Zwift Chat

[CXRAndy]

For those serious Zwifter's seeking a bit more performance.

Switch off your fans- heat training is the marginal gain you've been looking for

You can get a little device -Core and see your heat tolerance via an app


View: https://youtu.be/0X_nRNlrPQs?si=ioMabuzP1XgbLQyp



View: https://youtu.be/t5ybSriecW8?si=xYAGvIwOcVzCaVM2

 

[Whorty]

For those serious Zwifter's seeking a bit more performance.

Switch off your fans- heat training is the marginal gain you've been looking for

You can get a little device -Core and see your heat tolerance via an app


View: https://youtu.be/0X_nRNlrPQs?si=ioMabuzP1XgbLQyp



View: https://youtu.be/t5ybSriecW8?si=xYAGvIwOcVzCaVM2

I saw that a few weeks ago - if I'm just pootling around I tend not to put the fan on now, but if racing or doing a workout I have to else I risk an asthma attack as can't get air in to the lungs fast enough. Very interesting though.

 

[CXRAndy]

I've never really been good with heat, found out when riding in France and Tenerife. The valleys and coastal routes would drain me really quickly. Once over 1000 metres where the air is generally cooler, my performance improved.

I know Martin really likes hot weather.

Interesting that only a few weeks of heat training, acclimatises the body, you don't need months of it. I suppose it's like altitude training, few weeks and the benefits last a few months

 

[mjd1988]

For those serious Zwifter's seeking a bit more performance.

Switch off your fans- heat training is the marginal gain you've been looking for

You can get a little device -Core and see your heat tolerance via an app


View: https://youtu.be/0X_nRNlrPQs?si=ioMabuzP1XgbLQyp



View: https://youtu.be/t5ybSriecW8?si=xYAGvIwOcVzCaVM2

This is interesting. We may be going to Tenerife next year, with two small kids the most I can realistically hope for is one day in the saddle but naturally drawn to doing a climb.

I was off the bike there for a couple of weeks with manflu, introducing myself slowly back but will try a few more climbs I think rather than races. 100% difficulty to try and replicate IRL.

One thing I notice on the turbo I will naturally try and climb out of the saddle whereas I don't think I do that on the roads. At 100% difficult I do find I'm grinding max 50rpm sitting down if the incline goes over 10%, which is probably accurate enough. Can change my gearing I suppose, and will probably have lost a tiny bit of fitness.

What sort of cadence do folk find themselves at when grinding up a big constant climb with sections above 10%? I'm probably doomed to a low cadence unless I lose 10kg, and I'm going to practice more seated efforts, and turning the fan off!

 

[CXRAndy]

This is interesting. We may be going to Tenerife next year, with two small kids the most I can realistically hope for is one day in the saddle but naturally drawn to doing a climb.

I was off the bike there for a couple of weeks with manflu, introducing myself slowly back but will try a few more climbs I think rather than races. 100% difficulty to try and replicate IRL.

One thing I notice on the turbo I will naturally try and climb out of the saddle whereas I don't think I do that on the roads. At 100% difficult I do find I'm grinding max 50rpm sitting down if the incline goes over 10%, which is probably accurate enough. Can change my gearing I suppose, and will probably have lost a tiny bit of fitness.

What sort of cadence do folk find themselves at when grinding up a big constant climb with sections above 10%? I'm probably doomed to a low cadence unless I lose 10kg, and I'm going to practice more seated efforts, and turning the fan off!

I've always tried to spin, altered my gearing to allow for it. 80+rpm is my preferred multi hour pace. Talking of Tenerife, the main climbs to Teide are pretty constant 6-8% . There are some real nasty climbs but they are off the regular ascents with from any side. Most folk stay on the south much drier side.

 

[Legs]

As part of the one-in-one-out policy, I've demoted my 31-year-old carbon Trek to turbo duties and put my hack bike in the shed ready for dismantling. I think I'll have to swap the stems because the reach on my Trek is quite long and low, whereas I've been used to quite a comfy, upright position on my old hack. I need to reindex the gears too, because the sprocket alignment is slightly different on the Tacx than on an actual wheel.

 

[alex_cycles]

I've never really been good with heat, found out when riding in France and Tenerife. The valleys and coastal routes would drain me really quickly. Once over 1000 metres where the air is generally cooler, my performance improved.

I know Martin really likes hot weather.

Interesting that only a few weeks of heat training, acclimatises the body, you don't need months of it. I suppose it's like altitude training, few weeks and the benefits last a few months

My 10-mile iTT PR in real life was on a 30°C evening in low wind. Myself and one other smallish, skinny guy got PRs that evening and all the "more substantially built" people were suffering.

I quite like the heat. As long as you keep moving it's OK. I did find my performance on Zwift improved each time I added a new fan though. But I've only got room for 3.

 

[IrishAl]

This is interesting. We may be going to Tenerife next year, with two small kids the most I can realistically hope for is one day in the saddle but naturally drawn to doing a climb.

I was off the bike there for a couple of weeks with manflu, introducing myself slowly back but will try a few more climbs I think rather than races. 100% difficulty to try and replicate IRL.

One thing I notice on the turbo I will naturally try and climb out of the saddle whereas I don't think I do that on the roads. At 100% difficult I do find I'm grinding max 50rpm sitting down if the incline goes over 10%, which is probably accurate enough. Can change my gearing I suppose, and will probably have lost a tiny bit of fitness.

What sort of cadence do folk find themselves at when grinding up a big constant climb with sections above 10%? I'm probably doomed to a low cadence unless I lose 10kg, and I'm going to practice more seated efforts, and turning the fan off!

As @CXRAndy says most of the roads you naturally find your self on are generally 6/8% gradient. You do have to venture off the beaten track to get to the serious stuff.

