Bit late to the party and not got time to read all the pages. But today I got a tacx flux smart. Need to get the dongle thing for zwift but a bit confused about which one. Any recommendations? Managed to create a workout on my mobile using the tacx app and it turned out to be rather brutal for a first go and the kitchen floor ended up with a pool of sweat!
It automatically sent the workout to Strava but recorded 0 elevation despite showing 1800ft on the app. Anyway to get elevation to log to strava or does that only happen with zwift?
Zwift feature suggestion: before starting the session, riders must provide a photograph of themselves standing on a set of scales with their weight clearly visible... 😉
Substituting other people / children / pets or leaning on the wall will result in immediate disqualification.
myti - I bought the cheapest "mini" dongle I could find on Amazon. About £12 IIRC, worked first time with no drivers needed and unlike some doesn't need to dangle on the end of a USB extension cable.
Kryton- I've just tested and it won't let you join different cats in the same race. You must have joined two different races!!
Not according to [url= https://www.strava.com/activities/833025320 ]strava[/url]
Kryton- I mean, the one you briefly entered initially couldn't have the A's from your race. It must have been a whole separate race. Try it now- the event module won't let you enter more than one Cat of the SAME race.
You TrainerRoad boys don't half need your hands holding 😉 😀 (Joke!)
You TrainerRoad boys don't half need your hands holding
😆 I managed to join a group ride without any problems! Quite enjoyed it too. Bit lonely after a couple of laps though as the pace increased and I didn't want to go over z2.
Flaperon can you link me the one please. Had a look on Amazon and still confused. Does it not have to be an actual tacx dongle then?
What ride was it MrBlobby? ZSUN is quite a sprightly one- makes 30miles fly by though!
Crosshair, t'was the US Sunday Spin Ride at 5pm.
You TrainerRoad boys don't half need your hands holding (Joke!)
Maybe stick a blue line on the road for them to follow...
Well, bit the bullet today and bought a t2240 tacx and a new laptop to run it on. Laptop initial install was super quick but immediately wanted to 'update' which is taking hours?? Did anyone else have this issue? Also stuck it on my iPad and had a quick spin round. Trainer is excellent for the money, only had a brief ride but I can see it being quite addictive
Can't quite work it out - either turboing/zwifting is amazingly good training or else I've been finding it hard to put effort in consistently
Just had a half hour thrash round and my FTP has apparently been pushed up again. It's now gone up at least 25-30% over 10 weeks. Genuine gains due to consistent output or just learning how to "do" the effort ?
I'm [i][b]almost [/b][/i]wanting to get out and, you know, actually ride outside ( 😯 ) to find out how I compare to me in October
myti, does the flux smart have a bluetooth connection. If you want to use it with Zwift you can use the zwift mobile link app as a connection between your trainer and laptop (the laptop and mobile have to be connected to the same network).
Certainly beginning to feel the real world benefits of zwift after just over a week. Felt really strong on the mtb yesterday and it really helped on the wet, muddy, rooty, techy climbs where I was able to power over the obstacles. where as before I might have just stalled. I was also keeping myself amused on the fireroad climbs by dropping back a bit and leaving a big gap then really going for it to catch back up again.
Just had a half hour thrash round and my FTP has apparently been pushed up again. It's now gone up at least 25-30% over 10 weeks. Genuine gains due to consistent output or just learning how to "do" the effort ?I'm almost wanting to get out and, you know, actually ride outside ( ) to find out how I compare to me in October
I think we're finding that what we used to think was 'training hard' actually wasn't and a lot of us are reaping the reward for that. I always thought i trained a fair bit, but i think my hours have doubled in the last few Zwift months.
Out on the roads/trails, i'm stronger, fitter and faster (although not always on the tech sections, but that's skill and ability). I can ride and climb now with so much more ease than previously.
Spot on weeksy - yesterday my goal was to complete the 100 miles non stop - that would not have happened six months ago. Zwift has helped me build my strength and endurance but I have not lost an ounce (I have been stuck on 65kg for the last 10 years)
Looking forward to the summer, have a week booked in the alps for huez area and then the big one.... Etape on the 16 July (gulp)
I did my first session last night on the new Flow Smart trainer.
