Zwift Chat

[Whorty]

Zwiftinsider looks well worth exploring. And I also just found Zwift forums...

On that GCN video the presenter said that a speed sensor on a dumb trainer gives Zwift a good idea what power you are generating. I can't see how that is true because it has no way of knowing what resistance you are pedalling against!?

I had thinking of buying a Wahoo Kickr Core but then spotted the JetBlack Victory, which looks great. Only trouble is that they have sold out of the first batch so I might have to wait 3 months to get hold of one!

I currently only have a dumb trainer. I am thinking of putting up with that over the winter and waiting for a Victory. But that would mean buying (a) sensor(s) for the bike to be able to use Zwift in the meantime...

The bike I want to use is an old singlespeed so virtual shifting on a Zwift Cog would be ideal for me. The only drawback with that is that it currently would not work properly with Rouvy, which I am also tempted by.

So... Questions!

Q1. Kickr now or Victory in 3 months time... What do you reckon?

Q2. Is it possible to just follow a Zwift ride or race without taking part? I would like to have a look to see how well my old Android tablet and old laptop cope with the Zwift experience. If neither work well enough then...

Q3... How about an Apple TV 4k box? I have an old 40" HDTV that I could use with one of those.

Q4. Do any of you use rocker plates? They make sense to me because working out on a rigid turbo setup feels uncomfortable and unnatural to me. They seem very expensive for what they are though so I was thinking about a DIY version. I just saw one which sat the trainer on tennis balls and actually looked quite effective!



Has anybody tried something like that, and if so, what did you think?

I am sure that I will think of other questions later!

Q3) I've been using Apple TV for a few years now and prefer this to faffing with a laptop and cables every time I want to ride. Being able to just jump on and it all works is useful.

Definitely try not to lock yourself into one system, e.g. Zwift. There are a lot of options out there (Training Peaks Virtual is currently free until at least April) that may suit you better. All the systems are slightly different, all good, just slightly different.

If you're definitely intent on cycling indoors then I'd do it sooner than later (so long as cost isn't too prohibitive). The winter months tend to be busier on the various apps so you'll get a good feel for how the social side works too.

No rocker plate here - been on the various indoor apps since 2016 and not needed a plate yet, so I'm happy without one.

I ride a WattBike Atom - love a fixed dedicated bike. I came from a Bkool wheel on trainer, then a Kickr, then Neo 2. All good options, but prefer the ease again of just jumping on the trainer and riding.

 

[ColinJ]

Thanks everyone!

I checked the wall space where I was thinking of mounting the TV and there isn't enough. I would have to put the TV above or overlapping the radiator, which I wouldn't want to do. However... I have a chin-dip station at the side of the chimney breast across the room and there is room there, and room elsewhere for the chin-dip.

The new proposed room layout would not work if anybody else were to be trying to get in and out of the king-size bed on that side but that isn't very likely these days. (If I got lucky they could always take a shortcut over my side! )

It would be nice if other apps started supporting the Zwift Cog but as stated above, I could always buy a cassette and use a bike with gears if I decided to change app.

Apple TV does seem a neat solution and it would sort out the problem with the awful YouTube app on the old TV. (It is clunky and doesn't even do HD!) Quite tempting to use the old laptop though. That has a 2.2 GHz i7 cpu and integrated graphics. I will try it out after today's ride.

I am really torn between a Kickr Core now and waiting for a Victory! It makes sense not to waste the best turbo months but I could do dumb turbo again while waiting for my container ship to come in...

I forgot to ask... Q: How important is sound on Zwift, or do you listen to music while riding? I have some fairly decent Mission speakers that I haven't used since I was a student, plus a spare 35W/channel amp. It might be worth fishing those out. I would probably be doing my Zwift sessions during the day when annoying my neighbours would not be an issue. For evening rides I would probably use my earbuds, though sweaty ears might be an issue!

Speaking of sweat... Yes, I do know that a decent fan is vital. I destroyed my first turbo in one season by not noticing that sweat was running round to the bottom of its frame. I always wiped down what I could see but forgot about what I couldn't see!

 

[Venod]

Q: How important is sound on Zwift, or do you listen to music while riding?

