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Thanks robbo
Hi I have DM'ed you, and followed you on zwift, can you please add me as well robbo?
@andeh - I have you down as an entry but dont have your FTP and weight. Can you let me know please.
Spreadsheet linked below with your forum username and the handicap you will receive at the moment. Please note this may change as it depends on the predicted times and sign up isn't closed yet. Let me know if I have missed you off and I will resolve it for you! Final handicap will go out on Mondau evening.
Invites to the first 3 races will go out tomoz evening so again if you dont receive one let me know.
I have checked my predicted times against some of your race times and it is a pretty good correlation so fingers crossed the handicap system works! There are some good groups split across the time range so you should find someone a similar pace to you who can push you along the route.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zXYe-yQSG8429UxPsAC0ipwjXs8rJtBvlqHxFpLBlaE/edit?usp=sharing
Yep, sorry, trainer transition teething issues.
77kg
250w
Cheers Robbo
Hi Robbo, you must have missed my earlier “Yes Please”.
I’m following you already (P Woods STW) I think.
250 Ftp and 69kgs.
Thanks both have added you on.
w00dster - sorry for missing you first time round.
I have sent out the meetup for Race 1. Let me know if you haven't got the invite. I will just do Race 1 at the moment as then once Race 1 is over I can send out the invite for Race 2 etc using the same distribution list.
There are a couple I couldn't invite as I don't think you are following me - forum name listed below. Follow me on Zwift and then I can send the invite.
@scaredypants
@haloric
@tpbiker
@r8jimbob88
@Blackflag
I'm up for this.
I have a smart trainer and Zwift account but I've never managed to understand what to actually do. SO many accounts, apps and options, in the end I just gave up and rode sufferfest. I'll have another go working things out at the weekend and get you numbers that you need
Is there an idiots guide to starting out on Zwift anywhere?
Wow... Pulling 12 mins out could be fun over 15 miles.
Might take Monday as a rest day!
This is pretty good - its not all that difficult to get going https://zwiftinsider.com/getting-started-smart-trainer/
@charlierevell yeap going to be a touch optimistic I think. Though looking at a one lap race I did on Douce France (i.e. the reverse of R.G.V) the lead A was 32 minutes with the lead D at 40.24 so if we assume 0 handicap is low D then that is in the right time frame. I think the real problem towards getting that gap will be numbers to draft sufficiently (while also escaping from those with similar power on the flat but less handicap). Going to be tough to manage that.
Turn off drafting to make the handicapping work better? People can then choose road bikes if they want, rather than just TT bikes.
Don't know if this can be done for team meetup events, but there are some events on Zwiftpower like the above (without the handicap start times).
I’m still turboless. Expecting a Wattbike to be delivered W/C 14th Sept though!
Make the series TT bikes only to make the handicapping work better?
It's just a smash fest then rather than a race with tactics.
The first event is always going to be an experiment and the handicap has to start somewhere.
Charlie - yours was one of the times I checked and my predicted time was near enough bang on for what you did on a race on the same course (or reverse course I cant remember now).
The drafting does add some complexity but you should end up with some similar riders to race against in any case. You can choose a TT or a road bike (or mountain if you want a disadvantage).
I will list the results in terms of zwift ranking A through D as well as overall time and the handicapped time. If I find the predicted times are way of the actual time recorded then it will be an issue but hopefully we can see a good correlation. I will add the zwift category to the spreadsheet as well (based on the info you have provided not historical races or zwiftpower as not everyone uses that).
Great Work Robbo - I think we all appreciate the work you must be putting in on this!
I have accepted the invite. I think I have only done one race previously on Zwift; not including the STW Hare & Hounds rides!
I think we all appreciate the work you must be putting in on this!
Second that.
Charlie – yours was one of the times I checked and my predicted time was near enough bang on for what you did on a race on the same course (or reverse course I cant remember now).
The drafting does add some complexity but you should end up with some similar riders to race against in any case. You can choose a TT or a road bike (or mountain if you want a disadvantage).
I will list the results in terms of zwift ranking A through D as well as overall time and the handicapped time. If I find the predicted times are way of the actual time recorded then it will be an issue but hopefully we can see a good correlation. I will add the zwift category to the spreadsheet as well (based on the info you have provided not historical races or zwiftpower as not everyone uses that).