It was quite impressive....I didn't bother tinkering with the 'real resistance' thing in the Zwift menu (I forgot about it) but zwiftblog reckons it defaults to 50% and I'll probably just leave it there. It felt fine.
It definitely felt more like a 'proper' ride than just sticking the dumb trainer on a certain resistance & keeping an even pace.
Interestingly, at the end of the ride the power stats displayed were within 1 watt (for the longer durations - is it 10 & 20 mins) of the other info held in that window - I can't remember if it's previous best or average (I think it's previous best).
The one thing that took a while to get used to was that the resistance comes on instantly, whereas on the road if there's a hill coming up you can use a bit of your momentum to keep you going before it starts to get harder.....
And the other thing - I need to sort my gears out! I knew they weren't shifting very well, but with a dumb trainer it didn't really matter because I rarely changed gear - perhaps for the sprint KOM's etc. But I was changing gear loads yesterday & realised that I could probably do with cleaning my bike & sticking some new cables on!!
Now my Wife wants her mtb setting up on the old turbo trainer so she can get some easy evening exercise done!!
I could do with some diagnosis. I'm wondering and think it's likely just generic fatigue from riding... but throwing it out here just in case it's something else.
But my calves are exceptionally stiff.... stiff, tired, aching.. Almost feeling like borderline 'pulled' and seem quite easy to cramp up.
I had Sat with a gentle ride in FoD and then Sunday morning they felt pretty good pre-zwift, they also felt fine post-zwift, but again are quite stiff. My thighs can feel i've worked and trained, but no more so than that.
Calves have been this way for about 10 days now... Stretching seems to make them stiffer rather than better, same with foam roller.
I'm debating having today off, but i don't want to just be doing alternate training days, i like doing back to back quite often.
Looking at my Strava calendar i've only had 3 days not riding this month up to now... (one last Fri)....Maybe i'm just simply over-doing it.
I did adjust my saddle forward about 1.5" as i felt i was over-reaching to the bars, thought it may have made it easier... it has... but just checking if something like that can cause issues and calf tension ?
Weeksy. I'd say it's almost certainly the change in your saddle position. If your bike's set up well, the relationship of your saddle to the pedals shouldn't ever need to change. If you're feeling stretched, it's the length of the stem you need to change IMO. Putting the saddle forward will mean you cant recruit your quads and gluts to power through the pedal stroke quite as well. I think your calves are compensating to ensure the same power output.
Hmmm. Certainly something to think about isn't it... I can't be 100% the times/timing of change was related, but it's something i was giving some thought to.
Bike isn't actually mine, so not been 'fitted' for it, it's a borrowed one off a mate.. But that said, until recently i've not suffered with calf issues.
But my calves are exceptionally stiff.... stiff, tired, aching.. Almost feeling like borderline 'pulled' and seem quite easy to cramp up.
It's funny you mention this, because that's *exactly* what happened to me last week. I've put it down to DOMS from slightly different pedalling dynamics coupled with working harder than normal.
It cleared up pretty quickly but I've learned this week that it's easy to overdo it. Quite relieved it's not just me!
Weeksy;
Cure = Week resting & return the saddle back.
It's hard to resist the lure of the bike, but at least do 3 days then return back by doing Z2/Z3 spinning (use a workout). I did it last week and it really helped, recommend the 8 week pre race day one as it's got a good build up!
eeeek, not sure i can manage 3.... i'm struggling with not testing the saddle position tonight, let alone more than that...
Although, mrs weeksy and the washing machine would appreciate the rest.
Just had a half hour thrash round and my FTP has apparently been pushed up again. It's now gone up at least 25-30% over 10 weeks. Genuine gains due to consistent output or just learning how to "do" the effort ?
A combination of the two, in reality, probably more the latter.
Cure = Week resting & return the saddle back.
That. Every 3/4 weeks really should be a rest week. otherwise you will just run yourself down.
I didn't do anything last week, it can be hard sometimes, but resting is just as important as training.
@weeksy - resist! Recovery is just as important as the cycling 😉
I'm following this at the moment, it's tough: [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/so-i-want-to-try-road-racing-build-a-bike-specifically-for-this/page/11#post-8212342 ]LINK[/url]
I'm following this at the moment, it's tough: LINK
I can't even comprehnd reading that, let alone doing it 😉
If you've moved your saddle forward check the height again, 1.5" is quite a big change and will have put you in an entirely different position so will be working your muscles in a very different way. I'd also take a day off training, training benefit is not from loading training on training, it's loading training with rest and recovery.
weeksy
I can't even comprehnd reading that, let alone doing it
I ain't going anywhere near the topic of structure with you - I've learnt my lesson on my racing thread haha.
