Zwift app for indoor cycling/turbo training

[JacobReesMogadishu]

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?

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

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.

I've ordered a tablet handlebar clamp.

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

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!

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!

Ooh, enjoy. Have you got a good fan?

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.

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?

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!

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.