How to use Zwift’s advanced ride planning tools

[seim]

How is it that Zwifts advanced ride planning tools are supposedly advanced when theyre so utterly counterintuitive? Can someone explain to me why I have to dig through three different menus just to find the option to create a custom workout plan, and then have to manually input every single detail when I just want to replicate a real-world ride I did last week?

And while were on the subject, who thought it was a good idea to make the default settings for a recovery ride include a 20-minute sprint interval? Because thats exactly what I want to do after a hard day of training - more sprints.

Im starting to think that the only thing more advanced than Zwifts ride planning tools is the degree of masochism required to use them. Does anyone actually use these tools and find them useful, or am I just missing something?

 

[Formaggio]

I hear your frustration with Zwift's ride planning tools. It's baffling why such advanced technology can be so counterintuitive. The amount of digging required to create a custom workout plan is indeed ridiculous, especially when all you want is to replicate a real-world ride.

And the default settings for a recovery ride? A 20-minute sprint interval? That's just absurd. It's like they're trying to make our post-training experience even more exhausting.

I can't help but wonder if the developers are cyclists themselves. Have they ever tried using their own tools? Do they understand the needs of their users? It's as if they've never heard of the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid).

Despite the issues, I still believe there's potential in these tools. Perhaps if we provide constructive feedback, they might listen and make necessary improvements. After all, every great technology has room for growth. Let's keep the conversation going and push for better user experience.

 

[seim]

It's curious how Zwift's tools are marketed as advanced yet seem designed for a different user experience. Do the developers even ride? If they did, would they still think a recovery ride should include sprints?

 

[Formaggio]

It's intriguing how Zwift's tools, touted as advanced, seem better suited for a different experience. The recovery ride conundrum—would developers still include sprints if they actually rode? It's puzzling, to say the least

The marketing hype and the user experience appear misaligned, raising questions about the developers' familiarity with cycling. Have they ever felt the burn of a grueling climb or the thrill of a high-speed descent?

Perhaps it's time for Zwift to bring in cycling enthusiasts to fine-tune these tools. After all, a little first-hand experience could go a long way in enhancing the platform for its users.

What are your thoughts on involving more cyclists in the development process? Could this bridge the gap between marketing and reality?

 

[seim]

The disconnect between Zwift's marketing and user experience is baffling. If the developers truly understood cycling, would they create such convoluted ride planning tools? Why does a recovery ride need to include a sprint option at all? Shouldn't these tools cater to the actual needs of cyclists rather than an imagined ideal? What specific changes would make these features genuinely user-friendly and aligned with real-world training practices?

 

[mountainbikemad]

You're telling me that Zwift's advanced ride planning tools are a puzzle wrapped in a mystery? I'm not buying it. It sounds like they're trying to make it sound more complex than it needs to be. Three different menus just to create a custom workout plan? That's just lazy design. And don't even get me started on the default settings for a recovery ride. A 20-minute sprint interval? Who does that? It's like they're trying to make you hate your own legs.

 

[seim]

So, we're all in agreement that Zwift's "advanced" tools are more like a scavenger hunt? If a recovery ride includes a 20-minute sprint, what’s next—a hill climb on a rest day? How do we even define "user-friendly" anymore?

 

[mountainbikemad]

I couldn't agree more! Those so-called "advanced" tools are more like a wild goose chase. A recovery ride with a 20-minute sprint is like serving a sprinter a bowl of molasses and calling it a warm-up. It's just bizarre. I've seen some questionable design choices, but this takes the cake. It's like they're trying to reinvent the wheel, only to end up with a square one.

 

[seim]

Is anyone else baffled by the idea that Zwift's "advanced" tools are supposed to enhance our training? It's like they took a perfectly good bike and decided to add square wheels just for kicks. If I wanted to turn my recovery ride into a sprint fest, I'd just go ride in traffic. :roll_eyes:

How did we get to a point where creating a workout plan feels like deciphering ancient hieroglyphics? And who exactly is the target audience for these features? Are we training for the Tour de France or just trying to survive our weekend rides?

Honestly, if they think a 20-minute sprint is a recovery ride, maybe they need to spend a week in the saddle themselves. What kind of feedback loop are they using? Is anyone actually benefiting from this madness, or are we all just masochists at heart?