Yep, I use it a lot particularly in the winter or when the weather isn’t cycling friendly.
I like the group rides as it feels like you’re not on your own and have just done the first stage of the tour. Stage 2 opens up this weekend.
Overall its a good training tool, particularly with a Smart trainer. Alpe D’Zwift is a replica of Alpe D’Huez. Having done this in real life, its a pretty accurate representation. My times for example for RL and the Zwift version, were very close.
You can also ride with friends, something I’ve done in lockdown a few times.
Hmm, I’ve not heard of this, but I did just buy a training tire for my road bike and trainer ( haven’t swapped it on yet, as I’m still doing a bit of greenway riding now that folks have stopped going crazy with being all over the trails).
Good analogy. On their web site they say Zwift combines your workout with gaming. Initially, I thought that it would better to ride through recorded actually scenery and wondered what the appeal of Zwift was with it’s virtual world. But then I realized that the recorded ride couldn’t be interacted with dynamically. Duh. So Zwift is in essence a riding simulator using your stationary trainer as a, er, joystick. Makes a good argument for a virtual or mixed reality version, if they could project the image on your riding glasses.
That’s what I have, but if you have a speed sensor on it, Zwift supports a number of “classic” trainers. They’ve tested the watts required to spin various trainers at given speeds. A speed sensor is relatively cheap and mounts on your bicycle’s rear wheel. Not as good as pedal mounted power meter, but we are not training for the Tour
List of supported classic trainers on this page. My exact model wasn’t listed, but looking at the new model of mine, it is essentially “bold new graphics”. So I’m going to use the new one.
A friend from Atlanta is visiting. We demoed some Giant gravel bikes this morning and went on a 20 mile ride with another friend who knew some good roads in the Francis Marion National Forest. Loved the bike. We hit a 2 mile section of asphalt and they felt pretty good. Maybe enough to replace my road bike.
It was damn hot though. My friend’s computer said avg temp was 96. Probably more like 90. Made the beer at ride’s end appreciated.
The guy who showed us the trails is 6’3” and 250 lbs. Riding behind him is like riding behind a 4x8 sheet of plywood and the only time that I feel tiny.
Sounds nice - that looks like a nice road. I might hit you up for the location unless it’s a secret. Is that the part of the forest that is between Lake Moultrie and the coast? I used to fly forestry fire patrols over that area a long long time ago…
We parked on Brick Church Road where it intersects Cainhoy Road. Because it was a demo bike, I didn’t have a way (should have used my phone) to export the route. But basically we took Brick Church Rd to left on 182, then made a loop using a bit of Hwy 41 to get back to Brick Church and the car.
I’m in a similar position, I have a nice XC mountain bike, which is great for everything up to severe downhill trails, but there’s a lot of forestry fireroad near where I am and it would be great to have the ride position of the road bike, but the off road capability of the MTB.
…and there’s a really nice titanium bike which is insanely good value at Planet X, a UK manufacturer.
Wow, that is a great deal. Not sure how they can sell it for that price given the SRAM Force 1 groupo. I’m a big fan of ti as well. Probably a little bit heavier than CF, but the stuff is pretty much indestructible. Edit: GBP to USD = $2524.49.
Of all my bikes (I have four of them now)…my Raleigh Willard 2 gravel bike is my favorite. I think it is classified as a “budget” bike…coming in at between $600-$900. I don’t know if their current lineup still includes it. I’m still amazed that I rode it from Pittsburgh to DC with my fat butt + 40 pounds of gear on it without a single flat tire.
It is an amazing deal. I keep looking at it and then thinking, should I… really?. Another bike.
And it looks amazing as well. Mrs Keets has a Titanium road bike they do. The Spitfire. It’s a stunning bike and rides great.
Isn’t it always the way. I have a budget Focus Cayo, I bought 10 years ago now, I rode that when we did our Bilbao to Santiago ride. Every time I ride it, it’s like putting on a comfy pair of slippers.
My two carbon fiber bikes scare me. They are so damn light and go downhill so fast I actually get worried on them. They sure do feel better going uphill though…well…one of them does. The Quintana Roo CD0.1 isn’t really geared to go up any hills…it likes flat and fast for long periods. I don’t have anywhere to ride that one here…too many hazards out on the road.
My main bike (I say that like I a heavy rider, I’m not but I am trying to maybe get there) is a Trek 7.5FX from 2009. It has been a nice bike and every year I have managed to increase the my yearly distance on it. I have made a few modifications to it in order to increase the handlebar height for a more upright biking posture and reduce neck/upper back pain after a long ride.
I have a very old Trek 4100 Alpha that I ‘converted’ to a road-ish bike by changing to slick, thin tires to reduce rolling resistance.
My 7.5’s … front bits … are starting to creak a lot when I am apply power now - and I tend to add torque to the handlebars and I think that is causing it. I think that it is coming from the stem, headset or fork area but I can’t be sure. I am getting tempted to replace it, maybe next year, but I have no idea what to replace it with.
Haphazard story but I am in the process of making the 4100 ‘gravel-capable’ so that I can start doing some of the prepared trails around here (and maybe a little less prepared but I am not likely to go back to the mountain bike ride).
I feel that maybe a gravel bike is what I should be looking at but I am concerned about the drop bars and the heavily leaned over position? Should I be?
NBD - 1 