Are you doing the KISS GCN Race tomorrow night??
I'm not allowed as you've told me i need 3 days off.. .considering a rode yesterday... that's Mon-Wed i need to be taking off now ...
I'll try...
touché - didn't think you actually would though haha.
Well i've just been watching some 'bike fitting' type vids as posted by a buddy on another forum, so i may actually make some adjustments today and then try them out...which would mean not a rest day of course as i'd likely try it for more than a few mins... but could be useful.
Tacx neo delivery date now put back to the 30th January. Not too pleased, that's the 3rd time the date has been shifted now.
Just keep riding Weeksy! Man up! Push through it! More intensity! Max that HR. Try two rides a day even...
Achy and tired legs mean you're getting super fit and strong! Feel the burn! Rest is for wimps!!
Hardcore to the max!!!*
*Disclaimer- this advice may be ironic 😉
lol i've done rest days.... 3 of them in 16 😉
some of them have been gentle too.
My early birthday present of a Tacx Flow has turned up 😀 Hope I have more luck than some others have had with theirs
Need help guys. Did the EVR race this morning at 11.05, followed the race info with regards to name etc. Did well in the race and saved as normal, showing up in strava as normal but yet again in zwiftpower i am not in the race results!! I have linked my account with strave and have done several races already but this is the second time in the last 3 races i am no where to be seen. How do i get my results to show?
You're not the only one. I rarely get in results list now for some reason.
Moved my cleats back about 4mm closer to heels.
Also moved saddle back 22mm after viewing videos using plumb line down from knee.
May have to do a quick video later on pedalling to check height of saddle.
Tilted saddle nose up a bit too as it was slightly too low
weeksy - MemberMoved my cleats back about 4mm closer to heels.
Also moved saddle back 22mm after viewing videos using plumb line down from knee.
May have to do a quick video later on pedalling to check height of saddle.
Tilted saddle nose up a bit too as it was slightly too low
Be interested to see how this affects things.
My legs always feel more tired when I ride my Stumpjumper FSR compared to my Inbred. I am convinced it's the different position on the bike putting strain on different muscles.
Also, has anyone noticed that the front wheel stand for the Tacx trainers is a bit low?
I used mine last night and got quite sore in the barse area.......I can normally ride for hours without any discomfort.....the bike felt a bit 'nose down'.
Funny you mention that one too. I have a tacx one for front and mine also feels low. I was debating 15mm board under it.
I'm having a tough one now as I ought to rest as discussed but want to try things. I'm still going to have rest night.
Yep - another user of the Tacx riser block, definitely lower at the front!
Also, has anyone noticed that the front wheel stand for the Tacx trainers is a bit low?
One that came with the Neo is spot on, I've measured it.
TBH not sure why they do risers on a direct drive turbo, it's not like they need to lift the rear wheel off the ground. My old Lemond direct drive had the rear axle at it's normal height so didn't need a riser at the front.
There's an optional steering frame available so maybe the Neo is designed to always have some kind of riser (either movable or just static).
Jim25-where have you ordered it from? Evans are next day collection according to there web site. I've been so close to hitting the buy button so many times. I was convinced the kickr was the one, I've changed my mind to the Neo now. ( I should be able to hide it from the wife) trying to justify 1k price tag.
I'm enjoying reading all your comments about Zwift/racing. I might join you soon.
Stone.
My local shop, would rather buy it from them than a big chain store, plus they said they would price match Evans.
Interesting that evans website now says 23rd for delivery
[url= https://www.evanscycles.com/tacx-neo-trainer-EV254588?esvt=52380-GOUKE1969262&esvq=&esvadt=999999-0-1138198-1&esvcrea=157972088623&esvplace=&esvd=m&esvo=EV254588-NA-NA&esvaid=50080&gclid=Cj0KEQiA-_HDBRD2lomhoufc1JkBEiQA0TVMms9HCGmcXkU8wupA3sfbKb_sf7v6owiy42rcgwg2ncsaAiua8P8HAQ ]Evans link[/url]
I've had my eye on this thread for a while, having spent last winter on Zwift. I've not bothered with it until the past week or so this year, as it was dry for a lot of the autumn, and I've been away over Xmas.
