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Using indoor trainer much harder than outdoors or in Zwift

plastekasper
over 4 years ago

Hi,

I just received a Edge 530 and paired it with my Wahoo Kickr Core. I calibrated the unit and set all the values like HR-zones, wheel-size, weight etc. according to the settings in Zwift and the Wahoo app. Then I chose a training with a track, that I recently did outdoors. Halfway in the training I had to quit because I couldn't stand the load on the climbs.

At 10% incline I had to do 400W+ to even turn the pedals which at 230W FTP is quite hard ;-). In open training mode (without a track) the same say 150W feel much harder than in both Zwift and Wahoo app.

Do you have any idea if this is normal or do I have to make a setting I forgot?

Thank you!

Heiko

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    400 W at 10% incline is nothing special, it depends on the speed you are riding. If it is too hard you normally change to a lower gear and then the power decrease at the same cadence. Is the 400 W required in your lowest gear at 10%? Then thats not normal.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Thanks for your reply. 

    Yes, I am already in the lowest gear. Same incline in the same gear results in 300-320 W in Zwift. But I don’t presume that I can compare Zwift to Garmin 1:1. Its just that 150W on Garmin is not equal to 150W in Zwift or Wahoo.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    regularly trainers are somewhat tougher than outdoor riding. Training on your kickr vs training outside can feel harder since on the trainer you don't have physical advantage (even the lowest little downhills save watts outdoor). So it's somewhat normal. 

    Plus, every indoor training handles incline a bit differently, in order to set a given resistance, it firsts bite "harder" to measure your legs input and then adjust accordingly. That can also be tougher but that's the beauty of indoor training for fitness/strength 

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    The default in Zwift is for difficulty to be set at 50%, so a 10% incline only feels like 5% (the speed is adjust as well, so you go up the hill at the correct speed).

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Ok, I understand the difference between indoor and outdoor training. I'm also aware that different software handle inclines differently - good point with the difficulty setting in Zwift.

    But I think what really disturbs me is the point, that as I said 150W in Zwift and Wahoo feel equal but with the Edge it feels like 170-180W. I am looking for the setting or the reason why it is like it is ;)