Wahoo Kickr. Base resistance too low with Zwift. Anyone else.?

Hey guys/gals.

I’m running a Wahoo Kickr with Zwift and my CX bike. 38×11 is my top gear.

I find that I’m spinning out in top gear when I’m pushing on the flats and on the downhills. When it comes to sprints I have nowhere to shift to. Its like the resistance in Zwift is too little.

If I ride outside of Zwift I can adjust the trainer resistance/watts in the Kickr app so I can ride nicely in the middle of the cassette to allow me enough to sprint or enough to chill. It works really well.

But as soon as I start Zwift, the resistance disappears and I’m back to spinning out again. I cant find any setting in Zwift to alter this, other than the amount the Kickr adjusts to inclines, not a overall resistance setting.

I can swap chainrings but thats not a sensible option, as I would need to change back to a 38 to suit my outdoor riding.

I don’t believe you can alter it in normal mode, only in ERG mode.

I guess as a simulation of a road bike, it makes sense as you’d be spinning out in real-life too with that gear, but appreciate the frustration.

I’m not aware of a setting that’ll do what you want. I ride on 50T front ring pretty much all the time on Zwift/Kickr. Sprinting generally ends up as 50×11, but not spinning out.

I can see how 38×11 would be way too low for a lot of the courses.

You could turn off Zwift controlling the Kickr and control it from the Wahoo app, but then you’d lose a lot of the fun (in my view).

You could turn off Zwift controlling the Kickr and control it from the Wahoo app, but then you’d lose a lot of the fun (in my view).

Yes exactly.

I know 38×11 is too low for the flat courses but was hoping I could easily adjust the resistance to compensate, like the Wahoo app does just fine.

Looks like I will only be using Zwift for ERG workout sessions then, and not the ‘just ride’ session. Bummer.

Turn up the resistance setting in the app to 100%. The default is 50% of real road resistance. You may still spin out in sprints, but head for the hills and 38×11 will not seem so bad. I’ll pop my cross bike on the KICKR tomorrow. It’s also running a 38 on the front.

You must be DAMN fast then. I’ve been running a 36 ring on Zwift in the last month and was a mid-B, riding on flat courses it was only when REALLY pushing on i needed any more gears and that was over 40km/h Zwift speed. Cadence at that time was about 104rpm.

I have not tried it, but apparently ERG/workout mode will solve my issue as the resistance is higher. But I dont fancy a scheduled/interval session all the time.

Yep. 38×11. 2nd cog up (12t or 13t I guess) is my normal effort on the flats. And I’m not a strong rider at all, Averaging only 165w over an hour.

I can just about deal with it, but would rather my chain be in the middle of the cassette giving me room for when I’m out the saddle and I want to change down the block..

Resistance control is working fine within the Wahoo app but as soon as I start a ‘just ride’ session in Zwift the resistance is removed.

I can control the trainer resistance in Zwift but that ONLY controls the inclines, not an overall baseline.

I wonder how people using a Kickr with Zwift on an MTB with a smaller 1x front ring are coping, must be much worse!?

Lack of resistance on the flats is a common problem when freeriding or racing in Zwift. There are numerous requests been made for a way to increase the base resistance for occasions when your bike is under geared. However, at the moment, unless you have 50+ chain ring on, you’re going to spin out pretty quickly.  38t is fine for non-specific Erg mode riding, ERG workouts or if you spend all day going up hill.  Annoying.

Are you sure Zwift is controlling it? I’ve had Ant+ and Bluetooth issues in the past on my Vortex where it’s picked up cadence and power but didn’t appear to apply any resistance. Can you feel it kick in on sharp inclines or is this just an issue on the flat?

@RaveyDavey, yes its deffo being controlled by Zwift. I feel it kick the resistance up when it goes uphill. And I can adjust this effect with immediate noticeable results.

@mcvittees, yes, annoying indeed. I know i’m not running a typical road setup with a 50t up front but I thought adjusting a base resistance would be a piece of cake for an app like Zwift. Boooo.

You mention ‘non-specific Erg mode riding’ what is that? I know Zwift and the Kickr change to ERG when in training mode. but what do you mean.?

I wonder how people using a Kickr with Zwift on an MTB with a smaller 1x front ring are coping, must be much worse!?

34T for me was fractionally too low… 36T is OK… but as said, i’m in the bottom 2-3 cogs for 90% of time on the bike…

Apart from on the Alp course today LOL

Did a ERG workout last night. Worked a treat.

Was able stick the drivetrain in the less noisy gear and Zwift adjusted the resistance as the efforts changed.

So its just the ‘freeride’ option in Zwift which needs a baseline setting implementing… C’mon Zwift, SORT IT.!