Almost time to get ...
 

Almost time to get Zwifty again... Turbo and pain cave content..show us yours!

 Alex
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There's some nice setups in this thread. And then there are the others 😉

https://flic.kr/p/2nKhwtv

https://flic.kr/p/2nKpCfe

I have that tabletop fan and the cheap-o wind turbine from Screwfix pointing upward. I was tempted by those vac-masters as I do run pretty hot. Don't do any racing tho, so don't really care about actual FTP as long as it's going in the right direction. Opening the two windows and the door (to the right of the first photo) makes a big difference in winter as long as it's not raining!

Use my old iMac as it's going spare. Runs Ultra fine except when you're on a group ride with lots going on and 100+ riders. Then it has a bit of a melt down. Sonos BT speaker works for me. Suspended membership in May, think I'll be back on tonight. New interface looks a lot better, prob go training plan to ease myself back in.


 
Posted : 08/09/2022 3:45 pm
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Race in 15 mins with lots of riders. I'll be in C


 
Posted : 08/09/2022 5:02 pm
 DrP
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how was it Weeksy??

DrP


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 10:00 am
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how was it Weeksy??

Usual story on Classique for me mate... Bit lacking in the last 2km. Once we hit that little kicker back up past the statues, i'm deep deep in the red and struggling.... I then stayed in until the last 300m and was doing OK, but as we get to the last 300m it all goes orange as everyone hits 9-10w/kg for the line... I struggle with knowing how/why i don't have any sprint at all.. but the reality is, i don't.

so finished 19th and 1.7s behind the winner... it's funny that 1.7 sounds close, but it's a whole different postcode.

It was my 4th race this week though, so i was happy enough.


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 10:16 am
 DrP
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I struggle with knowing how/why i don’t have any sprint at all.. but the reality is, i don’t.

I feel your pain... give me a long hard push up a hill and I can creep past one and all (fairly light, fairly good FTP), but the bigger boys always outsprint me!

I'm going to focus on teh sprint sessions in teh training plans more I think..

DrP


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 10:57 am
 J-R
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[url= https://i.postimg.cc/wvbp66Rv/E4-DA3067-8-E7-A-4-CA1-8-B7-D-BAED28-C4-FA2-D.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/wvbp66Rv/E4-DA3067-8-E7-A-4-CA1-8-B7-D-BAED28-C4-FA2-D.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Thanks to the really helpful picture posting thread, here’s my pain cave.

I’m currently driving a 23” monitor from a laptop, but am tempted to go for a much bigger screen like some of the other setups. I currently mount the monitor quite low because I found I got neck pain if I spend ages bent over the bars looking upwards. But now I’m retired and don’t spend all day in front of a screen for work, I hope that problem will have disappeared.

I have a cheap fan on a stand behind me and a Screwfix fan on the ground in front. But in the winter I leave the room CH rad off and am happy riding with the window open a little and the Screwfix fan on full, the back fan is only needed in the summer when I’m riding IRL anyway.


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 12:23 pm
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Here's mine:

[url= https://i.postimg.cc/Fzng4Hyd/PXL-20220908-154138170-MP.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/Fzng4Hyd/PXL-20220908-154138170-MP.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

I'm not allowed to cycle outside for a while (medical issue) so have been zwifting for a few months, 2 or 3 rides a week. Just started doing a few races.

Garage is a bit of a mess, but the rear panel of the kit car makes a good shelf for the fan.


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 12:39 pm
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Some nice set-ups here! I've just bought a Kickr Core and am about to start getting my set-up sorted. I was thinking of running Zwift on an old-ish Huawai P20 and linking to my TV via an HDMI cable. Will this work or will it be painfully slow? Trying to get it set-up on a bit of a budget!


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 1:11 pm
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I’m just getting back into it too. A month or two of injury, long holidays and a lot of excuses has seen my fitness fall off a cliff. Did a Cleveland Wheelers 12 mile TT tonight, and I was knackered. Shocking how fast you fall…

I was going to say our TT isn't 12 miles or on a Tuesday then I remebered what thread I was reading...
Planning on more outdoor and TR only this winter.


