For those looking for more detail on workout mode (released in beta a little while ago), DC rainmaker posted today:
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/10/zwifts-workout-mode.html
I’ll be trying it for the first time today at lunch. looking forward to it.
I’m interested in peoples feedback on this. I’m up for a renewal with Trainerroad and waiting to see if zwift can compete. Anyone try both and have a preference?
Zwift is still free for a few more days, give it a shot?
Read the article, looks pretty awesome. Like he said, it;s the best of a structured workout and riding in a “group” like classic zwift
yeah… it’s free. when it goes live on the 29th, you have 50KM to test it out.
I’m interested in peoples feedback on this. I’m up for a renewal with Trainerroad and waiting to see if zwift can compete. Anyone try both and have a preference?
I’ve used both. I would say that Zwift shows the most promise and while there are some issues to be worked out on the whole I’m hearing a lot of positive things in the Zwift community about it. It may be beta but it is pretty polished. If you enjoyed the virtual riding then for about the same cost you can accomplish structured training too.
People may stick with TR because they have older equipment (the Zwift graphics are pretty intensive) and presently they have a much larger library of workouts. A workout builder for Zwift is forthcoming so I expect this advantage to be short lived.
I’ve used TrainerRoad a lot and Zwift a little (but not the new workout mode yet).
I can easily see a place for TrainerRoad even if Zwift takes off as a paid service. A big feature TR has over Zwift is the easy ability to watch a video (DVD, Netflix, Sufferfest, bike races on Youtube, etc) while running your workout simultaneously. Personally, I have a couple full Tour de France’s on video and that for me is a much more pleasant background during a workout then the video game of Zwift. .
I like a little more clinical versus video game vibe to my workouts. I like the simple TR target + graph interface. (If I want to be a jerk, I could say here that training is not a game . . . ) Others will surely differ but I am sure I am not alone.
Plus, TrainerRoad training plans are basically my defacto coaching over the winter so until Zwift matches that, I can’t even think of dropping TR.
On the other hand, if you just want to ride for an hour or two, Zwift is great (unless you want to watch Netflix . . .).
I am definitely keeping TR but I am leaning strongly towards the $10/mo for Zwift over the winter too since a $30-$40 over the winter for a group ride or two every week seems like a great bargain. But for me Zwift will be for the group ride vibe on days where that fits into my plan, but not for my workouts.
Good points all around. The group rides/races on Zwift are pretty intense and I like to hit them periodically. I’m not big into the social rides but I respect that it helps motivate people. It’s hard to peg Zwift into the game versus serious category though and I think it is really what you make of it. I overlooked a host of other positive features that TR offers today so thanks for filling in some gaps there.
I did a single Zwift workout. It was pretty great!
My only complaint is just a comment on the structure.
I did a TT specific workout: The Polish.
It was a progressive warmup, ~4x10min @ FTP with 5 minutes of very low power (70W) recovery after each interval, then a progressive cool down. Can you see the issue?
After the last 10 minute interval, between 245-270, I had 5 minutes of 70W to recover before the cool down: 5 minutes of 180, 160, 140…haha. Either skip the last recovery, or make it 30 seconds - 1 minute.
I have never used Trainer Road, but I will run that for a month after Zwift wants money. Then, I’ll decide which to use.
I just did my first workout. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
You know what feature i love?
Those little monitors in front of your avatar that change color based on the intensity of your interval. I dont know why, but I really like it. When I see others going REALLY hard and their little screen is screaming dark red, you can tell their pushing a max interval, versus gray which is a cooldown or blue which is endurance.
from my ride:
I’m interested in peoples feedback on this. I’m up for a renewal with Trainerroad and waiting to see if zwift can compete. Anyone try both and have a preference?
I’ve been using TrainerRoad for quite a while and have used Zwift several times as well. I haven’t had a chance to do the workout yet, probably Thursday, but it looks pretty good. The main thing I like about TR is that the huge volume of workouts as well as the ability to create my own. It’s also nice to be able to watch a movie or sporting event while riding.
I think as Zwift gets more workouts I can see myself switching between the two programs.
If you’re doing a Zwift structured workout at FTP, then can you still maintain FTP while you’re on a downhill portion of the road?
While i ride with power (quarq) i do not have a smart trainer so cannot answer, but im sure you can.
I haven’t tried it personally but the DCRainmaker review says that they eliminate the effects of gradient during workouts, so even though you go up and down in the game your smart trainer stays on the same setting.
I pretty much agree with everything you said here. Watching a video game isn’t as stimulating as watching a show or movie while doing my TR workouts. It may work for some, just not me.
There is nothing which prevents you from watching a movie/TV show while using Zwift. Zwift work still runs if its not the main window open on your computer so just open up a window with whatever you want to watch and size it appropriately. What I generally do is cover the center of the Zwift screen so I can still see the leader-board, course map, power number, HR, ect. but am mainly watching iPlayer.
I like a little more clinical versus video game vibe to my workouts. I like the simple TR target + graph interface. (If I want to be a jerk, I could say here that training is not a game . . . ) Others will surely differ but I am sure I am not alone.
I tend to agree. I like Zwift for the gaming/fun ride aspect of it, but this new workout mode doesn’t really offer what I’m looking for.
