I did a trial to see how I liked it. It is OK, but I am wanting to do more training plans than video game racing. Yes, Zwift has training as well, but TrainerRoad is much better for that as is TheSufferFest. I know lots of people I ride with, work with, etc. that really like Zwift. It's just not what I am looking for.
I started Zwifting about a month ago. I bought a used Computrainer off ebay. Zwift user name is Joehandcycle Handcycle
The power meter measures the watts your are pushing on the pedals. The trainer basically creates resistance to your rear wheel turning. Some smart trainers have a power meter built in. If you use the power meter on the bike, you can use it when riding outside, which is a big plus.
Their prices are indeed pretty steep (bordering ridiculous imho). I just signed up for a few months but will cancel their asses as soon as I can go out and ride.
$15 per month is too expensive? To be able to train and race on my own bike in my living room without having to go to a gym in January, shit I'd pay a lot more
You can do that without paying for Zwift, which is basically just a video rendering of your workout with cheesy PS2 level graphics.
Except in zwift I can race with 2,000 other people, working in pelotons, tracking my power / stats, and having people to push me into a sprint at the end of every workout. I hear you, some people aren't all about it. I'll get over 20 hours in zwift this month, the workout and entertainment value is more than there for me. At this rate I'll be getting better dollar per hour engagement on zwift than netflix
And if you change your weight to like 100lbs your power to weight ratio goes through the roof and you win all the sprints!
Yea, my brother warned me about Strava "cheaters". By putting false data in, you only cheat yourself. But, being a handcyclist (with accurate data put in), I'll never beat the upright riders in a virtual race. They should have some algorithm for handcyclists to compensate so it's more equal.
Two types of cheaters in Zwift. Those that knowingly alter their data to give themselves big numbers and then there are those that are software illiterate and don't realize they need to set their personal numbers up.
a local guy was commenting on that. Some guy was questioning him on how he was so fast in real life...lol He does 30+ intervals on a fixed gear bike and tries to get 10hrs in the saddle.
i have a free month of trainer road i may check it out. One thing i like about zwift is you can bike through some different places and multiple terrain.
That doesn't exist at all with TrainerRoad. Your workout is on the screen, no scenery of any kind. I have a second monitor that I watch stuff on. But that is what I prefer, I know lots of others prefer the Zwift thing.
ErgVideo has awesome 1080p video taken of the actual ride you are on. I recently did a ride that was in the valleys of France. Absolutely stunning scenery. Only problem is the video quality is so good that I now want to ride those roads for real. Erg is only $10/month. Cancel at any time. Oh yea, I did another ErgVideo ride that was in and around the Bedford Virginia area. I went to Virginia Tech and lived in Roanoke for a few years. I rode my streetbike on some of the roads they used so that was really cool for me and brought back some cool memories.