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Has anyone tried Zwift? If so, how was it?

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Has anyone tried Zwift? If so, how was it?

Old 11-23-15, 06:26 PM
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1. For all the Zwift users are you using the recommended 23mm tires or using your regular tires?

2. If you're using your regular tires do you still find the Zwift zpower accurate?
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Old 11-23-15, 07:15 PM
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Originally Posted by SpeshulEd
How's BKool? I want to give it a try when my free trial is over for Zwift. From reading about it, it sounds like you can map out any course you'd like, load it into the program and then ride it with a google maps type view...is that correct? If so, I'd really like to map out some routes I used to ride when I was young back in my home town. Not to mention mapping out some of the classic tour climbs and whatnot.



I think I latched onto a small group of WWR people last Wednesday. I pedaled my ass off for about a mile and then died, just couldn't keep up. The draft in a big group like that is insane.



BKool has this, I'm sure it'll be implemented at some point. I swear I read something about it.
So yes with a premium subscription to BKool you can input your own routes by importing GPX files. These routes can be viewed in a 2D, Map, or 3D environment, and the map can show satellite, geographical, or street map type views. Also if you have a Go Pro, or Garmin camera (Garmin makes a GPS with camera for action sports) you can also create a video route.

You also can ride other people's routes in map, 2D, 3D, and Video mode and BKool also creates some routes (mostly European routes). I take and import the GPS data from my bike computer to Strava and since BKool is synced to Strava (if you have premium memberships in both services) then the route is automatically imported to BKool, or if you want to create a route from scratch I use the Create Route tool in Strava, save the route's GPX file to my desktop and then import to BKool

BKool works with any trainer as long as you have cadence, speed sensors as with the manual trainers it will tell you when to change your resistance, but it does work better with a smart trainer that has ANT+ as then the BKool app controls the trainer as far as resistance to simulate climbing and descending....and let me tell you sometimes the climbing can be brutal.

BKool it a two part program as they have the website where you would log in and schedule your route and then you have the app where you would log in and actually ride the route. The app works on all smart phones (android and apple), all computers, and even tablets (but not an Amazon Kindle) as long as you have a way to plug in an ANT+ dongle into a USB port (I use a micro USB to USB adapter for my phone).

I have a few hundred miles on my BKool Pro smart trainer and am a super clyde (over 300 pounds... in fact I am 360 pounds).
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Old 11-23-15, 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by dagray
So yes with a premium subscription to BKool you can input your own routes by importing GPX files. These routes can be viewed in a 2D, Map, or 3D environment, and the map can show satellite, geographical, or street map type views. Also if you have a Go Pro, or Garmin camera (Garmin makes a GPS with camera for action sports) you can also create a video route.

You also can ride other people's routes in map, 2D, 3D, and Video mode and BKool also creates some routes (mostly European routes). I take and import the GPS data from my bike computer to Strava and since BKool is synced to Strava (if you have premium memberships in both services) then the route is automatically imported to BKool, or if you want to create a route from scratch I use the Create Route tool in Strava, save the route's GPX file to my desktop and then import to BKool

BKool works with any trainer as long as you have cadence, speed sensors as with the manual trainers it will tell you when to change your resistance, but it does work better with a smart trainer that has ANT+ as then the BKool app controls the trainer as far as resistance to simulate climbing and descending....and let me tell you sometimes the climbing can be brutal.

BKool it a two part program as they have the website where you would log in and schedule your route and then you have the app where you would log in and actually ride the route. The app works on all smart phones (android and apple), all computers, and even tablets (but not an Amazon Kindle) as long as you have a way to plug in an ANT+ dongle into a USB port (I use a micro USB to USB adapter for my phone).

I have a few hundred miles on my BKool Pro smart trainer and am a super clyde (over 300 pounds... in fact I am 360 pounds).
Nice! The route building feature definitely has me curious. Climbing Alpe d'Huez, even from my inside my house, would be pretty neat to do.
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Old 11-23-15, 08:24 PM
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I have hit 13% grades with the Ultegra 10 speed with the compact double on the front, and let me tell you the trick is to build momentum and speed before starting the climb, dropping to the small chain ring and when you feel resistance to stand and pedal.... the BKool still almost can stop my forward momentum (shows me moving at 6mph). If I can get high enough rpm and get in to the highest gear soon enough to maintain the rpm I can spin up some of the hills.

with the heart rate monitor (I use a MIO link on my wrist), cadence sensor (I use a Cateye cadence/speed sensor), and the BKool trainer monitoring speed I have hit 1200 watts on a couple climbs.
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Old 11-27-15, 11:59 AM
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Sound like a lot of fun. I am looking at Zwift for my son. We have a Kinetic Road Machine trainer and plan to run the Zwift app on a Macbook Pro. What is the least cost hardware to get started without power?