If you are time crunched and want a nice climb near Costa adeje / Playa las americas then the climb up to the small village of Taucho is handy to get to and at 9% for 4 miles it gives you great views of the coast.

https://strava.app.link/Bq3Z5MyebOb

Regarding heat in summer Tenerife gets serious hot. A frozen water bottle will very quickly defrost and be lukewarm within an hour or so.

I try and stay seated and spin around the 90rpm but it’s nice to get out of the saddle and let some air around the backside 😆

 

[CXRAndy]

My 10-mile iTT PR in real life was on a 30°C evening in low wind. Myself and one other smallish, skinny guy got PRs that evening and all the "more substantially built" people were suffering.

I quite like the heat. As long as you keep moving it's OK. I did find my performance on Zwift improved each time I added a new fan though. But I've only got room for 3.

Its the elephant phenomena. Smaller animals will inherit the earth

Best times from cycling come on warm/hot windless days. less dense air allows you slippery eels to fly on your tiny TT bikes

 

[CXRAndy]

This is interesting. We may be going to Tenerife next year, with two small kids the most I can realistically hope for is one day in the saddle but naturally drawn to doing a climb.

When the time is nearer tell us where you are staying. I will look up some of my rides to help guide you. If you plan to ride up to the top into the Caldera, plan to stop to replenish water and food half way, There are some whole day circular routes that allow you to climb and see some fantastic views then have 30-45 min descents back to start point.

 

[alex_cycles]

Its the elephant phenomena. Smaller animals will inherit the earth

Best times from cycling come on warm/hot windless days. less dense air allows you slippery eels to fly on your tiny TT bikes

I don't have a TT bike. For the number of TTs I do it's not worth it. I probably average about 1 per year (none in 2024)
But I do have bolt-on aero bars on my road bike. They added about 2mph for only £60.

 

[mjd1988]

As @CXRAndy says most of the roads you naturally find your self on are generally 6/8% gradient. You do have to venture off the beaten track to get to the serious stuff.

If you are time crunched and want a nice climb near Costa adeje / Playa las americas then the climb up to the small village of Taucho is handy to get to and at 9% for 4 miles it gives you great views of the coast.

https://strava.app.link/Bq3Z5MyebOb

View attachment 751441

Regarding heat in summer Tenerife gets serious hot. A frozen water bottle will very quickly defrost and be lukewarm within an hour or so.

I try and stay seated and spin around the 90rpm but it’s nice to get out of the saddle and let some air around the backside 😆

When the time is nearer tell us where you are staying. I will look up some of my rides to help guide you. If you plan to ride up to the top into the Caldera, plan to stop to replenish water and food half way, There are some whole day circular routes that allow you to climb and see some fantastic views then have 30-45 min descents back to start point.

Thanks guys. It's near los abrigos, or golf del sur, in February, we ended up booking it (south, near the airport and a lot of golf courses).

I'll email the hotel about rental on the off chance they have a partner as they seem to be "bike friendly" but I do see some places deliver the bike to you anyway which may be the way to go (https://wiliertenerife.com/rental/).

 

[CXRAndy]

Hi Michael. I used to stay further west at Los Cristanos. A couple of our rides were upto to Vilaflor then onto the top of Teide. On our rest day we would cycle to El Medano just a little east of where you are staying -nice coastal town with plenty of cafes.

There are a few routes upto Vilafor from your hotel one thru Granadilla, we would join from west side but you would attack more from the South.

Here are a couple of screenshots of suggestions, first one is upto the viewing point on the edge Caldera, great view of Teide . Second is if feeling adventurous and want a loop, which was similar to a route we used to do in reverse.

There are cafes at Vilaflor (popular stopping point) half way up and pretty much your last opportunity to replenish before going onto the top.

Expect at least a couple of hours to Vilaflor and another hour to the top viewing point. Expect 6-8hours if wanted to do the whole loop.

This third route is a lumpy up and down to a town called Guimar slightly inland further east , again this was our queen's day to Guimar upto to the top of Teide over the top and back down. Between 90-108 miles depending on start point over 10000ft of climbing and at least 8 hours

I can provide gpx file if you want, but this gives you options

 

[mjd1988]

Hi Michael. I used to stay further west at Los Cristanos. A couple of our rides were upto to Vilaflor then onto the top of Teide. On our rest day we would cycle to El Medano just a little east of where you are staying -nice coastal town with plenty of cafes.

There are a few routes upto Vilafor from your hotel one thru Granadilla, we would join from west side but you would attack more from the South.

Here are a couple of screenshots of suggestions, first one is upto the viewing point on the edge Caldera, great view of Teide . Second is if feeling adventurous and want a loop, which was similar to a route we used to do in reverse.

View attachment 751493

View attachment 751494
There are cafes at Vilaflor (popular stopping point) half way up and pretty much your last opportunity to replenish before going onto the top.

Expect at least a couple of hours to Vilaflor and another hour to the top viewing point. Expect 6-8hours if wanted to do the whole loop.

This third route is a lumpy up and down to a town called Guimar slightly inland further east , again this was our queen's day to Guimar upto to the top of Teide over the top and back down. Between 90-108 miles depending on start point over 10000ft of climbing and at least 8 hours

I can provide gpx file if you want, but this gives you options
View attachment 751495

Oh brilliant thanks a million!

 

[CXRAndy]

Oh brilliant thanks a million!

found my video of the descent from the viewing spot down to Vilaflor. give Michael an idea of the roads, views etc.


View: https://youtu.be/ol4d5sMABNQ?si=XOiNoc3KgX-44gvH


In Tenerife and Spain I believe the drivers give you a little toot, or double toot on the horn to make you aware of their presence.