Not sure I fully agree. Taking the OW analogy further, I could PAYG at my local lake but I actual take out an annual membership that is not far off the annual cost of Zwift. I provide the wetsuit and the pull-buoy, they provide the platform (water) and a few add-ons (course marking, boat cover, social events, a coffee shop).
I could seek out a free stretch of water and not pay for OW swimming, but I pay for the convenience and safety of swimming at a commercial venue.
Zwift is the Facebook of trainer platforms. It has the user base, if you want to race or ride socially very difficult to go elsewhere. For structured training rides there are better platforms IMO.
I’m a bit like MW, I enjoy the racing and it motivates me to go a bit harder in a session when I wouldn’t normally. Previously had a Powerbeam where you could program in your set and it would control the resistance, it was a lot easier to bail than when you are chasing virtual people.
Without Zwift races there is basically no way I would do any intensity in my training. It motivates me so is worth the money.
And bagged a in the zRacing on Queen’s Highway After Party tonight, new course and a good one for me with 5 laps of the lumpy Queens Highway circuit then finishing up the KOM
With this price increase and a few others trying to get into the space it might shift some away to other platforms, enough that they are good enough much cheaper or free.
Given I don’t Zwift over summer I’m willing to try them all out and see if any are good. If not, I’ll re-sign up in September.
I’m using Zwift at least 4 or 5 days a week all year round ( short training rides outdoors don’t make sense where I live because you’re just battling with the traffic for the first and last 30 minutes of the ride ), so it still represents good value for me.
The issue is how much it’s going up in one go. Not too much in absolute terms, but a big price hike in % terms
The Grade climb looks good.
Finally making use of the data from 800k people who’ve done an FTP test to make assumptions on your FTP from just an 8 minute climb.
in the zRacing on Queen’s Highway After Party tonight, new course and a good one for me with 5 laps of the lumpy Queens Highway circuit then finishing up the KOM
), so it still represents good value for me.
