IT'S FOR REAL! This is only speaking for my Wahoo Kickr Core with Zwift
When you see a hill? Prepare, YOU WILL FEEL IT. The hard part is, sometimes they're hard to see by just watching the on screen terrain but if you look to the top right of the screen, that percentage is referring to the hill profile. The larger the number the steeper the hill. If it has a negative symbol, you're going downhill. Outdoor riding you can coast downhill. On your trainer you'll need to continue pedaling but it gets easier. You can choose to take it easy or go to a harder gear and sprint the downhill. Doing races you'll want to test your sprint that you may not be able to do outside for fear of falling, cars, curves, other riders to close and so on.
You'll be riding with other riders from around the world and you're able to chat if you want or keep it private. I've ridden alone. I've had a guy encourage me to get behind him and draft (yes, you can draft off other riders), I've had riders draft off me and riders zip pass me. The fitness and competition aspect is there. The screen has a display of riders by name ahead and behind you by how many seconds or minutes and the Zwift program will kind of nudge you to catch another rider by displaying "CLOSE THE GAP" as you catch up or if a rider passes you. Catching someone is nice as you see the gap in seconds get smaller and smaller then they're in sight, you close the gap, draft for a little while then choose to pass on or not. With my Kickr Core, I have a power meter built in and on my bike I have a cadence sensor. I wear the Wahoo Tickr Heart Rate monitor and all of this is on constant display. Many of the races have Sprint challenges placed on the race course and many are made up of actual roads from actial places. Lapping around the course you'll see places where there's a sprint challenge and you'll see how you compare to others. BUT! Let's say the race course has 5 laps. You'll see the first sprint and now, you'll know there'll be 4 more. You can attempt to beat your own time on each lap. You can ride the course on another day and set new PR's or PB's (personal record or personal best) because Zwift will remember what you've done. The best part for me is the simple not having to stop for traffic.
All that said, don't do it for these reasons. First and most important and I'm guilty at times. If you think it'll become another dust catching clothes rack? Don't do it. My initial investment was around $1000. It uses your bike so no further investment there than what you already have but the smart trainer, HR monitor, and cadence sensor around 1000. I started off using my phone as my screen, everything is really tiny but it does work. Eventually I learned to mirror my phone screen to a TV for a larger display and it works. It does lag and drain your phone so do it while your phone is plugged in and turn off other apps on your phone. Now? I run the app through Apple TV but my bike and other data are connected via bluetooth through the companion app on my phone and this setup I like. But we're talking about why to not do it. Second? You're not outside. A lot has to be said for fresh air and wind blowing through your hair (or over my scalp) when riding outside. There's also the social aspect of talking face to face with people that's not there while in your workout room or messy garage. Yeah you can chat but that involves typing. If you're racing and take your eyes from the screen to chat you'll miss a sprint, or the group your riding with pulling away. You won't crash but you won't have your head in the game. Without that social aspect, there's no coffee stop or breaks. Ride ride ride then you're done. Collapse on the floor or get on with your day. Bike damage. I've heard you can ruin a carbon frame using a smart trainer but I think that happens if you do not properly connect your bike to the trainer. If it feels crooked or not quite right? Get off. Check it and make sure it's connected correctly. If you have a carbon frame bike, that you've graduated up to from an aluminum framed bike, use your old bike for a permanent setup or get a cheap used aluminum frame bike for a permanent setup. That's what I have now. Just match the frame dimensions and seat and you've got it. The only extra I have is another cadence sensor. One on my nice carbon road bike and now one on my trainer setup. I mentioned the apple TV? Yeah that's connected to a 32" cheap Walmart TV and it works great. The apple TV Zwift display ain't the greatest but it works great.
If you've been thinking about this, I hope this helps. If it's raining or anytime I just feel too lazy to ride outside, it's there and I love mine.
The biggest positive I can say is this. If you think it's not real resistance like riding a hill outside, go to a LBS (Local Bike Shop) that has a setup and try it. Your legs will tell you otherwise. My day has begun with a nice ride in my garage. I hope everyone gets in a good ride today. It's already a great day. Be blessed and RIDE ON! 👍🚵♀️👍
