I did a recent podcast episode on this where i reviewed TrainerRoad if you are interested in more of a deep dive. It mostly comes down to what you are looking for. I can use workout mode in Zwift if i already know what workout i want to do and the virtual reality can help with entertainment. Trainerroads primary selling point is the training plans, testing, and then wide range of pre-planned workouts. Zwift is slowly adding training plans but they are pretty far behind TrainerRoad.

I personally use both. During the winter i like Zwift for the 4-5 hour winter long rides, occasional races/TT's, and the distraction. I often use TrainerRoad workout plans during the offseason to focus on a specific power aspect to improve upon. TrainerRoad plans are often too low volume for my personal liking so i use their plans but add in some extra work.

Why do you train?
Purely to get faster, or because you like to train?
When you're on the trainer is it about hitting specific numbers or working your ass off in a general vicinity?

I think there are many of us in each camp for each question. Your answer to each will likely dictate whether you're more inclined towards Zwift or TR. I like Zwift. I don't wang to pretend I'm not training by watching a film while I pedal. I also find it to be the worst of both worlds. I don't focus well on training and I don't enjoy thd film.

I suspect most people who don't get Zwift are using ERG mode and workouts most of the time? It makes sense that Zwift is undermined by ERG mode since the whole point is feedback, motivation and a simulation of reality. ERG is the exact opposite. The challenge is to keep up with the trainer, visual feedback or other riders may as well be a recording. There's no interaction unless you fail.

Trainerroad has their great workout library and plans. Obviously Zwift is improving in that area. Zwift now has their group workouts but also their group rides with your standard A-D rides. So plenty of different ways to get strong on Zwift. Plenty of people get faster just doing group rides outdoors with different fast people. So you can simulate that experience on Zwift. It IS sort of cool but it do doesnt really do it for me. I liked the trainerroad programs but I’ve tired of the subscription model. I recently switched to perfpro. Tons of workouts there. Not plans like trainerroad but I just pick a hard workout a couple of times a week then do my longer rides outdoors on the weekend.

Came here expecting a comparison of the two. Was disappointed.

Zwift isn't just the 'hardcore-always-training-to-improve-my-ftp-or-gtfo-sesson' crowd. It can be this, and it's marketed as that in some aspects. To a lot of people Zwift has become a new discipline. Sometimes people just jump on Zwift to go for a ride, or to hang on for as long as they can to a scheduled bunch ride. Riding on their terms. Maybe with a few efforts thrown in just like riding outside and trying to hang with a bunch that just flew past. That's the hook for a lot of people. The kind of people who'd never have wanted a smart trainer before. Now they're walking into a bike shop and dropping big $ on bike gear.

In short, they're different. You can still alt-tab in Zwift and watch Netflix too.

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Shane Miller - GPLama
YouTube | Web | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Strava

Thanks Shane, so you have sort of confirmed my thoughts that Zwift is more of a casual/leisure type 'lets go for a ride' as opposed to Trainerroad which I feel is more a structured serious results/training approach.


BTW when are you going to do an follow up on the Vector 3s??? I have been eagerly awaiting since you initial review as there has been a lot of bad feedback out there particularly surrounding the battery casing..

Soon. I've suffered all the same dramas as others..... I'm waiting for their official response/solution before the update video. That should be within a few weeks. I hope. Stay tuned - It'll either be a good news story or a sacrificial burning of the pedals in the nearest furnace. :)

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Shane Miller - GPLama
YouTube | Web | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Strava

You can use both too.

I'm hooked on TR for the plans but also run them in zwift.

I run a smart trainer (Wahoo Kickr) from my phone using TR and bluetooth, then pair my trainer to zwift/laptop using ANT+ (power source pairing, not controllable).

I prefer riding around in zwift while I beat myself up compared to watching netflix.

But this ain’t what I’m understanding-if for example u are doing a trainer road workout in Zwift there is no relation to what you are seeing compared to what you are experiencing, so for me it gets really boring really quickly watching a whole heap of animated bikes ride around?