I was looking at a Garmin ANT+ Speed/Cadence Sensor and an ANT+ USB dongle for the Macbook. Anyone using this combo? Does it work with Zwift?

The kids have Garmin GPS, so I am hoping this will also work on their outdoor GPS kit.

Thanks
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Old 11-27-15, 06:23 PM
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Originally Posted by diesel_dad
Sound like a lot of fun. I am looking at Zwift for my son. We have a Kinetic Road Machine trainer and plan to run the Zwift app on a Macbook Pro. What is the least cost hardware to get started without power?

I was looking at a Garmin ANT+ Speed/Cadence Sensor and an ANT+ USB dongle for the Macbook. Anyone using this combo? Does it work with Zwift?

The kids have Garmin GPS, so I am hoping this will also work on their outdoor GPS kit.

Thanks
I'm away from the computer right now so I can't give details, but I've got a bog-stock Macbook Pro from '12 which I run Zwift on without any issues whatsoever, using Garmin GSC10 and Garmin dongle. Works perfectly.
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Old 11-27-15, 10:59 PM
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soooo uhhh yeah, when is Android gonna get the update to act as the sensor? I'm really not trying to shell out $30 bucks for a sensor and $50 bucks for the Ant+ dongle...
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Old 11-28-15, 09:27 AM
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Originally Posted by utahp8ntballer
I bought a Tacx Vortex smart and been using it with Zwift the last couple weeks and I have to say that it's been pretty sweet. Zwift made my fluid trainer more tolerable for sure but adding the smart trainer has made it a whole new experience. I hate climbing while outside and I hate climbing on Zwift because it's fairly similar. Right now I'm averaging near 80 miles a week on the trainer which is something I NEVER thought I'd be able to do.
This winter is going to be the best one yet on the bike since I actually want to ride it now.
Does the Tacx Vortex Smart need the extra $200 "Upgrade Smart" add on of software and USB receiver to work with zwift?

This is what I'm talking about: https://www.tacx.com/en/products/software/upgrade-smart
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Old 11-28-15, 09:37 AM
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No it doesn't need the upgrade. All you need is the firmware update which can only currently be done using an IOS device. Just borrow one for a few min if you don't have one.
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Old 11-28-15, 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by utahp8ntballer
No it doesn't need the upgrade. All you need is the firmware update which can only currently be done using an IOS device. Just borrow one for a few min if you don't have one.
You can only update the firmware of a Tacx smart device with an iOS thing? I'd been looking into a Tacx trainer, I guess I'm not anymore, thanks for letting me know.
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Old 11-28-15, 01:25 PM
  #136  
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Originally Posted by diesel_dad
Sound like a lot of fun. I am looking at Zwift for my son. We have a Kinetic Road Machine trainer and plan to run the Zwift app on a Macbook Pro. What is the least cost hardware to get started without power?

I was looking at a Garmin ANT+ Speed/Cadence Sensor and an ANT+ USB dongle for the Macbook. Anyone using this combo? Does it work with Zwift?

The kids have Garmin GPS, so I am hoping this will also work on their outdoor GPS kit.

