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I can’t inspire you with the internals as it’s not finished but I’ve just erected this Tuin log cabin in my garden for my static bike and as my bike workshop. Next jobs are flooring and electrics. Sometimes I get an audience:
Cheers for the replies above about Apple TV, I'll make sure auto update is on.
Which bit says ‘coming soon’ – the app store or zwift itself ?
When I'm in the app store, I click the button that says "update," the screen goes blank, then a very pair pink colour and it says "coming soon!" across the middle of the screen.
I can delete and reinstall the app so it's no big deal really, just a pain in the arse coz I have to re-enter my log in details every time
joebristol
Full Member
Yes – although trainer road now has adaptive training. It’s early stage but based on your feedback from each workout it will change what you have scheduled. So if you find one too easy it’ll modify what’s coming up and vice versa. I’ve found it quite decent so far with that.I always select low volume training (3 times a week) and see how that fits in with what I have planned outside. I suspect I’ll mostly do one mtb ride on a weekend of a reasonable length. Then one Zwift race midweek with 2 trainer road sessions around those
Ever looked at Xert? It does everything you say there automatically, including adjusting for outside rides (as long as you at least have an HR monitor on). In fact it'll even adjust the workout whilst you're in the middle of it if you're doing better/worse than expected
Never heard of Xert. Sounds cheap at $9.99 a month. Would have to see if it’ll work just off an iPhone or iPad as I don’t have a laptop / Apple TV yet.
I’ll see if DC Rainmaker has reviewed it as he seems to really test things well.
Would love to get stuck back into some race action but still can’t get the damn app to load.
I'm fairly new to TrainerRoad but the adaptive training is doing its job, I'm on low volume which is 3 rides a week, with the harder/longer ride at the weekend.
Within this you have your FTP but you also have workout levels, as you complete workouts you progress within those levels, obviously a higher level means a harder workout. There's a perceived exertion question after most workouts, if you answer relative to to workout (so easy/moderate for a endurance z2 workout) it'll progress your level so the next workout is a bit harder.
It does start you off at level 1 for everything so it'll be a little easy to start with but as Joe said if you've done a ride that should be within your ability and you found it really hard, it won't put your level up so won't make next week's workout as hard or harder. When you get an FTP bump it also reduces your levels a bit, as you'll be going up in difficulty with the increased FTP so it chooses easier workouts to be at the same level.
I had my first missed workout of the plan on Sunday, really wasn't feeling 1.5hrs of over/unders so it automatically adapted the training and moved this workout to this weekend.
Including outside rides within adaptive training is something that's coming on TrainerRoad so that should be good.
They also have the AI FTP, which for me (on a single test) has been 100% accurate. 😜
They’re both pretty prescriptive, you’d be better off sticking your social rides in a planner, then figuring out what your weaknesses are and planning a few specific sessions around those with some common sense around recovery etc.
Unfortunately for me I need workouts in the calendar or else I don't do them, having 3 set rides every week is a good thing for me.
Time will tell though - tbh the main thing it gives me over zwift training is more options, there's not that many training plans on zwift when you look at it. My TR plan has 2 base phases, a build phase focused on short power (for me) and then a speciality phase based on gravity riding (enduro/downhill). And you can put in events so it can build you up to those events and then taper off the week before. It's just a lot more training focused that zwift!
I can’t inspire you with the internals as it’s not finished but I’ve just erected this Tuin log cabin in my garden for my static bike and as my bike workshop. Next jobs are flooring and electrics. Sometimes I get an audience:
Get out! 😲😎
Jesus that's a zwift cave with a view!! Bastard! 🤣
Had a look at Xert and not sure about it. I think adding Zwift alongside trainer road for the winter is probably best for me and going to give that a go
Had a look at Xert and not sure about it. I think adding Zwift alongside trainer road for the winter is probably best for me and going to give that a go
Zwift running with TrainerRoad below it on the same screen is perfect for me, keeps the engagement of zwift with the route completion etc but you get the far better training schedule/features of zwift. TR on its own can be a bit too dull tbh.
I do a Xert - Zwift combo most of the time. Works well too for that extra little bit of engagement
joebristol
Full Member
Had a look at Xert and not sure about it
Anything in particular you’re not sure about? From memory the DC Rainmaker review is pretty old, so I might be able to answer some questions. Turns out I’ve been on it since 2019, found it worked far better for me than TR
I just tried a road bike again.
