Login required to started new threads

Login required to post replies

Prev Next
Re: Who here is Zwifting? [ChrisC42780] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Chris,

I just purchased a Dell Alienware Alpha computer from outlet.dell.com for $309 plus shipping for a total of $329 on Black Friday. It has a i3 processor, Nvidia GTX graphics and 8GB of memory. Looks like the special pricing is over. Go to the outlet.dell.com, select desktop and look at the Alienware Alpha computers. If you don't mind waiting, you will find great deals in January when Dell dumps any returns or excess inventory.

BTW, I just ordered a Tacx Neo trainer and will get it on Monday. This is why I purchased the new computer. Looking forward to a better indoor training experience.

Kevin
Last edited by: KevinTL: Dec 2, 16 7:04
Quote Reply
Re: Who here is Zwifting? [TriguyBlue] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Yeah same happened to me the other day, I was doing 400w in the draft and the group pulled away. That is quite annoying since I've been in a great many fast bike races and that just doesn't happen.

It does get easier after a few mins if you make it on but the drafting dynamics still aren't right. It seems like the group goes 6-7 w/kg fast as a product of being a group with a bunch of riders doing 5 w/kg and not of any one rider making big pulls. Seems like the difference between maintaining pack position and riding the front is maybe 10%, where as in a real peloton it would be 30-50%. Maybe Im wrong about that, but there is definitely some odd stuff going. Nature of the beast I suppose, still very fun.

Professional Athlete: http://jordancheyne.wordpress.com/ http://www.strava.com/athletes/145340

Coaching Services:http://www.peakformcoaching.com/

Quote Reply
Re: Who here is Zwifting? [Jordano] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Jordano wrote:
It does get easier after a few mins if you make it on but the drafting dynamics still aren't right. It seems like the group goes 6-7 w/kg fast as a product of being a group with a bunch of riders doing 5 w/kg and not of any one rider making big pulls. Seems like the difference between maintaining pack position and riding the front is maybe 10%, where as in a real peloton it would be 30-50%. Maybe Im wrong about that, but there is definitely some odd stuff going. Nature of the beast I suppose, still very fun.

Drafting is definitely not perfect on Zwift. There are certain areas in the pack where you get almost no benefit from the draft and it is spotty on and off. I found the best is being one rider from the front. If you drop back too much, you have to actually equal or surpass the w/kg of the lead rider just to maintain your position. It's weird.
Quote Reply
Re: Who here is Zwifting? [Jordano] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Correct me if I am wrong. If you are on flat road, then power in w/kg doesn't matter as you are only doing work against air resistance and not gravity. So it's possible for a bigger rider to go faster with lower w/kg if total wattage is higher for said rider.
Last edited by: bloodyshogun: Dec 2, 16 13:05
Quote Reply
Re: Who here is Zwifting? [bloodyshogun] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In the real world, yes. Zwift is weird about aerodynamic calculations and weight. w/kg is about the best relevant number you can use on Zwift which is why everyone references it.
Quote Reply
Re: Who here is Zwifting? [KevinTL] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Thanks Kevin,

I think I am going to wait for the IOS App to be released. They submitted the final app too Apple, so it may be released before I get my trainer within the next 2 weeks
Quote Reply
Re: Who here is Zwifting? [Jordano] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Jordano wrote:
Yeah same happened to me the other day, I was doing 400w in the draft and the group pulled away. That is quite annoying since I've been in a great many fast bike races and that just doesn't happen.

Yea, same here. I usually find a handful of things I think are inaccurate on any given ride. Having said that, I still quite enjoy it. Especially group rides/races. Helps you forget you're on a trainer.

Power Meter City
Your Power Meter Specialists
Quote Reply
Re: Who here is Zwifting? [PM City] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I think the physics model in Zwift is fairly accurate, but there are some quirks that help ride in a pack more effectively.

The biggest quirk is the "sticky draft," where your rider will automatically brake to get on someone's wheel. If you don't pass assertively, it's easy to accidentally get stuck on a slightly slower riders wheel who will then take you off the back of the pack. While you're stuck to someone's wheel, the extra power you put in doesn't seem to take full effect.

There are other quirks like the fact that two overlapping riders will lean on each other and slowly drift out of the side of the pack and losing the draft. You need to either accelerate or decelerate to get out of this, but a lot of Zwift riders don't realize it so they'll happily push you off the road while staying overlapped.

I generally am able to hang in a fast pack at lower average power (both in terms of absolute power and w/kg) than many others in the group in Zwift by knowing and adjusting for these quirks.
Quote Reply

Prev Next