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Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Exercise

Anyone on zwift?

21 replies

1sttimeunicorn · 07/01/2018 16:37

Hi is there a zwift related group anyone knows about? I have recently taken the brave decision to start using DH’s turbo trainer after finding it difficult to shift any weight after DS was born 8 months ago. So far it’s going ok but the whole thing is very scary and I wondered if there were any other zwift newbies out there to chat with.

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1sttimeunicorn · 08/01/2018 16:12

Nobody?

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workatemylife · 08/01/2018 23:18

We have one at home but DH is the main user. I tried it out over the weekend. It takes some getting used to! I'm trying to build up cardio fitness (and lose weight), and hope it might help, but so far I've just used the turbo and listened to music.

Maybe I should give the full setup a shot. What's scary? Happy to chat about progress (and disasters) on the trainer in the meantime if that helps.

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Hockneypool · 08/01/2018 23:27

We got a smart turbo and joined zwift in November. I’m trying to use it 3 or 4 times a week. But it still feels very new. I’m trying to get my basic fitness up at the moment. So I have started doing short 5- 10 mile on a flat ish route.

I’m the past I have tried basic turbos and rollers and got bored very quickly. I like the different routes and being part of abigger thing and it keeps my attention. I haven’t joined any set training or stages yet.

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BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 08/01/2018 23:32

My DH is setting up turbo trainer and Zwift this week, never tried it before! Will come back to this thread when I have given it a few goes!

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1sttimeunicorn · 09/01/2018 07:33

Thanks for the replies. Interested to hear how you all get on with it. I guess it’s scary as I really haven’t done much exercise in the past year as I had DS and sitting on the road bike is quite alien!

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Hockneypool · 09/01/2018 08:04

I think the good thing about it is that you can go at your own pace but you are still ‘on the road’ with others. It feels a bit like being on a larger ride with other cyclist speeding past you and it’s much easier to do your own thing.

Also you can concentrate on your peddling and take time to get used to the road bike and the positioning without having to worry about, the road, cars other cyclists and the weather.

Hope you enjoy it and let us know how you get on.

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1sttimeunicorn · 11/01/2018 14:51

Bit of an update from me. Enjoying it a bit more having managed 10 miles. I’ve been doing two nights on and one night off. Definitely feeling fitter - just feel like I have more energy. Didn’t think I’d look forward to going on, but I do feel quite happy about logging on when DS has gone to bed and absorbing myself in my own little world for a bit. Hope everyone else is enjoying!

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Topsyturvey10 · 11/01/2018 20:46

So glad I found this thread. I used Zwift a bit last year but am doing it more regularly now. I cycle outside most weeks but find it very different.

OP are you doing any of the set workouts? They are good as you can follow a ready made routine. I try do so done flat and quicker rides mixed in with some hills - harder but worth the effort.

You can also follow people and 'jump in ' on a ride next to them so you can ride with friends. Tyre are group rides too but they seem to be pretty quick...

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1sttimeunicorn · 11/01/2018 21:09

Hi topsy!
I’ve got a custom work out at the moment. It’s 35 mins and has 6 tough sections and one longer ‘sweet spot’ section. At the moment I’m thinking I will increase the length of the longer section as I think I could do it a bit longer. I feel a bit like I don’t understand it enough yet to jump in with people. I see people sending each other messages and wonder how they are doing it. Glad you are enjoying it. I was also trying to find a Facebook group of female zwift members as I think it’s pretty male dominated. Not sure if that’s true but it does seem that way.

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Topsyturvey10 · 11/01/2018 22:22

There was one I was invited to join but they were all v quick - I think my DH used my account, got lots of quick times and they thought I was some undiscovered talent😬 Turns our that wasn't the case...

I did Jon's mix this evening and also like the Gorby. I tried the wringer once but struggled to turn the pedals so abandoned ship very early on.

Do you wear a HRM? I am going to use mine tomorrow when I try and do an hour after work. It gives you more geeky post ride stats. Others message each other and drop you thumbs up etc via the phone app, Zwift mobile link I think it's called. You can also select to turn R or L and jump through individual sections as well as pause it.

