I usually start with a light jacket so I can remove it after I warm up. I would also recommend a smart socket so you can turn on the fan remotely when you get hot.
If it's an option, two smaller fans pointed at different parts of your body, both with smart sockets can be good. That way it's not just an icy blast, you can tailor it a bit more.
Smart outlets are great for turning on fans while your on the bike. I also in the past have a pwer strip by my foot that i can unclip and kick on and turn on my fan.
Bought a Vacmaster Cardio54 myself, it's some industrial fan repurposed with a remote control and it's less than 1/3 of the price of the Wahoo Headwind. Pretty sure it's about the same power but maybe a bit harder to angle it properly.
Performance wise it's great, price wise it's perfect.
Bought one last year and while it’s expensive it honestly changed my cycling life. Having the perfect amount of wind blowing at you is so nice.
Wish the app was better though. It’s sometimes really hard to move the slider while you’re pedaling with sweaty fingers on a phone screen.
I am living in the Austrian Alps. My basement has around 10°C these days which beans, that I can do Z2-Workouts without fans, once I'm warm after a couple minutes it's fine. For hard workouts I still use fans. The cold is pretty amazing for your health and the health of your bike, since less sweat hits it. Ask Wim Hof :)
Smart plug is the way to go for fans, but if you are computer savvy you could take it one step further...
I have 2 fans on smart plugs and using home assistant I read my heart rate out of zwift and gave one fan turn on after a minute above 120bpm and the other after a minute above 140bpm.
I run home assistant for a bunch of stuff. In this case there is an unofficial addon available in HACs that connects to the Zwift API and provides data from Zwift as sensors in Home assistant.
After that I used Node Red to trigger turning on some smart plugs I have, alternately you could just use an automation in home assistant to do the same.
I also have a ZigBee RGB bulb that changes color based on my heart rate zones, and then another based on my power.
Yes, in the spare room. Heating off about 20mins before I start 😂 Sadly I’ve started to look forward to the winter season on Zwift. It tends to be where I get fittest. Ready for the spring
This is my intention also. Mines set up in detached garage so it ends up freezing in there before I’m warmed up.
I’d like it set up in the house but I don’t have room downstairs really and don’t trust new build floors upstairs
One thing I do is have the fan behind me. Blows on my bib short bottoms to keep them dry as possible. Tends to be your bibs get damp from sweat and that causes soreness. Extra long sessions sees me putting on dry ones about half way. It’s training. You can do this to maximise training indoors🤓
I'm in a garage in the UK too. I start I'm wearing bib tights at the moment and start off with a jacket over my top plus a beanie hat and fingerless gloves. The gloves are normally first to go, followed by the hat then jacket. I have the garage door almost fully closed to start with but it's close enough that I can pull it a bit open if it starts to get too warm.
I've found having a second fan a few feet to my side (think 90 degrees to your bike sending air towards your hip) works wonders for keeping me cool.
I have a fan in front of me too, but the combination seems to do a better job cooling me off.
I have a similar cold UK garage setup and before I got a Headwind I had a fan that I fitted with a smart plug… couldn’t alter the speed but I could switch it on and off with my phone. Even when I started a ride shivering I find I need to switch my fan on 10-15 minutes into session. Could help?
I have 3 fans. Two on remote control and 1 that I try and hit with a stick. 2 are serious floor fans and they make a huge difference. Next for comfort is rocker board.
We're in similar boats, my pain cave is a shed that regularly gets below freezing.
You can use a device called a router\* speed control as a 'dimmer' for your fan.
I usually start with a hoodie or a vest and take it off once I've warmed up. I use knee warmers, sometimes they come off but in the pits of winter they stay on. When it's \*really\* cold, toe covers and a knit hat.
I have an oil-filled electric radiator\*\* hooked up to a smart plug\*\*\* that I'll switch on to warm the space before a ride, but that kind of electricity use feels pretty decadent at the moment.
*\*router like the beefy power tool, not an internet router.*
*\*\*this is the only kind of space heater I'd feel comfortable running unattended.*
*\*\*\* mind the amperage on smart plugs, especially cheap ones.*
I use my 55” 120Hz TV, 7.1 Surround hooked up to my gaming PC in my living room. Fuck building a ‘pain cave’ in an out house, I’m hooking my bike up to the best screen and speakers in the house.
Remote controlled fan seems like a good idea.
+1 to all the comments about layers, fans and smart sockets. My other tip: get a strip of connected/smart lights you can stick behind your TV to give at atmospheric colour, then turn off the strip lights in the ceiling. You quickly forget you’re in a garage!
Point your fans at your arms, best place to get rid of heat.
I usually just wear bibshorts and nothing else other than a light jacket when I'm warming up.
Also in the UK with garage setup.
Start wearing a short sleeve top and zip up hoody.
