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Original poster

Zwift app for indoor cycling/turbo training

35 replies

JacobReesMogadishu · 15/05/2020 21:59

If this bloody virus carries on into the autumn/winter I’d been thinking of buying a peloton bike. But obviously at 2k a bike and £40 a month it’s bloody expensive.

Saw Gordon Ramsey rabbiting about the Zwift app which I’ve never heard of before and it looks good. I could use my old road bike and leave it permanently set up. It’s been unused in the shed for 2 years. I’ve already got a normal turbo trainer but I’d be happy to spend £600-800 on a smart turbo trainer which will change the resistance in line with the course for hills, drafting, etc.

Has anyone got it and what is it like? Are there lots of different courses including some with some nice scenery rather than just urban road races. Has anyone used this and peloton and how do the two compare?

Is peloton more spinning classes and zwift is more of a turbo training computer game experience? I think I prefer the idea of zwift with outside courses, bit of visual interest?

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Original poster
JacobReesMogadishu · 20/05/2020 19:35

I’m glad you think the wattage is wrong. I’d hate to spend £600 on a smart trainer and it still be this unenjoyable. Dh will be home later, will see if he can figure it out. My dreams of racing around watopia are a bit thwarted at the minute.

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Bienentrinkwasser · 20/05/2020 19:31

Your wattage is definitely wrong. Unless you weigh about 3st I don’t even know if it would be possible For you to be producing that little power. Sounds like there is a technical issue but I’m not sure what as I’ve never used a speed sensor! Does it need calibrating maybe? I can guarantee that a smart trainer wouldn’t do this though!

If you do decide you’re into turbo training I really recommend sufferfest as another app you might enjoy!

Original poster
JacobReesMogadishu · 20/05/2020 19:21

Right I’ve got in zwift and things aren’t good.

I’m struggling to get 30-35 watts which I assume is shit seeing as people are jogging past me. I have a speed sensor attached to my back wheel and just the dumb trainer for now. How on earth can it work watts out, how does it know what the resistance is? I know I’m not overly fit but I happily bike 30 miles in real life at a steady 14-15mph. Should my watts be higher? It wasn’t much fun crawling along like a snail. My weight is accurately inputted. Will a smart trainer solve this or will it still be as crap? Am I just super unfit?

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Original poster
JacobReesMogadishu · 20/05/2020 15:10

I actually found an old super powerful fan in the shed yesterday which I am taking as a sign that the zwift gods are blessing me. Grin

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ferretface · 20/05/2020 09:08

Ooh, enjoy. Have you got a good fan?

Original poster
JacobReesMogadishu · 20/05/2020 07:39

I’m very impatient and have ordered a power meter thing for my back wheel which hopefully should turn up today. Dusted off my old dumb trainer and am going to give it a go with that while waiting for a smart trainer. Just need to fix a saddle onto my old road bike now!

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Poppytime · 18/05/2020 19:26

I use dd's music stand to hold my iPad while I zwift. Been using zwift for indoors for about 18 months now and it's been great for when I can't get out/time poor. I have a wahoo kickr core and bought a separate cassette so I didn't have to keep changing it. I was a real novice at all the bike bits (and still am really) but loads of YouTube videos to help. Once you get the knack it isn't hard to get it on and off the trainer when you want to go outside. Fingers crossed a trainer comes back in stock for you!

Original poster
JacobReesMogadishu · 18/05/2020 15:57

I've ordered a tablet handlebar clamp.

Just need smart turbo trainers to come back in stock. 🙏

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lampygirl · 17/05/2020 22:31

We started off using an iPad then when it became clear that exercising indoors would be on the cards for a while (have a dog to walk so that was the outdoor exercise used up) we bought an Apple TV and connected that up to the TV from the spare bedroom for a better experience. The phone companion app is great for more info while you are riding and can do the game controls/directions etc, but you can just run Zwift on the phone. We found no real benefit of connecting the iPad to the TV as you still needed the screen close enough to touch so may as well just look at it, but different people like different things.

CMOTDibbler · 17/05/2020 21:53

We have a TV, and it is more immersive than on the ipad (someone has broken the cable, between ipad and TV so we are on ipad only atm). I use my phone to have music while riding, but ds balances a laptop on my tri bars - we all ride my bike on the turbo as they both have carbon bikes - and watches youtube while cranking out more power than I can dream of

Original poster
JacobReesMogadishu · 17/05/2020 19:13

Thanks, that’s useful to know that a tablet would be ok. One less thing to buy/worry about getting connected! Grin

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MrsAvocet · 17/05/2020 18:05

If you see people using their phone as a second screen Jacob they are probably using the companion app to talk to other people who are riding agt the same time or to locate friends on the island.
We use a laptop as our main screen. I think a tablet would be fine if you can put it somewhere secure.

ferretface · 17/05/2020 18:04

I use a regular iPad because our treadmill has a tablet holder and it's definitely possible to see everything you need - text can be a little small sometimes but definitely legible. I don't think a TV is necessary although obviously nice to see everything larger. Especially if you use Zwift companion on the phone and then have the tablet for the main app it's easy to do everything you need.

