The Indoor Cyclist's support thread

[Glenn Rides After 4 PM CST]

yeah i been on the edge of usable service last season, could only really do whatever course was less populated and no group events. generally thats fine for me since i just do 45-60 minute workouts anyway but would be nice to join a group or meetup with all the new stuff they released into the game.

Group rides and meetups are 90% of my rides.
This is what I got. Will let you know how it goes later in the week. 40ft Ethernet cat 6 cable in route.

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My goal was to spend less than 300 on PC that will stay in the garage.

 

[Norm]

I think a Apple TV (or even a iPad) is the cheapest way to get the right hardware for Zwift

I have a Macbook Air which is plenty, until it gets old and it's not. Software developers are assholes and assume everyone just buys new stuff every 3 years. I say this as a former software developer.

 

[Glenn Rides After 4 PM CST]

Back in business. No reason to go outside this winter.

 

[iman29]

So as my luck would have it I have acquired this fancy thing as my first legit smart trainer yesterday. Traded some puppy training lessons for this as he was getting rid of it and didn’t want to bother trying to sell it.

Road bike is in the shop so don’t have time to test it out yet but this might accelerate the decision to also update the zwift PC as suggested by glenn.

Will now spend lunchtime at work reading up on firmware upgrades and learning how to setup and calibrate since I’ve been using my fluid2 trainer for over 10 years.

 

[iman29]

Group rides and meetups are 90% of my rides.
This is what I got. Will let you know how it goes later in the week. 40ft Ethernet cat 6 cable in route.

HP i5-6500 Desktop Computer PC up to 16GB RAM, 3TB SSD, 22" LCD, Windows 10 Pro | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for HP i5-6500 Desktop Computer PC up to 16GB RAM, 3TB SSD, 22" LCD, Windows 10 Pro at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

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My goal was to spend less than 300 on PC that will stay in the garage.

@Glenn Rides After 4 PM CST so was this a package deal at this price came with keyboard mouse and monitor?

I have a Best Buy gift card I can use for an open box or refurb PC since I have a monitor etc. but this might be a better deal.

 

[Glenn Rides After 4 PM CST]

@Glenn Rides After 4 PM CST so was this a package deal at this price came with keyboard mouse and monitor?

I have a Best Buy gift card I can use for an open box or refurb PC since I have a monitor etc. but this might be a better deal.

Yeah it came with everything you mentioned. They also have some without a monitor. Newer processor.

 

[Patrick]

So as my luck would have it I have acquired this fancy thing as my first legit smart trainer yesterday. Traded some puppy training lessons for this as he was getting rid of it and didn’t want to bother trying to sell it.

Road bike is in the shop so don’t have time to test it out yet but this might accelerate the decision to also update the zwift PC as suggested by glenn.

Will now spend lunchtime at work reading up on firmware upgrades and learning how to setup and calibrate since I’ve been using my fluid2 trainer for over 10 years.

View attachment 197112View attachment 197113

I'd go a different way than PC - you are an Apple guy. Get an Apple TV 4 first Gen that can load apps.
Save a bit if you don't get the 4k model. Use that with a monitor, and you get all the apple goodies,
and an interface to zwift that runs on your phone - including an apple tv remote - so there is a keypad to type-fill in fields.
Can stream music from the phone or apple tv, and airplay whatever is on your phone in case you change your mind on the zwifter subscription.

 

[iman29]

I'd go a different way than PC - you are an Apple guy. Get an Apple TV 4 first Gen that can load apps.
Save a bit if you don't get the 4k model. Use that with a monitor, and you get all the apple goodies,
and an interface to zwift that runs on your phone - including an apple tv remote - so there is a keypad to type-fill in fields.
Can stream music from the phone or apple tv, and airplay whatever is on your phone in case you change your mind on the zwifter subscription.

Yeah I’m more a windows guy with work Stuff that I do but I been debating back and forth to go that route. it would simply a lot
Of things with my setup. Will have to check into how to transfer my Zwift history from a PC to it not sure it’s possible.