First of all, I have a problem with the fact that it’s totally power-centric. Yes, I use power, but mainly as a benchmarking tool (I prefer to go by RPE or HR). Having said that, I would much rather set targets based on HR than power.
Secondly, while there are lots and lots of workouts to choose from, I’d prefer to make my own. I’m sure this is something they’re working on, but still something I would have wanted to see in the beta.
Thirdly, I don’t really like the fact that I’m always riding out on the default Zwift course for these (btw, why is it still not possible to choose which course you want to ride?). I have some low/high cadence workouts where I try to keep a steady effort while changing the resistance on the trainer. It would be absolutely awesome if I could somehow design a custom course with, say, 5 km flat, then 1 km at 1 % incline, then 1 km at 0 % incline, then 1 km at 2 % incline etc. I know this is probably much easier said than done, but anyway something I’d hope to see.
Also, it would be nice if I could somehow be able to ride alone and block out the rest of the riders. I sometimes find it distracting to see other riders, as I tend to start riding too hard if I see someone passing me. So some type of flat velodrome stage where you could ride alone would be awesome for those solitary rides (isn’t a velodrome the perfect setting for a real 60 min FTP test anyways?)
I tend to agree. I like Zwift for the gaming/fun ride aspect of it, but this new workout mode doesn’t really offer what I’m looking for.
First of all, I have a problem with the fact that it’s totally power-centric. Yes, I use power, but mainly as a benchmarking tool (I prefer to go by RPE or HR). Having said that, I would much rather set targets based on HR than power.
Umm, the whole purpose of a structured workout is to do it by power. If your not doing it by power then you are winging it and I will argue it’s no longer a “structured” workout. RPE and HR will vary day to day and even within a given workout.
Secondly, while there are lots and lots of workouts to choose from, I’d prefer to make my own. I’m sure this is something they’re working on, but still something I would have wanted to see in the beta.
Thirdly, I don’t really like the fact that I’m always riding out on the default Zwift course for these (btw, why is it still not possible to choose which course you want to ride?). I have some low/high cadence workouts where I try to keep a steady effort while changing the resistance on the trainer. It would be absolutely awesome if I could somehow design a custom course with, say, 5 km flat, then 1 km at 1 % incline, then 1 km at 0 % incline, then 1 km at 2 % incline etc. I know this is probably much easier said than done, but anyway something I’d hope to see.
Also, it would be nice if I could somehow be able to ride alone and block out the rest of the riders. I sometimes find it distracting to see other riders, as I tend to start riding too hard if I see someone passing me. So some type of flat velodrome stage where you could ride alone would be awesome for those solitary rides (isn’t a velodrome the perfect setting for a real 60 min FTP test anyways?)
These 3 points I agree with.
… I can easily see a place for TrainerRoad even if Zwift takes off as a paid service. A big feature TR has over Zwift is the easy ability to watch a video (DVD, Netflix, Sufferfest, bike races on Youtube, etc) while running your workout simultaneously. Personally, I have a couple full Tour de France’s on video and that for me is a much more pleasant background during a workout then the video game of Zwift. .
I like a little more clinical versus video game vibe to my workouts. I like the simple TR target + graph interface. (If I want to be a jerk,** I could say here that training is not a game ** . . . ) Others will surely differ but I am sure I am not alone.
Just curious as to why you call it a game? Is it because it has animated graphics on a monitor? You pedal a virtual person around the screen? Maybe TR is a game too. A game where you stay close to the power line. Zwift just has better graphics that “simulate” outdoor. You also say training is not a game. With that logic, training is not watching videos. Try the workout.
Thirdly, I don’t really like the fact that I’m always riding out on the default Zwift course for these (btw, why is it still not possible to choose which course you want to ride?). I have some low/high cadence workouts where I try to keep a steady effort while changing the resistance on the trainer. It would be absolutely awesome if I could somehow design a custom course with, say, 5 km flat, then 1 km at 1 % incline, then 1 km at 0 % incline, then 1 km at 2 % incline etc. I know this is probably much easier said than done, but anyway something I’d hope to see.
Also, it would be nice if I could somehow be able to ride alone and block out the rest of the riders. I sometimes find it distracting to see other riders, as I tend to start riding too hard if I see someone passing me. So some type of flat velodrome stage where you could ride alone would be awesome for those solitary rides (isn’t a velodrome the perfect setting for a real 60 min FTP test anyways?)
Yes…You’re onto something here. How I originally pictured workout mode it would be a randomly generated course based off of the workout. If you had a GPS file then it could randomly generate a course to mimic the elevation as you mention. If it was just a wattage based workout then it could create hills based off of those harder efforts. Picture a video game with a randomly generated dungeon, but instead it’s a randomly generated course.
And yes, I also pictured that I’d have the ability to ride my workout mode SOLO, or invite friends/teammates to it.
Honestly, I’m not interested in Zwift at all for a monthly fee. I’m the type of person who prefers structure over entertainment and when there are alternatives out there without monthly fees attached then I have to take a pass on Zwift. If they let me simulate a course based of a gps file then I’d consider ignoring my abhorrence for monthly fees and subscribing. I really enjoyed being able to simulate IM LOU’s course as a power based workout using best bike split but if we could take that one step further and visually see those inclines, that’d be great. Of course the randomly generated course wouldn’t necessarily be perfect, but It’d be better than leaving me to my imagination.