Fulgaz TT experience

[Kevin Scheerer]

I thought I would write a little review on my FulGaz experience this past weekend.

As some of you (or all of you) may know, the OCA has arranged to put on a Virtual Time Trial series, but they are using the FulGaz platform instead of Zwift. Cycling Canada has arranged a free 1 month trial for the use of the platform, which will get you into two of the TT's for free. The event is free from OCA, the only cost would be using the FulGaz platform.

You may not know about this trainer platform, so I will give you a full run-down. FulGaz is a Virtual Cycling platform, similar to Zwift, RGT or Rouvy. Unlike Zwift and RGT it uses real video of roads - the same as Rouvy. The road simulation is quite accurate, at least from what I have seen so far... I haven't ridden any roads, I'm familiar with (I heard that Bamberg loop is available, so will give that a try and give you my opinion on that later). I did the first TT this past weekend and it definitely has an accurate road feel... 6 and 7% grades at speed hurt a lot. I completed the TT course in the morning ... with a 295w average (17.7 km 440m climb @ 4% grade average). HOwever, I realized after I finished the TT that my time was EXACTLY the same as my leisurely pace pre-ride the day before. What I didn't realize is that FulGaz has a setting on the software that allows three options: STEADY, REACTIVE, or CHALLENGE. (I didn't spend time reading all the introductory emails - BIG mistake). What this does is change the speed of the video. In steady mode, the video plays at the speed it was filmed. (for this route the person who filmed it took 53:56 to do the 17.7 km course). So, if you ride it in steady mode, it doesn't matter how hard you ride, it takes exactly the same length of time. In reactive mode, the video speed changes as your wattage increases. It will finish the ride in the same amount of time that you would take in real life. (It's kind of funny when you're going way faster than the other rider who filmed... pedestrians on the side of the road look like they are in an old silent film -- walking freaky fast.) The scenery is going by at the speed you would expect for the speed and effort you're using though. This is supposed to be the default selection - which I didn't realize (because I neglected to read the info) so when I changed that for my pre-ride I didn't change it back. In challenge mode, it's the same as reactive, except you can use this to compare your time with a training partner... either one of your previous rides, a friend's ride of the same course, or even an AI that you program for time to cover the route. That sounds interesting and I will have to give my impressions on that when I get more time to experiment with the software.

My impressions of the software is ... moderate. The information for the settings is buried rather deep in the Help Menu online... it doesn't really explain it on the software when making changes.

One thing that is different than ZWIFT - in ZWIFT the default setting for Trainer difficulty is 50% uphill (hills are basically 50% easier than in real life) and 25% downhill (downhill's are 75% slower). I don't know why they have it set like that, but that's the way it is. In FULGAZ the setting is defaulted to 100% for both ... however unlike ZWIFT these are independent settings, so you can change one or both to the level you prefer -- all it does is make SEEM easier - it doesn't affect your speed. So if you're climbing a 6% grade it would seem easier, but the actual speed you are climbing will be the same as if you were doing the same wattage. I don't quite understand this, but that is what the literature says. FG also has independent settings for your aerodynamic set-up (you can change this depending on your actual set-up, road vs. TT bike). It also accepts values for rolling resistance... whether you ride good roads on road bike or rough roads on gravel bike... and also can adjust this with your weight in mind. Because of my size, I would make the rolling resistance a little higher.

You also enter your body weight and bike weight separately... to make it as realistic as possible.

After fiddling with all the settings, you just get out and ride. It's pretty easy and the graphics are fantastic. You can choose video playback quality... up to 4K quality if you're playing it on a smart TV. ALL of the routes can be played via streaming or download it and ride it while offline (for those with wonky connections). For the TT event, I had to download the route file in order to have an accurate time... and if I had done it properly in the first place, I would have been able to see other members doing the same course and compare times as we rode... however, I failed in that regard as well.

When signing up for an event, you must select the route through the event gateway... and not just ride the route separately. That was the biggest issue I had... I did that ride Saturday around 11:00 am... it didn't register with OCA and took 53:56 at 295 watts. Another rider did it at the same wattage as I did and registered a time of 27 minutes. Yes, he is almost 20 kg lighter, but the time difference shouldn't have been that great.. that was my first clue that I did something wrong.

So, after 8 hours of rest... I did the TT again... this time joining the TT Event through the Event portal, and completing the route using REACTIVE mode... albeit on VERY tired legs. It started out very well, but as soon as I hit the bigger climbs, my legs were just not as strong as they were earlier in the day. In the end, I finished in a time of 42 minutes... which was approximately 11 minutes faster then the ride is filmed at... but at the same wattage as the morning session -- 295 watts average. I was completely spent after that effort... almost couldn't get off the bike.

So, to give you a little lesson... when trying out a new software, be ready to READ all the introductory emails so you understand how it works. Do. Not. Assume. Just because you've riddin many other software platforms, doesn't mean you know them all.

I hope you all enjoyed my little review... race report... I will be doing at least 1 more of these TT's. It will be interesting to see some of these other routes from a bicycle perspective. Some of them are routes that I have dreamed of riding ... but am pretty sure I'll never get a chance to see IRL. It sure makes riding the trainer more interesting ... especially after riding ZWIFT roads for so long.

In conclusion... would I recommend FulGaz... I'm on the fence. The software is pleasant to use but the documentation is quite lengthy to read about all the settings (learning curve). The road gradient simulation is quite accurate. The video quality is very good and seeing actual roads and scenery sure makes riding better. I don't believe you can change ride view... you're always in POV mode... which is a downfall IMO. The display can be changed from a HUD display ... with all the info on either side of the screen... or a HUD that looks like an outfront bike computer... which doesn't detract from the scenery. I like the bike computer view except the numbers are very small for these old eyes... either version would be fine though. I haven't tried any of the workouts yet, but I expect they will be similar to any other software. You can import custom workouts as well, in the same format as Zwift workouts... but you can't create them in FulGaz, you have to import them after creating them elsewhere. All rides, once completed can be uploaded to Strava, Training Peaks, etc. automatically.

So, as you can see, not much difference ... except for the actual video of routes. The only issue that I feel is detrimental... it's not social. Unlike Zwift, you are riding alone (or with video taped riders) and it's just you and scenery. If they had the ability to include other riders into the software as Rouvy does, then it would be better... but for what I"m paying for it... it's pretty smooth and nice software. If you were unsure of what to use, getting the 2 week (or 1 month with 2021CCanada code) trial is worth the look. Be sure to look at all the start-up literature though. Enjoy the riding!!

Kevin

[Keith Peck]

Thanks Kevin!

I’d be interested in your report if you do do the Fulgaz Bamberg loop, and can you let me know if you see me? ;-)

 

So tempted to give it a try!

 

Keith

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[Kevin Scheerer]

Hey Keith...don't you have a monument put up on the course in your honour?? LOL

Actually in doing more looking through the software, I was mistaken... No Bamberg loop that I could find. Doesn't mean we couldn't film one and send it in to be added, but we'd need a good quality video file for that. Be cool to do it with a group and film the pace lines working.

There are a lot of videos on the site, but none in SW Ontario. We may have to remedy that. I don't know if any other of the platforms have Bamberg...but I swear I heard there was one uploaded on one of the platforms...just can't remember which one.

Happy riding all!

Kev

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[Chris Pippy]

Nice write up! RGE has the Bamberg loop apparently. (Another platform) 

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