Zwift, my journey, my weight and my fitness.

Did a 35-40 min this morning. Wasn't too bad today, although things were tired, but was at Swinley yesterday, zwifting after that, so no shock I was tired. But was trucking along at times at 2.8-3 which is right at the top end for me, found a few wheels to play with at times etc.

Wanted to do the TT race tonight but no chance I'll be back from visiting etc in time, so have to give it a miss.

I was quite happy to get DQ from cat c kiss last night but I know I'll get my arse kicked in the cat B
http://www.zwiftpower.com/profile.php?id=225300

Quite interesting looking at power outputs over different races

You've had a huge leap in terms of W/kg @leeroybrown, congrats!

Just finished the Zwift race, tried really hard & got an FTP bump, but even better I think my tactics were pretty good as 14/16 of the people behind me had higher w/kg than me!

Using the smart trainer for the first time around London, made Box Hill much more interesting & I'm sure made me push harder, that 15% gradient coming out of the underground took me by surprise on the first lap though!!

Hello!

New Zwifter here.
Just set up my basic system, using my old dumb turbo linked with some speed and cadence sensors. I've just got an old mtb hooked up with a random slick tyre on it to try out zwift.

I used the setup last year with trainer road briefly but got so bored i dropped it! Hoping that zwift keeps my more entertained this year!

Set it up and had a random 25min cycle round the VR world, it was definately a London based loop, around Southbank area I think.

No idea what was going on! bikes buzzing all over the place, Think it will take a good few rides to see how it all works properly.

This guide covers the basics [url= http://www.titaniumgeek.com/cycling/zwift-user-manual-unofficial-running-updates/ ]http://www.titaniumgeek.com/cycling/zwift-user-manual-unofficial-running-updates/[/url]

It will probably overestimate your power if you're using a 26er, I wouldn't worry too much though unless you start winning Cat-A races, then the Zwift police will come knocking on your door 🙂

I've just got an old mtb hooked up with a random slick tyre on it to try out zwift.

I see that Merlin's January sale has (or rather HAD) tacx Neo and Flux at reduced prices. They're OOS though - was it one or more of you lot ? 😆

I've re setup everything:
1) taking care to get the tension bang in centre after a 25 min cycle so everything is warm.
2) Tacx official tyre as oppose to the Vitoria tyre I ran last night and 110psi.
3) I ran my cycle computer at the same time to check the vortex's cadence sensor and it's pretty accurate if not identical.

Result of my hour of fettling = http://www.zwiftpower.com/race.php?id=1930

DQ'd 😥

Nathan are you DQ'd ? your 4th at the mo??

did my first cat B tonight didnt get my arsed kick that bad
24th well pleased with that

Oh yeah, it's changed 🙂

Zwift was in the 5.0w/kg on the right hand side pretty much the entire race so I just kept at a steady speed expecting the DQ. Looks like strava has brought it back down though.

Which race did you do @leeroybrown?

NAth, i think if i recall from Crosshairs posts, your finishing W is more like 95% not 100%

I'm probably going to do the 8.00 Denmark easy ride today. Not because i want an easy one as such, but can't see anything else that's suitable really and has more than about 5 people riding in it.

Did the 2.0-2.5 ride and made a massive mistake, someone got dropped on lap 2 and asked for help, so i went back 30s to get him with a few others.... Died on my arse getting back !

Got back in twice but couldn't hold 2.5 at the time and ended up dropping off.... Stopped... thought "nah, i'm finishing it..." so got on with it again and plodded in at a 2.0 sort of effort for last 7 km on my own.

Had my first shot this morning, think i'm going to enjoy this!

As for racing / group rides - when you are on the course do you still need to choose the direction (when the arrows come up every so often) or is it automatically selected as part of the race? I can't quite reach my ipad from the bike so need to stop to touch the screen

It's automatic. You couldn't choose to go the wrong way even if you wanted to, unless you exit the event before it's finished.

There is a helper app for your mobile called "Mobile Link" that can act as a remote control for turning, dishing out ride ons, etc

I've just got an old mtb hooked up with a random slick tyre on it to try out zwift.

Just FYI but the stats you see in Zwift assume a 700x23 tyre, I believe. I'm not aware of an option to change that...

I'm just trying it out, to see if I go all in and buy a smart trainer and a road bike to use.

I thinking about possibly investing in the tacx flux, that way I can use my old hardy I'll on it and not need the bike.
Anyone here using one of them?

^^^^ I don't know how to do quotes here!

@weeksy it went from 5.1w/kg on Zwift to 4.78w/kg once strava taken into consideration. It's a bit bizarre.

I've done sweeping before, I found it quite painful. Fair play for doing it!

I tried to do the Specilized 31 mile challenge, but only had limited time. The inner tube I put on yesterday must have been passed it's expiry date or something as it punctured twice. Replaced it on the second time but ran out of time, only covering 23 miles. Will try again tomorrow 😆

Merlin had Ultegra Stages power meters on offer for £445+ cash back, but none in 172.5mm boo!

Nath- 4iiii 105 for £350 @ Evans.....

Merlin had Ultegra Stages power meters on offer for £445+ cash back, but none in 172.5mm boo!

That's a good price @crosshair - I'd have to get a matching Ultegra one though lol.

I'm still planning on renting a stages meter first - £30/month isn't too bad for a couple of months. I can't justify more money on the bike as I've just bought some new wheels 😳

i wouldn't touch Stages with a shitty stick after reading the thread on here!

+1 for this, especially if you plan to use it outdoors. They seem to have some serious issues with moisture. Having said that, I did buy an XT one in the Sigma sale for around 220 quid, it was too good a deal and for an occasionally used bike so not too fussed if it proves to be unreliable. I expect I'll be putting their apparently excellent warranty team to the test at some point!

