Today, I cycled up to the Mont Ventoux. To prepare, I did it virtual on RGt and some other platform. Even having 34 on the cassette compared to 28 on the Kickr, it was much harder in RL. No headwind, but hot and different position on the bike (no Kickr Climb), maybe that makes the difference or some other deviation in Sim world. it could help to put some extra weight to make it match a bit better, probably.
Have you made similar experience?
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I’ve only ridden Ventoux virtually and I am very fortunate to have the Kickr Climb. It was a fricken slog no matter how I looked at it. If I ever get the privilege to ride these iconic hills I’ll let you know how I think it compares.
Way to get that BEAST done IRL. Very jealous!!
Edit: I should add that I imagine with a 28 on your Kickr you may have reached the summit faster than IRL if you relied on the 34. How do your times compare?
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You’re right, there was a huge difference, more than 30 minutes.
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So more power needed on the Kickr but you get it over quicker. With the 34, it’s “easier” but that extra 30 minutes probably felt like eternity.
By easier I only mean less power and probably a higher cadence. With the extra time to finish it may have made it “feel” harder?
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Based on my experience, climbing mountains in real life is harder than a virtual climb of the same mountain.
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Eternity describes it quite well. The last 4 km where extremely hard, how we like it 
. You can see the summit as it where already close but…. (Bédoin route).
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@Chris_H The Kickr Climb does make a small difference as it better trains the muscles for the different positions based on the grade. However the biggest difference is your own body weight and fighting gravity - something that really isn’t an issue on the trainer and is harder to simulate.
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Not to mention the weather elements, and the road conditions on an actual road. You also have to balance yourself when riding outside. There is a lot more mental stress.
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Those mental stresses represent a completely different sort of training - the biggest drawback to indoor cycling is the lack of surprises. I firmly believe that the cognitive exercise of always expecting drivers to swerve at me while I am scanning for glass and potholes makes me much more aware during the rest of my day. And no amount of encouragement from GvA is going to get my power output surging like trying to cross the narrow bridge where the shoulder disappears before the truck behind me catches up and passes. The real world offers cognitive challenges and surprise physical demands that SYSTM cannot.
I haven’t found RGT too useful compared to SYSTM and FulGaz, but if there were road hazards and things to dodge in the simulation, and hitting one ended the workout, I would definitely give it another try, to exercise my brain during the rainy season.
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Proprioception training
Thanks for starting this. I’ve been wondering about trying to sort an RGT route for an upcoming race, or just prepare by riding up similar hills to the profile. Seems like the simple option is easily good enough.
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I’ve ridden Mt Ventoux both virtually on Rouvy and in real life via the same road. Difference was one minute over that same stretch. (1h14 virtual, vs 1h13 in the flesh).
I rode it (irl) twice that week. First time I still had to get back to Avignon after reaching the summit, so didn’t go for it as hard, but second time I only had to get back to Bedoin, and could empty the tank properly.
I needed the confidence to really empty out in real life knowing I’d make it back. On virtual rides there is no risk of stranding somewhere…
Long story short: you need to ride it a couple of times to get it right 
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I have done Ventoux, Stelvio and Cap Formentor in RGT but have only done Cap Formentor in real life. I did not notice any profound difference in the simulated versus real-life experience but this may not mean much as the real-life experience was over ten years ago.
I would agree with the posts suggesting that simulated rides may be less difficult because one can focus solely on the effort, without expending additional energy to dodge traffic, pot holes, etc. On the other hand, it’s fairly well-established that those of us with less than perfect technique and core strength usually sustain a higher FTP outside than on a trainer owing to the ability to sway the bike underneath of us to optimize power. It’s interesting that this factor does not seem to be so significant here.
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Also altitude…
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Looking at what muscles are more tired than others, there is definitely a point in this. I conclude, that preparing for big
mountains solely indoors is sub optimal, some climb simulation could close the gap somehow but not completely.
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The fear of getting dropped and the need to react to someone steering on the other way of the road to place an attack is the closest thing to the “surprise element” / need for attention that you are describing.
Also valid for “paying attention to follow the correct wheel and not staying stuck behind the rider who’s losing the group during a climb”
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