The Indoor Riding/ Zwift/ TrainerRoad etc. Thread

I'm going to have to buy an ANT+ USB stick as I've lost mine - can anyone recommend a cheaper one than the Garmin? Or do I really need to stick with the brand. Got an Edge 800 that I want to use with a Vortex Smart.

Clearing out a space in the (freezing) Garage in anticipation. Getting excited about the incoming pain!

@Roady as I know you have one, whats the PWM like on it? Pretty accurate?

The Suunto stick is generally the go-to for Ant+ dongles.

Roady doesn't have a regular PM so he can't really compare. BennyC has a PM and a Vortex and has reported some discrepancies iirc but you're best off checking his posts. Might just be that he has lower power indoors vs outdoors.

Using the Suunto myself with no problems, except for the TR platform which isn't hardware related.

I find I make less power on the Vortex, in the range of 10-15%. Plonked my P1's on a WattBike and variations were within the expected tolerance and output more indicative of my road power.

I'd say it's reasonably consistent, utilising a spindown. Ultimately it'll give you a ballpark figure but I'd get to something more reliable to determine what your true power is and whether you make more, less or the same on it.
 
Bushido is on offer at Evans. About £100 more than the Vortex. Would you?
Anyone got a Bushido? It's the incline simulation thing that interests me, because there are few hills around here around 7%... most are 12-20 +
 
I'd say it's reasonably consistent, utilising a spindown. Ultimately it'll give you a ballpark figure but I'd get to something more reliable to determine what your true power is and whether you make more, less or the same on it.

Thanks, seems that it'll be just fine for getting back into cycling after my op.
 
Changed my mind entirely about the Kickr now that I setup some of the workouts I've been given in Zwift. Using set power values and RPM values with the ERG mode is superb.

I done another spindown and the power seems to be a lot closer to my Vectors now which is also welcomed. However, when I go to do a spindown now it instantly says it failed and then asks me to let it stop spinning and try again.... but it fails every time.

When I go to start a workout on the Wahoo Fitness on my phone (I don't use it, just mucking about trying to spindown the machine) it says I aint done a spindown in a while and asks me to do one now.... then it fails as above. Bloody annoying, but at least the power data coming out the thing is accurate now and the ERG mode utilising resistence on my power specific sessions works great. Chuffed.
 
I've never been sure about erg mode, seems a bit artificial to me given riding outside usually involves some compromise between power and leg speed. It's definitely helpful for very short intervals though.

Do people buy an entire new rear wheel for their turbo? Or just the tyres?

I bought a knackered rear wheel that did the trick and a turbo tyre - keep an eye out on eBay for old Shimano RS10s or otherwise. The hubs are pretty bombproof.
 
Do people buy an entire new rear wheel for their turbo? Or just the tyres?

I just use a winter wheel or whatever happens to be knocking about with an old tyre on it. I do have a turbo tyre but makes no difference really if it's not slipping and it's too worn to really use safely outside.

I've never been sure about erg mode, seems a bit artificial to me given riding outside usually involves some compromise between power and leg speed. It's definitely helpful for very short intervals though.

ERG mode is pretty unforgiving as any momentum you might built is quickly zapped and punishment for doing so is quickly felt :p it does feel quite unnatural I find in comparison to slope or resistance modes though I'm sure does more good than harm.
 
Live together and I give her X amount every month which is a vast contribution to mortgage and all the bills. We then just buy shopping as is and take turns with no structure and all other random expenses in same fashion such as meals out etc.
Not too dissimilar to me, we both get paid to individual accounts, then we contribute almost equal amounts to the 'joint account', the mortgage and 80% of household bills go out of that same account. Everything else is paid for 50/50. I'm not paid as much as my other half (ffs!) so I contribute slightly less to the mortgage. Although I also have additional annual income so I tend to do an injection of funds when that comes in and then pay off a lump off the mortgage. One of us (me!) is fairly good at saving money, but not allowed to spend too much of it on cycling kit!? She seems to spend all of hers very easily (she works in town) and usually has to budget to reach the end of the month... Yet I'm the one not allowed to spend? Wut? ;):rolleyes:
So basically, at the age of 34 and with a decent salary I effectively get pocket money every month. FML :p Keeps the peace though and I've got so good at optimised book keeping I'm managing Jimmy Carrs accounts for him ;)
Hahaha, know what you mean about the spreadsheet thing though, I tried it a year or two ago but it didn't work for me. I do tend to still do that route with PC upgrades...
I updated firmware and performed a spindown.
Cold spindown or warm spindown? Heard you're best to do both, especially when calibrating?
Your power levels were all over the place in the first interval? Looks like you could probably hold 250W for it, rather than the 230W you started at?

