Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 06/24/2020 11:36 AM |
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https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/zwift-build-new-mont-ventoux-and-champs-elysees-worlds-for-virtual-tour-de-france/ |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 06/28/2020 06:03 PM |
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| Do they add the mistral wind for Ventoux or the cobble rattle for champs? |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 06/28/2020 10:11 PM |
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They actually do increase the rolling resistance in the algorithm for dirt / cobbles....and the camera bounces.
If you have a Tacx Neo2 trainer, there is even a vibration generated when on rough roads.
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 06/29/2020 10:39 AM |
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| Needs to be wired to the HVAC to kick the heat up to a more realistic Mont Ventoux effect. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 06/29/2020 11:53 AM |
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Needs to be wired to the HVAC to kick the heat up to a more realistic Mont Ventoux effect.
I *think* you can program the Kickr fan to lower the fan speed based on speed....so you could achieve this effect if you really want. 
Side note - when I was on Ventoux in 2009, it was cold AF. Mrs. CK and I got there ~8AM, IIRC, and had to sit with out backs against the slopeside guardrails to get out of wind and not freeze. Wanna say it was in the 40's? By the time the race arrived, it had warmed up into maybe the high 60's, but definitely not what we would have expected for Ventoux. Thank god we were smart enough to pack jackets and fleece vests. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 06/29/2020 12:26 PM |
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Haha, good point CK. Taking away fan will quickly simulate heat. I rode a trainer sum total once this year and after first 5 mins quickly learned that a fan is an absolute requirement.
Anyway, for gravel rides maybe they can simulate some mud too, preventing wheels from rotating, adding 20lbs to your bike and rendering the machine into a 1x setup. I had an interesting experience with that on Friday (photos on the strava and on the FB for those who want to check it out).
Another interesting simulation may be swarms of mosquitoes. My behind is a war zone from Thursdays ride.
:-) |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 06/29/2020 12:48 PM |
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I rode a trainer sum total once this year and after first 5 mins quickly learned that a fan is an absolute requirement
I am currently running 3 fans....and it ain't enough. One pedestal fan above my screens and a fan on each side of the screens. Harder intensity rides leave me soaking wet.
I have never ridden the trainer this deep into the season (trying to continue to adhere to my Trainer Road plan) and he warrmer temps / higher humidity levels are very noiceable in my basement...even if it is still much cooler than the rest of the house. |
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eurochien
Posts:163
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| 07/04/2020 05:23 PM |
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| I just saw on VeloNews that a "virtual TdF is rolling out this week-end", and I'm wondering if anyone is following this? Who could possibly care about a virtual road race watching some animated screen. I'm a complete retro-grouch I guess but this virtual $4it does nothing for me and never will. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/04/2020 05:42 PM |
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| Haha. Nope. As you say. Not ever. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 07/05/2020 08:35 PM |
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Did the TDF say something? Sorry didn't hear. I was distracted by real sports.
I am enjoying the condensed EPL season. As OC pointed out there are other leagues, but with my cable package it's easiest to follow the EPL. Nice that the US has one good player in that league, it's been a few years (Just a few years back 3 of 20 starting goalies in the EPL were yanks, and a few field players had some very good years here and there.) Maybe those elite big body athletes who could be top pro soccer goalies now are trying to be the next Gronk or NBA small forwards.
Just an observation: Major league baseball in the US used to have the summer to itself except for olympics and world cup soccer. Not this year. All their greedy squabbling on top of just how tedious games have become may take them down a notch or two. Foreigners likely won't get this, but Baseball used to be more than entertaining sport in the US. It was important. Like soccer in Latin America or most of Europe. No other sport here had that. They've screwed the pooch.
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/07/2020 09:52 AM |
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I just saw on VeloNews that a "virtual TdF is rolling out this week-end", and I'm wondering if anyone is following this?
i watched both stages this weekend....mostly out of boredom. Been slaving away repainting / rehabbing my garage, so it served as some mindless entertainment after finishing for the day and there really wasn't a lot fo sports options available.
It is surprisingly more engaging than you would think...as was the virtual Flanders race earlier this year. They use cutaways to the riders on their bikes / trainers so you can see how hard they are digging....and comparing their wattages vs. your won on 'roads" that I know pretty well is amazing.
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/15/2020 03:08 PM |
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Reports are that it will take most riders ~90 min. to climb the virtual Ventoux. Seems about right based on some rough calculations....takes me a little less than an hour to climb the Alpe in Zwift and ventoux is ~50% longer.
Looking forward to trying it when it becomes available. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/15/2020 04:38 PM |
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A friend of mine recently posted an Alpe ride. The images look nothing like the real thing. There's something to be said for a program like Rouvy who use actual street footage is what I understand. That footage can contain cars and intersections that you can just blast through virtually for some extra fun.
And while I can understand the rationale behind a virtual Alpe, Ventoux etc. course, I don't understand why we would have a virtual TdF or a virtual Flanders race as again, it is generally agreed that these things bear no comparison to the real thing in terms of what it takes to win. Virtual racing is its own beast. |
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DonnaMobile
Posts:71
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| 07/15/2020 11:25 PM |
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| OC, I have been using Rouvy and ridden the Giau and Pordoi passes. Yes, it is indeed actual footage and looks just like the real thing! (Spectacular!) It was fun seeing all the places I know. I also used the Elite Real videos when I first bought the Elite trainer, and rode the entire Granfondo Pinarello short course. It's real footage also but it is POV; on Rouvy I watched my little avatar (though there may be POV on Rouvy too). Elite has lots of free videos, some of poor quality; the good ones need to be purchased. If I rode the trainer more I would also look into BKool, which I think is realistic also. I never had the desire to ride cartoon courses. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/16/2020 09:45 AM |
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A friend of mine recently posted an Alpe ride. The images look nothing like the real thing.
As far as the Alpe, I don't think it was ever intended to be a true-to-life replica in terms of scenery. Terrain, yes and it matches the Alpe exactly from what I have read. That said, taking the left turn to the start of the climb was instantly familiar the first time I rode it...even if the scenery did not match. And there is a Dutch Corner! 
I don't understand why we would have a virtual TdF or a virtual Flanders race as again, it is generally agreed that these things bear no comparison to the real thing in terms of what it takes to win. Virtual racing is its own beast.
I think those are just manifestations of the the time....there is no way there would have been virtual versions of these events w/o COVID19. Will they live on past this year? Who knows, but I kind of doubt it. |
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