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I have emailed Elite - apparently they send instructions how to tighten it.
I could barely turns pedals going up the climb, yet was only reading less than 250w (just looked at graph analysis on Strava) ... I would have typically expected over 400w for that effort; I can quite comfortably stay at 260-280w from start to finish of Alp Zwift so a little 2k climb should never have been that tough for that little power.
The trainer is over 2yrs old. Only to be expected it will drift a little with the effort that goes into them.
I will be running an ethernet cable from the network switch this week, the power line adapter in the garage is too unreliable
Yeah I have that problem. I ran an ethernet cable 10 years ago when we built the big shed. I really need to terminate it and use that instead. The powerline stuff is rubbish. 60 meg in the house, 3.5 meg in the shed and it's only 30m away! ANd then it just craps out for no reason. Which is annoying.
Anyway after another 'debate' with Cycle Republic I have the Directo up and working. Had to bodge my Planet X Tempest as a test mule as my trusty old turbo bike needs a new BB. No problem at all I thought until I whipped the cranks off and found its bloody press fit... I have no spare bearings.
Had a few issues with the Directo and Zwift. It set up fine in the e-training app. Calibration was spot on and matched the sticker. Power Smoothing set to 2. But ERG didn't work. I dicked about with it for ages before turning it all off and on again.
Then, of course, it worked. And has done on three separate tests. At which point the wifi died.
Anyway glad the flux has gone and can now hopefully concentrate on training and not on 'what the bloody hell is that noise now....'
I wont even bore you with what happened when I accidently pulled the freehub off 😉
Right a beer I think!
Well I quite like Bologna! Did the 'long' group ride (which we all know is a race!). I don't know why but I seem to struggle to sit at 220w or so on the flat but on that hill I maintained 258w then 265w. Don't know whether it just focuses the mind or I am physiologically better at a slower cadence. I am using a 4iiii PM though so flame away!
Did the Bologna race, did not enjoy that.
The “team” I ride for, WKG are holding a race next weekend on the four horsemen course. Unfortunately I’ve got prior arrangements so can’t make it. Thought I’d do a solo effort ride around it today, 3hrs at 270w wasn’t nice.....🤮
Respect to that ride andy!!
Cheers Eskay ! It was a hard ride! Surprised how much the gravel sections knocked my speed down. I was pushing along at 3.5w/kg on the jungle section and a bloke wafted past me on a MTB doing 2.8 😂
jam bo
Subscriber
Did the Bologna race, did not enjoy that.
Bit of a bar steward isn't it!
OK, so race 2 went better. Bologna (D). Averaged 2.5 w/kg, came 27th, which I'm pleased with for for me at the moment.
Can someone explain to me how power works on Zwift? I spent the second half of the race with 2 other riders. One was pretty close to my power figure, maybe +/- 0.2 w/kg, but the other rider was way off, up to 1w/kg lower than my figures. Towards the end of the race the rider with the very low power just rode away from me. How does that work? Givens it's w/kg isn't any weight difference already factored in?
Don't think I clocked how long it would be with that really slow climb in it. I much prefer shorter races.
you can save a lot by careful drafting. maybe 25% ish on the flat? were they just letting you do all the work? if I'm in a group I try and spend as little time on the front as possible.
@bluebird - you just experienced why the watts per kilo is such an inaccurate metric to compare people with.
I would guess (assuming everything is on the level with regards to fair play etc) that the rider with the lower power figure that rode away from you simply weighed less than you. Less weight requires fewer watts to get up the hill.
I presumed a bit of the difference was due to drafting. I was in the wind for most of the time I was riding with them. (Which I was OK with as I wanted the work out.)
I know watts on their own isn't a great way to compare yourself against another rider, but I always thought the point of w/kg is that it is comparable, ie two riders of different weights both producing 2.5w/kg would travel at the same speed.
The trouble is there are so many other influencing factors within the Zwift world including the draft that have an effect on your overall speed.
I believe Zwift has taken into account incline, bike type, wheelset, rider height and weight - I am sure there are many others that all have a bearing on your speed at a given watts per kilo.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=314785
Long one for me that was. Good fun though trying to play it tactically. Hit my aero 400m out and held off my group of 6 to the line.