Have you noticed the ponytail disappeared recently so ladies have to pick from the men's haircut choices. My avatar is riding round the virtual work with the physique of a powerlifter , pink socks and a strange mullet hairdo🙄

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1sttimeunicorn · 12/01/2018 19:26

Hey topsy

Yes I do wear a heart rate monitor. At the difficult bits of the custom work out I’ve made, i get to 180 bmp. I take it your DH is very into zwift? My husband uses it a lot but mainly if the weather is too bad to go out!

Just finished 40 mins, managed 11 miles. Somehow I know that’s rubbish but I will keep trying.

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workatemylife · 13/01/2018 11:22

I'm share zwift with DH but I'm taking a photo of the ride report then exiting without saving to his profile. He is more obsessed with performance! I'm coming to like it though - I think I try harder if I feel part of the swift ride with others though, despite what I thought. Random cycling in front of the TV is likely to make me commit.

Without going for TMI are you sharing a saddle with your partners? I am, and it's like sitting on a knife!

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1sttimeunicorn · 13/01/2018 12:32

Yup we also share a saddle but my DH has fitted a slightly comfier one I think - but it’s still horrendous.

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BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 22/01/2018 22:54

Tried it properly for the first time today, I like it, feel like you are not alone in the torture, mind you the torture was actually my dh’s saddle, like previous poster said it is like sitting on a razor blade, my spin cycle is far comfier and I really miss my feet being enclosed and held on to the pedals, I keep slipping off when I’m on the real bike so I don’t like that part, will keep using it but no way am I getting rid of my spin cycle just yet.

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1sttimeunicorn · 23/01/2018 07:48

Hi Betty! Love the username.
I’m still going on every other night. Am doing a 40 minute custom work out. Recently upped by FTP but it’s still less than half my DH’s. Sigh!
DH’s bike has those pedals you clip shoes into, so I can’t lose my pedals. That must be annoying.
Anyone got a favourite course. I wasn’t a fan of last night - boring!

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Nateismine · 23/01/2018 19:58

Watt bike arrived today so thinking about getting into Zwift. Can me and my husband share Zwift or do we need to pay £7.99 each?
Does anyone know what is a sensible FTP for me to input- beginner, age 44, sl. overweight?

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1sttimeunicorn · 23/01/2018 20:23

My ftp at the moment is 120. My DH’s is 240 and he is probably intermediate level in terms of ability.
I use his account but I don’t save my rides as apparently this would log them in strava and spoil DH’s scores! I think it’s possible to add another user under one account.
Good luck with it - i find it quite hard. I suppose it’s meant to be.

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Hockneypool · 23/01/2018 22:57

We share one Zwift account as a family. I don’t save rides but take a photo of the ride. I manually put my ride into Strava so I have a record and a chance to get some kudos!

I try to ride about 2 to 3 times a week. I don’t ride outside in the winter unless it’s exceptionally pleasant which is rare on the west coast of Scotland.

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BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 24/01/2018 17:48

Glad you like the name unicorn took me a while to pick one! I think I need to get clip in pedals I just don’t feel right without my feet being held on the pedals. Well I went to do my second ride today and my internet connection was down so could not ride, pretty frustrating so it was back to my spin cycle for me, the saddle was sooooo comfy! I think I need to get some padded cycling shorts for the other bike. I share my husbands account as well I do think it’s a bit tight of Zwift after paying a fortune for all the kit that you have to pay for each account, you think they would do a household package! Though if it is possible to have another user please let me know! I really would like my own avatar!

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MummySparkle · 24/01/2018 17:54

DH does lots of zwifting, I've dabbled. Need to get back into it

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1sttimeunicorn · 03/02/2018 19:38

Update from me. I’ve kept going and am now able to do 60 minutes which is mad considering I started at about 20 mins just before Xmas. The actual power I can do is pretty pitiful still, my current custom workout has a minute of 180w which I find very hard so I know I still have plenty of work to do. Generally quite shocked at how quickly I’ve been able to do longer and longer, hoping I can now maintain my 60 mins and get faster. Hope everyone is still enjoying it.