Thanks
There are several hundred using that exact combo on Zwift. Should be good to go.
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Old 11-28-15, 09:45 PM
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I have a similar setup as chaadster (see above). Running Zwift on a 2012 MacBook Pro (not retina) works fine but the laptop gets very, very hot. Intel integrated graphics is not really up to the task.
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Old 11-28-15, 10:30 PM
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I see that KK is coming out with a smart Rock & Roll Fluid Trainer. I have a dumb R&R Fluid and there is an adapter available to convert the dumb version to a smart trainer. I'm just wondering if it would be supported by Zwift and allow resistance and so forth to be controlled by Zwift. If that was the case I would add it if not I see no reason to bother since I already have a Stages PM on my trainer bike and a Dongle.
https://kurtkinetic.com/products/kin...ride-pod-only/
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Old 11-29-15, 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by qajaq
I have a similar setup as chaadster (see above). Running Zwift on a 2012 MacBook Pro (not retina) works fine but the laptop gets very, very hot. Intel integrated graphics is not really up to the task.
Hmm, I don't know that I've noticed the MBP getting particularly hot. What do you mean it isn't up to the task? Zwift runs perfectly, it seems. Or are you talking about concern over long run impacts of high heat production?
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Old 11-29-15, 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted by TCR Rider
I see that KK is coming out with a smart Rock & Roll Fluid Trainer. I have a dumb R&R Fluid and there is an adapter available to convert the dumb version to a smart trainer. I'm just wondering if it would be supported by Zwift and allow resistance and so forth to be controlled by Zwift. If that was the case I would add it if not I see no reason to bother since I already have a Stages PM on my trainer bike and a Dongle.
https://kurtkinetic.com/products/kin...ride-pod-only/
Pretty sure that one just transmits power, it doesn't allow the resistance to be controlled by Zwift or any other software.
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Old 11-29-15, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by qajaq
I have a similar setup as chaadster (see above). Running Zwift on a 2012 MacBook Pro (not retina) works fine but the laptop gets very, very hot. Intel integrated graphics is not really up to the task.
Macs in general are not built for gaming as they almost always have sub-standard graphics chips and sub-par cooling, however we do our best to make sure Zwift runs and is usable. In fact I developed the mac version on a Macbook Pro with Intel integrated graphics. The machine will get hot, but that is how Apple designed it to be - the case of the computer is the heatsink.
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Old 11-29-15, 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by bigdo13
soooo uhhh yeah, when is Android gonna get the update to act as the sensor? I'm really not trying to shell out $30 bucks for a sensor and $50 bucks for the Ant+ dongle...
We should have an android version with bluetooth (BETA) support out in the next 14 days. Could be sooner.
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Old 11-29-15, 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by PepeM
Pretty sure that one just transmits power, it doesn't allow the resistance to be controlled by Zwift or any other software.
That was what I thought which means it really does me no good.
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Old 11-29-15, 07:12 PM
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Zwift is really great and I don't mean to imply that there's anything wrong with it. The Intel Integrated Graphics just doesn't seem up to the task of running it. Not the fault of Zwift by any means. Just frustrated with my hardware.....or maybe there is something not right with my MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 2.3 Ghz i7 8 gig ram but integrated graphics) Zwift still runs just fine, just not comfortable running it that hot.
I like Zwift enough that I'm looking to upgrade my hardware so I can run it.

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Old 11-29-15, 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by qajaq
Zwift is really great and I don't mean to imply that there's anything wrong with it. The Intel Integrated Graphics just doesn't seem up to the task of running it. Not the fault of Zwift by any means. Just frustrated with my hardware.....or maybe there is something not right with my MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 2.3 Ghz i7 8 gig ram but integrated graphics) Zwift still runs just fine, just not comfortable running it that hot.
I like Zwift enough that I'm looking to upgrade my hardware so I can run it.

Wow, yeah, 101C is not good. Maybe try raising the laptop up off the surface it sits on a bit so air can flow underneath? Almost seems like the fan vents could be clogged with dust a bit at that temp. Upgrading isn't a bad idea. I know Amazon had the alienware alphas on sale recently for $339....Runs Zwift on high settings but you'll need a TV to plug it into, as well as a mouse/keyboard.
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Old 11-30-15, 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by TCR Rider
I see that KK is coming out with a smart Rock & Roll Fluid Trainer. I have a dumb R&R Fluid and there is an adapter available to convert the dumb version to a smart trainer. I'm just wondering if it would be supported by Zwift and allow resistance and so forth to be controlled by Zwift. If that was the case I would add it if not I see no reason to bother since I already have a Stages PM on my trainer bike and a Dongle.
https://kurtkinetic.com/products/kin...ride-pod-only/
Originally Posted by PepeM
Pretty sure that one just transmits power, it doesn't allow the resistance to be controlled by Zwift or any other software.
It's not really even "Smart". The KK unit just monitors wheel speed and calculates power based on their own power curve. And as far as I can tell, it only works with their app. It would be nice if they came up with an upgrade to a truly smart resistance unit that could be traded against an existing resistance unit.
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Old 11-30-15, 01:23 PM
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Yep, the inRide would only give you a potentially more accurate power calculation than zPower; IF there is some means of carrying over inRide calibration over to Zwift. At this point I believe you can get the game to read the inRide via Bluetooth, and using the Zwift iPhone app to transmit data to desktop. I'm not sure of accuracy and not officially supported by either party yet, as far as I know. Sure wish KK went with Ant+ protocol for their sensor, though, as it would probably be well implemented by now.

