Why is there a difference between just riding a climb and riding in ‘Free ride’ within a workout?
What do you mean by that? Can you provide an example? My guess, though, is that when ‘free riding’ a climb you are subject to all of the gradient changes of the road, as though you were riding it outside (SIM mode). But, when in a ‘free ride’ section of a workout, you are actually in ‘incline mode’, where it’s like going up a steady grade (which you can increase or decrease), so you don’t experience the changes in road gradient. During workouts, this prevents the rider from the situation of encountering a downhill during a free ride segment and running out of gears (or needing to shift constantly to account for road gradient changes).
Thanks, yes, that’s what happened. I thought that in free mode with erg disabled that it was like riding a climb. I now realise it isn’t. I think the work around for a climb that is not ‘generally available’ is to make a short workout, select the climb you want and then, when the workout ends you stay on the climb
You could also just pick any workout, and then skip through all of the intervals until the end.
This used to be the necessary work around. However a recent ZCA update now allows you to ‘Plan’ your rides and select and save most routes from any world so that it is on your home page ready to load next time you go in game. No workout necessary at all. [For the past two years you have been able to do this using ZCA ‘My List’ facility. ]
Right, that probably explains the riders I saw yesterday on Ven 10 without the workout icon next to their name
Another way is to setup your own private club in Zwift then create an event and ride privately. This avoids having to do a 1 minute workout and having to skip that.
Both methods work well, until someone decides that’s not a good social experience and blocks these workarounds.
Many thanks to everyone who offered advice - much appreciated