Zwift Chat

[mjd1988]

I think my difficulty is around 30 or 40%. It doesn’t make the hills any easier so let people frown! Says more about them than anything else!

Sure I read somewhere that the top racers on Zwift have it around 40%. I tend to race at 40% and set it back to 100% when I'm free riding. My gear changes are less than 'slick' so I need all the help I can get

I tried 0% once and this was a total fail

Ah interesting, I didn't know it was so widespread. I remember people commenting that Rohan Dennis seemed to have it at 0% which suited him just putting out a pure TT effort.

Fingers crossed all is well @CXRAndy

 

[Whorty]

Ah interesting, I didn't know it was so widespread. I remember people commenting that Rohan Dennis seemed to have it at 0% which suited him just putting out a pure TT effort.

Fingers crossed all is well @CXRAndy

I tried 0% and was fine on the flats but just couldn't get the power high enough on the rises as there was no resistance on the pedals. If I had bigger gears then maybe I would have faired better. I find 40% ish about right as I can stay in the big front ring even on the steepest climbs, and I can still pedal on the downs.

Didn't realise you was on 100% in races .... be interesting how changing it to 40% improves your racing

 

[IrishAl]

Ah interesting, I didn't know it was so widespread. I remember people commenting that Rohan Dennis seemed to have it at 0% which suited him just putting out a pure TT effort.

Fingers crossed all is well @CXRAndy

I’m usually around the 40 to 50% mark other than that Everest carry on. But I’ll pull it down to 30% this hilly race. Watts are watts at the end of the day although I prefer to feel some of the gradient

 

[mjd1988]

I tried 0% and was fine on the flats but just couldn't get the power high enough on the rises as there was no resistance on the pedals. If I had bigger gears then maybe I would have faired better. I find 40% ish about right as I can stay in the big front ring even on the steepest climbs, and I can still pedal on the downs.

Didn't realise you was on 100% in races .... be interesting how changing it to 40% improves your racing

Haha no I'm at 50% already so marginal gains if any I'm afraid

 

[<Tommy>]

Best wishes Andy 🤞

 

[Alongo]

I’m usually around the 40 to 50% mark other than that Everest carry on. But I’ll pull it down to 30% this hilly race. Watts are watts at the end of the day although I prefer to feel some of the gradient

How’s the trainer difficulty affect descending , remember ages ago when Shane Miller did his “ How to hit 100 kph” vlog , he said to set it at 100% And blasted down the Epic KOM at 600 W .

 

[Alongo]

Is it TRON bike for best overall performance on Tuesday , if so , I’m ready 😀

 

[mjd1988]

How’s the trainer difficulty affect descending , remember ages ago when Shane Miller did his “ How to hit 100 kph” vlog , he said to set it at 100% And blasted down the Epic KOM at 600 W .

I would have thought the opposite was true? I'm my head it makes gradients flatter in essence (but not faster)

Is it TRON bike for best overall performance on Tuesday , if so , I’m ready 😀 View attachment 551547

What kit is that?

 

[Alongo]

I would have thought the opposite was true? I'm my head it makes gradients flatter in essence (but not faster)



What kit is that?

Zwift Basic 4

 

[Brusgaard]

How’s the trainer difficulty affect descending

GPLama did a video on how if affects descending. Going up 8% becomes 4%, if set at 50% trainer difficulty. Going down I think it was more like 8% becomes 2% if set at 50% TD. Probably not the 100% correct numbers, but look up his video for the real number.
I think the reason was, that Zwift somehow tried to create some resistance going downhill, where there wouldn't be IRL.

 

[JuhaL]

GPLama did a video on how if affects descending. Going up 8% becomes 4%, if set at 50% trainer difficulty. Going down I think it was more like 8% becomes 2% if set at 50% TD. Probably not the 100% correct numbers, but look up his video for the real number.
I think the reason was, that Zwift somehow tried to create some resistance going downhill, where there wouldn't be IRL.

I remember that video. GPLama was coasting descent or do i remember wrong?. Obviously situation change if you keep pedaling because power matters on Zwift.

edit. i was wrong....naturally , GPLama was pedaling.

 

[Whorty]

How’s the trainer difficulty affect descending , remember ages ago when Shane Miller did his “ How to hit 100 kph” vlog , he said to set it at 100% And blasted down the Epic KOM at 600 W .

In Zwift, an incline at 8% (if trainer set at 100%) feels like 8%. If the trainer is set at 50% that same 8% incline feels like 4%

On descents though they have halved the numbers. So at 100% trainer the 8% descent feels like 4%. At 50% trainer the 8% descent feels like a 2%.

Therefore, if the trainer is set at say 50% (or lower) it's easy to keep pedaling on descents and not spin out like you might in real life.

Hope this helps

 

[Alongo]

[QUOTEOn descents though they have halved the numbers. So at 100% trainer the 8% descent feels like 4%. At 50% trainer the 8% descent feels like a 2][/QUOTE]

But , if the Zwift algorithm has you pedalling downhill on a 2% grade you wouldn’t be going as fast as on a 4% or 8% grade obviously. Confusing 🤓

 

[IrishAl]

Is it TRON bike for best overall performance on Tuesday , if so , I’m ready 😀 View attachment 551547

I’m glad you opted for optimum sock height. Anyone wearing ankle socks on Tuesday will be made to attend a correctional institution for minimum 6 days 😜

 

[Whorty]

On descents though they have halved the numbers. So at 100% trainer the 8% descent feels like 4%. At 50% trainer the 8% descent feels like a 2

But , if the Zwift algorithm has you pedalling downhill on a 2% grade you wouldn’t be going as fast as on a 4% or 8% grade obviously. Confusing 🤓

The speed is still working on an 8% descent but it 'feels' like a 2% descent. At 2% you would be able to pedal and create watts - this watt figure is used by Zwift on the 8% to derive a speed value.

Just like climbing an 8% at 50% trainer 'feels' like 4% but your speed is working on an 8% climb.