Since after the summer I don’t think I have looked at the planner and I haven’t done a single workout. Approx 1 zwift race per week. Other than that mostly group rides (outside or zwift) and commutes. Mostly but not always I keep an eye on the buckets on none race days. Not as strong as I was 20 years ago, but I have a few 10 year power bests these past few months.
Not sure why I haven’t raced (much) on Zwift before, but that and (magic) buckets have been great for pushing a bit more. And I do still use EBC on Android for easy Erg mode days, but those are not “real” workouts.
While completely off topic, one of my current favorite features of Xert is the difficulty rating. I usually sweep on Zwift group rides and some days I feel like dying despite a low average. Then it’s nice seeing that Xert agrees the ride was difficult.
Since the inception of Magic Buckets, when outdoors, rather than following exact intervals, I just fill all the buckets – mainly because I often miss the initial interval instruction summary when clipping in, and don’t see anywhere on Xert on Garmin 1040 where I can review the interval instruction & objective mid-ride
Magic Bucket is super nice and the reason i went for the 1040 when my old Edge 520 broke. I like doing group rides on Zwift and outdoors I find it hard to do structured intervals. But making sure to fill up the buckets is easy
I haven’t ridden outdoors in a while but if I recall correctly as long as you haven’t started a recording the initial summary guidelines remain on screen.
Once the recording starts that info clears.
Mid-ride you’ve likely altered those guidelines so all you need to know is estimated interval count left and recommended target watts. Challenge Level determines interval duration and how difficult you decide to make them.
Magic buckets are what convinced me to convert my trial to the annual plan. I have been using it on group rides with my friends and love the flexibility it offers. I can be social and still hit the required training.
Here’s a few screens at the same time with EBC performing the workout. In this case, the workout had a bunch of sprints that have to be done in slope (mixed) mode so prefer to do them in EBC and can display on Rouvy or Zwift or watch a video for motivation. Helps to have a big screen. Perhaps it’s just me but I find watching a video more motivating. Seems like Zwift is preferred as a backdrop for doing workouts. Curious to know why.
I think it’s because Zwift presents the workouts very clearly and with useful sounds. It just makes it very easy to see what interval is next, when it will arrive (visible arch), when it starts (sound), etc.
The “social” aspect is also motivating and useful. Doing a workout in a group on Zwift is just fun. There is also motivation in seeing other riders ahead to catch, etc. Also the convenient messaging. It’s just a very easy platform to use.
The only thing missing is the start and end power for ramps. Well, support for Xert SMART intervals or at least curved ramp approximations would be the icing on the cake.
Also (of course), Zwift has an Apple TV version to do all this on a big screen!
And I do still use EBC on Android for easy Erg mode days, but those are not “real” workouts.
Perhaps it’s just me but I find watching a video more motivating. Seems like Zwift is preferred as a backdrop for doing workouts. Curious to know why.