If you already have a Stages I would just stick with that, as it will be more accurate than zPower or inRide, no matter what.


Originally Posted by TCR Rider
I see that KK is coming out with a smart Rock & Roll Fluid Trainer. I have a dumb R&R Fluid and there is an adapter available to convert the dumb version to a smart trainer. I'm just wondering if it would be supported by Zwift and allow resistance and so forth to be controlled by Zwift. If that was the case I would add it if not I see no reason to bother since I already have a Stages PM on my trainer bike and a Dongle.
https://kurtkinetic.com/products/kin...ride-pod-only/
Originally Posted by mvnsnd
It's not really even "Smart". The KK unit just monitors wheel speed and calculates power based on their own power curve. And as far as I can tell, it only works with their app. It would be nice if they came up with an upgrade to a truly smart resistance unit that could be traded against an existing resistance unit.
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Old 11-30-15, 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by MagicHour
Yep, the inRide would only give you a potentially more accurate power calculation than zPower; IF there is some means of carrying over inRide calibration over to Zwift. At this point I believe you can get the game to read the inRide via Bluetooth, and using the Zwift iPhone app to transmit data to desktop. I'm not sure of accuracy and not officially supported by either party yet, as far as I know. Sure wish KK went with Ant+ protocol for their sensor, though, as it would probably be well implemented by now.

If you already have a Stages I would just stick with that, as it will be more accurate than zPower or inRide, no matter what.
As far as a bacic trainer is concerned IMO it's hard to beat the feel of the KK R&R Fluid with the weighted flywheel. I just wish there was a way to use it to connect to Zwift. On the KK website they actually point out the limitations of inRIde as opposed to a strain gauge PM.

From the KK Website

Limitations of virtual power

While training with speed-based power is affordable and accurate and works amazingly well for longer intervals and overall ride averages, it's not strain-gauge based and does not measure torque, so there are a few things we cannot do. Unlike much more expensive systems, the Kinetic inRide will not register a spike in wattage from a sudden acceleration. The wheel must turn faster before a higher wattage reading is observed, so readings are not instantaneous.
The Kinetic fluid resistance power curve used in the Kinetic inRide will only provide accurate power readings when riding a Kinetic Fluid Trainer. Readings won’t be accurate if used on another brand or with the Kinetic Magnetic and Cyclone trainers.
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Old 11-30-15, 06:07 PM
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TCR Rider - just to clarify, you CAN use a Kurt Kinetic trainer very easily with Zwift, using an ant+ dongle and either a Power Meter or zPower. Just not using the inRide sensor....yet. In fact the KK trainers were among the first "classic" (non-smart trainers) to be supported in Zwift. I've been riding mine with zPower since spring.

Originally Posted by TCR Rider
As far as a bacic trainer is concerned IMO it's hard to beat the feel of the KK R&R Fluid with the weighted flywheel. I just wish there was a way to use it to connect to Zwift. On the KK website they actually point out the limitations of inRIde as opposed to a strain gauge PM.

From the KK Website

Limitations of virtual power

While training with speed-based power is affordable and accurate and works amazingly well for longer intervals and overall ride averages, it's not strain-gauge based and does not measure torque, so there are a few things we cannot do. Unlike much more expensive systems, the Kinetic inRide will not register a spike in wattage from a sudden acceleration. The wheel must turn faster before a higher wattage reading is observed, so readings are not instantaneous.
The Kinetic fluid resistance power curve used in the Kinetic inRide will only provide accurate power readings when riding a Kinetic Fluid Trainer. Readings won’t be accurate if used on another brand or with the Kinetic Magnetic and Cyclone trainers.
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Old 11-30-15, 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by MagicHour
TCR Rider - just to clarify, you CAN use a Kurt Kinetic trainer very easily with Zwift, using an ant+ dongle and either a Power Meter or zPower. Just not using the inRide sensor....yet. In fact the KK trainers were among the first "classic" (non-smart trainers) to be supported in Zwift. I've been riding mine with zPower since spring.
I'll probably jump on shortly. I've still been riding outside and I didn't want to start the two month Strava free trial until I would be spending more time on the trainer.
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