Ive got the set up working again, (Kurt Kinetic Rock'n' roll trainer, Garmin sensors and a generic ANT+ dongle) but last year I was focussing on building FTP only. I'm looking at the racing categories this time and trying to work out where I lie. With a 20min FTP of 273, weighing about 86kg, that puts me at about 3.1w/kg?
Seems a bit high to me- and I don't think my fitness is quite at that FTP right now! Apologies if this has been done to death, but 50+ pages is a lot to read back...
Seems a bit high to me- and I don't think my fitness is quite at that FTP right now!
Well, you could do another FTP test in Zwift to find out for sure....Or just join a race, give it a whirl and then Zwift will update your FTP accordingly.
If you are really 3.1 W/kg, you should enter as a cat c rider.
Zwift has an ftp test? 😈
Kryton- yes, a couple. I hate the prescribed warmup though (although I've only done it in erg mode) as it worked me far too hard!!!
I'd recommend under-stating your current ftp in the settings before starting it if you care about following the workout accurately.
My favourite thing for FTP testing is Sufferfest's Rubber Glove or just kill yourself in a Zwift race 😉
Whos doing what then today ?
I'm sitting and thinking "was yesterday enough of a rest for my legs".... Answer is arguably no... But i'm getting itchy feet so to speak.
As much as the KISS EU takeover race sounds cool, with 172 riders in C i'm not sure i want to have that much lap/issues with performance, so i'm likely to give it a miss, i can see a massive balls up of no results, lag, problems and server crashes about this time coming up.
More tempting for me is the PAC sub 2.0 to give my legs a gentle introduction to their new seat position at 7pm ... Would make a lot more sense, but clearly not as exciting. But that depends on what time we're eating etc tonight as it's an eating night for me instead of fasting...
If i don't do that it will be my own 2.0/200w ride about 4pm instead...
Bloody ell, GCN Tonight:
Cat / Number of riders
A / 94
B / 140
C / 173
D / 72
Aim is for 50th haha.
have you actually been having issues with Zwift itself falling over or just Zwiftpower?i can see a massive balls up of no results, lag, problems and server crashes about this time coming up.
Only Ziwftpower from that perspective but i've had jerkiness/lag at times on Zwift, i've had rides where all people apart from me disappear. I've had rides where i type a message and nothing ever shows. Had rides where i get in the start pen for a race and i see only me in the list.... but loads of people around me....
I think the jerkiness is just down to poor programming. I used to get jerkiness occasionally even on a top spec iMac with a 4 Gb graphics card & 32Gb of RAM! Now I use my iPad and it's always silky smooth.
When you say "all people apart from me disappear" do you mean so it's literally just you riding on the road, or are you talking about names off the panel on the right hand side during a race? Not had the former but I've had the latter, think it gets confused sometimes when you go past junctions. There are lots of bugs in Zwift for sure!
do you mean so it's literally just you riding on the road, or are you talking about names off the panel on the right hand side during a race?
Both... i did a whole lap of London with Box hill on my own about a week or so back. Was a casual ride not a race.
when everyone disappears, that's your connection dropping out. I used to get it a lot when running a wireless connection in the shed. now i'm wired, its much more stable.
i only use Wireless.... i wasn't that bothered... it was nice and peaceful 🙂
If you get it a lot, that may be why your results don't match in zwiftpower. I was reading about how they capture results and it's pretty crude. They have dummy riders out on course capturing the data from riders as they pass.
Anyone doing the ZTR race at 6:30pm?
They have dummy riders out on course capturing the data from riders as they pass.
sounds interesting... do you have a link? I assumed they just took the data from Strava.
Yep - another user of the Tacx riser block, definitely lower at the front!
Measured mine. Is 0.3mm lower at the back. Front tyre choice probably causes that difference.
With a 20min FTP of 273, weighing about 86kg, that puts me at about 3.1w/kg?
Do you mean a 20 minute average power? FTP is the power you can maintain for an hour. A 20 min power is generally multiplied by 0.95 to get an FTP estimate.
