a cheap Amazon one that really needs replacing and a cheap Argos one for blasting into my face which is not too bad.
For music I use a Bluetooth speaker although I have a Sony stereo I keep meaning to setup with a Chromecast Audio.
Looking at it in the cold light of a photo upload.....hmmmm.
I could really do with painting the wall, painting the garage door & getting a trainer mat down.
I also want to get a larger screen & wall mount it.
And I want to build a front wheel mount that can also house the PC and plug block.
But it works.
Regarding the comments about music. I have to have some banging tunes on. I find it really motivates me. Normally something like Machine Head, Pantera or a drum n bass playlist.
Of..Just did the 1710 Zwift Race “get rolling”.. first proper A cat race… 50 of us… was ruddy hard as I didn’t warm up properly, and haven’t raced in an age!
Was with the group all the way round until the final sprint line (left corner, then up hill to finish) and just ran out of steam!
291 watts average for the 23ish minutes it took… 39/50
Pouring sweat off me after, and still sweating despite a cold shower!!!
Was fun though, and FTP popped up to 285!
Onward and upward with the training!
DrP
Good work. I was considering doing one of those tonight but not sure I'll have time.
With the enforced categories I am now racing in B when in reality I am right at the top of C.
It's good for making me push, but the few races I've done as a B have ended up with me on my own or in a really small group.
I think my FTP is 240w. I need to improve my ability to ride for longer durations at threshold. Just a struggle to find time to get the miles in.
I've done this event 3 times now, and can't break 27:40. I surf the line between C and D.
This is a tough one for us chunky boys, seems to be continually uphill.
Managed to put in more watts this evening, but still slower than yesterday as there were less blobs to surf between, and did the last two laps pretty much between groups. Hoping there is a long flat one in the weeks ahead.
Might give it one more go before the weekend.
I've done it twice. 26.32 my best out of them.
Race 2 was harder and I lost group starting lap 5
Good work DrP, CAT A can do one, really not looking forward to when I have to join that (if all goes to plan!).
I had been indoor training in a cold damp garage using a dumb Kurt Kinetic Road Machine and running TrainerRoad on an Android Tablet and using the Power2Max power meter on my bike. I now have a nice new room to set up in so I've splashed out on a Kickr Core and intend to give Zwift or Wahoo Systm a try. What are you guys using to run your apps? I suspect the 2014 Samsung Tab with Android 9 I was using for TrianerRoad is not going to cut it. My desktop PC is staying put in the study and I don't have a laptop but I also have an iPad 7th Gen.
I've a fancy gaming pc that I SOMETIMES whip out to live stream.... but honestly, apple tv and a big TV works wonders, and it's so simple!
DrP
Did the "Get Rolling" race Tuesday, really struggled and only managed an average power of 160w! Just over the 31 minute mark but that was flattered by being in a really good bunch who towed each other along for the first five laps before splitting up on the penultimate run up the hill to the line. Really lucky to have a race where there was a decent group of 10-15 of us who were all the same level even though I was faster up the hills than most of them for some reason.
The new Zwift hub direct drive trainer might be worth looking at, £450.
DC Rainmaker did a video yesterday saying it's a decent option but that there's an issue with accuracy due to the initial software version. It' not available to the public for a few weeks yet so he's holding out on a full review but going on his experience with the original version of it (it's a rebranded version of another trainer but with a few tweaks) it should be a very good option at the price.
Am i the only one who spunked a load of cash on the Wahoo fan.....
I've just put the bike back on the trainer and will be seeing how much my FTP has dropped tonight!
Defo gonna start Zwift racing properly, i did one Cat C last year and managed to win it!
There's some nice setups in this thread. And then there are the others 😉
I have that tabletop fan and the cheap-o wind turbine from Screwfix pointing upward. I was tempted by those vac-masters as I do run pretty hot. Don't do any racing tho, so don't really care about actual FTP as long as it's going in the right direction. Opening the two windows and the door (to the right of the first photo) makes a big difference in winter as long as it's not raining!
Use my old iMac as it's going spare. Runs Ultra fine except when you're on a group ride with lots going on and 100+ riders. Then it has a bit of a melt down. Sonos BT speaker works for me. Suspended membership in May, think I'll be back on tonight. New interface looks a lot better, prob go training plan to ease myself back in.
Race in 15 mins with lots of riders. I'll be in C
how was it Weeksy??
DrP
how was it Weeksy??
Usual story on Classique for me mate... Bit lacking in the last 2km. Once we hit that little kicker back up past the statues, i'm deep deep in the red and struggling.... I then stayed in until the last 300m and was doing OK, but as we get to the last 300m it all goes orange as everyone hits 9-10w/kg for the line... I struggle with knowing how/why i don't have any sprint at all.. but the reality is, i don't.
so finished 19th and 1.7s behind the winner... it's funny that 1.7 sounds close, but it's a whole different postcode.
It was my 4th race this week though, so i was happy enough.
I struggle with knowing how/why i don’t have any sprint at all.. but the reality is, i don’t.
I feel your pain... give me a long hard push up a hill and I can creep past one and all (fairly light, fairly good FTP), but the bigger boys always outsprint me!
I'm going to focus on teh sprint sessions in teh training plans more I think..
DrP
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Thanks to the really helpful picture posting thread, here’s my pain cave.
I’m currently driving a 23” monitor from a laptop, but am tempted to go for a much bigger screen like some of the other setups. I currently mount the monitor quite low because I found I got neck pain if I spend ages bent over the bars looking upwards. But now I’m retired and don’t spend all day in front of a screen for work, I hope that problem will have disappeared.
I have a cheap fan on a stand behind me and a Screwfix fan on the ground in front. But in the winter I leave the room CH rad off and am happy riding with the window open a little and the Screwfix fan on full, the back fan is only needed in the summer when I’m riding IRL anyway.
Here's mine:
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I'm not allowed to cycle outside for a while (medical issue) so have been zwifting for a few months, 2 or 3 rides a week. Just started doing a few races.
Garage is a bit of a mess, but the rear panel of the kit car makes a good shelf for the fan.
Some nice set-ups here! I've just bought a Kickr Core and am about to start getting my set-up sorted. I was thinking of running Zwift on an old-ish Huawai P20 and linking to my TV via an HDMI cable. Will this work or will it be painfully slow? Trying to get it set-up on a bit of a budget!
I’m just getting back into it too. A month or two of injury, long holidays and a lot of excuses has seen my fitness fall off a cliff. Did a Cleveland Wheelers 12 mile TT tonight, and I was knackered. Shocking how fast you fall…
I was going to say our TT isn't 12 miles or on a Tuesday then I remebered what thread I was reading...
Planning on more outdoor and TR only this winter.
Well got back on the electronic horse today. A few thoughts
1) the new UI is way better, I even like the "Space 1999" font
2) it's still not very interesting doing group rides
3) Zwift fitness is a thing. 50 minutes of a 'C' group ride and I was blowing
4) My bottom hurts 😉
5) The game seems more stable. We have eeked a bit more bandwidth out of our SIM connection so I wonder if that's helping.
Also forgot to turn the big fan onto full power. Was on the wrong side of sweaty-mess at the end.