Similarly, when doing structured workouts,
a smart trainer automatically sets resistance to the exact prescribed wattage
, so you don’t have to worry about gauging or pacing your effort. So, there are key reasons to use a smart trainer: to make indoor cycling much more fun and more productive.
How does resistance work on a bike trainer?
How fluid resistance works.
Kinetic fluid bike trainers create resistance by turning a blade inside a container of fluid
. This resistance is progressive and increases as wheel speed increases. Kinetic fluid trainers provide a realistic replication of the resistance a rider experiences outdoors.
Does Zwift adjust resistance?
A realistic experience with a smart trainer
Then
Zwift adjusts the resistance of your smart turbo trainer
. Pedaling automatically becomes heavier or lighter, depending on the gradient and the type of terrain you are cycling on.
How do I adjust my bike resistance trainer?
How accurate are smart trainers?
Pedal-based power meters tend to be the most accurate, however, the high-end smart trainers now provide power readings that are
+/-1%
.
How do smart trainers create resistance?
With most smart trainers, you need to plug them in — another difference from a standard trainer. How smart trainers generate resistance varies by model, with many
using a combination of a flywheel (like a standard trainer for good road feel), magnetic resistance and an electronic motor/brake
.
Why is Zwift so hard?
“
The racing is short and particularly intense
,” he explained. “It is 45-90 minutes of racing instead of three to six hours. The consequence for the riders is that there is no opportunity to save energy like they have in road races, so they have to make prolonged, all-out efforts that push them to their physical limit.”
Should I set Zwift to 100?
100% difficulty:
not recommended unless you’ve got a high-end trainer
, a penchant for shifting often, and a need to punish yourself! Lowering your Trainer Difficulty decreases resistance changes on hills. You still have to put in the same amount of power to get up (and down) the hill, but you will “feel” the hill less.
What trainer difficulty should I use?
If your event is flat, leave Trainer Difficulty low
and enjoy that high-inertia feel of spinning along a flat road. But if it has a lot of climbing, you’ll want to keep Trainer Difficulty high, so you’re feeling similar gradients and riding at low inertia just like the outdoor climbs.
Do bike trainers offer resistance?
Indoor trainers are devices that attach to a rear tire of a real bike and
provide resistance
that simulates riding uphill or against the wind.
How do you change the resistance on a Kinetic smart trainer?
While riding the FREE RIDE workout
select the menu on the bottom left of the screen.
You’ll see a SETTINGS menu item. Open SETTINGS and use the “TRAINER FLUID LEVEL” slider. Each percentage of adjustment adds approximately one degree of virtual slope to the simulated fluid power curve.
How do you increase resistance on a magnetic bike trainer?
There are three ways to increase magnetic force to increase resistance; increase the strength (grade) of the magnet (N value), reduce the distance from the magnet to the flywheel, or increase the physical size (diameter x thickness) of the magnet.
What is the difference between fluid and magnetic bike trainers?
In a fluid trainer, the “roller” on the trainer connects to an impeller that rotates through fluid, providing the resistance for your pedal stroke. In a magnetic trainer, there is no fluid involved. Rather, there is a magneto which you can manually adjust to the desired resistance level.
How long should I ride my bike trainer?
Indoor rides should last anywhere from a 30 minute recovery ride to a 2 hour structured effort. Most rides should fall in the
60 to 90 minute range
.
Can you put a mountain bike on a trainer?
Yes, you can put a mountain bike on a trainer
. But you will need to check that bike trainer’s specs with your own bike specs to be sure it will properly work with your bike. There are a number of types of trainers available such as the direct-drive smart trainers, and the wheel on trainers.
Does bike matter on smart trainer?
It’s a great convenience having the bike permanently there so you can ride when you want with minimal setup time.
As long as the bike’s drivetrain is in good working order and it is a comfortable fit to you, it will be fine.
Are smart bike trainers worth it?
Smart trainers are great for winter training, but they also make a lot of sense for someone that lives in the city and can’t get out of the hustle and bustle in the summer. To get the full experience, you’re going to have to spend a lot of money. Most of the high-end trainers cost over a grand.
Is Zwift speed accurate?
Zwift’s algorithms for calculating speed are incorrect
. Zwift’s calculations include assumptions (such as your position on the handlebars or the condition of the road) that do not reflect your outdoor rides. Outdoor rides are slowed in ways Zwift rides are not. Zwift gives you more opportunities to draft.
Can you use a smart trainer without Zwift?
Wahoo Kickr smartWahoo
Kickr smart trainer can be used without Zwift or any other smart cycling app
. But it will become like a ‘dumb’ trainer and lose the benefits of ERG mode workouts. The best option to use the Kickr with ERG is to use a GPS bike computer, a compatible watch, or a free smart cycling app.
Do smart trainers measure power?
A power meter measures the direct force applied to the bike to push it down the road, where
a smart trainer measures all the work that has dissipated during the ride
.
How much power does a smart trainer use?
Trainers have different maximum power figures that correspond to the amount of resistance they’re able to generate. They typically range from around
1,500 watts to over 3,500 watts
.
What is a good FTP for Zwift?
Method 2: ZwiftPower’s Critical Power Charts
Note:
20-minute power is a good proxy for FTP
. Just reduce it by 5% to estimate your FTP – so a 300W average power would work out to a 300 x . 95 = 285W FTP.
Is Zwift better than riding outside?
“
I acquit myself far better in TTs on Zwift than in outdoor races
,” admits Ray, “due to having a decent threshold capacity, but hopelessly limited peak power. The disciplines of indoor and outdoor racing differ greatly.” According to Ray, you need experience on Zwift and a deep understanding of its quirks.
Can you cheat in Zwift?
The hack, if you’re wondering, is a pretty simple one. While you’re racing, you open up the Zwift companion app and when you reach the bottom of a crucial climb, you edit your rider info to drop a significant amount of weight, with the banned user’s tests finding that the change takes about 15 seconds to be effective.
Do Zwift levels get harder?
It’s time to start chasing those new levels and see how high you can go. Just like before,
each level gets harder than the last
so keep the pedals turning over to achieve more levels.
How do I make Zwift more accurate?
Check that your trainer is on Zwift’s list of supported trainers
. Trainers that have “zPower with Speed and/or Cadence Sensor” in the notes will be the most accurate and respond better to accelerations than other classic trainers.
Do I need to calibrate Zwift?
Calibration means Zwift is receiving the most accurate wattage numbers from your trainer so you can make the most out of your workouts.
You should calibrate as soon as you get a trainer, every time you move it, and every seven days
.