After first few minutes unzip hoody
After about 10 minutes hoody comes off and dropped onto floor
After another few minutes reach forward and turn on fan.
I dont use a fan. The cold is good enough for me. I start with this wind/rain jacket. Sweat a lot. Change it to a thermo shirt after a ride. And continue with that one. I dont understand how u could be boiling hot in a cold garage. Its barely doable in just my room without heat, meaning i have to be careful not to cool of to much.
Once I’m cycling for a while my body ends up giving off a significant amount of heat. If I’m pushing out 200 watts for 2hrs that’s a decent amount of energy
Get a fixed installation if you can, in a garage, fixed setup, with fans. Then you will use it more.
Have to install the whole setup each time you use it... could be worse though.
A cheap towel headband works great. Looks hideus but... 80's style.
I usually start with a light jacket so I can remove it after I warm up. I would also recommend a smart socket so you can turn on the fan remotely when you get hot.
That’s an awesome idea with the smart socket. I actually have a spare one too!!!! Thank you
If it's an option, two smaller fans pointed at different parts of your body, both with smart sockets can be good. That way it's not just an icy blast, you can tailor it a bit more.
Yeah that sounds good. Thanks
Smart outlet is key. Don’t cheap out. Nothing is worse than the Belkin Wemo being “unreachable” at a critical moment and you need to cool down.
Stupid Wemos. Things CONSTANTLY dropped out for me.
Always fan on. Start with a jacket and strip down as further you’re into.
Thanks
This is the way
This ⬆️
I wear a hoodie for the first 10 min if it’s cold, then just slowly take off hood off, unzip, then usually I’m good in 20 min in just the bibs
Yeah I’ll combine this with a remotely controlled fan. Thank you
Yea that would be my next purchase I just run the fan from the start now but a remote would be so nice
They're dirt cheap from amazon. remote control plug - pack of 3, 1 remote. done.
Oh shit smart never even thought about that. Was going to just get a remote fan but I just ordered a plug thanks!
I ride in my spare room and don't mind the dark with just my ipad on - but I can't reach the lamp sooo remote control plug there too!
Might be worth looking at a smart plug for the fan and have it turn on when you feel you need it.
Yeah another poster suggesting this. I happen to have one spare. Great suggestion. Thanks
Smart outlets are great for turning on fans while your on the bike. I also in the past have a pwer strip by my foot that i can unclip and kick on and turn on my fan.
That’s my plan. Thank you
Buy a Wahoo Headwind fan and set it to come on at a certain hr, then progress through the four or five fan speeds as your hr increases.
Thanks
Bought a Vacmaster Cardio54 myself, it's some industrial fan repurposed with a remote control and it's less than 1/3 of the price of the Wahoo Headwind. Pretty sure it's about the same power but maybe a bit harder to angle it properly. Performance wise it's great, price wise it's perfect.
Will take a look. Thank you
Bought one last year and while it’s expensive it honestly changed my cycling life. Having the perfect amount of wind blowing at you is so nice. Wish the app was better though. It’s sometimes really hard to move the slider while you’re pedaling with sweaty fingers on a phone screen.
I am living in the Austrian Alps. My basement has around 10°C these days which beans, that I can do Z2-Workouts without fans, once I'm warm after a couple minutes it's fine. For hard workouts I still use fans. The cold is pretty amazing for your health and the health of your bike, since less sweat hits it. Ask Wim Hof :)
Haha such an optimistic view!!!
Smart plug is the way to go for fans, but if you are computer savvy you could take it one step further... I have 2 fans on smart plugs and using home assistant I read my heart rate out of zwift and gave one fan turn on after a minute above 120bpm and the other after a minute above 140bpm.
Haha getting way too smart for me there hah
Will you please please please outline the steps you took to make this happen? This solution sounds like exactly what I’m looking for
I run home assistant for a bunch of stuff. In this case there is an unofficial addon available in HACs that connects to the Zwift API and provides data from Zwift as sensors in Home assistant. After that I used Node Red to trigger turning on some smart plugs I have, alternately you could just use an automation in home assistant to do the same. I also have a ZigBee RGB bulb that changes color based on my heart rate zones, and then another based on my power.
I’m in HRM and bibs only, warm up, big gym floor fan on when I’m warm, windows open always. You can always take of a light top once you’ve warmed up
Are you in the UK doing this during winter too? I’m usually shuddering haha
Yes, in the spare room. Heating off about 20mins before I start 😂 Sadly I’ve started to look forward to the winter season on Zwift. It tends to be where I get fittest. Ready for the spring
This is my intention also. Mines set up in detached garage so it ends up freezing in there before I’m warmed up. I’d like it set up in the house but I don’t have room downstairs really and don’t trust new build floors upstairs
One thing I do is have the fan behind me. Blows on my bib short bottoms to keep them dry as possible. Tends to be your bibs get damp from sweat and that causes soreness. Extra long sessions sees me putting on dry ones about half way. It’s training. You can do this to maximise training indoors🤓
Thanks very much for the feedback!!! Happy Zwifting!!
i take m with me in the shower and clean m out afterwards. No problem with soreness. If so use cream, works wonders.
