Eh?!

"Wheelerguy" (wheelerguy) 10/08/2019 at 09:47 • Filed to: sim racing, sim cycling, zwift, doping

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I get professional sim-racing, but professional sim-cycling is new to me and looks bloody absurd.

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And now it;s got doping allegations too?

Ash78, voting early and often > Wheelerguy 10/08/2019 at 09:51

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Isn’t this exactly what Peloton does to sell their $3,000 bikes? That you exist in some kind of Second Life world and never have to go outside?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Wheelerguy 10/08/2019 at 09:56

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I know a lot of roadies who do Zwift. It’s super popular. I just hang up the bike and go skiing. I also suffer badly the first few months of cycling season for lack of cycling fitness. 

facw > Wheelerguy 10/08/2019 at 09:56

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Deadspin had coverage yesterday:

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I actually use Zwift (in the winter), but I can’t imagine watch other people “race” would be very satisfying, cheating or no.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Wheelerguy 10/08/2019 at 10:02

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And, yes, “doping” is already a problem in the sport.  *sigh*

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Ash78, voting early and often 10/08/2019 at 10:03

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Pelotonia?  Would that make me Pelotonian?  

Grindintosecond > Wheelerguy 10/08/2019 at 10:06

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You need to try it before dismissing. Instead of staring at a wall trying to get in a workout and remember the mind numbing intervals, this puts you on a live island full of others to work out with. A smart trainer will load up on a hill and you have to shift, climb, etc. It's a thousand times better than sitting on a boring trainer and cheaper than peloton

Grindintosecond > Ash78, voting early and often 10/08/2019 at 10:08

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Peloton is spin class with a DJ shouting at you.

jimz > facw 10/08/2019 at 10:10

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I know I’m getting old when I read that article and have this pop into my head:

“national e-Cycling champion” ( that’s a thing you can be? )

“fastest stationary bike” ( that’s a thing that exists? )

facw > jimz 10/08/2019 at 10:16

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It’s a little weird. And things can be intense. I already sort of want to replace my simple fluid trainer with a fancy connected variable resistance one, and maybe add the expensive smart fan to simulate wind (though that  feels like something that could be emulated with a smart dimmer switch and a box fan).

facw > Grindintosecond 10/08/2019 at 10:20

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It is so much nicer than just pedaling on an unconnected trainer/stationary bike.  I like it a lot more than Rouvy’s video rides as well, mostly because the maps are so much more populated, which makes it easier to find people to keep pace with (which they wisely encourage you to do).

Thomas Donohue > Wheelerguy 10/08/2019 at 10:21

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Assuming they are pedaling (stationary) bikes and not sitting on a couch with a controller, this makes more sense than most sims.

It also explains the doping thing.

Ash78, voting early and often > Grindintosecond 10/08/2019 at 10:25

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Apparently you can buy their bikes and do it at home with quasi-VR courses, too. I also thought it was just a gym thing.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > facw 10/08/2019 at 10:31

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Oh my lord, cyclist are going to cheat every chance they get.

Grindintosecond > Ash78, voting early and often 10/08/2019 at 10:31

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Theyre seeing zwifts success, so yeah I have no doubt theyre going that route too.

Grindintosecond > facw 10/08/2019 at 10:32

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Its an mmo!

OPPOsaurus WRX > Wheelerguy 10/08/2019 at 10:39

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I guess i’m missing out, i should just give up my real bike for a virtual one

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/08/2019 at 10:45

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The virtual set up can run north of $1,000 for a smart trainer and you still need to pay for the  Zwift membership.

facw > Thomas Donohue 10/08/2019 at 10:59

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You don’t “ play” these with controllers. I have a very simple one sort of like this, but with a Misuro B+ wireless power meter to keep track of how hard I’m pedaling:

The bike’s quick release skewer fits in between the cups at the top and the wheel rests on the resistance unit to make a little bike treadmill. These run anywhere from $150 (for a really cheap low resistance unit like mine) to around $600 for the best models.

A more specialized variant is like this:

These support both wheels, forcing you to balance as you ride, and are like $600-1000.

For the best experience there are trainers like this:

They replace the bike’s axle and rear wheel, and can provide computer controlled variable resistance, and are usually in the $700-$ 1300 range.

You can go even further and have a full stationary bike setup like this, but they are quite pricey, though they have high configurability :

DipodomysDeserti > Thomas Donohue 10/08/2019 at 11:12

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It’s not even real doping. By doping they mean he used some sort of program to trick the game into giving him more points so he could attain a faster bike. This is all very dumb.

vicali > Wheelerguy 10/08/2019 at 11:37

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My friend Alison has been in a few virtual series, it looks intense. But then again she is pretty intense;

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > facw 10/08/2019 at 12:08

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This is, amazing. I have no other term for it.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Grindintosecond 10/08/2019 at 20:25

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What advantages would this have over say, just going outside? Aside from inclement weather 

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/08/2019 at 20:26

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Does it include virtual traffic laws for me to ignore? 

Grindintosecond > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 10/09/2019 at 00:45

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Weather, traffic rush hours. Time of day (night) and let’s not forget working during the good times to ride and not working when it sucks or it’s a dangerous time to be outside. it’s the flexibility for when you can’t get out for a ride because of the above mentioned reasons. I don’t head out till 9am and I try to get in by 3pm to avoid the work/school traffic...they’re insane people. Zwift is also more  popular in the fall/winter for obvious reasons.