Like many, I was curious about Zwift and virtual cycling but hesitant to invest heavily upfront. Two months ago, I bought a spin bike, thinking it would be a budget-friendly entry point into this world. To get started with Zwift, I paired it with a Wahoo speed and cadence sensor. Initially, it seemed okay, but I quickly realized its limitations. The power readings were clearly inaccurate – I was supposedly hitting 400 watts easily, which felt off. It became obvious this setup wasn’t going to cut it for a truly engaging Zwift experience.
Then, I discovered the HR2VP app, which estimates power based on heart rate. For flatter Zwift routes, it worked surprisingly well. However, the cracks started to show during hill climbs. On a particularly tough virtual mountain, my heart rate soared, and the resistance appropriately ramped up, making the climb challenging and rewarding. The real issue arose on the descent and subsequent flat sections. Having exerted myself on the climb, my heart rate was lower than usual on the flats – around 105 bpm compared to my typical 130 bpm. The app misinterpreted this lower heart rate as low effort, and my avatar crawled along at a snail’s pace, even though I was pedaling with reasonable effort on the spin bike.
This was incredibly frustrating. I was 38km into a 70km ride, thoroughly enjoying the challenge, and then suddenly felt completely deflated by this technical limitation. That experience led me to ask: why am I writing this post?
Simply put, I’ve just ordered a Wahoo Kickr Core smart trainer. After my initial experiences, it became clear that if I wanted to fully embrace Zwift long-term, a dedicated trainer was the way to go.
I received the same advice many others do: a smart trainer significantly elevates the Zwift experience. And they were right. My initial reluctance stemmed from the cost – £600+ for a trainer, on top of the spin bike, felt like a significant investment just to “test the Zwift waters.”
However, for anyone in a similar position, I wholeheartedly recommend trying the HR2VP app first, especially if you already have a spin bike and a heart rate monitor. At only around £2.50 per month, it’s an incredibly affordable way to dip your toes into Zwift. Try some flat rides, tackle a virtual climb, and see if the world of virtual cycling grabs you. HR2VP might even be sufficient for your needs in the long run. But for me, I discovered that I craved – and perhaps even needed – the fully immersive experience that a smart trainer offers. While a spin bike frame served as a starting point, upgrading to a smart trainer unlocks the true potential of platforms like Zwift.
