BikeErg and Zwift connection question

[Slothful1]

Hi Lauren

The difference is because Zwift is trying to simulate an experience close to real world. So taking your height, weight and power output into account, it then uses the virtual elevation changes to adjust your pace in Zwift. On the PM5, there is no change in elevation or allowance for your weight and height, so you normally get a longer distance recorded.

I've noticed that flat Zwift routes with drafting of other riders, ends up roughly close to the Zwift distance. But as soon as you throw a virtual hill into the mix, the records will differ dramatically. On the other side of the coin a long descent will rack up the Zwift kilometres with the PM5 barely moving (e.g. if you're not pedalling). My 100km on the PM5 in December only gave me 38km on Zwift, but it included the 1219 metres of virtual elevation.

This tripped me up a couple of times when I started, because I would underestimate how much the hills slow me down, and go off at a pace I thought I could sustain for an hour, only to discover I was on a 2+ hour ride!

Dave

[Boooooo]

"ErgData (and the PM5) assumes a flat road with no wind variable."
Basically every in-game situation that (try to) emulate the real environment conditions (elevation wind resistance etc) will reduce the meters PM5 showing

[lionwheeler]

Just Uploaded Zwift (free trial) to use with the bikeerg to add some motivation to indoor training, not the ideal match i know but really struggling to find a similar free app to ride a course especially to have some visual & virtual cues rather than just a PM5 display. Tried RGT but my old Ipad air is not compatible as older IOS than 13.

completed 30 min of first ride, lots of data a appreciate its going to take some time to be familiar with it but what really frustrated me was i didn't know how long the ride was, I could see speed, elapsed time Watts etc.. etc but really what I wanted to know was how far I had travelled and how much of the course was remaining all the data rather meaningless unless you know how far your going to estimate how long its going to take. I would have liked to complete the London circuit to finish rather than just 30 mins but just did'nt know how much longer it would take.

Am I missing something ?? Its a first trial so all a bit confusing

[Slothful1]

The first ride involves a tutorial to help people get familiar with the product, and it can be confusing because you start with a minimalist display that doesn't look like the end result that you normally use. The other issue is that if the tutorial isn't completed, then you have to go through it all again!

You do mention that you were on London, which implies you've done the tutorial, and could choose a course.

The normal start interface lets you choose different routes from Watopia and the 2 guest worlds in place on the day. There is info about length and elevation, but you have to estimate your own time (which you start getting a feel for after a while). To play it safe, you could start with a flatter route, and then start adding more elevation on later rides to see the impact on the total time.

It would be a nice feature to have estimated time for target watts and your physical characteristics, but unfortunately nothing exists in the game for that at this stage.

Dave

[lionwheeler]

Thanks for that reply Dave, although raises more questions, assuming it was the tutorial, with the 25km of free trial time available to me i don't know that i would be able to complete it in any case. Its not clear when you start that if you have to access Zwift with a PC to access the full 7 day trial period.
Must be simple answer, obvious answer but how do you connect a PC, laptop screen etc to be visible on the bikeerg while cycling ? I bought the tablet holder for this purpose but it's not capable of holding a bigger screen other than a than a large tablet.

[Slothful1]

I think the total tutorial on Watopia might be less than 10km. I did it a while back, but seem to remember it being on the main Watopia loop which is less than 10km.

I use a laptop on a music stand slightly to one side of the monitor. There are some specialist monitor stands that are used at the Zwift public events, which hold large flat screen TVs, but I haven't investigated where to find them for when I upgrade the laptop to a dedicated PC / screen combo in future. When I ride I balance my iPad between the handle bar adjuster and the PM5 to watch movies. Hasn't fallen off yet, but does cover most of the PM5 (but then I use ErgData on a phone holder above the PM5 which solves that problem).

I don't think you'd be wasting money if you signed up for 1 month of Zwift. You can cancel during that month, so at least you give yourself a full month to try out all the options. The 25km is probably just to make sure your equipment is working and the environment looks appealing enough to proceed to the next step.

Dave

[nwzwift2]

I have no problems. I use the apple tv and zwift installed on the apple TV. The TV picks up my bike every time. Its less reliable with getting a heart rate from my apple watch - this works sometimes if I run the zwift companion app on my phone and watch. The heart rate is hit or miss but it always senses the bike. I have a sudpicion the bike erg is harder than an exercise bike as people often pass me going much faster even when I pedal really hard. Its a fun experience and works for joy rides, the workouts also seem to hard to complete, I just cant get the watts on the erg. maybe its me.. good luck!

[Boooooo]

not have a smart trainer as comparison but likely bikeerg is 20% "harder" This is due to the particular (unique) way bikeerg take the power data (from the air)

[hornetfan]

FWIW I have just got a BikeERG and have being doing Zwift for a couple of weeks now, and have really enjoyed it. I managed to connect via my laptop (Surface) easily, and use the Zwift Companion on my phone, it all works perfectly. The issue I have is with Erg Data, it is unreliable and doesn't connect easily.

[Boooooo]

hi
I believe you can't have the PM5 bluetooth connected at the same time to Erg Data app and another app (need one connection be ant+)

Also for quick PM5 connection to Erg Data app have noticed need to toggle on GPS on the smartphone lol. Seems crazy but with GPS global setting toggled off Erg Data app will not "see" PM5 available