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 1:47 pm
 Alex
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Well got back on the electronic horse today. A few thoughts

1) the new UI is way better, I even like the "Space 1999" font

2) it's still not very interesting doing group rides

3) Zwift fitness is a thing. 50 minutes of a 'C' group ride and I was blowing

4) My bottom hurts 😉

5) The game seems more stable. We have eeked a bit more bandwidth out of our SIM connection so I wonder if that's helping.

Also forgot to turn the big fan onto full power. Was on the wrong side of sweaty-mess at the end.


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 2:50 pm
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I’ve also dived back on Zwift in the last week. Hit Stage 1 of the ZRacing series at lunch … oh man I forgot how much these hurt. I still seem to be at the pointy end of cat C mind which is a positive.

Hoping the STW series return, anyone know if Robbo is planning another season at all?


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 2:57 pm
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Did my first ever Zwift race yesterday - the Alpe du Zwift one at 5:30

Can definitely see the attrction, holds your attention much better than just picking a workout.

However, I suspect that my 1x42t set-up with a bar end shifter is going to be woefully inadequate in flatter races, and I can''t face riding up that bloody hill too often. Does anyone use a 1x set-up for racinng and if so, what size ring are you using?

(also: stealth wtd ad for a 10spd SRAM double tap shifter)


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 3:06 pm
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I’ve had a couple of goes with a pace partner this week. Definitely an improvement on group rides! But annoying that you don’t get much chance to warm up.
Also scarily easy to get dropped- which helps keep your focus.

90 mins following a z2 pace partner is about a billion times more interesting than a TR z2 workout that’s for sure! And the result almost identical. (Slightly above, slightly below and ultimately averaging on your chosen wattage).
The lighter PP on a slightly hilly route helped that effect. Whereas the heavier one on a flatter route have a flatter power profile.


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 6:05 pm
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The lack of warm up is the only real negative to the pace partner. A nice addition would be pedal assist a a gradual reduction for 5 minutes.

I've been using the pace partners for pre event warmup and training. Also do intervals by dropping back and sprinting back on (or go off the front and recover while group catches).


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 6:26 pm
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You can just Free Ride the course where your desired PP is then wait for them to come round before joining them. Obviously works best on shorter circuits.


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 6:31 pm
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They've at least added the facility to be able to see where the PP is on the course now, it was almost impossible before - handy if you're trying to complete the badge for that course too and don't want to join them they've already just cross the finish.


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 8:41 pm
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Here's my current setup. Thinking of adding a kickr fan to replace the silver gym fan as it is noisy.


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 9:22 pm
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Short sub 20min events, sometimes with custom finishes and multiple races within the hour, do seem to gaining popularity of late in terms of number of events and number of riders.

Team Electric Spirit lunch sprints at 1215 mon-fri still going.
Mini Mountain Massiff TT is now a double-header with 30mins between race starts at 1200 and 1815 on Thurs (did 3 yesterday).
Zwift Insider quadruple-header with 15mins between race starts still going on Sat, starting 0900 and 1500 BST (hoping to attempt more than one after work tomorrow afternoon for a first time).
etc.


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 9:58 pm
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Am i the only one who spunked a load of cash on the Wahoo fan…..

i've got one, and the desk, but they don't really play together do they, the desk blocks the air flow as per DCRainmaker

did you know you can control it with a Wahoo head unit?


 
Posted : 09/09/2022 10:36 pm
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@n0b0dy0ftheg0at what cat. Hoping to join the 4 B events tomorrow afternoon.


 
Posted : 10/09/2022 12:44 am
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did you know you can control it with a Wahoo head unit?

Is there any setting other than full for fans?


 
Posted : 10/09/2022 12:45 am
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@nixie C for now.


 
Posted : 10/09/2022 6:28 am
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Does anyone use a 1x set-up for racinng and if so, what size ring are you using?

Yes, same as you 42T ring. Mostly use gears 10/11


 
Posted : 10/09/2022 8:02 am
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Do you adjust the trainer difficulty at all?


