I started my Zwift journey a couple of months ago with a spin bike, initially pairing it with a Wahoo speed and cadence sensor. This setup, however, quickly proved inadequate. I found myself easily hitting the 400w cap, which was clearly inaccurate and limited my training, especially when trying to push harder on my Fixed Gear Bike indoors.
Looking for a better solution for my fixed gear bike and Zwift, I discovered the HR2VP app. This app uses heart rate to estimate power output, and I found it worked surprisingly well on flatter Zwift routes. It seemed like a great budget-friendly option to get a feel for Zwift using my fixed gear bike. However, the limitations became apparent when I tackled hillier terrain in Zwift. During a tough virtual climb, my heart rate soared, and the resistance felt appropriately challenging. The problem arose on the virtual descent. After the intense climb, my heart rate naturally dropped as I rested. Back on flat virtual ground, even with consistent pedaling on my fixed gear bike, my avatar moved very slowly in Zwift. This was because the HR2VP app, detecting my lower heart rate (around 105bpm compared to my usual 130bpm on flats), assumed I wasn’t working hard, even though I was maintaining a solid effort on my fixed gear bike.
This inconsistency became frustrating. On one particular 70km ride, I’d completed 38km and was thoroughly enjoying the challenge. But the inaccurate power readings after the climb left me feeling deflated and hampered my progress. This experience highlighted the limitations of heart rate-based power estimation for serious Zwift training with a fixed gear bike or any indoor bike setup.
So, why am I sharing this? Because I’ve just ordered a Wahoo Kickr Core. My initial budget-conscious foray into Zwift using the HR2VP app with my fixed gear bike convinced me of Zwift’s long-term appeal. Like many others advised, a dedicated trainer significantly enhances the Zwift experience, and they were absolutely right. Initially, the cost of a £600+ trainer on top of my fixed gear bike seemed too steep to simply test the waters of Zwift.
Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend trying the HR2VP app, especially if you have a fixed gear bike (or spin bike) and a heart rate monitor. For a mere £2.50 per month, you can jump into Zwift, experience flat rides, tackle mountains, and truly gauge if you want to commit to this indoor cycling hobby. HR2VP may even be sufficient for some. However, for me, I’ve realized that I want – and arguably need – the fully immersive and accurate experience that a smart trainer provides to truly maximize my Zwift and fixed gear bike training.