Did anyone in here make note of a url I posted a few weeks/month or two back in the general thread? It was a page of the Zwift jerseys you could unlock and codes/how-to for each?
 
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I'm going to have to buy an ANT+ USB stick as I've lost mine - can anyone recommend a cheaper one than the Garmin? Or do I really need to stick with the brand. Got an Edge 800 that I want to use with a Vortex Smart.

Clearing out a space in the (freezing) Garage in anticipation. Getting excited about the incoming pain!

@Roady as I know you have one, whats the PWM like on it? Pretty accurate?
Using a Suunto stick here, worked for several years with no issues after I bought it from SoliD many moons ago. Well recommended!

As mentioned I've no PWM to judge against, but taking a very big pinch of salt with my Strava estimated power on long climbs it's somewhere near right.

Consistency is key, even if the turbo/pwm is off, providing it's consistently off then you're still doing the required work. The only way to check this consistency is with calibration and spindown tests.

I always do a warm calibration (after 10/20 mins of riding) on my Vortex before any FTP test, but I'm pretty slack about doing them very regularly otherwise, mostly because I nearly always fight with re-pairing things with Zwift afterwards. If I was doing more concentrated work on the turbo I'd do them more. I check my tyre pressure every week or two.

I did notice when it was below zero in my garage that I experienced much more tyre slip, but I didn't calibrate as I considered the cooldown would never be 'warm' enough to properly calibrate with garage temps around -2/-3. The tyre never warmed up enough to grip.
Do people buy an entire new rear wheel for their turbo? Or just the tyres?
I'm using an old wheel, the rear from the stock wheelset my Giant came with - after around 3000 miles they kept buckling and wouldn't stay true. Last time I checked it was quite true, without braking or even carrying weight the wheel has much less stress on it. Not that a slight buckle would cause many issues on a turbo. Ask around any local riding buddies, local clubs or you could even ask in your local shop. I wouldn't spend more than £40/50 on an old wheel, it doesn't matter how heavy it is, in fact a heavier wheel will give you more inertia for a more road like feel! :cool:
When I go to start a workout on the Wahoo Fitness on my phone (I don't use it, just mucking about trying to spindown the machine) it says I aint done a spindown in a while and asks me to do one now.... then it fails as above.
I had similar with my Tacx, updating the firmware, force closing the app and rebooting my android phone seemed to solve it.
I do have a turbo tyre but makes no difference really if it's not slipping and it's too worn to really use safely outside.
I bought a turbo tyre a couple of years back, it just so happens it was a Tacx one (long before I had a Tacx turbo!). It picked up loads of 'grime' from my old turbo as they were both stored in quite a moist garden shed. Before I used it this season I gave it a good rubbing with degreaser & GT85 and it looks like new and is much more 'tacky' which drastically reduced any slipping.

Never really used a road tyre on the turbo, but when you can pickup a turbo tyre for £20 (wiggle deals!) and don't tend to use cheap road tyres it's an easy choice. Especially with a dedicated wheel.
 
Hey, I'm back! I think I've gone up 3 weight categories. Currently have a sickness bug but hoping to have a nice gentle stretch on Zwift tonight. Been working from home today, will see how my stomach feels later.

Good break everyone?
 
Roady;30367968I did notice when it was below zero in my garage that I experienced much more tyre slip said:
I'll be turboing in an uninsulated garage with a currently leaking roof. Hoping to fix the roof this weekend, but it's going to be cold :D.
 
I'll be turboing in an uninsulated garage with a currently leaking roof. Hoping to fix the roof this weekend, but it's going to be cold :D.

It adds to the focus! After a turbo session in my garage when it's sub-zero out, I won't feel my toes until half way through the shower afterwards. The fan blowing ice cold air is two-edged sword. Freeze at the start or drown in Holy Water by the end?

Anyway, the route for the 2017 Tour of Sufferlandria is out...

4th to 12th February

1) Igniter - The Long Scream (20 mins + 35 mins)
2) The Way Out + Power Station (60 mins + 50 mins)
3) The Omnium (50 minutes)
4) Angels (56 minutes)
5) Nine Hammers (55 minutes)
6) There is No Try (60 minutes)
7) Hell Hath No Fury (75 minutes)
8) Revolver + Revolver Is Easy + Half is Easy (45 + 46 + 39 minutes)
9) It Seemed Like Thin Air

Stage eight is evil. Revolver is 16 x 1 minute intervals, Revolver is Easy is 11 x 1 minute + 20 x 15 seconds intervals, then Half is Easy obliterates the legs with 40 x 15 second intervals.
 
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