 
Posted : 10/09/2022 8:35 am
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No, 50%.

That gives me 300w at 78 cadence on flat.


 
Posted : 10/09/2022 8:50 am
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Was just wondering if you ran out gears on the downhills. My understanding of the trainer difficulty is that by reducing it, you reduce the differences, but not the effort required.

Will see how I get on. Cheers!


 
Posted : 10/09/2022 9:05 am
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Am i the only one who spunked a load of cash on the Wahoo fan…..

I’ve just put the bike back on the trainer and will be seeing how much my FTP has dropped tonight!

Defo gonna start Zwift racing properly, i did one Cat C last year and managed to win it!

I'm thinking of getting one if that helps!

Would you recommend one?
I'm a bit concerned that I don't have enough room to get it the right distance in front of me.


 
Posted : 10/09/2022 11:00 am
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Just the right thread to get me back on the indoor trainer.

My setup, with no prizes to what I'll be doing in ten minutes or so.

[url= https://i.postimg.cc/68JhN7hN/Bike.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/68JhN7hN/Bike.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

Even have the obligatory STW Lego on display.

Behind the bike for good measure is another toy with some inspiration that I need to use more.

[url= https://i.postimg.cc/CZwHzWtP/Rower.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/CZwHzWtP/Rower.jp g"/> [/img][/url]


 
Posted : 10/09/2022 1:07 pm
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Think I finally cracked uploading pictures after years of posting here...

Zwift

Elite Smart Trainer, Apple TV 4K, 42 inch TV and 20 inch fan.

Managed to do last winter by copying training rides from the internet, YT or blogs and adjusting the trainer resistance via the Elite App. Didnt fancy that this year so have picked up the Apple Tv, TV stand and set up a spare TV I had in the loft.

Question for those using Zwift, do you guys do your recovery rides in zwift and your zone 2 stuff? I MTB mainly so my outside rides count as my work outs and I'll sit on the trainer for the above, I had a scan through Zwift but couldnt see any recovery or base stuff in there...although this may be because the Apple TV remote with the touch is god awful, I am already regretting not spending the extra on the newer one with better remote!


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 1:03 pm
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I do my zone 2 stuff on zwift. Tend to join an appropriate pace partner instead of a workout.


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 1:11 pm
 DrP
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Odd the Wahoo desk blocks the fan!
I've put a top-cap garmin mount on my turbo bike as even having my phone (with a garmin sticker thing) out front is enough to block airflow to my face significantly!

DrP


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 1:27 pm
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I do my zone 2 stuff on zwift. Tend to join an appropriate pace partner instead of a workout.

I've been interested in this, find it very hard to do recovery/endurance rides indoors, I think mainly because of the boredom (and the discomfort! Twiddling Z1 for an hour on the rollers actually gets uncomfortable after a while, too much weight through hands and bum instead of legs...).

Do you find it more bearable on Zwift? I wasn't sure if having a virtual partner and some fancy graphics would make it any less boring once the novelty had worn off


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 1:38 pm
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I'll be doing the 2nd race of the zwift racing series tonight, with Dino costume if there's enough people in that race, without if not!

Hoping to better my last result and get into the mid-pack, last week I was 72nd of 102 (final results on zwiftpower).

Then my 2nd ramp test as part of the TrainerRoad plan, 6 weeks of sweet spot base has ended, another 6 weeks ahead with a bit more variety.

And yes, doing endurance/z2 stuff with a pace partner is much more bearable than without.


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 2:30 pm
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Yes find the pace partner more bearable. Maybe because its me rather the ERG controlling the power and paying attention so you don't get dropped. The chat can sometime be good as well.


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 2:45 pm
 DrP
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Do you find it more bearable on Zwift? I wasn’t sure if having a virtual partner and some fancy graphics would make it any less boring once the novelty had worn off

Yup...significantly...

Riding round with C Cadence pace partner seems to make time fly...
But as some have said... if you lose the group (i.e whilst texting!) then you REALLY gotta sprint to catch up!

DrP


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 2:47 pm
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But as some have said… if you lose the group (i.e whilst texting!) then you REALLY gotta sprint to catch up!