 

[Mr. E Man]

Is $1k for Peleton + bike a good deal?

maybe - Peloton linking up with dicks sporting goods. if you're looking to purchase one I'd wait to see if they go on sale annnd holiday season creeping up too, I'm sure they will be running deals.

 

[MadisonDan]

Will have to check into how to transfer my Zwift history from a PC to it not sure it’s possible.

Um, just log in on the new device and pair sensors?

 

[trener1]

Yeah I’m more a windows guy with work Stuff that I do but I been debating back and forth to go that route. it would simply a lot
Of things with my setup. Will have to check into how to transfer my Zwift history from a PC to it not sure it’s possible.

What do you mean by transferring all of the Zwift history from your PC?. if you are talking about the usual Zwift stuff it's all in the cloud, nothing resides on the devise, I regularly alternate using Zwift on 3 devises (My iPad, my wife's iPad and my macbook) and there is nothing to transfer.

 

[iman29]

Um, just log in on the new device and pair sensors?

True but some of the data is local to the PC related to best times for things like 5 min effort etc.. at least thats what I recall

 

[iman29]

What do you mean by transferring all of the Zwift history from your PC?. if you are talking about the usual Zwift stuff it's all in the cloud, nothing resides on the devise, I regularly alternate using Zwift on 3 devises (My iPad, my wife's iPad and my macbook) and there is nothing to transfer.

I also have some custom workouts downloaded from different sources that I recall could not be added to Apple TV - these are files I would copy locally and they show up in my workout list.

 

[Glenn Rides After 4 PM CST]

First ride with new pc was successful.
Bluetooth HRM was dropping out. I think I was to cold and not sweating enough. Trainer and video was flawless.

 

[iman29]

First ride with new pc was successful.
Bluetooth HRM was dropping out. I think I was to cold and not sweating enough. Trainer and video was flawless. View attachment 197352

Assuming it’s a chest strap I always soak the chest strap in warm water and dry it off a little before I get started or just wet the contacts and I never have any HRM dropouts. Been using the garmin Dual ANT+ BT for years like that.

 

[iman29]

First smart trainer ride today went pretty well. Everything connected fine and no random dropouts. I was even able to update the firmware with the Saris app after a few tries.

I did the calibration spin down before my ride. Tried to join a group event but for some reason it never popped up to bring me over. I even restarted but no later join pop up.

I said F it and just did some random intervals for an hour on my own. I have a hard time getting my HR up even when mashing the pedals during max efforts. thinking maybe it’s not calibrated 100% but it wasn’t an official workout so no ERG mode.

I did get the FTP update at the end of this one so maybe it’s because my numbers aren’t accurate on my profile. Since rain again tmw might try again and play with ERG mode and trainer difficultly see what happens.

And thanks to @MadisonDan my trainer tire is matchy matchy.

 

[Norm]

because my numbers aren’t accurate on my profile

Correct. 116 TSS in an hour is physically impossible by the definition. 100 TSS is the total you would get if you go an hour at THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL for that hour. Think, "My family will be killed if I don't go this hard," level of hard.

So yeah, your numbers are off.

 

[iman29]

Correct. 116 TSS in an hour is physically impossible by the definition. 100 TSS is the total you would get if you go an hour at THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL for that hour. Think, "My family will be killed if I don't go this hard," level of hard.

So yeah, your numbers are off.

Yeah coming off a dumb trainer the last 8 years have to go back in and reset everything. No way I should have hit the high watt numbers with my HR that low.

 

[Glenn Rides After 4 PM CST]

Assuming it’s a chest strap I always soak the chest strap in warm water and dry it off a little before I get started or just wet the contacts and I never have any HRM dropouts. Been using the garmin Dual ANT+ BT for years like that.

Turns out the strap was faulty. Tried a spare one, no more drop outs. 7 laps of Roof top Rendezvous in an hour.

 

[Bikeworks]

Turns out the strap was faulty. Tried a spare one, no more drop outs. 7 laps of Roof top Rendezvous in an hour.View attachment 197414

Not sure what brand it was, but I was a Wahoo Tickr adherent until I finally figured out that their straps were shit and responsible for dropouts during rides and workouts. I use Polar now, not an ounce of trouble.