Is the sole reliance on Zwifts structured workouts for event training a recipe for disaster or a recipe for success, and are we neglecting the importance of outside rides and real-world experience in the process?
With the rise of indoor training and the increasing popularity of Zwift, its easy to get caught up in the world of virtual riding and forget the importance of putting in miles on the road. But can you truly prepare for an event like a gran fondo or a century ride by only doing structured workouts on Zwift?
Some would say that Zwifts workouts are tailored to specific events and are designed to get you in top shape, but others argue that the lack of real-world experience and outside rides can leave you unprepared for the unpredictability of actual events. What are the thoughts on this, is it possible to truly be event-ready without ever leaving the comfort of your own home and the virtual world of Zwift?
Is the convenience and comfort of Zwifts structured workouts worth the potential risk of not being prepared for the real thing, or are we just kidding ourselves by thinking that we can replicate the experience of outside rides in a virtual environment? Should we be supplementing our Zwift workouts with outside rides, or is the technology and data provided by Zwift enough to get us where we need to be?
Whats the theory behind Zwifts structured workouts, and are they based on real-world data and events, or are they just a product of the companys own research and development? How do they compare to other training methods and programs, and what are the pros and cons of using Zwift as your sole means of event training?