I've lost the group before and even doing massive watts they're impossible to catch!

Still, shouldn't be an issue if you're using the PP for Z2 work, just requires a little concentration to stay with them. And you can still vary your output by leading off the front (less draft) or by hanging back when a sprint is coming up then going for that with the added draft from the 'blob'.


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 2:52 pm
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Tried one of the Z Series races yesterday. Bloody hell! Hooked ;o)

1x42 was plenty and I dialled down the trainer difficulty to 30% to compensate for the variations in gradient. Seemed to work well but you don't get that instant feedback that the gradient's changing. Think I prefer the other extreme tbh and will try a 50t.

Barend shifter's being replaced by an old double tap too.

Got caught out by the category enforcement as well. I haven't tested since June and entered cat C thinking I'd be down on power. Combination of not being tactically aware enough yet and apparently not having lost power means it's cat B for me next time!


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 3:00 pm
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Maybe because its me rather the ERG controlling the power and paying attention so you don’t get dropped.

Aha, this makes it even more attractive, I'd probably be doing it on dumb rollers so would be based off virtual power anyway (yes yes, I know all the drawbacks etc. but that's just how I train). Might be reason enough to by a crank-arm power meter


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 3:08 pm
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I recently attempted to get back into zwift as my outdoor opportunities seem to be dwindling. However I cannot load the latest up date, I’ve tried several times and it’s either crashing or taking forever, I’ve removed the app and reinstalled and still can’t get it to work so held my subscription for now. In the mean time Ive tried other trainer apps like rouvvy and rcg but they just don’t same as good after a short try.

Anybody have any ideas of how to get zwift working again, I’ve never had an issue before.

Cycling wise I’ve gradually faded in fitness both endurance and FTP wise, my old shorter routes now feel twice as hard and are leaving me feeling knackered and I’m struggling to maintain 230/240 watts for any period of time. Well down from my old 327w whilst my weights increased.


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 3:54 pm
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Re the wahoo fan - it was a gift, i don't think it is worth the money.

Yes any desk gets in the way of it, but I also could not get it far enough in front of me to be where i wanted the air flow, and its a stupidly fixed position.

Its a fan Jim, but not as we know it.

I put it up on the wall pointing down, which is ok if you have a wall, and it works well enough, but I usually just use the other fan as that is simple voice activated 'alexa, I'm dying here, get the fan on'.

I did the 4 ZI tiny races this Saturday, they were just right for me, somehow finishing 52nd in the league, a much coveted position, especially as ZP had me down as borderline c/d earlier this month.

I'll be doing the stage 2 race at 5:10 most days this week to see if I can improve.


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 4:14 pm
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Short sub 20min events, sometimes with custom finishes and multiple races within the hour, do seem to gaining popularity of late in terms of number of events and number of riders.

Team Electric Spirit lunch sprints at 1215 mon-fri still going.
Mini Mountain Massiff TT is now a double-header with 30mins between race starts at 1200 and 1815 on Thurs (did 3 yesterday).
Zwift Insider quadruple-header with 15mins between race starts still going on Sat, starting 0900 and 1500 BST (hoping to attempt more than one after work tomorrow afternoon for a first time).
etc.

About the only thing that will get me back on Zwift this year is I've been promised that we'll organise a custom race down the Alpe if the pen ever gets opened up. Sprint relax, sprint relax and repeat. Will fit in with the free 20km too...


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 4:18 pm
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Got caught out by the category enforcement as well. I haven’t tested since June and entered cat C thinking I’d be down on power. Combination of not being tactically aware enough yet and apparently not having lost power means it’s cat B for me next time!

I hope you enjoy putting out 400w for 2 minutes at the start... 🤣🥵

And a 700-1000w sprint at the end, of course!


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 4:19 pm
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🤢

I suppose it's one way to mimic those 'cross starts!


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 6:18 pm
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2nd race of the Zracing series done, in Cat B.

*Gasps

*Feints

*Throws up

*Sits shaking in his own pool of sweat

That. Was. Ridiculous.