Sadly, very few of us on Zwiftpower.
Hit my aero
Just googled that – I wondered what those icons were for!
Very useful items at times if you can use them right. It was the difference between me beating my group and being about 4th in it
Sadly i got no ranking points for today, which was a shame, i feel sure i would have if more had registered on Zwiftpower.
Not long finished a workout, but really tempted to try the 16Km Herds ITT @ Downtown Dolphin at 1905
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=314860
Just a bit concerned how my legs will feel and event doesn't specify TT frames only.
Just did the 5.30 ZHR Zwift Handicap Race E in Greater London 8.
I think I don't that harder than the Bologna Stage 4.
It was a staggered start TT but only saw one TT bike but drafting was off. Splurged my Feather powerup whilst still in London. Doh.
Also didn't know the race went up Box Hill! Rode up that on my Tod just trying to keep the riders behind me, well, behind me. Ended with a lady in E group chasing me all the way up gaining slowly. Aero tucked down a lot of the downhill to rest the heart and legs then carried on trying to keep the lady and anyone else from gaining ground. She almost had me at the underground but just managed to hang on.
Of course during the above i got overtaken by LOADS of riders in other cats, I was just trying not to come last in E is all. Managed to over take a rider in the last 500metres, he must have been utterly spent as he didn't up his speed at all. I put in a paltry "sprint" just before the line... hoping it was the finish...luckily out was this time!
Results only appear on Zpower apparently but I can't find them?? Takes a while to upload perhaps❓
Bloody hell, I'm a fool. Found out on Zpower. 5 out of 11 on E.
Almost on the podium!!
And your ranking points improved (got lower), stick at it!
Zwift really need to sort out race events, unless you have a million devices open and accessible while racing, you have no idea who your legit Zwiftpower opponents are.
Managed a better 8 laps time at Downtown Dolphin in the TT than I've managed in the odd race I've done there... Hmm, how does that work? 😆
eskay
Subscriber
Almost on the podium!!
I don't think so, the ranking on zpower is odd. There is a cat E rider that for second place in the A cat. It's really odd.lol
I genuinely mean it when I say I just don't want to come last. I did a fair few rides when I first started Zwift where I was literally last across the line.😁
Just went past a Steven Thorn with STW tag. :Waves
n0b0dy0ftheg0at
Member
Anybody here tightened their DiretoNo, been meaning to for ages, as mine is ~6 points lower than sticker too
I contacted Elite, and had reply within a day. Person stated numbers within 7-8 of the sticker were normal.
I was sent a link on how to adjust the belt - it’s on YouTube; took all of two minutes to do.
Figures seemed closer to what I expected afterwards.
that Bologna course is a right bastard 😂. Did not save enough for the 2nd climb at all!!
Intresting info mooman, thanks, glad it got your numbers back to what you were expecting... Hopefully a belt tighten will do the trick for my Direto too.
I really ought to contact Elite and get a link to that YouTube clip (there was an incomplete public one around last year), the turbo is now outside the 2 year gtee.
zilog6128
Subscriber
that Bologna course is a right bastard 😂. Did not save enough for the 2nd climb at all!!
Yeah, it was a right sod. Lol
The next stage is NY and a lot flatter I think!👍
I'm riding stage 5 tomorrow afternoon.
I joined Zwift 2 days ago, having not ridden much over the past year and being very unfit. I'm currently on a Jet Black dumb trainer with speed and cadence sensors. Done a FTP test and am now starting the 4 week FTP builder training. Still getting used to Zwift, so any tips or suggestions are welcome, how to improve quickly etc 🙂
Still scared to start a race, in fear of being left for dead.
Anyway...hello fellow Zwifters!
@oop north
All I would say is if the ftp builder gets boring don't give up on Zwift. I don't do the training programs, they bore me senseless.lol
Try just free riding a route (I love sand and sequoias) or a group ride as a break from the FTP. Group rides are great for learning how to draft etc and are pretty social.
Take on a race of you want. I came last a few times in the past so what,I still enjoyed it.lol
Oh, add STW at the end of your Zwift tag so other STWers can "follow" you.
