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My brother has just lent me a smart trainer he's not using as he's done his ankle - I have no idea how these things work so which one is better? I'm a bit overweight and looking to get a bit fitter rather than a serious rider looking for numbers and data. In the past I have found turbo training to be dull as hell so have never really stuck to it. Is this type of thing better?
I was the same, and as good as Sufferfest is Zwift is a different level due to the interactivity & the fact that the virtual world is full of real people. There's a free trial, check it out! Quite a few from STW on there too (is that a good thing?!)In the past I have found turbo training to be dull as hell so have never really stuck to it
I really like the SF workout videos for training, but essentially, if what you're after is a way of making just riding about on a turbo more engaging then Zwift is just more immersive. They're both way better than pedalling aimlessly away on a turbo listening to loud music, but yeah, I'd agree that Zwift is the more interesting even f you just pedal about picking virtual scraps with other riders. Or go racing. Or try it in workout mode.
TrainerRoad
TrainerRoad
He said interesting, not an exercise in mental fortitude.
Seriously TrainerRoad is so dull I think I'd actually just rather look out the window.
Having tried both, I found the SF better at getting me to come back and do workouts because I'm a creature of habit, and I got to enjoy and mentally prepare for certain workouts. Zwift always felt a bit more open-ended. I would say that a good compromise would be smashing out a month of the trial of both and seeing which you like best.
Yeah suppose you have to be that way minded to get the benefits of TrainerRoad, if it’s entertainment you’re after then probably Zwift or maybe FulGaz if you just want video and aren’t interested in half wheeling everyone.
I haven’t used SF for a few years but guess they’re probably a little more structured these days as they’re offering plans.
Yes, turbo training is the dullest of the dull! If you're looking to get fit I'd always recommend structured training over free riding around Zwift as this achieves very little. The neat thing with zwift is you can still be part of the virtual world and use one of their structured workouts. The resistance will change with the interval level instead of the inclines/declines in Zwift. I would build my own sweet spot, VO2 max and threshold workouts and ride them within zwift.
How long is the trainer borrowed for?
Little point investing in structure if you’re giving it back in a month, may as well concentrate on entertainment side of things.
If you’ve got it for two or three months you could focus on a decent base plan...
If you found it will before, then regardless of what program you use, it's still will, just ever so slightly less dull.
It's not even close to being enough to keeping me on a turbo this winter. I'd rather be fat and unfit, or get cold and muddy outside.
It’s not even close to being enough to keeping me on a turbo this winter. I’d rather be fat and unfit, or get cold and muddy outside.
Thats been me for the last 20 years.
I've got it for a few months and he may even sell it to me as he didn't use it that much. Think i'll go with Zwift and start on one of their training plans. Had a go on the free trial this afternoon and sweat was pouring off me so must be doing some good.
Not done swift butnsufferfest does engage and the sense of humour is my style, was lucky enough to share an office with the creator and the waynitnstarted comes through of him and his brother watching vids of the tour in theirnus basement in winter. The yoga and strenght stuff is a good bonus too.
Zwift is my go-to winter ‘training’ software, having signed up last winter. It’s still clunky and has some annoying functionality, but it is immensely immersive and ime very easy to engage with some form of preset training plan. You can mix things up with the zwift ‘races’ to periodically check your ftp. Whilst some mention it is better to do structured training or set their own sweetspot etc, it may be so for those that have the time/inclination to do that. Zwift just lets you get involved. Plus it seems good enough for pro TdF teams to run training academies on it.
Here’s the stw Zwift group. Read the first page then flick to the end to keep abreast of who’s doing what:
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/zwift-my-journey-my-weight-and-my-fitness/
Nice one doordonot.
Sufferfest has an element of humour that makes hard efforts tolerable. Zwiftbfor more casual riding. I’ve done two hour sufferfest and three hour Zwift. For longer efforts Zwift does it for me. But I do like the SF humour.
Another turbo hater here. I'd rather ride in the freezing mud and rain than turbo normally and yet I've spent a lot of time over the last year on Zwift and really enjoy it - basically it gives me enough of the same experience of riding /training IRL to make it engaging.
As to the structured / unstructured part I think that really depends. I've done a lot of unstructured riding but that's made a huge difference to my fitness. Unstructured definitely doesn't have to mean easy.
Zwift also has plenty of structured training and I've found that works well for me as variety and motivation esp doing group training sessions.
And then racing - did a great job this morning ripping my legs off.
I still like TrainerRoad. I run it with a movie or TV in the background which takes the boring element out of it a bit. Zwift is OK but it’ll cost you upwards of £200 to unlock all the areas of the map, so it’s just as tedious as TR in that respect but more expensive.
How do you have to pay to unlock things in zwift? I just did miles..
Zwift is OK but it’ll cost you upwards of £200 to unlock all the areas of the map