In some ways I like how they make power, it does in some ways seem easier than the hybrid to increase power and in some ways to cruise too.
But they're really not nice on hands/arms for me, even trying various positions didn't help much.
https://zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=3110927
I tried 3 times to break, one of the me and 4 others managed 3s on the group, but as with most C races, it ended in a sprint. I'd flogged myself too much trying to break it up.
Apologies for hijacking this thread with a beginner question, but there appears to be tons of knowledge on here and this is hopefully a simple question! If I had a smart trainer and didn't want to use Zwift etc (it's a lack of convenience and to some extent cost thing), what options are there for running a workout from my Garmin Edge?
I've looked on Garmin Connect at workouts, but they all seem to be strength/conditioning. Training plans sound right but really, I just want 2 or 3 programs to run when I have the time, rather than trying to commit to a weekly program. Is there anywhere you can get a basic interval session, put it on the Edge, press play and have it control the trainer accordingly?
vww
Free Member
Apologies for hijacking this thread with a beginner question, but there appears to be tons of knowledge on here and this is hopefully a simple question! If I had a smart trainer and didn’t want to use Zwift etc (it’s a lack of convenience and to some extent cost thing), what options are there for running a workout from my Garmin Edge?
From a quick look online, it seems to be possible. I've not tried it though.
mashr
I do a Xert – Zwift combo most of the time. Works well too for that extra little bit of engagement
@mashr - how do you find Xert? I have been doing workouts regularly with robbo1234biking providing some great workouts to follow for a while now.
But, I quite fancy trying something like Trainerroad or Xert (or have just seen AI Endurance too) over the winter & see if I get stronger gains than I have been getting. The idea of adaptive training seems like a good one & robbo has been getting great results.
But, honestly - I don't really want to pay a great deal for it given that I already pay for a Zwift subscription, so am wondering whether Xert is any good. It's quite a bit cheaper than trainerroad.
I struggled to find much info on it yesterday when looking & it looked quite 'complicated' compared to Trainerroad with lots of metrics & displays on the screen.
I gather that you can run it at the same time as Zwift, so you can do the workout in a Zwift environment & let Xert control the trainer, while Zwift just reads off the power data coming from the trainer, rather than controlling it.
In some ways I like how they make power, it does in some ways seem easier than the hybrid to increase power and in some ways to cruise too.
But they’re really not nice on hands/arms for me, even trying various positions didn’t help much.
Isn't that just a case of swapping the chainset and/or cassette out?
Isn’t that just a case of swapping the chainset and/or cassette out?
Nah not really. I've had a road biased chainset on the hybrid before, was running a 2x with a 50 as the biggest on the front, but i think it's to do with the actual riding position, or maybe even rotational weight of the road wheel/tyre being lighter than the hybrid... but i think on the roadie you're getting more into the weight towards the front and i think it's not just for aero that roadies are in a forward position.
In the same way an XC race bike is longer and lower at the front, which i'm guessing helps putting the power down.
@stumpy01 will give you a proper response later on, my work is making me work and its getting right in the way of faffing!
For now though - it's only complex as you want it to be. I just login on the iOS app, see what its suggesting (either based on continuous improvement or having an event date sent), filter to suit based on time available and crack on. It adjusts me FTP accordingly, it looks after how fresh I am (can be tweaked if you're feeling rough/great).
The maximum power available (MPA) is quite interesting. Some folk use it whilst racing but I'm not a fan. However it is interesting to see if confirm just how ****ed you felt when you have a look afterwards
I think it must be a position thing ref the different bikes.
I sometimes put my race bike on the trainer and it does feel ‘nicer’ than the Triban that lives on there I guess but as for gearing- I don’t even think about it or notice a difference. Just ride in the one that gives you the right amount of watts at the right cadence 🤔🤣 Anything else, you should be able to smooth out with trainer ‘difficulty’.
It’s only in ERG mode where I notice a difference between gearing and on the Kickr SNAP and I like lots of inertia in the big chainring. For many direct drive turbo’s, the advice is little ring but as a simulation for flat real-road riding, I not only like a wheel on trainer but as I say, like the high inertia, short power stroke of the big chainring.
Cheers mashr. It sounds like it might be worth a go.
I've tried 2 workouts since i completed my last ramp test and i just can't stick them at all....
I think my FTP went from 255 to 288 and the workouts just seem incredibly hard now.
I'm going to try another tonight to see how i get on.