My tag is finbod [STW] for instance. Also sign up to zwiftpower and link your Zwift account to it. You might not need it yet but when you start racing you will need the Zwift Power account.
Oh, learning how to draft is bloody essential. Freeriding/ group rides are great to learn how to do this well.
I'm a noob really, others on here can give you far more in depth advice!
Enjoy!
Edit: A cheap heart rate sensor is handy. It'll give you an idea of when you are about to blow up once you get used to what heart rate you can sustain etc. Very handy.
n0b0dy0ftheg0at - I have had to accept that the last few months of doing next to nothing on the bike has dropped my fitness and power quite significantly; but adjusting the tension has given a consistent and more realistic display of the watts/power.
Its a simple job.
Thanks Poopscoop!! I aim to do a mix of training and freeride etc.
Right now I'm concentrating on how to improve my cadence, my legs don't seem to want to go that fast 🙂
what Poopscoop said above really ^^^^Still scared to start a race, in fear of being left for dead.
Just crack on with a race, everyone is nervous at first but there's no need to be! no-one, is watching, no-one cares how badly you do... even if you balls up the first one, you'll probably still learn enough to get it right next time! They are a right laugh (in a painful way) once you get into them.
I second adding "[STW]" to your zwift name, always good to see fellow STWers out there in Watopia, have had a couple of occasions where we've ridden together/helped each other out in races which was cool.
It will be a while before I'm helping you in races but yes I'll update the name.
@oop north
if you haven't found it already, check out the ZwiftInsider website. A wealth of information, beginners guides, tips/tricks, maps of all the courses etc etc
@oop north
Agree on the group rides. I did A LOT of training programmes last winter (mainly FTP builder) and it did work but it was dull. Now I tend to ride with do virtual rides with people I know (mostly my Bro and his mates who are all proper roadies) and the group rides.
Group rides have taught me about drafting, pacing, how to hang on when it gets hilly, what speed to do downhill etc. I generally join a SAS and ZZRC. They both have great ride leaders ("The beacon") and friendly FB pages.
Definitely improved my fitness as well. I ride way harder (because I have too) to stay with a 'C' group than I'd do on my own.
When I do go back to a training module I don't pick one of the static ones which make you do 3 a week or something. I hated missing them but I'm always busy or away. I tend to go with Emily's short mix or John's mix which is 30 or 60 mins of bloody hard work, but you can just pick one when you fancy it.
I like Zwift. I wouldn't ride a turbo otherwise. This thread has been great as well. One day I'll do a race!
Oh quick update on my Directo. It has a 10 speed cassette muled to an 11 speed drivetrain at the mo, so slick and silent it is not. I did an ERG session last night tho and it felt way smoother than my Flux.
Seemed to be better at switching between power settings as well. Won't know for sure until I've got the CX turbo mule back on there. The Planet t X tempest on there is just for testing. I did like the higher bar position tho so might move some stem spacers.
The very BEST thing about the Directo tho was at no point did it sound like it was going to explode. I'm not sad to see the back of that flux.
Zwift race at 1910, cat D if any fancies hiding behind a good wind block...
^^ Would love to mate but can't make it tonight. I'm logged in on Zwift but just "watching" as I'm testing the pc out for crashes!
I'm doing one of the early evening Stage 5's tomorrow though? Either...5.13 5.40, 6.10?
Oh, @oop north, what is your ftp mate?
To give you an idea I'm only 218 ftp and I don't come last anymore in D!
I have that figure largely from group rides/ races. Hate, hate, hate the ftp test so I just let Zwift calculate it from jra basically.lol
Poopscoop, have you tried the ramp test version?
^^
No idea in honesty!
I just did the quick ftp or whatever it was called? About 40 odd minutes I think.
Well that was a different kind of unpleasant...
Different??
And putting the sprint section a km before the finish line was confusing.
Oh, I won't be sprinting that far from the finish.lol If at all..
It’s not the sprint for the finish, it’s the sprint section in Central Park. I went for it thinking the rest of the group I was with would, and then they rode straight by me as I faded afterwards...
55th on Zwift, 8th on Zwiftpower...