Some more thoughts on trainer difficulty settings for Zwift
As I have written before, I use my trainer diffiiculty at 70% or more. Every time I try a lower difficulty setting, my performance in races decreases. However, when I read the various articles, in theory a lower trainer difficulty setting should be better for races, why? In really simple terms, the lower the trainer difficulty, the lower the VI, the lower the VI the lower the apparent effort. However, there is a downside to a lower trainer difficulty in races: Races are not run on an even power output, the leaders will put in massive effort on the hills to split the pack - there is not much point doing this on the flat as the draft effect is too big. With a low trainer difficulty, the hills may not be apparent, and the first you realise that a surge is going on is when the pack disappears into the distance… as a result, most Zwift racers have the difficulty set around 30%
This all makes sense, so why do I prefer a higher difficulty setting? I don’t have a complete answer yet, however, I think that it has to do with my style of swift riding. Taking a comparison of my ride in the recent KOA sports league and @Daz. I know that Daz has his difficulty set to 30%, while mine was set to 80% for this race. My AP was 327w and NP 332w, so VI was 1.01, Daz did 297AP and 315NP, so VI was 1.06. Despite having my trainer difficulty cranked right up, my VI was much lower.
I am more of a diesel engine, I use my gears a lot to keep my power relatively stable, and I end up riding at the front of the peloton a lot. But due to this riding style, I am less responsive to sudden surges, I therefore need to feel the slight changes in gradient as quickly as possible to give me maximum time to respond, take away some of that trainer difficulty and I am at risk of missing the break. Daz on the other hand is a sprinter, I suspect that he sits in the pack doing what he needs to keep in position, constanly changing his power, dropping back and surging. When the pack hits the hills, he puts in a big effort to keep his place… maybe he even leads the break aways on the inclines. When we get to the final sprint, I’ve got no amunition, I am happy to push 500w for the final 2km, but what I can’t do is push 1000w for the final 250m, I simply don’t have the strength
Conclusion: Its too simple to say that a low trainer difficulty setting is always better (for races). If you are a good sprinter, then undoubtedly its the way to go, however, if you are like me, with a big engine and no top end then a high trainer difficulty setting may work better for you
I’m still waiting for a race where I can beat @daz I think that it needs to involve a very long climb
Think I’m approx 11k in.