Original poster
JacobReesMogadishu · 17/05/2020 17:53

It looks so much fun. I’m just desperate to get my hands on a turbo trainer now.

@ferretface what size screen do you use? I’m wondering if an iPad would be big enough (there are tablet handlebar clamps) or whether I need to investigate some way of getting it from my phone or iPad onto the tv. Also I see photos of people using it on a big tv but they also have a phone clamped to the handlebar but with a different screen. I’ve been reading instructions online about how to get it on a tv and it seems very confusing. Grin

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ferretface · 17/05/2020 11:41

I use Zwift for running but like it so much I'm considering upgrading our turbo so can use it for cycling too!

Original poster
JacobReesMogadishu · 16/05/2020 21:49

Thanks.

So it looks like taking the cassette off the bike and adding spacers should work. Fab. Now off to find YouTube videos about how to remove and fit cassettes. Grin

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wasnotwasweregood · 16/05/2020 21:22

Elite have forums that you could ask on:

forums.zwift.com/t/elite-zumo-and-8-speed-cassette/242627

forum.elite-it.com/viewtopic.php?t=279

But according to DH you will have to change the cassette.

lampygirl · 16/05/2020 21:16

You’ll need to use an 8 speed cassette and suitable spacers on the trainer, as the chains are different sizes so you can’t mix 8sp with 11sp. You could use the one from the wheel if you don’t plan on using the bike with the wheel frequently enough to have to change it. Remember to re-index your rear mech to the trainer as the cassette might sit differently than it does on the wheel. All my bikes are 11 speed so not sure what the specific parts you need are, but I think Claris is the 8sp Shimano series so that would be the model to look for for cassettes and chains.

Original poster
JacobReesMogadishu · 16/05/2020 19:49

I’ve seen some reviews which talk about adding spacers if you’re bike is a 9 or 10 speed bike. But nothing about an 8 speed.

And one review said if your bike is a 9 or 10 speed you’ll need to buy a new cassette for the trainer?

So I’m really confused.

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Original poster
JacobReesMogadishu · 16/05/2020 19:45

Right I’ve decided I’m going to get an Elite Suito smart trainer (when in stock).

Question.....it comes with an 11 speed shimano cassette. Bike is an old specialised tricross which has an 8 speed shimano cassette.

Obviously I take the back wheel off the bike and put it on the turbo trainer. So does it matter that the cassette will be 11 speed and the bike 8 speed. Will I need a new cassette or an adapter?

Also dh has said I can’t have the bike fully set up all the time. So I’ll need to bring it out the shed, take the wheel off and put it in the turbo trainer. I’ve seen a video of a bike being put on a different Elite smart trainer and it looked easy and quick?

Anyone know if the suito is equally as simple? With my old non smart turbo trainer it was a nightmare for one person to try and have the bike in the right place and get it locked in and it put me off using it.

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wasnotwasweregood · 16/05/2020 16:45

Finally got on Zwift at the beginning of lockdown and managing three rides a week. I use my son's out grown cross bike. I'm really enjoying using it and exploring the new world's and cities. I've been resisting it for years but am amazed at the difference I can see and feel after a few weeks.

CMOTDibbler · 16/05/2020 09:04

I gave in and got a smart trainer in November, and Zwift has been brilliant over the winter and since lockdown. I enjoy it far more than I thought I would, and I like the real world courses, though dh and ds prefer the virtual Wattopia world. Ds gets his own free subscription as an under 16, but dh and I share.
You'll need a big fan wherever you are going to use it!

LarryDuff · 16/05/2020 09:03

I joined zwift in February and I'm completely addicted now. I'm averaging about an hour a day now with a mixture of workouts, races, casual group rides and just exploring. It appeals to the gamer in me as you level up, earn achievements and get new gear so there's always an incentive to keep going.

Set up wise, I have a basic turbo trainer with magnetic resistance and no power meter so I had to buy a speed and cadence sensor and an ant+ dongle which cost about £30 all together. I've been trying to get a kickr core smart trainer but they're permanently out of stock everywhere (hoping to pick up a cheap one off eBay once the world returns to normal!)

Haven't tried peloton but it seems to be aimed more at the spin class market imo

lampygirl · 16/05/2020 08:56

@JacobReesMogadishu it’s not difficult to change a cassette (loads of videos online) but you do need a couple of very specific tools. Buy at the same time but factor in £50-60 on top of the trainer for parts. What speed is your bike, as you’ll need the same for the trainer. Feedback from my cycling club is that dumb trainers do work but the experience isn’t the same as it won’t give you the hills resistance. Speed and cadence sensors will get you going though and useful outside so may as well fit them to the bike anyway.

I’ve tried the ‘more realistic video’ apps but I don’t like the non-real cyclist avatar on the ‘real’ roads, at least in Zwift it’s all gamey, but that is personal preference so do have a look at the other options if that’s more your thing.

mylittlefidget · 16/05/2020 06:35

Rouvy may be a good go-to app for you if you prefer "real" roads and nice scenery rather than virtual reality.

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