No please read this carefully from a manufacturer of trainers. It’s to do with being able to spin in a high cadende during recovery without every session being a resistance session.
SUPPORT MESSAGE
The Zwift Cog and Click have 24 virtual gear but physically have a single ring
This cause that even if the virtual gear is at 1, so trainer is at the minumm resistance the COG is a single ring with 14 theeth, so it means as you are using the smallest gear of a standard cassette, so the gear is not agaile
With the use of a normal cassette you will have the possibility to change the gear, so physically use a different ring with more teeth, making the gear more agile and the pedaling more easy
So you’re saying that a trainer manufacturer is saying not to use the Zwift Cog but to use a normal cassette with virtual shifting? Sounds like that kinda defeats one of the main benefits of using the Cog.
I will only say one of two with the Zwift cog attached! I didn’t realise this was going to be public but now I know. Basically the words you have quoted back to me are their exact words. This came about because I felt on the Zwift cog, as a beginner on indoors (experienced enough outdoors) I found I couldn’t spin the legs even on a flat Zwift ride without erg. So my training is either cycling (up and down hills, and flats in the Bannau Brycheiniog) OR strength training in the gym (thinks Dylan Johnson). The middle ground of pushing with the legs ie resistance training is not the most scientific way forward, I am led to believe by my research and his. So I found I was having to push even on the flat with my legs on the trainer. HR was remaining low so its possible that I am fit cardiovascular wise (ultra fell runner) but lacking specific leg strength for cycling. Remember I cycle outside, with many smaller (and larger) hills, which involves freewheeling. So a trainer session is continuous for me. I am used to continuous sessions running but maybe my legs (eg hamstrings) need to catch up. One early workout session I did new to Zwift this week was introducing various zones…with ERG. I found it was tops 10/10 for my legs but never that level of rpe for my lungs/cardio system. Today I did my first session with my new 11-32 cassette on. It was bliss. I could recover with high cadence and light resistance, or low cadence with light resistance. I don’t really know why I couldn’t have such an exp6with the cog. If I am right, ERG mode holds you to a certain power output. That will still happen with my cassette so I have to try that yet. Otherwise it’s SIM mode, which I used for the flat free ride, 2 days ago with the Zwift cog (just about doable pushing on the legs but if I had hit a hill,then no way). Then today SIM mode on my cassette which was like taking it relatively easy and enjoyable like outdoors and completeling the ride in the average Zwifters time with little effort. I emphasize I have no in depth understanding of Zwift and it has been a steep learning curve, but I do generally understand the science behind training. I am only just beginning to think about my cycling in terms of power, which I believe is torque x cadence. I need to do an FTP test soon. I may go back to the Zwift cog once more experienced on the trainer. It is a specific activity. So you have the exact words from the helpline of the trainer, and my interpretation of it. You will have to make your own interpretation, all I can say is, extensive research of forums and emails to Zwift and Elite this week led me to putting a cassette on in the belief it would make the ride better for me, and on a flat free ride SIM mode, it has definitely. I need to try it on ERG mode. Bump me here in a few days and I will know!
Replying by email to this post which I believe ends up on the Zwift forums? (I didn’t know this initially hence not knowing it was public! I thought I was replying to a Zwift ambassador about help!) Anyway, let me know if this post goes up as here is further email text exactly as the trainer manufacturer said about the Zwift cog. .
We would like to inform you that the limitation you have experienced with your Direct Drive trainer equipped with the Cog is related to its use in ERG mode under conditions of high cadence and low resistance without a real gear system.
In these scenarios, the flywheel’s rotational speed increases significantly, resulting in higher resistance due to friction. Since the Cog only allows the use of the virtual gear system, it is not possible to sufficiently adjust the resistance to achieve lower power outputs, making low-resistance training difficult. For example, at a cadence of 90/100 rpm, the trainer cannot reach 100W because the resistance caused by friction exceeds this power level.
Unfortunately, this type of training is not feasible under the described conditions.