Stages SB20 - Zwift Cockpit

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 My Zwift Cockpit (with updates)


























What's Here?

  1. Stages SB20 Smart Bike
  2. Left iPad: Stages Cycling App.  Shows virtual gear, L:R pedal balance, 1s Watts and Cadence
  3. Right iPad: Zwift app. iPad 9th generation - all that's currently needed for optimum Zwift performance
  4. Wireless charger for iPhone. Useful for showing the Zwift companion app in group rides
  5. Garmin Computer.

Why a Garmin Computer?

Zwift automatically records speed, distance, cadence and power. Much of this is based on Zwift's internal physics model that includes calculations for road surfaces, hills and wind resistance. Nice but it doesn't include:
  • L:R balance and pedalling dynamics data.
  • Data that Garmin uses for TSS and IF metrics plus ongoing V02 Max estimates.
  • Warm-up and warm down segments. I do a lot of Zone 2 training.  My warm-up and warm-down is a significant part of my workout. I want to see this data.
I use a Garmin computer to record all my workouts, winter and summer. The power and cadence numbers recorded by a Garmin computer for an event/workout are identical to Zwift's.  Speed and distance are different. Garmin doesn't see hills or other modelled elements. Here's what the Garmin computer records
  • Same metrics for all indoor and outdoor rides.
  • Analysis, with the same tools, in a consistent manner, all year long.
  • Records warmups and cool-down works segments.  Most app like Zwift just record the "main event".  Useful when tracking things like Z2 efforts.  

Who is right?  Garmin or Zwift?  


Saving to connect.garmin.com

I use the free connect.garmin.com service for saving all my workouts. In return, I get consistent TSS, IF and ongoing V02 Max calculations.  I can also download any associated TCX file for further analysis. 


Intervals.icu and Golden Cheetah

I use the free Intervals.icu and  GoldenCheetah.org tools to analyze data and plan future workouts.  Each pulls data directly from connect.garmin.com.

Overkill?

More data = more power.  More power = more speed in Zwift. Literally and figuratively.

=== UPDATE October 2023 ===

I have added cushier handlebar tape and Zwift Play controllers.  



Here's how I made these controllers attach more firmly ZWIFT PLAY CONTROLLER - Better Fit .

The SB20 "blip" buttons are now on the top bar.  Each is extended with rubber pads that extend through the bar tape.




The buttons are configured to work consistently with the Stages Dream Drive 1 x 25 virtual gearing. 

Left buttons switches to a (-) smaller gear.  The right buttons switch to a (+) higher gear. 

For a deeper dive on how all these devices work together, see my post Wireless is Good - and Complicated. 

=== UPDATE March 2024 ===

I wrote my own iPad app that shows gear, cadence, L:R and HR with easy-to-read numbers and hi-res history graphs.  It replaces the Stages Cycling app I had been using previously for gear display.

Features include:
  • Key riding metrics are displayed in large fonts that are colour-coded relative to FTP and max HR so you can read them at a glance.
  • No more jumpy power numbers like we see in most apps. With some intelligent filtering, the Stages power meters are both rock-steady and responsive.
  • Set favourite gears with a single touch. Useful for sprints where you (should) have an optimal sprinting gear.  
  • Selectable audio tones for each gear shift. Includes different sounds for higher, lower and multiple gear changes. Also has special sounds for gears set as favourites.
  • Graphs for power and heart rate follow the thresholds used in Zwift. No jagged data traces thanks to smart filtering.
  • Works on older iPads running iOS 15.0 and higher. Great way to give life hand-me-down devices.
  • Battery Test function shows battery levels for all supported Bluetooth devices with a single press. Includes Stage power meters (and others) along with most heart rate monitors. Great for pre-race checkups.
Finally I got what I was looking for. The app is called GearView.


⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

GearView for iPad and iPhone is available in the Apple App Store. 


Support: https://gearviewsupport.blogspot.com/

Have questions? Contact: support@GearView.online 







 

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