Zwift Chat

[Brusgaard]

Yeah good point. Depends what you mean by serious racer though I guess?

Martin has a coach and a training plan and races for real outside.
That puts him in the "serious racer" box in my head - although he isn't an elite TdF rider.

I take my racing seriously, but don't consider myself a "serious racer" - it's just fun - a fitness game. For me, the idea of structured training and workouts would make it "not fun" (I've tried it and didn't like it).

I would consider 4-6 wkg avg. riders at elite level, with performance verification, required weigh-in videos, dual recording, short list of approved trainers AND real money involved serious racing. Not many TdF riders in the SRC either as we all know this is a completely different dicipline, and most likely not what their coach would suggest!

 

[alex_cycles]

I would consider 4-6 wkg avg. riders at elite level, with performance verification, required weigh-in videos, dual recording, short list of approved trainers AND real money involved serious racing. Not many TdF riders in the SRC either as we all know this is a completely different dicipline, and most likely not what their coach would suggest!

Ok so our definitions are a bit different. That's allowed.

 

[Norry1]

Anyone seen any good New Year PC Sales? Prices look the same where I'm looking.

 

[Norry1]

So I don't clutter this thread up I've started a TPV chat thread

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/trainingpeaks-virtual-tpv-chat-zone.300824/

 

[CXRAndy]

Anyone seen any good New Year PC Sales? Prices look the same where I'm looking.

I tend to look at last year's spec for when the CPU and GPU were released.

You can then get high end CPU/GPU for new release money.

I've gone for AMD components, because the motherboard CPU socket is supported for many more years unlike Intel- who change the CPU socket almost bi yearly, making upgrades far more expensive.

I also got the motherboard with the latest ram sockets so I will get longer period for upgrading this too.

 

[Whorty]

BKOOL is grim and after the last few updates MyWhoosh is starting to surpass Zwift. I never ever thought it would get close but it’s started to happen. You’ve got to check it out and there’s not anything to lose. I can’t believe people pay £18 a month for something you can get for free. The theme tune alone is worth it.

My Zwift annual subs at the old rate ends mid Jan. I've not renewed because as you say, why pay £18 a month when there are other options out there. Had they left their prices the same, or a marginal increase, then I may have continued. The silly price hike along with the ZRS fiasco and how they've ruined racing (for me, I get it's a personal thing) means I won't be doing any more annual subs sometime soon.
I've tried TPV and that's ok and getting better. I do plan to try out MyWhoosh just not got round to it yet.
A shame how Zwift have been, but maybe they've become too complacent due to their success and dominance of the online riding platforms.

 

[Whorty]

I like Sauce, I don't have as many features active as Alex, but I like the detailed profile, group information and draft figure

The problem I have with Sauce, similar to the steering things, is it creates a two (or three) tier racing environment on Zwift. It's not an equal playing field. Someone like me on a Wattbike and using ATV can't use Sauce and can't have the steering. Maybe only minor benefits, but clearly big enough benefits else people wouldn't use them.
I think I might dig out my old BKool Pro trainer to level the playing field a bit Just need to find a tyre that will hold 120 psi

 

[alex_cycles]

The problem I have with Sauce, similar to the steering things, is it creates a two (or three) tier racing environment on Zwift. It's not an equal playing field. Someone like me on a Wattbike and using ATV can't use Sauce and can't have the steering. Maybe only minor benefits, but clearly big enough benefits else people wouldn't use them.
I think I might dig out my old BKool Pro trainer to level the playing field a bit Just need to find a tyre that will hold 120 psi

I think the biggest benefit of Sauce is having a real-time elevation profile showing you what's coming up. You can run it on a standalone device and have it on a separate screen though in addition to your crApple TV, but has to be a PC, Mac or Linux box.

Most of the realtime "monitoring the competition" stuff is bullshit because it's based on bad data.

Steering is an advantage if used well. No question about that, but many series have steering OFF.

I have until June to decide whether to stay annual or do something else. With the recent changes to alternating pen ranges, I'm finding ZHQ zRacing more interesting than I have for 2 years. The whole ABCD w/kg CE nonsense can get in the bin as far as I'm concerned.