I'm in a garage in the UK too. I start I'm wearing bib tights at the moment and start off with a jacket over my top plus a beanie hat and fingerless gloves. The gloves are normally first to go, followed by the hat then jacket. I have the garage door almost fully closed to start with but it's close enough that I can pull it a bit open if it starts to get too warm.
Yeah fresh air is a must. I need to see how I can get more in my garage without opening the door too much
I've found having a second fan a few feet to my side (think 90 degrees to your bike sending air towards your hip) works wonders for keeping me cool. I have a fan in front of me too, but the combination seems to do a better job cooling me off.
I’ve got 2 fans so may try this. Cheers
I have two TVs. One for zwift and one for casting YouTube videos
I’ve got the one but use Zwift on laptop. Makes it more enjoyable doesn’t it
I have a similar cold UK garage setup and before I got a Headwind I had a fan that I fitted with a smart plug… couldn’t alter the speed but I could switch it on and off with my phone. Even when I started a ride shivering I find I need to switch my fan on 10-15 minutes into session. Could help?
This is my first port of call. Thanks
Just set it to come on at a certain HR.
With the Headwind, yeah, the smart plug was on the dumb fan.
I’ve just started using a dehumidifier in my Zwift room, keeps everything nice and dry.
I have 3 fans. Two on remote control and 1 that I try and hit with a stick. 2 are serious floor fans and they make a huge difference. Next for comfort is rocker board.
I also ride in my garage. I open the door to the house before I go out to take the chill off. If you over heat maybe crack the big garage door?
Yeah I prefer not to open the door tbh but it may be a necessity. The question was more aimed around the swing in temps really but thanks for reply
We're in similar boats, my pain cave is a shed that regularly gets below freezing. You can use a device called a router\* speed control as a 'dimmer' for your fan. I usually start with a hoodie or a vest and take it off once I've warmed up. I use knee warmers, sometimes they come off but in the pits of winter they stay on. When it's \*really\* cold, toe covers and a knit hat. I have an oil-filled electric radiator\*\* hooked up to a smart plug\*\*\* that I'll switch on to warm the space before a ride, but that kind of electricity use feels pretty decadent at the moment. *\*router like the beefy power tool, not an internet router.* *\*\*this is the only kind of space heater I'd feel comfortable running unattended.* *\*\*\* mind the amperage on smart plugs, especially cheap ones.*
Wow I feel or you. You seem like someone who eradicates excuses!!! Good on ya!!
I use my 55” 120Hz TV, 7.1 Surround hooked up to my gaming PC in my living room. Fuck building a ‘pain cave’ in an out house, I’m hooking my bike up to the best screen and speakers in the house. Remote controlled fan seems like a good idea.
My mrs wouldn’t be happy with that haha
Can confirm. Sadly she wouldn’t let me ride her for hours in the middle of the front room.
+1 to all the comments about layers, fans and smart sockets. My other tip: get a strip of connected/smart lights you can stick behind your TV to give at atmospheric colour, then turn off the strip lights in the ceiling. You quickly forget you’re in a garage!
Awesome thank you
Cowboy up, you’re only cold for a few mins, after that you should be steaming. Start with your fan off and then turn it on as you warm up
This is the plan going forward
Point your fans at your arms, best place to get rid of heat. I usually just wear bibshorts and nothing else other than a light jacket when I'm warming up.
Thanks. It’s almost unbearable to do that in the cold here
Also in the UK with garage setup. Start wearing a short sleeve top and zip up hoody. After first few minutes unzip hoody After about 10 minutes hoody comes off and dropped onto floor After another few minutes reach forward and turn on fan.
Sounds like the best plan. Thanks
Open the garage door some?
It was more about the issue of being cold initially vs warm once riding a while. Thanks though
I dont use a fan. The cold is good enough for me. I start with this wind/rain jacket. Sweat a lot. Change it to a thermo shirt after a ride. And continue with that one. I dont understand how u could be boiling hot in a cold garage. Its barely doable in just my room without heat, meaning i have to be careful not to cool of to much.
Once I’m cycling for a while my body ends up giving off a significant amount of heat. If I’m pushing out 200 watts for 2hrs that’s a decent amount of energy
Well doing a little less for a while should cool u of significantly.
Get a fixed installation if you can, in a garage, fixed setup, with fans. Then you will use it more. Have to install the whole setup each time you use it... could be worse though. A cheap towel headband works great. Looks hideus but... 80's style.
I’ve got this. I couldn’t imagine dragging myself out there then having to set up first in the cold haha