Thanks Shane can’t wait!! I’ve been biding my time and looks like I might just go with the tried and tested P1’s.

There is a relation: your avatar only moves along as fast as the watts/kg you are pushing.

Might not be exactly what you are looking for but I like chasing people down over my workouts (or getting dropped), YMMV.

A little more interesting than just watching the time tick by on TR.

If I had to choose one or the other though it would be TR.

My favourite parts of Zwift:

1) Trying not to get dropped in a race or a fast group ride is exhilarating -- it’s very much like the feeling of trying to stay with the pack in an outdoor group ride. I’m not saying it’s the same -- cartoony views, lack of bike handling, and lack of fresh air and other sensations obviously make it not the same -- but the adrenaline rush feels the same.
2) The climbing. Especially the newest addition, Alpe du Zwift. I live in a flat area (Toronto), where there is just no way to do a workout where you get to pedal at a cadence of 65-70 for a whole hour plus. You could do it on a trainer without Zwift, but I think it would be too mind numbingly boring to get through it without the visual feedback that Zwift offers. I think I’m going to try to do Alpe du Zwift once in a while even over the summer, on rainy days maybe, as preparation for Levi’s granfondo which I’m signed up for in October.

Now both of those workouts are too hard to do everyday, so the rest of the time I just do the structured workouts, or noodle around, which admittedly gets a little boring, especially by the end of the winter. Still, I prefer the visual feedback of zwift, along with some good music, to anything else.

Exactly-what is the attraction of feeling a reduction in resistance as I’m climbing up a hill? What’s the attraction in chasing down people on a flat only for your resistance to then increase markedly inline with a interval?

The whole thing seems pointless to me

I only do workouts and group workouts on Zwift. Just to ride, it is boring.

Why did I go with Zwift? I could try it for free and I could see the workouts before joining. I can do niether with TrainerRoad so I haven't tried it.

I do think I would like TR better, but since they don't have a trial or library of workouts, I just don't fool with them.

If that's what is on my interval schedule then I just end up going slow uphill. My training program dictates my power outputs, not the terrain I'm riding on. If it means going slow up a hill then so be it.

Going back to your original question I find Netflix/tv/movies to be incredibly boring when I'm trying to do 5x 20 mins. I prefer to put on some music and try to chase some people down in zwift.

If thats what you think about Zwift, you're using it wrong. Go ride a Zwift race and try to win it. Report back.

Have you tried to race on zwift?

My (non) scientific opinion is that it’s the most fun and productive way to do 60min efforts

I have a little “community” of guys and gals tht I race with every week at the same time

I’ve never been in this good of shape in my life, i have fun, and it doesn’t feel like “work” like straight intervals do

I could never get into TR, but I’m HOOKED on zwift just for the racing.

Agree with you that if you’re just going to noodle on zwift, it’s a bit boring

And this is exactly the part I don't understand-the whole idea of Zwift is to be a virtual reality immersive ride. If what you are seeing has no correlation to what you are 'riding' then you might as well be watching the MotoGP

No I will have to give the races a try!

Of course there is a correlation:

If you are riding to wattage in zwift your speed will be reflective of that wattage, just like riding outside. If I ride at a constant 300W and start going uphill my speed will drop. Similarly in zwift your avatar will slow down going up a hill if you keep a constant wattage. This is all in erg mode mind you.

Conversely if you have zwift control your trainer (ie in a race) the trainer will apply more resistance going up a hill so you will have to apply more power to keep the same speed.

It's really up to you to choose how you want to use the tool.

I would suggest you try a race with a smart trainer, you may like it.