AS i understand, the ramp test can over-estimate the FTP... hence why you may be struggling?
Try something like 270 watts to see how you feel?
DrP
That's a big increase, 13% - unless you're newish to training where you're seeing newbie gains it might be overestimating it.
Also, if you're mid training plan in zwift then the training plan will normally have increased load as part of it, upping your FTP will have have increased the load a second time.
What sort of workouts @beer247? A high IF VO2 max session should always be hard, but if a sweetspot sesh has you gasping there's something up with ftp.
There's something to be said for going slightly conservative on a ramp test imho - like giving it death on your absolute best day can give you an ftp value at the absolute top of the error bar, and training off this will be counter-productive.
Yeah, a sweetspot session was killing me last night - 5mins at 275w then 5mins at 255w x 4
Got through the first set and couldn't hold on through the second.
I'm defo not a newbie, but have only just put the bike back on the trainer.
Maybe i'll look at dropping the FTP manually.
@beer347 For me, ramp tests have always given higher estimates than doing a "negative split" Tempus Fugit TT and looking at my best 20mins.
https://intervals.icu/ will give you an eFTP value off recent power data, by default looking at 5min+ efforts.
I was a bit dubious that Intervals reckoned mine had only dropped to 291 from 306 after my late July Covid that really hit my sustainable power, when I thought it was more like 250-270 through at least all of August. I've definitely started to feel stronger since around the start of September, but I was really surprised to do 324 for 10mins51secs in the rubberbanded first Zwift Academy '22 Baseline ride up Volcano KOM on 12th and then 291 for 16mins34 outdoors on Monday up a 4-mile climb.
Yeah a sweet spot session shouldn't be kicking your arse. I'm typically under 150bpm until the last 5-10 mins (of 3x 12min @ 85%) of a SS workout, and my max HR is in the high 180's.
Comfortably hard is my description 😁🤣
Yeah, as above - FTP ramp test for me is always over-optimistic when it comes to doing actual workouts with that FTP applied.
I always knock it back a bit. I should probably stick to the 20min test, but they are horrendous so can't bring myself to do them 🙂
I should probably stick to the 20min test, but they are horrendous so can’t bring myself to do them
Tru dat!
But,.... once you do them, you figure out they are hard but useful!!
Pick a flat route to do it on...
DrP
I should probably stick to the 20min test, but they are horrendous so can’t bring myself to do them
I don't know what's worse tbh, trying to churn out nearly 380w for a minute when you've got nothing left, or trying to hold 295w for 20 mins solid.
Neither is "fun". 🤣
Did anyone mention that Xert works without FTP tests? I should really be on commission 😉
I don’t know what’s worse tbh, trying to churn out nearly 380w for a minute when you’ve got nothing left, or trying to hold 295w for 20 mins solid.
Neither is “fun”. 🤣
Yeah I know that feeling. My last test earlier in the week I fully drained myself. Massive fan on full power right in my face, had a wobble when I got off the bike and thought I was going to pass out / be sick for about 5 mins after. Maybe 240w might be optimistic as a result but will see on my first sweet spot session tonight.
Did anyone mention that Xert works without FTP tests? I should really be on commission 😉
TrainerRoad has an automatic ftp estimating function that I’ve looked out out of curiosity a few times and it was only a few ftp different to past ramp tests. Maybe I weirdly like the ramp test challenge 🤷♂️
I've dropped down to 275w to see if that makes a difference - i enjoyed (as much as you can) indoor training last winter and it really did make a difference to my summer riding.
This seems the most active Zwift thread so will post here.
Tuesday 27th 19:30 London Classique chilled ride with optional sprints. All are welcome.
https://www.zwift.com/events/view/3148249
If anyone would like to sweep please let me know. Or lead (then I can sweep!)
Late join is on.
What does sweeping mean in Zwift terms?
If people fall of the back of the group someone to lend a wheel to get you back on the group. Would need to be a strong rider
If I'm back in time I'll happily lead mate. Should be
If you aren’t in the club and want to join use the link below. You can be in multiple clubs so doesn’t matter if you are in one already.
https://www.zwift.com/clubs/fcbd9c17-1ff8-4477-8104-3408856e0084/home
I'm jumping on the 0930 zwift academy workout #1 today, if anyone fancies it?
(A workout...)..
Did the base ride yesterday... not been told my 'phenotype' yet however!
Hopefully it'll be a bit cooler in the paincave this am!
DrP
Critique my potential Zwift set up.
