Low watt riders of around 1wpk

General Discussion
1

I’ve been using Zwift for around 6 years and obviously I love the platform but I have one particular problem - my body’s in heart failure but my mind wants me to keep up with the fit kids!
Could we disabled users have some more options at the bottom of the scale - strategies for class E riders, more pace riders options between 1-2w per k, a low stress training setup for low ftp riders - perhaps e-class racing? Some more choice of low climb rides between 10-20 miles and 250ish of climbing - just a built environment for older or physically disabled riders trying to remember the lost days full of energy and power.

2

Great idea but remember, you can set the trainer difficulty to 0 and pedal what ever pace you want and not be constrained by hills.
not sure if there will be slower pace partners but TD of 0 helps.

1 Like
3

Thanks, yes it does!

4

You have to just shut out of your mind those fit people flying along.

I’ve been in the seriously injured state before and could barely do 100w average for 15 minutes, not long enough to even do an FTP test. Even if I wanted to try and do more I couldn’t, and I was not allowed to.

Even just getting moving (overcoming trainer resistance) was difficult. Your 10-20 miles is way more than I was able to do.

Do your own rides in workout mode at your own pace and forget about trying to keep up with others because it will break you. Ignore everyone else, perhaps have some music going, whatever. If you look at what others are doing it’ll just mess with your head because you can’t do that now (and maybe used to).

You just have to take things gradually.

1 Like
5

Thanks for your support and I’ll do what you suggest - appreciated

6

Keep up the good work @Matt_Parry :+1:

7

In 2017 was nearly completely paralysed due to nerve damage. Once my nerves recovered enough to get out of a wheelchair and ride a bike, my FTP was about 80W. The calf muscle in left leg shrunk to half of that of my right. My FTP rose to 160 after 6 months, my left leg calf size still half that of my right.

I will never win any races , no point even entering a D category as power to weight ratio it is 2.5, mine having dropped down to 1.75 and 132W now that riding a recumbent trike which puts me at a disadvantage but I dont care as prefer it on the road.

My goal is not to win races as pointless, but simply to eventually get an FTP of 250W like your average rider.

1 Like