Am I not “racy” enough?
#76
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
See, I'm old, too.
Last edited by livedarklions; 07-01-21 at 06:09 PM.
#77
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,963
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Canyon Inflite AL SLX, Ibis Ripley AF, Priority Continuum Onyx, Santana Vision, Kent Dual-Drive Tandem
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 883 Post(s)
Liked 729 Times
in
437 Posts
You are misinformed. Zwift climbs feel half as steep if you leave the trainer difficulty setting at 50%, but it takes the same amount of power to cover whatever the route is and you would simply go slower. All virtual trainer platforms require similar power and effort as outdoor rides, because they all simulate real world physics.
Last edited by surak; 07-01-21 at 06:10 PM.
Likes For surak:
#78
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,652
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3711 Post(s)
Liked 5,557 Times
in
2,812 Posts
You are misinformed. Zwift climbs feel half as steep if you leave the trainer difficulty setting at 50%, but it takes the same amount of power to cover whatever the route is and you would simply go slower. All virtual trainer platforms require similar power and effort as outdoor rides, because they all simulate real world physics.
#79
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,963
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Canyon Inflite AL SLX, Ibis Ripley AF, Priority Continuum Onyx, Santana Vision, Kent Dual-Drive Tandem
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 883 Post(s)
Liked 729 Times
in
437 Posts
So it would make a 15 degree climb feel like 7.5 degrees but twice as long? That's a lot different from a 15 degree climb, even if you ultimately use the same amount of energy. Can you set the trainer to replicate actual real world routes? Sorry if this is too basic or OT.
Likes For surak:
#80
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,652
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3711 Post(s)
Liked 5,557 Times
in
2,812 Posts
Thanks! 100% if you want the most realistic experience, turn it down if you need to. Makes sense now!
#81
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2,537
Bikes: yes
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1281 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
329 Posts
I once read an in-depth blog post about all the math about trainer difficulty; I can't remember now if it was on Zwift Insider or DCRainmaker but anyway it hurt my brain because I don't math good. All I know is on the default settings I can climb virtual Alpe d'Huez in 60-90 minutes and even though I've never climbed a mountain on my bike IRL I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to sustain that kind of speed on an 8% climb for 8 miles or whatever it is.
Likes For ksryder:
#82
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,379
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18472 Post(s)
Liked 15,738 Times
in
7,400 Posts
#83
Senior Member
Likes For Reflector Guy:
#84
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,489 Times
in
1,286 Posts
I just refuse to believe that indoor trainers are as effective as outdoor riding. The fitness you get from indoor trainers isn't the same as fitness you gain by riding outdoors in the real world.
#86
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
They're different, but the fitness translates; getting stronger on the trainer gets you stronger on the road.
#87
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,009
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2730 Post(s)
Liked 488 Times
in
353 Posts
As a flat bar commuter who lives and dies by cat 6, I have a few tips for you OP.
If you can, downgrade your bike and add stupid pointless stuff to it like a flag or basket. Nobody likes being passed by an inferior bike, this is a surefire way to trigger a race. Eat the aero loss and extra weight, you don't care. Maybe ride a tandem solo
Hands off your handlebars. Your are out for a casual ride and not trying hard, once you start hammering you can get in your drops.
Lower your speed, if someone passes you, destroy them. varying your speed gets people overconfident and thinking they can hang with you.
When passing someone, compliment their pace and tell them it took a lot out of you to catch them, especially if they were slow. Lots of people are out for base miles, but you can mess up their recovery ride if you're savvy enough. Remember that its their fault for blowing themselves up chasing you.
If you can, downgrade your bike and add stupid pointless stuff to it like a flag or basket. Nobody likes being passed by an inferior bike, this is a surefire way to trigger a race. Eat the aero loss and extra weight, you don't care. Maybe ride a tandem solo
Hands off your handlebars. Your are out for a casual ride and not trying hard, once you start hammering you can get in your drops.
Lower your speed, if someone passes you, destroy them. varying your speed gets people overconfident and thinking they can hang with you.
When passing someone, compliment their pace and tell them it took a lot out of you to catch them, especially if they were slow. Lots of people are out for base miles, but you can mess up their recovery ride if you're savvy enough. Remember that its their fault for blowing themselves up chasing you.
Last edited by LarrySellerz; 07-02-21 at 09:47 AM.
#88
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,963
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Canyon Inflite AL SLX, Ibis Ripley AF, Priority Continuum Onyx, Santana Vision, Kent Dual-Drive Tandem
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 883 Post(s)
Liked 729 Times
in
437 Posts
#89
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2,537
Bikes: yes
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1281 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
329 Posts
Believe whatever you want, pro teams already know indoor training is effective (and triathletes have known for even longer).
#90
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,963
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Canyon Inflite AL SLX, Ibis Ripley AF, Priority Continuum Onyx, Santana Vision, Kent Dual-Drive Tandem
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 883 Post(s)
Liked 729 Times
in
437 Posts
Anyone with a powermeter who knows how to stay below threshold so they can pace themselves can make it with sufficient gearing. Not being able to do it IRL has more to do with lack of awareness of one's power and the appropriate gearing.
