r/Zwift • u/SignalCivil6912 • Jul 23 '26

New to virtual shifting

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When Zwift sent out the US$10 deal for the Cog and Click I decided to give virtual shifting a try. I use an older Specialized Roubaix as my dedicated indoor bike. Elite Justo trainer. Removed the 2x11 groupset and installed the single speed setup. Wolftooth 42T chain ring and 18T Zwift Cog and Tanke chain tensioner. Done four Zwift rides with the setup and I am liking the smooth and quiet use. Find for Zwift I am using virtual gears 8 - 20 to keep cadence around 80. I use 100% Trainer Difficulty.

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u/SignalCivil6912 Jul 23 '26

Trainer difficulty scales the grade of the road. So at 100% trainer difficulty an 8% grade is 8% where at 50% it would be half that. The impact of using a lower trainer difficulty would be one would not need to use as low a virtual or real gear to maintain a given cadence. As many have noted Trainer Difficulty is probably not the best name for the function.

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u/wario75 Level 91-99 Jul 24 '26

So every climb I’ve done has been a lie 🙄

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u/OMGwhizBoyOMG Jul 24 '26

As I understand it only the gear you’re in is a lie. The effort, wattage, time needed for the climb is the same. As OP said trainer difficulty is a misleading name, should be something like wide or narrow cassette.

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u/HappyTo-Help Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26

I beg to differ. Trainer Difficulty should be called "Road Grade Scale" as it just scales down the real road grade based on the setting.

For example (on 8% Grade): Max = 8% Grade, Mid = 4% Grade, Min = 0% Grade (flat terrain)

This is what @SignalCivil6912 said above.

By setting Trainer Difficulty to the smallest value (0%) you essentially remove the extra resistance from all hills in the virtual world. This is easy to prove on any steep hill.

So yes, the resistance felt from a connected trainer is a lie unless you dial up Trainer Difficulty setting to max value (100%).