ZRS is getting better - far too slowly, I agree, but with Cyclopathon we showed Zwift that alternating categories was the way to go. We were the first to do it. I'm so glad they've taken it up for zRacing. It doesn't solve all the problems of ZRS, but at least it allows people to enter a race they feel they can enjoy more. It's certainly done that for me.

 

[Whorty]

I think the biggest benefit of Sauce is having a real-time elevation profile showing you what's coming up. You can run it on a standalone device and have it on a separate screen though in addition to your crApple TV, but has to be a PC, Mac or Linux box.

Most of the realtime "monitoring the competition" stuff is bullshit because it's based on bad data.

Steering is an advantage if used well. No question about that, but many series have steering OFF.

I have until June to decide whether to stay annual or do something else. With the recent changes to alternating pen ranges, I'm finding ZHQ zRacing more interesting than I have for 2 years. The whole ABCD w/kg CE nonsense can get in the bin as far as I'm concerned.

ZRS is getting better - far too slowly, I agree, but with Cyclopathon we showed Zwift that alternating categories was the way to go. We were the first to do it. I'm so glad they've taken it up for zRacing. It doesn't solve all the problems of ZRS, but at least it allows people to enter a race they feel they can enjoy more. It's certainly done that for me.

The big advantage of Sauce for me, and I don't get why Zwift don't add this to the HUD, is the draft effect. That's so useful. I do like the profile too which again Zwift could add. Zwift are just too reactive to adding new proper features - they add new roads, but as an application the major changes over the past 7 years I've been on have been very slow and they have fought against them all the way. CE for example and putting people into correct categories - that was so painful to get them to do that.

And they still haven't implemented into the app what ZwiftPower has (or put everyone into ZwiftPower) so we now have anomalies between the app and ZP. They've had ZP for what, 2 years now? And still no change or enhancements - doesn't even show the power ranges that they use for ZRS. I'd love to know what the extra revenue they get from their customers is going towards because it's a very expensive app given the overheads of Zwift - I don't pay that much more per month for my gym, and for that I get 24/7 access to a physical building, all the gym kit, 10 or so physio classes each day, staff on hand, showers, water fountains, and hot girls in gym lycra!

If we think of Zwift as a game, such as Grand Theft Auto that is due out soon, Zwift is so much more expensive. GTA cost an estimated couple of billion to build and will be far far more complex than Zwift, yet costs customers and estimated £75-£115 to use. I know there is often the analogy for Zwift users that they can cut out the odd coffee to pay for the monthly subs, but that's just allowing Zwift to fleece its user base.

I agree to the races that are steering free, but I'm guessing Zwift aren't big fans of this as they want to sell more units.

 

[alex_cycles]

The big advantage of Sauce for me, and I don't get why Zwift don't add this to the HUD, is the draft effect. That's so useful.

Yes it's nice, but once you know how to draft you don't really look at it.

I do like the profile too which again Zwift could add.

100%. I used to create profiles for all my races (remember the ones I shared for ZRL?) Don't need to now.

Zwift are just too reactive to adding new proper features - they add new roads, but as an application the major changes over the past 7 years I've been on have been very slow and they have fought against them all the way. CE for example and putting people into correct categories - that was so painful to get them to do that.

I think it's mostly because it was never conceived as a racing platform and only about 15% of people have ever raced.

And they still haven't implemented into the app what ZwiftPower has (or put everyone into ZwiftPower) so we now have anomalies between the app and ZP. They've had ZP for what, 2 years now? And still no change or enhancements - doesn't even show the power ranges that they use for ZRS. I'd love to know what the extra revenue they get from their customers is going towards because it's a very expensive app given the overheads of Zwift - I don't pay that much more per month for my gym, and for that I get 24/7 access to a physical building, all the gym kit, 10 or so physio classes each day, staff on hand, showers, water fountains, and hot girls in gym lycra!

You're selling it well. Maybe it's time I looked at gym membership again?