#91
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,454
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 3,018 Times
in
1,937 Posts
For real, there's no buicks overshooting the stop signs, the sweet rotten aroma of garbage trucks, lawn sprinklers spitting when it's 40F, nor any poorly trained [hungry] animals lunching at your ankles.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#92
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: San Jose
Posts: 1,025
Bikes: Blur / Ibis Hakka MX / team machince alr2 / topstone 1
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 426 Post(s)
Liked 274 Times
in
201 Posts
I once read an in-depth blog post about all the math about trainer difficulty; I can't remember now if it was on Zwift Insider or DCRainmaker but anyway it hurt my brain because I don't math good. All I know is on the default settings I can climb virtual Alpe d'Huez in 60-90 minutes and even though I've never climbed a mountain on my bike IRL I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to sustain that kind of speed on an 8% climb for 8 miles or whatever it is.
now the flats in zwift you must be on the best bike, tires, zero wind, and great smooth road and in the perfect body position for aero. While at home doing zwift you might be on the hoods bolt upright blocking wind like a mac truck.
Down hill in zwift is even more silly. your bike has unlimited gears. you can pedal like at 45+ mph. zero pot holes. no cars, squirrels, dear, turns, dirt/leaves on the ground. just crank up your 300+ watts like there is no tomorrow.
Likes For sean.hwy:
#93
Full Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 313
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 123 Post(s)
Liked 83 Times
in
63 Posts
Every morning (almost literally) I wake up, put on spandex, and go out riding one of my “Tour de France-type” drop bar bikes. Every day I pass flat bar bikes of all sorts - mountain, hybrid, whatever. Not one of them has ever tried to race me. None has ever passed or dropped me. Do I just not look racy enough to get them fired up, or is there something else I’m missing about all these stories here from flat-bar riders?
I, however, didn't care.
#94
serious cyclist
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 21,147
Bikes: S1, R2, P2
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9334 Post(s)
Liked 3,679 Times
in
2,026 Posts
So this morning i did get passed, twice. But...
1) it was a two-man paceline
2) of tri geeks
3) the leader wasn't wearing a helmet
4) I was on my gravel bike
5) doing anaerobic intervals on climbs, and got passed during the rest interval on either side of one of them
6) while wearing a one-piece sleeveless tri kit
How should I feel?
1) it was a two-man paceline
2) of tri geeks
3) the leader wasn't wearing a helmet
4) I was on my gravel bike
5) doing anaerobic intervals on climbs, and got passed during the rest interval on either side of one of them
6) while wearing a one-piece sleeveless tri kit
How should I feel?
#95
• —
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Land of Pleasant Living
Posts: 12,272
Bikes: Shmikes
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10190 Post(s)
Liked 5,897 Times
in
3,177 Posts
So this morning i did get passed, twice. But...
1) it was a two-man paceline
2) of tri geeks
3) the leader wasn't wearing a helmet
4) I was on my gravel bike
5) doing anaerobic intervals on climbs, and got passed during the rest interval on either side of one of them
6) while wearing a one-piece sleeveless tri kit
How should I feel?
1) it was a two-man paceline
2) of tri geeks
3) the leader wasn't wearing a helmet
4) I was on my gravel bike
5) doing anaerobic intervals on climbs, and got passed during the rest interval on either side of one of them
6) while wearing a one-piece sleeveless tri kit
How should I feel?
#96
Version 7.0
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 13,138
Bikes: Too Many
Mentioned: 297 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1349 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,461 Posts
I would take a week off and decompress.
Likes For Hermes:
#97
serious cyclist
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 21,147
Bikes: S1, R2, P2
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9334 Post(s)
Liked 3,679 Times
in
2,026 Posts
#98
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,652
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3711 Post(s)
Liked 5,557 Times
in
2,812 Posts
So this morning i did get passed, twice. But...
1) it was a two-man paceline
2) of tri geeks
3) the leader wasn't wearing a helmet
4) I was on my gravel bike
5) doing anaerobic intervals on climbs, and got passed during the rest interval on either side of one of them
6) while wearing a one-piece sleeveless tri kit
How should I feel?
1) it was a two-man paceline
2) of tri geeks
3) the leader wasn't wearing a helmet
4) I was on my gravel bike
5) doing anaerobic intervals on climbs, and got passed during the rest interval on either side of one of them
6) while wearing a one-piece sleeveless tri kit
How should I feel?
#99
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 3,947
Bikes: Trek 1100 road bike, Roadmaster gravel/commuter/beater mountain bike
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2281 Post(s)
Liked 1,710 Times
in
936 Posts
You need to race where I race... on the MUP against 6-year-olds with their Paw Patrol or Minnie Mouse bikes.
Likes For Milton Keynes:
#100
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2953 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Likes For caloso: