I think it’s fair to say that after this ride, I’m extremely tired. It’s the longest ride I’ve done in quite a while. I’m not entirely sure how long ago it was that I last rode for more than an hour, but recently my rides have been around the 45-minute mark.
This ride was almost like doing two sessions in one. It didn’t exactly feel like double the effort during the ride, but it certainly felt harder than what I’ve been used to lately.
I like the idea of doing a climbing ride on Saturdays because I usually have more time, and I prefer to do them as free rides where you never really know how long they’re going to take. For this ride, I picked the Base Camps route on Training Peaks Virtual.
The route is 30 kilometres long with 600 metres of climbing, split across two main climbs. There’s about a 5-kilometre lead-in before the first climb, which is relatively short. After that, there’s another 5-kilometre stretch before you hit the second climb, which is more substantial.
The second climb accounts for roughly 550 metres of the total elevation gain. I think that’s roughly equivalent to doing the Epic KOM on Zwift, at least in terms of altitude. The visuals, however, aren’t quite the same.
Graphics By A Developer
Out of the three big cycling simulators I’ve tested—Zwift, MyWoosh, and now TrainingPeaks Virtual—I would definitely say, and I think the developers would agree, that TrainingPeaks Virtual is easily the least visually appealing of the three.
I believe this is something that could be relatively easy to fix. There are likely optimisations they could make around the in-game assets, such as the trees, the textures for grass, snow, and similar elements. Right now, these visuals are quite basic. It gives the impression that the development team behind this platform is highly capable but more developer-focused, with visual design taking a back seat.
There’s a phrase in development, “designed by a developer,” and the visual experience here certainly feels that way. This is especially noticeable when compared to something like MyWoosh, which is extremely visual and polished. Zwift, while somewhat basic, has its own charm and character.
TrainingPeaks Virtual, however, feels ripe for a graphical overhaul. If, or when, they make these improvements, I believe this platform has the most potential among the three.
More Bloody Drop Outs
One issue I suffered from greatly today was connection dropouts. I’m not entirely sure which part of the setup is causing it. Mid-ride, I tried reconfiguring things to ensure I wasn’t using Bluetooth for any connections, switching everything over to ANT+. I also tried moving my Garmin head unit farther away from the bike, as I’ve found in the past that if my hands get anywhere near the head unit, I can experience connectivity issues. Additionally, I disconnected Bluetooth on my phone, but unfortunately, none of these adjustments had any impact.
To make matters worse, I also had a mechanical issue with the bike. The cables need tightening to remove slack, and as a result, my gear indexing is pretty bad. The one gear I really wanted to use—the one I find most comfortable—was completely unavailable, which made the ride even more challenging.
On top of that, I’m fairly certain the trainer realism setting is set to 50%. I remember seeing this as an option in the menu system. There’s just no way that the climbs I tackled today were at their realistic resistance level for the gradients.
Slightly Better Views Up Top
One nice thing about today’s ride was the view when I was up in the snowy, higher-altitude portion of the map. Because there’s so little on the screen aside from the snowy plateaus, you can see for quite a long way. I was able to make out a number of other routes available in that area.
The TrainingPeaks map is split into two distinct sections. The left half of the map features flatter terrain—not completely flat, of course—but it’s more like the typical roads you’d find on most cycling simulators. The right half of the map is like the Alps, full of snowy peaks and mountain climbs, with plenty of routes to explore.
At the moment, I don’t feel anywhere close to being able to tackle the higher climbs on this map. I’m not sure what the highest peak in the game is, but right now, I’m maxing out around the 600-metre mark. Anything higher than that would really push me beyond my current limits. It’s a bit disappointing, as I’m far below where I used to be, but on the flip side, I’m doing much better than I have been recently. This ride felt like a good step forward.
Today’s climb was the type I actually enjoy—steady and consistent gradients. The only breaks were short plateau sections at the switchbacks, but the rest was fairly uniform. On climbs like this, I find it easier to settle into a rhythm and just focus mentally. It’s tough, but I can at least find a groove and keep going, which made this attempt feel satisfying overall.
Anyway, as I mentioned, I’m really tired after that ride. I’m glad I pushed through and completed it, but I’m definitely ready for a well-earned rest now.