Start was quite easy for a Cat B race. Was wondering why. Only had to do 400w for about 30 seconds then it settled in at a nice 250w or so. I was with the lead pack.

Then the rolling bits started, and the pace picked up. Then we hit the climb in the middle and I knew why everyone was saving themselves 🤣🤢🥵

I lost the main lead pack within sight of the top of the climb but by then I was in survival mode. Got dropped by a small chasing pack on the downhill as well, then joined a bunch of 6 or 7 until about 500m to go when 5 of them started sprinting for the line, I make a token sprint effort (still over 700w peak though!) with 300m to go and kept in front of the other 2 in my group without too much effort.

60th of 82 on zwift results, I'll check zwiftpower in a bit for the official results.


 
Posted : 12/09/2022 9:07 pm
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I’m in two minds about Zwift autocat.
On the one hand, I can see how people deliberately catting down can alter the dynamics of a race. (Even if later filtered out on ZP)

On the other, I think everyone is paying their subscription to use Zwift as a tool and sometimes, beating up on D’s might be motivation to train without going too deep 🤣🤣🤣

On balance I probably think it’s a good thing.

So with that in mind- I’m gonna take what Zwift gives me and “at current fatness” (and with not much recent racing) it actually let me race C in the w/kg Crit City race 🤣

What followed was a bit of a masterclass in how to properly ride a Zwift course. I was literally only spending watts where I needed and then coasting or drafting as much as possible.

It was quite a long one- 16 laps, and gradually the C’s started whittling down. I was really lucky with power ups! I skipped one lap to save a feather for the end but otherwise, had 14! The ‘Prime’ hill was of course the tough part but with the PU’s and a lot of watts, I was often in the top 3!
I would start near the front on the approach, then let half the field pass me on the cobbles and then launch once I had plenty of draft in front of me.
I’d use the Draft PU before the cobbles, the feather at the stone bridge, and save the aero until the top so it was still having an effect into the next descent.

A few attacks went but I was able to either coast into them and go with them whilst the field chased or follow the bunch back on.

Sadly, the amount of watts I needed to get up the hill each lap meant I had no sprint whatsoever. But I held the lead group to the line.

I’d have been 4th in A 🤣 Or 10th in B but won C.

And to prove how good my Crit skills were- I didn’t even break 3.2w/kg 😎

Annoyingly, I was still able to do 333np which shows it’s weight that’s my problem, not watts!


 
Posted : 13/09/2022 8:37 pm
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Ha that’s funny! One of the guys from our chaingang was riding! He usually beats me IRL too, although I did get him one once this year when I left the gravel bike at home.
He got me by two seconds in the sprint tonight 🤣


 
Posted : 13/09/2022 8:51 pm
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Did anyone race the WTRL last night on climbers Gambit? That was my first “crit” style race since October ‘21 (B), and boy was it brutal. As I train for long XC endurance it was a real shock to the system.

My description of it would be like tallpauls above - I hung on to the lead pack all the way through Titans grove then had a very and unusual sudden urge to puke on the penultimate hill needing 2 mins of recovery, hence lost the pack and spent 10mins working with two riders not to get chased down. Then, the Epic KOM…… which I rode at 95% of ftp, to come 42nd of 72!


 
Posted : 14/09/2022 8:36 am
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Yes, I stupidly thought it would be a good idea/whim mid afternoon and found a team (go RHINOS) for 6pm launch.

I hadn't properly clocked the course. I was a few riders behind on the points on the first sprint - which was my only chance at FTS/FAL points, lost the front bunch on the mid-point climb, and then pretty much solo-ed to the start of the big climb in about 40th place, and dropped a couple on the way up. Got 14 points for the team, which is now 7th position.

It was - get this - 1:20 or thereabouts of effort, and there was not much cruising going on. I was not ready for this as my usual rides are of the 45 mins variety. Ouchie. I was also struggling with gear indexing in the lowest gears which I rarely use on a regular ride, having to go up two then down one every now and then. At one point I actually thought I should get off and push before I realised what I was thinking.

I think a rest day today.