I use TR as my primary training tool and I thought lets try Zwift for the fun of it (I was curious about the hype). I can certainly see why people are hooked on it...I found my nice, easy recovery ride quickly become a "lets chase this person down in front of me" or "lets keep up with this group". It was actually quite fun and it wasn't as boring as you state. I could certainly see using it on a regular basis if I didnt use TR and let my coach do my workouts (he normally did them but I decided to use TR for a few months). There some club members who use it for that reason the coach gives them the program and they go out and ride. Still if its not for you its not for you......I don't think anyone can make you think you its anything more than pointless if you really don't like it (although I do suggest you try a group ride as someone else here has suggested and go for it and see how you fare). Think about it like this...there are options for you and if you love TR ...just do it ...if you love Zwift ..do it...if you can ride outside all year and love that do it....theres something (I hope) for everyone.

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"see the world as it is not as you want it to be"

I'm currently doing the 10-12 week FTP builder programme on Zwift and it seems to be pretty good. Is a programme by Marco Pinotti if you know who that is...

the other day, I did an extra 45 minutes on top of the plan. In the last 5 minutes of what was going to be a 20 min tempo effort, 2 guys came flying past so I went with them and ended up doing above threshold watts for the last 5 minutes. I wouldn't have done that but for the people who came past so Zwift can certainly help with 'motivation' during a workout.

I have subscriptions to both and use both frequently.

For me indoor training is purely that- trying to prepare to go as fast as possible on raceday. To that end that is where TrainerRoad has Zwift covered, the number of workouts available, from short Vo2 to long extended (90mins+) 90%FTP efforts are all there and it is something that Zwift clearly can't match (as of yet). Added to that the training plans are considerably more developed on TrainerRoad, catering to a wider variety of cycling abilities, where I feel Zwift plans are more targeted at beginners. 'Entertainment' in TR is 'BYO' so you will have to either listen to a podcast or have netflix on. For most of my hard sessions I find music is the only thing I need as I am super focused.

In saying that- I still find Zwift productive and very enjoyable. The 'basic' sessions (eg 2x20) is all there but I primarily use Zwift for easy recovery rides and races. Races are not only super fun (well as fun as a race can be) but also an extremely productive form of training. Last week I did 3 back to back races for 2.46hrs, 212tss, 2500KJ, the racing dynamic made it much more bearable than if I was on TrainerRoad.

In short both are really good and have their own strengths and weaknesses. Personally for pure performance I'd choose TR. But if you're struggling for motivation- maybe you'd be better off on Zwift as I think it is a more immersive and 'enjoyable' experience. Rule no.1 of improvement is consistency.

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http://twitter.com/willrc91 --- instragram.com/willrc91

I have used both/using both and i can see you points but i think its down to preference.
THe structure and buildup of workoutsi n TR cannot be beaten. (base build specialty), but the workouts themselves also feels ALOT more thought out than the zwift ones. I did some zwift workouts and they just seemed like a kid had randomly added different colors (zones) together. But i know they have improved on this alot.
Zwift is for me more for progression something to look at, and for socialising. I like having achivements and levels etc.
I have also tried the races, but for me it seems to always just end up in a TT like effort each time (not that that is bad).

I kind of burned out on TR, in terms of being able to motivate myself to do quality interval based sessions. Once I'd gotten bored of the integratiin with Sufferfest video downloads, which I paid for but can't use in TR anymore, you are basically just left with the graph to stare at. Works for many people but I stagnated a bit.

After a break from consistent training last year I'm back on it and have seen my FTP go up by approx 25% in 4 months doing nothing but Zwift, admittedly from a fairly untrained baseline. I'm not saying I couldn't have achieved the same or better in TR but I might not have motivated myself to do it.

For me the trick to seeing gains in Zwift is to RACE. One or two of my rides each week is a Zwift race, which is basically near-threshold with vo2 intervals. Might not follow the polarized model perfectly but tired legs are tired legs sometimes.

Some of the gamified stuff works well for me also, I was pretty motivated to win the virtual Jersey for the Tour of Watopia this last month and I'm now chasing the Everest challenge for another bike, then onwards eventually for the Tron bike. Was very pleased to make level 12 and unlock Alpe du Zwift.

R.