Monitor
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9428463?clickSR=slp:term:smart%20tv:1:315:1
Trainer
Have a bike obviously but is this all I need ? Guessing I’ll still need to connect my iPhone ? Or does using smart tv negate this.
Cheers
Guessing I’ll still need to connect my iPhone ? Or does using smart tv negate this.
Zwift won't run on the TV, so yes you'll need to run zwift on a device to then have that display on the TV. Presuming your phone will be able to cast to the TV, that should work.
Have you tried running zwift on your phone and casting it to a TV to check it's possible?
Is your bike a QR rear hub?
Yes rear qr wheel. No haven’t really got beyond figuring out what I need. I’ve an iPhone 12 Pro Fwiw ? So if I still need to cast via phone I guess it doesn’t need to be smart tv ? Just able to plug in via usb to display?
This is mine, first time back on it for ages this lunchtime, mainly driven by the fact that its lashing it down.
2nd Direto is for the kids when they can be bothered
[img] 
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Did my first race in over a year last night - to say it went poorly would be an understatement.
Cat D - 1 lap of Richmond:
Off the line at roughly 7wkg only that doesn't seem to be the technique anymore so I was way off up the road with everyone else sat at 2.5ish so I looked like a bit of a knob, once I realised this I sat-up to wait, immediately dropped my chain because I've not been using shifting on the few workouts I've done since getting Zwift up and running again and subsequently went from 7wkg and 10 seconds off the front to 0wkg and 30 seconds off the back whilst I sorted that out.
Caught what was the second group on the road but they were steadily losing ground to the front 6 or 7 so I decided once the limited climbing was done I'd try and bridge over aiming to make the catch before the long descent where I could have a breather. Made the catch, closed about 35 seconds on my own, felt pretty pleased with myself tbh.
Then it turns out that it wasn't a one lap race, it was half a lap, 7 laps of a circuit and then the second half of the lap, so that descent I'd been aiming to make the catch for didn't come along for another 30 minutes - I was properly hooped.
Couple of laps of this mini-circuit in and the C's appear so I jump onto them and gradually get towed clear of most of the D's I was with. Until I try to use a power-up with the apple remote, bring the menu screen up because the remote is shit and then dropped the remote. So I had to hop off the bike again, pick up the remote, jump back on, sort the screen and get going. I'm now 30 seconds behind the group I'd just been towed clear of, once again looking like an idiot.
After making the catch again it was all about hanging on for grim death as we went round and round the circuit again and again, praying for the point we could leave and continue the actual course. Rested on the descent as per the original plan and then got dropped like a stone on the final climb getting 4/17 in Cat D, only it was 5/17 really because the actual 4th placed person had stopped a fraction early and not crossed the finish line.
4/10 - would not recommend, will do again.
Just about to take the plunge myself and give Zwift a go (my last experience of indoor 'training' being one ride on an old style turbo staring at a garage wall and deciding it wasn't for me). Have a Stages SB20 bike due in the next few days, going to try it in my flat initially (as my garage is full of junk and I think if I had to make the extra effort of going there to use it I'd probably end up being too lazy...).
Planning on just using my iPad to start with and then if I (hopefully) really get into it look at either an AppleTV set up or resurrecting my old gaming PC and hooking it up to that. I've also been looking at those VacMaster fans and trying to convince myself it would be worth splashing out on one, I guess the people with two are doing some proper training so hopefully one will be enough for me for a while!
I've been completely sedentary for 5 years so just planning to bimble around Watopia for a bit and then after a few weeks hope there's some really slow group rides I can tag onto...
^^^ I am a few weeks in front of you , having taken the plunge into a trainer and Zwift last month. I am old and slow and doing a few rides a week now, with a pace partner, or workout based. Seems to be good fun. I have no real intention of getting into racing, however it seems an entertaining place to spend an hour a few times a week. Also using iPad, which is good enough for me (on a new Wattbike Atom), along with Companion App on my iPhone. A bit tv would be nice, but not feasible in my garage setup.
I also bought the Vacmaster with remote - I am very glad I did it is ideal
Silly question time, about to start using zwift after a short trial last month, last month I used Zwift on my Apple TV with my Zwift account not linked to any accounts, I then recorded the ride on my Garmin Device for upload to Garmin connect which then passes the ride to Strava.
If I link My Zwift account to my Garmin Account, can I stop recording on my physical Garmin Device? and will Garmin Connect will still pass it to Strava?