 
Posted : 14/09/2022 8:59 am
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I've managed to bust the battery cover on my TickrX HR monitor, so no racing for me until i replace it

Was a bit crap anyway - any recommendations for a replacement?


 
Posted : 14/09/2022 3:10 pm
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My tickr strap broke on one of the pop studs, bought a replacement from Amazon that was terrible so I ended up buying a Garmin HRM Pro which is a lot better as seems to lock onto a steady HR even without having to wet the strap.


 
Posted : 14/09/2022 3:20 pm
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a very and unusual sudden urge to puke on the penultimate hill

I had this on my race this morning! Also training for longer endurance efforts and havent dont a proper race for a long long time! It cost me the win as well - 200m from the line during my sprint! Ended up in 2nd place.

My Tickr has just gone back to Amazon as it just stopped working! Wouldnt get the same again based on the above comments and my own experience.


 
Posted : 14/09/2022 3:33 pm
 DrP
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I've got the garmin bt/ant monitor....
I had the tickr but my sweat eroded the poppers!

Garmin is more comfy too...

DrP


 
Posted : 14/09/2022 3:36 pm
 J-R
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I got irritated by my Garmin strap becoming unreliable and recently replaced it with a Tickr, which has been OK so far.
But I am not a bit concerned about the popper/sweet issue.

I also got a Coospo which is much less expensive and has been very good, except it will not talk to my iPhone on BT even though it will talk to other BT devices.


 
Posted : 14/09/2022 6:55 pm
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I had 2 garmin dual hrms - both worked fine to start with - but both stopped talking to my iPhone over Bluetooth a few months in. They were still connected and showed the battery but would not give a Heart Rate reading - so if you use them on Bluetooth I would not recommend that strap. Think it still worked on ant+ with my edge.

Luckily I bought from Halfords (if direct from garmin they’d say it’s your iPhone / app that’s the problem from forum research) and they swapped for a new one the first time and refunded me the 2nd time.

I bought a Tickr hr strap and so far so good. If this one implodes maybe I’ll try a coospo or a polar.


 
Posted : 14/09/2022 7:28 pm
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I've an optical tickr (tickr fit). Goes in my forearm. It's a lot more comfortable.


 
Posted : 14/09/2022 8:44 pm
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Back to ZRL last night. That was a tough race. Did it as a recon on Saturday and had a good result. Last night not so good, legs were not in it. I really like that course though and seem to stay strong at the point others are obviously falling back.


 
Posted : 14/09/2022 9:19 pm
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Has anyone done "the wringer" workout?

I very nearly puked....god damn summer of riding giving me a half decent FTP....


 
Posted : 15/09/2022 1:48 pm
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Lesson for me this week.... Don't try and race 5 days out of 7.... Just doesn't work.

You lose the legs... Yesterday was a decent race for 2/3 of it... but the legs just didn't have it.


 
Posted : 15/09/2022 1:55 pm
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Just did the 2nd ZRacing series race and had a pretty much identical experience to @ta11pau1. Can't believe how quickly I got dropped on the descent!

Excellent fun though.


 
Posted : 15/09/2022 8:48 pm
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Just done the FTP test ahead of getting back into Zwift-ing.

Pros - only lost 10w since last time I did an FTP at the start of the year and have done **** all riding this year.

Cons - that previous FTP was already roughly 100w lower than my "racing best".

Result - a mighty 1.9w/kg, probably won't be racing for a while with that!


 
Posted : 15/09/2022 9:03 pm
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2x C races tonight. Got in a 5 man break around the NY perimeter loop course but sadly was dropped on the steep kicker on the last lap. Then lost the 1 on 1 sprint with a guy I caught. Bronze in that one.

Then in race 2, I helped made an Insta-break stick round Sand and Sequoia’s. I attacked a few times and we whittled the break down further. Then I managed to get the C event KOM too. A few people got away on the descent using anvils but I eventually caught back on.

And again- lost the sprint for bronze.

70mins reasonable training. Maybe 10w less than our 70min Chaingang.