Nathb, if you're renting something I'd get a decent dual sided one, not a Stages.

Nath- 4iiii 105 for £350 @ Evans.....

Just fitted one of those to my road bike today - not had a chance to try it yet though. Suspect I'll be picking up a cheap trainer and giving Zwift a try as well.

@mrblobby I've only really found stages for rental. Which other brands should I try and find? (I use SPD-SL)

The 4iiii ones look good - very good reviews too. Anyone in the market for a kidney?

I'm pleased with my Stages so far. I did suit and boot it for CX racing though 😉

[img] [/img]

My stages has been fault free so far
Only had it a couple of months though

So how do the categories work? How do you work out your level?

After reading some of the thread I went out to halfords yesterday and picked up the tacx smart turbo and gave it a whirl last night, christ alive it was hard work but really enjoyed it. I was gonna go again tonight but I'm riding at degla tomorrow and real live riding with ok legs beats knackered legs! Realised I had an exercise mat stashed so thats under the turbo now. Ordered an ANT sensor and the bontrager duotrap cadence I've been meaning to get for the bike so I'm a little bit more accurate. Need to make sure I run the setup for the turbo before riding any other length seeing as the crappy manual didnt tell me to do so. Not in the slightest bit interested in taking part in any of the races but definitely keeping an eye out for more social rides and will happily race and keep up and overtake people while i'm just 'riding'

Ok i did my free 25km on zwift today and i reckon its enough to motivate me on an evening to use it. Question i have is, the speed figures dont appear to be anything like life like. I managed 14 miles at avg speed of over 26mph which i can safely say is a speed i can only ascertain on a down hill. Should i ignore this figure or can i adjust it in someway to be more realistic or just leave it as its all relative in the virtual world. At the end of my trial it had me as an ftp rating of 294w which from what i have read from regular users on here is quite high considering my lack of riding/fitness.
Do we have a stw group?

Seems quite fast/high if your fitness isn't great.

You put in correct weight?

What turbo?

Anyone local who can fit a bike with power meter on to test and compare figures? We did it recently for a mate and at 150w on PM it was reading 115w on Zwift. Dumb turbo. So we tried different profiles of trainer to get one that was correct.

Should i ignore this figure

Yes, time to go racing 🙂

More serious answer, if you're using virtual power then Zwift is basically guessing at the power you're generating using some generic data for your turbo model and the wheel speed. Some turbos may be close to the generic data set, some may be way off. Some models are more consistent than others. Some aren't even very consistent over a single session! Not really an issue unless you are comparing figures to others, as in Zwift racing, but then none of it is real so it doesn't really matter 🙂

Anyone partaking in the Zwift race at 5:30pm this evening?

Legs are dead here, so no.

Trainer is elite novo force which i have selected. Weight is set correctly. I feel the ftp rating is too high for my level of fitness so i will have a play around with other trainers to find one which is closer.
No mates with power meters so will have to judge through feel.
I will check out some other trainers and then do the ftp test,then i will find a race. Do they do races during the day?

I've got a basic turbo coming so will give Zwift a go once that arrives.

On ftp numbers: I did a road bike ride with the power meter fitted today - I was pushing pretty hard for just over an hour, with a few decent climbs, and that recorded an average of 222W and a weighted average (whatever that means) of 238W - so am guessing my 1 hour ftp is probably somewhere between those two numbers. That's pretty much bang on 2.5W/kg for an hour for me. I'm not hugely fit (and still somewhat overweight hence the modest W/kg number!) but I do ride with a road bike club once a week as well as running quite a bit.

Blader, you can find a race almost any time of day or night yes

All sorted finally and tested with cadence and HR monitor all working - first proper ride in the morning and then I'll be following weeksy on a hopefully increasing fitness trend and a decreasing weight trend 🙂
Happy New Year all!

weeksy -
Legs are dead here, so no.

Doing one tomorrow?

I just finished the Zwift race, I'm TERRIBLE at just keeping with the pack. I find myself way out in front, slow down a little then they come hurling past, then sprint to get back on and repeat. Kind of what I did at Hillingdon 😆

Maybe earlier Nath, not evening. We're off to Henley for a posh night out with hotel and afternoon out.

Z taz at 8am looking likely in lower cat

Ayup all.

I bought a Tacx Flow from Halfords afew days back and it's been sitting there so decided to try it tonight. I'm in a similar boat to Golfchick at present, I'm more interested in the social fitness aspect than racing. Only did a quick ride but great fun. Tried initially setting up on my Daughters iPad mini 1 and it wasnt supported so tried it on the lads old iPad Air which worked very well with the Bluetooth. Seems very smooth for a tablet. You definitely notice the resistance when climbing the hills.

With kids and work it's going to come in handy when I can't be arsed with charging lights and dark winter riding.

So far so good. A great thread weeksy.

Just one question, how do I link up my Garmin HR strap to zwift and the ipad? (it's ant+) if it's possible?

Cheers

I Rode the Zwift race at 5.30 today. First race on there. Enjoyed it I think! Learning what everything on screen means, one thing that isn't very clear though is when you start a new lapor even when the race is over! Would be good if there was a banner you went under

@weeksy ah that's a bit too early for me, planning a lay in on the last day before W on Tuesday 😆 If the weather is nice I may even venture out into the real world, need to get some time in on this bike.

@rumbledethumps - you need a Bluetooth HRM unfortunately

@jim25 - what position did you come in? I was in that race too 🙂

one thing that isn't very clear though is when you start a new lapor even when the race is over! Would be good if there was a banner you went unde