Hi,
New here and starting to do workouts, but I seem to do something wrong because especially when I have to lower the cadence to go for a lower wattage I seem to frequently “over-trap” in the void. I have to stop pedaling for a moment and pick up again, but even than it is hard to keep the slow cadence and not starting to lose tension on the chain.
Is this a known behavior? Any advise?
Thank you
Which trainer do you have? Because if it’s a smart trainer, despite what the very unhelpful on-screen prompts might say, you should keep your cadence constant unless you have a specific cadence target in the workout block. Because otherwise if you reduce cadence, the trainer will increase resistance (the opposite of what happens when riding outside, so it’s counterintuitive), and you can end up in the “spiral of death”.
If have Wahoo KICKR CORE with Zwift Ride Smart Frame. It is indeed the software that prompting to increase the cadence.
I’ve never heard the term “trapping in the void” or “over trap” in the void and I can’t understand “losing tension on the chain”. Is that the same as the ERG spiral of death? Very confused.
Can you explain more what happening here, please?
Since you’re using a smart trainer, when the workout wattage target changes the trainer will adjust if you keep the same cadence (and also don’t change gear), though it might take a couple of seconds to do so. Don’t be tempted to pedal slower when the target decreases, otherwise as I said the trainer will increase resistance accordingly.
I think the issue is more or less as you explained. Zwift is giving a notification to change the cadence to meet the wattage once you reach an target arch. But as I now understand you just keep pedaling at the same speed and the trainer will adjust. It is especially a problem when doing the cool down below 60 watt. But I am going to give it a try. Thank you!
You might be reading too much Nietzsche during your cooldowns. Have seen this before, but called it ‘the abyss’.