 
Posted : 15/09/2022 9:36 pm
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@IvanDobski You could be in the mix in D, especially if you keep out of the wind and have a decent sprint.

I've gone a bit overboard on Zwift since getting home from work yesterday afternoon, ~3 hours each day*, best weekly distance/duration stats to Thursday I've had in many months and I'm absolutely zombied tonight. 😆

* Not one continuous session, split up a bit, especially today.


 
Posted : 15/09/2022 9:58 pm
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Just did the 2nd ZRacing series race and had a pretty much identical experience to @ta11pau1. Can’t believe how quickly I got dropped on the descent!

Excellent fun though.

Yeah you'd think the downhill would be a chance to rest, ooooh no! 🤣

I’ve gone a bit overboard on Zwift since getting home from work yesterday afternoon, ~3 hours each day, best weekly distance/duration stats to Thursday I’ve had in many months and I’m absolutely zombied tonight.

3 hours!? Jesus, my backside has had enough after 90 minutes let alone double that! I think I'll look for a rocker plate at some point, need one on wheels though and ones that's either just the rear wheel or very slender, for storage.

Ramp test for me tonight as per my other thread, now up to 279w - slowly creeping towards my 4w/kg target.


 
Posted : 15/09/2022 10:10 pm
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No racing here, but I did do my first ride on zwift and choose to do a ramp test... wasnt the funnest thing, but atleasr now I know a number and can do the workouts accordingly.

The ramp test gave me an FTP, I assume Zwift auto stores this and will then use it for any future work outs?


 
Posted : 16/09/2022 2:44 pm
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The ramp test gave me an FTP, I assume Zwift auto stores this and will then use it for any future work outs?

Yep, so long as the FTP from the ramp test wasn't lower than what you had set before.


 
Posted : 16/09/2022 2:46 pm
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No racing for a while, but have been keeping on the Zwift bandwagon.

I rode the PRL half on Wed evening as I was planning on going out on the road, but my back had been a bit sore after over-stretching in the garage so decided it was safer to get some exercise close to home. That was one of the longer (if not longest) Zwift sessions I've done at about 2:15 or so.

This morning I did the baseline ride for the Zwift Academy. That was an enjoyable ride & worth having a bash at even if you aren't intending on completing any of the workouts. The idea is to put all your efforts into 3 sections - Titans reverse KOM, a spring (can't remember which one - maybe the Italian villas) and then the volcano KOM.

This thread & the recent one about garage floor upgrades has got me thinking what I should really be doing to mine.
So far I've got....new floor, paint wall, clean garage door (preferably paint it), widescreen monitor on a wall-mount or some other way of moving it away from 'right in front of my face'.
And if I'm putting a new floor down, I might as well get some proper shelves/workbenches I've been meaning to buy for several years. 🙂
With all the other work that needs doing around the house, I can't see 'sprucing up the garage' as my DIY priority going down very well....


 
Posted : 16/09/2022 3:34 pm
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Fire socks. An awesome reason the get to level 51.


 
Posted : 16/09/2022 6:05 pm
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Darn, I've a little way to before I get fire socks.


 
Posted : 16/09/2022 9:41 pm
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Darn, I’ve a little way to before I get fire socks.

it’s worth it, get into z6/ a sprint and flames streak out the back wheel and along the road behind you. Childish, but it makes me grin.


 
Posted : 17/09/2022 10:43 am
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I saw a couple of the fire streaks when riding yesterday and wondered if that was related to the socks.

[Quickly heads off to select "fire socks" in the Zwift garage]


 
Posted : 17/09/2022 11:47 am
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it’s worth it, get into z6/ a sprint and flames streak out the back wheel and along the road behind you. Childish, but it makes me grin.

😲

Want!

I've only just hit level 24 though so I'll have to wait another year or more before I get there.


 
Posted : 17/09/2022 12:11 pm
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Has anyone found a good way to protect their carpet from, uh, sweatier riders? I can’t see how a trainer mat would actually help unless it has a juice gully like wooden chopping boards.


 
Posted : 18/09/2022 5:28 pm
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I'm especially sweaty and a trainer mat and tacx sweat catcher and towel keeps the carpet perfectly dry.

