Giving in to Zwift

[bigbill]

I have reached the realization that outdoor riding is not a steady thing in NW Arizona. I'm going to purchase a Wahoo KICKR and use the Ti Serotta. I've got an old laptop that is more than capable and a nice collection of fans. My question is about drivetrain. The Serotta has a mix of first generation Record and Chorus 11. I know the chain is so I'd get a new chain before I used it with the new Shimano 11 cassette than comes with the KICKR. Should I get another Chorus chain or a KMC to go with the shimaNo cassette? What about an Ultegra 11 chain? I'll do weekend road rides on the BLE or Coconino.

I'm doing spin classes and boot camp, I'd give up the spin classes for Zwift and still do boot camp because it's doing nice things for my core and flexibility.

[Saab2000]

The cassette that comes with the Kickr is a low-grade one that I can't get to shift very well. Eventually I'd get a 105 cassette and comparable chain and call it good. It's a trainer bike so all it needs to do is work, not look good, and I've found 105 cassettes are every bit as good as Dura Ace or Ultegra in terms of shifting.

I connect to an iPad via Bluetooth so if you have an iPad that's a decent option. I think you can then stream it to a TV if you so choose.

[Bewheels]

I assume that you currently running a campy cassette with the bike. In that case, just pick-up the Ultegra chain to use with the Kickr cassette. These chains now come with a quick link in case you want a little less hassle to switch back.

If happen to be running a Shimano cassette on the rear of the built bike, just reuse that cassette on the Kickr.

I think it also depends on whether you plan on taking that bike off the trainer during the winter to ride outside on the sporadic nicer days. The bike that I have on the trainer is basically dedicated to the trainer at this point because i have others that get ridden more...even though it is a nice bike (Calfee).

Edit - confirming what Saab added, the cassette that comes with the Kickr is pretty cheap. As mentioned above, that came off before use but mostly because I wanted the worn chain to have it's worn cassette from the bike so that they continued to play nice.

[marley]

Does not matter, you can run a single speed if you want. The trainer will change the resistance, just find one gear in the middle of the cassette and spin and get the Trainer Road app/subscription

[Too Tall]

You will not regret Zwift...who am I kidding? Training indoors bites however the weird "e" social aspect makes me work harder.

Oh cr@p Big Bill might join me on some of these rides.

[bigbill]

I assume that you currently running a campy cassette with the bike. In that case, just pick-up the Ultegra chain to use with the Kickr cassette. These chains now come with a quick link in case you want a little less hassle to switch back.

If happen to be running a Shimano cassette on the rear of the built bike, just reuse that cassette on the Kickr.

I think it also depends on whether you plan on taking that bike off the trainer during the winter to ride outside on the sporadic nicer days. The bike that I have on the trainer is basically dedicated to the trainer at this point because i have others that get ridden more...even though it is a nice bike (Calfee).

Edit - confirming what Saab added, the cassette that comes with the Kickr is pretty cheap. As mentioned above, that came off before use but mostly because I wanted the worn chain to have it's worn cassette from the bike so that they continued to play nice.

The specs say it's a 105 11-28. Maybe they listened to feedback. I'm going to get the high end model because I can get a team discount. I bought the Serotta across the hall a couple of years ago with this kind of stuff and travel in mind. I don't have a lot of money wrapped up in it frame/fork-wise. I can sweat all over it.

[ChristianWong]

I used my rollers maybe 10 times last winter. Someone talk me out of buying a smart trainer this Black Friday.

Or talk me into it if this Zwift thing is really that good. I'm thinking about caving in because I see zero sunlight on weekdays this time of the year. Although, yoga, pilates, and dessert seem to be an okay training plan at the moment.

[SlowPokePete]

Someone talk me out of buying a smart trainer this Black Friday.

OK ... riding indoors sucks...don't do it.

I've somehow managed at least a hundred miles a week all outside year round, think there were two weeks in this past year that I didnt manage to get the hundred.

Its only about 20 degrees out, still dark, with wind chill close to zero...thinking I'll head out when the light comes....

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

SPP

[ChristianWong]

OK ... riding indoors sucks...don't do it.

I've somehow managed at least a hundred miles a week all outside year round, think there were two weeks in this past year that I didnt manage to get the hundred.

Its only about 20 degrees out, still dark, with wind chill close to zero...thinking I'll head out when the light comes....

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

SPP

Thanks for this. I'm going to stick to my rollers when I feel the urge to spin. Otherwise, I'll be in off-season mode with the exception of an occasional ride in the dark.

Happy Thanksgiving.

[bigbill]

OK ... riding indoors sucks...don't do it.

I've somehow managed at least a hundred miles a week all outside year round, think there were two weeks in this past year that I didnt manage to get the hundred.

Its only about 20 degrees out, still dark, with wind chill close to zero...thinking I'll head out when the light comes....

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

SPP

When I lived in NE Texas, I had the Northeast Texas Trail behind my neighborhood so with a headlight and the right clothes, I could ride year round. I'd get 500 miles a month for January and February and then turn it back on with road rides by mid March. In Kingman, I have some marginal dirt roads and trails up the hill above my neighborhood but they've become too loose and deep for my gravel bike. I don't have a MTB yet but when I do, it'll be a 27.5+ or 29+ because of the conditions. Road riding during the week isn't happening unless I want to do 2 miles circuits around the neighborhood. I ride on the road on the weekends.

The Wahoo trainer will allow me to get my workout three days a week with cycling specific work with boot camp workouts on the alternate days. I've got events I want to do next year including some 24 hour races that I'll need more than weekend rides to prepare for.

I'm newly single, my kid is in the Naval Academy, this thing will be in the living room (tile floor).