That puts you at 3.01 w/kg.
I will be doing the ZTR race tonight, and will watch the GCN/KISS race. I have a better chance of finishing somewhere on the flat course, I always get dropped on the first steep part of the figure of 8 course and can never close the gap afterwards.
I hope Zwift can cope with the numbers planning to ride tonight.
I now have data to prove Zwift racing is harder than real world racing.
FTP @ 340W
20 min peak in Zwift races at 348W
Crit race: http://tpks.ws/VJ3ky
20 min peak - 267W
😆
So next time at Hillingdon you're TTing off the front 15 laps from the end 😉
Anyone in Kiss race at 8pm tonight. I will be in group c.
Look out for me. Jon Osborne
They are both as hard as you want to make them 🙂
208 in C now at 8pm... it's almost worth waiting till then for a laugh. The problem with that is, i'll be racing Jambo and he'll beat me unless i fine some magic from somewhere !
i might go riding outside. 😉
interesting read! I'd assumed all the data comes from Strava but in reality it's an ingenious bodge involving positioning riders around the course and then intercepting the data sent to the Mobile Link app! No wonder it's starting to break down as Zwift becomes much more popular. Makes me appreciate the work the Zwiftpower guys are doing even more but they need to get it properly integrated/automated with Zwift. I'm sure the Zwift devs have got a lot on their plates at the moment though!
Hadn't noticed it before but on reading the KISS FAQ there's a "team" field on your Zwiftpower settings page. If you enter "STW" for example this will appear next to your name in blue on the Zwiftpower tables just like wot if you were in a proper team!
[b]jam bo - Member[/b]
i might go riding outside.
LOL...why on earth would you do that 😀
Hadn't noticed it before but on reading the KISS FAQ there's a "team" field on your Zwiftpower settings page. If you enter "STW" for example this will appear next to your name in blue on the Zwiftpower tables just like wot if you were in a proper team!
I've done that for my profile in Zwiftpower.
I did the SZR sub-2 ride yesterday. That was 3 laps with the first at 1W/kg, the 2nd at 1.5W/kg and the last one at 2W/kg. I was pretty well behaved (keeping beind the ride leader) until the ride leader said "see you next time" with a couple of miles to go, then I TT'd it in from there. Loads of people must have completely ignored there being a leader though, as more than 30 people finished in front of me - one of them 20 minutes ahead!
That's pretty much how it goes Steve, i don't understand it at all. If you want to race and beat people, you race... if you want a social group, you social it.... How hard is it for people to grasp ?
weeksy -
So next time at Hillingdon you're TTing off the front 15 laps from the end
Not a chance 🙂
Plan is to hit the turbo at 7:30pm to have a proper warmup 🙄
Might try and make the GCN race if I can get back from work in time.
Nath, is your zwift vs. the real world data both from the stages?
@richP - no I haven't done a Zwift race with the stages yet. But my tests only showed a 5W difference between the two.
It's a little annoying having a single sided PM. I like to do 2 or 3 mins pedaling per leg to cool down and to reassure myself I'm pedaling efficiently. The avatar doesn't move when using my right leg only haha. 😳
I'm hopefully gonna find the time to do the Zwift FTP workout tonight.
Zwift updated my FTP value on Sunday to a higher value, I think but that was during an hour long ride after I'd done a few sprints & sustained efforts on the hill segments.
Any idea how long it takes to do the test?
And when can I find my FTP value within Zwift? I take it I need to be in the Zwift program, rather than in the website.
I find it weird that some stuff is on the website profile, while some other stuff is only available in the program.
You'd thought it would all sync to your profile & be available.
The UI design is so terrible I think it might actually be a deliberate troll! You have to start riding, only then can you enter the menu and view/edit your FTP.I find it weird that some stuff is on the website profile, while some other stuff is only available in the program.
I have done the FTP test, IIRC it was 45 mins total ish. Someone has commented earlier that the warmup it gives you is a bit excessive so you might want to edit your FTP first to a lower figure to make the warmup a bit easier.
Personally, having done it once, I don't really see the point except to satisfy your curiosity (or if you're doing a course of workouts and want to track your improvement). For me my Zwift racing stats/results are a decent indicator of progress (as well as being a lot more fun than doing the FTP test!!)