There are few conversations on Zwift as polarizing as ERG mode.
Should you leave it on during a workout or turn it off? Is it “keeping you honest” or “making you lazy?” Is a workout harder with or without ERG mode? What is ERG mode, anyway?
Two years ago, Jordan Rapp provided a breakdown on the question To Erg or Not to Erg? In his article you will find an overview as well as advice on particular benefits and drawbacks of ERG mode.
Personally, training is about adaptation, and the events that I’m training for look nothing like an ERG workout (i.e., crits and cross). Plus, I like to work on the mental discipline it takes to earn those gold workout starts without having my hand (legs?) held by ERG mode.
As you join us for our workouts this week, try it both ways. Try a set of intervals with ERG on and another set with ERG off. Which is more challenging, rewarding, exciting, etc. for you?
On the Friday Festina Lente ride, I often caution people on the ride that they may want to turn ERG off when the changes are 250-300+ watts across the workout. Those violent SLAMS in ERG mode into a higher wattage do not feel great on the joints, especially my old knees. It may be better (and more like actual road conditions) to ramp into a target wattage with ERG mode off.
Let us know on our rides which you prefer.
Here’s what we at Slowtwitch have planned for the rest of the week.
Guest World Schedule
Here’s this week’s guest worlds, so you can plan to earn some of the route badges you are missing:
Monday: Makuri Islands & New York
Tuesday: London & Yorkshire
Wednesday: London & Yorkshire
Thursday: London & Yorkshire
Friday: Yorkshire & Innsbruck
Saturday: Richmond & London
Sunday: Richmond & London
Slowtwich Indoors Event Preview (All Times Eastern)
Go to Zwift Events to sign up for these rides and runs.
Monday 100/100 Group Run, 7:00 AM & 7:00 PM
Join us for a group run on the virtual track of May Field that will kick start your week. Don’t forget that each of the five ride workouts and five run workouts have a short and long option. Rather than canceling a workout when you are crunched for time, you can complete the short version and still reap the benefits of the program.
Tuesday Ride of the Valkryies Workout (Women Only), 6:00 AM
This event is by and for women. It’s an almost no-drop, rubber-banded Structured Training workout, featuring a warm-up, set of intervals, and a cool-down. This week’s workout is Short and Sweet.
Tuesday Structured Training, 7:00 PM
Our Tuesday ride features triathlon-focused cycling workouts written by coaches and pro athletes affiliated with Slowtwitch. The workouts last 60 minutes and will help add variety and interest to your weekly training schedule. This week’s workout is Short and Sweet.
Wednesday Group Run, 7:00 AM & 7:00 PM
A more scenic group run on the Quatch Quest course.
Thursday Rise & Grind, 5:35 AM
This workout is an early morning bracer for the East Coast crowd. This week’s workout is A Little Bit of Everything.
Thursday SWIFT Ride, 6:55 PM
The newest ride to the Slowtwitch Indoors family, Slowtwitch SWIFT (Strong Women, It's Fun Together!) is here to bring another women's only ride to a slightly friendlier time slot. This ride will focus slightly more on strength-based work so bring those climbing legs. But even if you're feeling more like Mark Cavendish in the mountains of the Tour de France, so long as you keep the pedals moving, you'll stay with our group. This week’s workout is A Little Bit of Everything.
Friday Festina Lente, 9:00 AM
This structured training workout is designed to get you geared up for the weekend. Roughly translated as “make haste, slowly,” Festina Lente features a workout that will get your engine running but still leave some in the tank for the big rides and races you have planned for the weekend. This ride is led by members of the Kanberra Cycling Team as lead beacon. This week’s workout is A Little Bit of Everything.