If we think of Zwift as a game, such as Grand Theft Auto that is due out soon, Zwift is so much more expensive. GTA cost an estimated couple of billion to build and will be far far more complex than Zwift, yet costs customers and estimated £75-£115 to use. I know there is often the analogy for Zwift users that they can cut out the odd coffee to pay for the monthly subs, but that's just allowing Zwift to fleece its user base.

Maybe so. The target market is people who spend a sheet-tonne of money on bikes and gear though. I won't spend £5 on coffee or £100 on a Rapha jersey, but I will spend money on a Zwift subscription I use almost every day. £12.99 to £18 is a big jump though, but I locked in just before it went up. So I haven't got to think about that for a while.

I think my point is - if you're like most people, who'll only use it once a week, then maybe it's not worth it. But people owning £3-5k bikes with good incomes moaning about the cost, I have no sympathy for. Don't want it? Don't buy it? Simples.

I agree to the races that are steering free, but I'm guessing Zwift aren't big fans of this as they want to sell more units.

I don't quite know where they stand on it. They recently reduced the cost of the Plays from £100 to £50, which I think is what they should have cost to begin with.

 

[Whorty]

You're selling it well. Maybe it's time I looked at gym membership again?

Highly recommend it - nothing like a girl training next to you to push you on a little harder, as it were. Definitely keeps me young(er)

 

[ColinJ]

Highly recommend it - nothing like a girl training next to you to push you on a little harder, as it were. Definitely keeps me young(er)

We are all different. That is my idea of hell, and it put me right off!

I don't feel comfortable with strangers. Especially in brightly lit, confined spaces. Even more so when the strangers in question are attractive and scantily clad...!

The final straw was when I was in a side room of my local gym which had 6 machines and a floor mat. 6 beautiful young women came in. 5 went on the machines surrounding me. Number 6 got down on the mat directly in front of me and started doing stretches. That was bad enough, but my machine had me bending fowards on every rep, bringing my face to less than 1 metre from her body...

I mumbled something about going to use the Concept 2, walked briskly away, and fled from the building, never to return!

 

[alex_cycles]

We are all different. That is my idea of hell, and it put me right off!

I don't feel comfortable with strangers. Especially in brightly lit, confined spaces. Even more so when the strangers in question are attractive and scantily clad...!

The final straw was when I was in a side room of my local gym which had 6 machines and a floor mat. 6 beautiful young women came in. 5 went on the machines surrounding me. Number 6 got down on the mat directly in front of me and started doing stretches. That was bad enough, but my machine had me bending fowards on every rep, bringing my face to less than 1 metre from her body...

I mumbled something about going to use the Concept 2, walked briskly away, and fled from the building, never to return!

I used to really like my local family run gym, but COVID killed it. It was a lovely big open space and I used to go during quiet hours.
(Why would anyone want to queue for machines?)

But I haven't been back. Bought some of my own weights for home use but they don't see a lot of action.

 

[Milzy]

My Zwift annual subs at the old rate ends mid Jan. I've not renewed because as you say, why pay £18 a month when there are other options out there. Had they left their prices the same, or a marginal increase, then I may have continued. The silly price hike along with the ZRS fiasco and how they've ruined racing (for me, I get it's a personal thing) means I won't be doing any more annual subs sometime soon.
I've tried TPV and that's ok and getting better. I do plan to try out MyWhoosh just not got round to it yet.
A shame how Zwift have been, but maybe they've become too complacent due to their success and dominance of the online riding platforms.

TPV isn’t bad but MyWhoosh is still better. No wonder the E-Sports racing world moved over from Zwift to M.W. I remember been on Zwift years back and all my club mates took the mick. Then slowly they all joined & are still using it. I wish I could read lotto numbers like I can people because slowly they are going to ditch Zwift for M.W. A few will dig their heels in, stubborn buggers but it’s inevitable.

 

[steverob]

TPV isn’t bad but MyWhoosh is still better. No wonder the E-Sports racing world moved over from Zwift to M.W.

Wasn't that more to do with MyWhoosh being willing to pay the UCI for the privilege of being their "official" e-sports provider and Zwift weren't? Or at least that was the rumour.