I never listen to Zwift sounds, usually Spotify or Radio Paradise via tablet or phone, I have an amp and speakers a Google chromecast audio is plugged into the amp and I cast to that, I run Zwift on a old PC an old Sony 42" TV is connected to the PC for Zwift, I have Sauce running on the PC screen with map elevation profile and various metrics, I use the TV screen as an extension of the PC screen, using a PC allows Sauce use if you so desire, Sauce also enhances Strava, not sure if Sauce is available on other platforms.

 

[Whorty]

Thanks everyone!

I checked the wall space where I was thinking of mounting the TV and there isn't enough. I would have to put the TV above or overlapping the radiator, which I wouldn't want to do. However... I have a chin-dip station at the side of the chimney breast across the room and there is room there, and room elsewhere for the chin-dip.

The new proposed room layout would not work if anybody else were to be trying to get in and out of the king-size bed on that side but that isn't very likely these days. (If I got lucky they could always take a shortcut over my side! )

It would be nice if other apps started supporting the Zwift Cog but as stated above, I could always buy a cassette and use a bike with gears if I decided to change app.

Apple TV does seem a neat solution and it would sort out the problem with the awful YouTube app on the old TV. (It is clunky and doesn't even do HD!) Quite tempting to use the old laptop though. That has a 2.2 GHz i7 cpu and integrated graphics. I will try it out after today's ride.

I am really torn between a Kickr Core now and waiting for a Victory! It makes sense not to waste the best turbo months but I could do dumb turbo again while waiting for my container ship to come in...

I forgot to ask... Q: How important is sound on Zwift, or do you listen to music while riding? I have some fairly decent Mission speakers that I haven't used since I was a student, plus a spare 35W/channel amp. It might be worth fishing those out. I would probably be doing my Zwift sessions during the day when annoying my neighbours would not be an issue. For evening rides I would probably use my earbuds, though sweaty ears might be an issue!

Speaking of sweat... Yes, I do know that a decent fan is vital. I destroyed my first turbo in one season by not noticing that sweat was running round to the bottom of its frame. I always wiped down what I could see but forgot about what I couldn't see!

i turn off sound on Zwift, I find it annoying. I listen to spotify via my Alexa speaker, full blast I'm sure my neighbours love Frank Turner by now haha
I have a towel across my handle bars to catch sweat, and a mat under my trainer to protect the floor. Definitely need a fan else you'll quickly overheat.

 

[CXRAndy]

Music really loud to overcome fan. Thumping rock beat when racing. I watch films and lower fan speed on endurance rides

 

[13 rider]

@alex_cycles ,just watched your morning's ride ,the leg snapper lived up to it's name on lap 3 you were flying up it and then you weren't .Looked brutal not looking forward to tonight not a course I like I just don't have repeatable punches

 

[Peter Salt]

No Zwift sounds here either @ColinJ. No music too. I'd rather listen to my internal voices

P.S. Be sure not to be close to a working radiator. I am and have to turn the heating off every time I ride.

 

[CXRAndy]

And the window wide open even if it's freezing outside, it's like boil in the bag without sufficient cooling

 

[alex_cycles]

@alex_cycles ,just watched your morning's ride ,the leg snapper lived up to it's name on lap 3 you were flying up it and then you weren't .Looked brutal not looking forward to tonight not a course I like I just don't have repeatable punches

Yep I just died on the third one - ran out of oomph. I made a mistake getting too far back, but the attack before the snapper made it even worse.

 

[alex_cycles]

I have the sound fairly quiet coming through the TV but I don't really hear it during the races. I like it to be there on the videos though. Race videos without sound or with music and no game sounds just seem like they're missing something.

 

[CXRAndy]

You were running on fumes at the end. Me and Steve tonight

 

[alex_cycles]

You were running on fumes at the end. Me and Steve tonight

I was. Morten wanted to work with me to catch the guys in front but I had nothing left to offer

 

[CXRAndy]

I'm not 100% with another round of illness introduced into the family from children and teachers. Chest infections /colds galore. See how the lungs respond to hard effort

 

[Venod]

The view from my saddle.

 

[Legs]

No Zwift sounds here either @ColinJ. No music too. I'd rather listen to my internal voices

I listen to Enya as I ride.