Take it you have a large fan and good throughput of air, as that makes a big difference to moisture falling.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tacx-Sweat-Towel-Cover-Smartphone/dp/B07HKL67RC/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=tacx+sweat+cover&qid=1663522324&sr=8-7


 
Posted : 18/09/2022 7:32 pm
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Tell you what, it's nice seeing the actual benefits of all this indoor zwifting/training - it's often hidden when riding inside as things just get harder along with your fitness improving, so things don't ever get "easier" - you just go faster!

Rode some local trails today and without really trying for a fast time I was only 4 seconds off my PB up a short, steepish 2 min climb - and my PB was set on a 9kg gravel bike and I was on a 16kg full suspension bike today! Tricky, punchy climbs felt relatively easy, and the ride in general just felt a lot easier that in the past.

Progress!! 😁


 
Posted : 19/09/2022 5:55 pm
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As I’m going to give Zwift racing a little try (alongside trainer road for proper structured training) this autumn winter when the weather is bad I thought I’d pick up one of those lifeline turbo tables for cheap from Facebook classifieds.

Realised the way it sits blocks where I had my cardio master fan aiming at. So had a rethink and going to try this - suspect it’ll fan me better here then it ever did from the floor in front of the bike - even though it did a good job there.

[url= https://i.postimg.cc/TPYj0vyd/3751F9F0-5A11-4AF2-855D-19DD1E3F533B.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/TPYj0vyd/3751F9F0-5A11-4AF2-855D-19DD1E3F533B.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

Going to try Zwift on my wife’s iPad with it in the front slot of the table and see how that is. There is a 32” tenon the wall but it’s well over to the front right of the garage so not handy. Seeing as my wife doesn’t use it anymore I may relocate it to some kind of wall mount that sticks out from the left hand wall and grab a cheap secondhand Apple TV unit to drive Zwift.

Is the newer 4k one a decent step up from the gen 3 1080p Apple TV box?


 
Posted : 19/09/2022 10:50 pm
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Yeah that'll work, the vacmaster air channel can be a bit narrow in the normal mode so it'll probably work better on its side.

One thing in that photo is bugging me though... Are those flat pedals?! 😲

I do hope that's mid-putting the bike on the trainer and you don't actually use flats? But seriously, if you do... Get onto clips! There's literally zero reason to not use clips on the trainer, it's not like you can fall over!

I'm pretty sure the apple TV graphics profile is the same regardless which version, it doesn't actually output in 4k with the 4k model, it's still at 1080p.


 
Posted : 19/09/2022 10:55 pm
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One thing in that photo is bugging me though… Are those flat pedals?! 😲

I do hope that’s mid-putting the bike on the trainer and you don’t actually use flats? But seriously, if you do… Get onto clips! There’s literally zero reason to not use clips on the trainer, it’s not like you can fall over!

Nah - I’m deliberately using flats on there. I ride normal spd-sl road pedals when I commute on the bike but for some reason using those pedals or Shimano mtb xc style pedals and shoes ruin my right foot on the trainer. No idea why - but it messed up my right foot for ages. No issues when out on the road though.

I figure I mostly ride my mtb on flat pedals so running them on the turbo is no bad thing - I only use the road bike for mtb fitness / keeping my weight down pretty much 🤷‍♂️


 
Posted : 19/09/2022 11:13 pm
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One thing in that photo is bugging me though… Are those flat pedals?!

LOL you'd love mine then...

I Zwift on a flat bar'd hybrid and flat pedals 🙂


 
Posted : 20/09/2022 11:07 am
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Haha, if it works for you!

To be fair I know how foot problems can be, took a while to get mine sorted when using the trainer - a combination of wider, rigid road shoes and cleat wedges have sorted it. I couldn't imagine zwifting on flat pedals though!


 
Posted : 20/09/2022 11:14 am
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SPD-SLs seem to give me more knee problems than riding flats on the turbo... I've tried them 3-4 different times.


 
Posted : 20/09/2022 11:17 am
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