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Being a newbie to the most boring alternative to cycling, but circumstances make getting it tricky, I was getting annoyed at how Zwift kept changing the resistance when I pedalled faster or slower regardless of the virtual gradient.
I almost changed the front ring to a bigger one as I always seemed to be spinning too fast.
Then I realised that it is adjusting the resistance to match a given power given your spin speed.
So is there any need for gears at all when zwifting? What’s the downside of fitting a single cog over a pricey 12 speed cassette?
If you run in ERG mode - for example, when doing a workout - you shouldn't change gear. Let the turbo adjust the resistance.
On a 2x road bike, I stick to inner 34t chainring & halfway down the cassette - so something like a 17t. If you use too high a gear, the trainer can't adjust resistance as effectively.
If you only use ERG for workouts, then you can get away with a single speed. But, if you freeride you would probably want to be able to use gears as the resistance adjusts for the terrain.
If you have the latest Zwift hub trainer, you only need one gear as the trainer has virtual gears.
You'd be fine the whole time in ERG mode, but a lot of workouts (often ones where you sprint for short periods and change leg speed very quickly) aren't best in ERG, and a lot of the fitness tests you need to be in "Level" or non-ERG mode, as you need to be telling it how hard you can pace yourself, whereas ERG is the system telling you how hard to work
I was getting annoyed at how Zwift kept changing the resistance when I pedalled faster or slower regardless of the virtual gradient.
That doesn't sounds right. I'd maybe check that your trainer is properly connected to Zwift both for power output and controllability. You shouldn't be riding in ERG mode if you're just pottering about on Zwift. Maybe drop a line to Zwift support and explain what's happening.
In workouts with Zwift, Wahoo Systm, Trainer Road etc, ERG mode will be fine with a singlespeed as you don't change gear anyway, the software will set the power output you need to reach and all you have to do is pedal. On Zwift, when not doing a workout in ERG mode, it should be broadly like riding a singlespeed in real life, so spinning like a hamster downhill and cranking away out of the saddle on steep climbs and somewhere in between on the flat. It'll be fine until you're trying to keep up with someone using gears.
If you're running mountain bike gearing on Zwift, you'll probably be very undergeared as the game assumes you're on a road bike, so you'll spin out very easily and, afaik, there's not much you can really do about that. You can change the difficulty level to 100% in preferences, which will help on climbs, but you'll be in hamster mode downhill and it won't change anything on the flat, so if you're spinning out now, you'll still be spinning out. A bigger chainring might help, but there's a limit to how big you can go on a mountain bike, assuming you are on a mountain bike.
An issue with a singlespeed set-up is doing the ftp tests when you have erg mode turned off.
I converted my allez to a singlespeed and for doing the workouts it's perfect but doing the systm/sufferfest 4dp ftp test thing it just doesn't work because the gearing only lets me get to about 500w so the sprints and 1 minute powers are underrated.
Likewise, I think most people generally play around with cadence and gearing a bit on a regular ftp test but again, that's not possible.
If you were to do it I'd do the ftp test first to at least get that fairly accurate.
Once the zwift hub type electronic system is rolled out to wahoo etc then that should sort the issue but until then I don't know of a way to do ftp tests in as reliable a manner.
Workout where the TRAINER sets the power... SS is fine (or geared bike where you leave it in a low gear).
Race/FTP test/ general ride... You'll need gears my friend.
DrP
Leaving aside issues with the ramp test, you could/should run it in ERG mode.
ERG off for 20m test etc.
Changing gear changes the amount of inertia of the flywheel, which in turn alters the ride feel. High power, low cadence intervals feel much easier in high gears because the inertia helps you through deadspots in your pedal stroke.
Yes, there is no need for gears when using Erg mode, Zwift know this and introduced The Zwift Hub One smart trainer which has a single speed cog. Is your post a stealth advert?
The Zwift Hub One smart trainer which has a single speed cog.
But uses virtual gears in the software.
Thanks all - yes it’s Mtb gearing. lol not a stealth post. Even expensive 12 speed cassettes will be a drop in the ocean of a new turbo. It’s a fairly dated drivo but enough for me I think.
I find that being static also exaggerates bad saddle fit as it’s blooming uncomfortable. Tried a couple but no improvement really.
Search Zwift forum for QZ app posts, acts as middleman between low (MTB) gearing and Zwift, increasing base resistance in freeride/races.