I've no issues in the time gaps, looking forward to the challenge! be interesting to see how the splits break down as thats what normally happens in the first 5 mins.
Fairly flat course this week so it should bunch up. Innsbruck could be different!
If I find the predicted times are way of the actual time recorded then it will be an issue
No it won't, absolutely no issue at all. It definitely won't be perfect, some will find they get on better than expected, others will find it tougher than expected - I'm looking forward to the gloating, the ribbing and the inevitable the cries of 'it's not fair!!' - all part of the fun!!
And a massive thanks Robbo for this - brilliant effort.
Having run 2 leagues via ZP for the South West this summer, I totally appreciate the work put in to run this.
The great thing to see is a large number of entrants. How you adapt and change to suit will be interesting.
The Idea of riding a TT bike could be fun, but unfair on the others. Could work well on a flat course to prevent people sitting on. 😉
I’m looking forward to the gloating, the ribbing and the inevitable the cries of ‘it’s not fair!!’ – all part of the fun!!
I completely agree. I'm in this for the laughs and banter, I am definitely not taking it serious, it's just for fun!
@nixie in the same race you put just under 4 minutes into me which is spookily enough the handicap.
I might have missed this point, if it's been raised already...
Are we using 95% of our best 20mins in the last six weeks for FTP, or an actual "hour of power?" I don't know if this applies to others, but for me 60mins of riding is pretty much always lower than 95% of 20mins (although from just before my back abscess surgery, they were 261 vs 263, they've only once been closer in the past ~2.5 years and usually there is a ~25W difference).
Organising handicap events can be an absolute ballache, with people moaning at their handicaps relative to others! 😆
I sorted out a handicapped tournament for the snooker club ~20 years ago, simply basing handicaps multiples of 8 points. Ended up with a final between the best player in the club by far, who had the real potential to turn pro (Bob Cooper, from near Portsmouth) and one of the weaker players (Lorenz IIRC) in the club... In hindsight, I probably didn't make the event challenging enough for Bob and a bit too easy for Lorenz. Bob played the best level of snooker I've seen in person over a multi-frame match, to win the final.
95% of 20 mins will be what most people have used or a ramp test. I think someone found their ftp in zwift as well if you are on the main application, click on the menu button in game, under your name is the edit symbol. if you click on that you can find your FTP that zwift has assigned and it will update that if you do any efforts above that value.
Yup.95% of my 20 mins race best.... which i'm unikely to manage in this race as i'm nowhere near my best 🙂
But i'll be drafting with the best of them !
Makes two of us Weeksy! 🙂
Pretty flat this week then?
*Scans thread for TT monsters to draft*
😅
Well if Nixie and Phil are racing, that's your lead 2 to try and draft anyway. Although they're both a massive ask for most of us. I'll be taking the first 2km as a standard Zwift race and hitting 350w for as much of the first 2 mins as i can manage... I'll then get dumped on the next 2% up and struggle along somewhere.... But of all the courses this is likely to be 'OK' from my perspective... Not flat enough for me to do well, but flat enough for me to do reasonably.
I think the fast boys will win on the road, but whether they can pull out several minutes overall on the chasers, i'm not convinced. I think this one will favour someone who's about 75kg and putting out 26-270w.... they'll be the ones winning it after handicaps applies.
The Idea of riding a TT bike could be fun, but unfair on the others. Could work well on a flat course to prevent people sitting on. 😉
You do that. You do know that other riders can draft off a TT bike so it'd just be you that wasn't getting any benefit right?
At least R.G.V is flat for a while at the start, should give a decent draft opportunity. Douche France with the rollers first is much more difficult in that respect. Without telegraphing too much I don't see much option but trying to force a split early.
Without telegraphing too much I don’t see much option but trying to force a split early.
LOL you and Phil at 700w out the gate then !
Yeah, anyone who isn't expecting the peloton to be utterly shredded within 2 minutes has clearly not raced on Zwift before!
just got to dig deep for those first vital few minutes then try and find some good wheels to follow..
LOL you and Phil at 700w out the gate then !
😎 Not quite what I had in mind.
At least R.G.V is flat for a while at the start, should give a decent draft opportunity. Douche France with the rollers first is much more difficult in that respect. Without telegraphing too much I don’t see much option but trying to force a split early.
Unless I have the wrong end of the stick (nothing new there), riders will be setting off from the pen according to handicap, so the only split you will get is if other riders have a very similar handicap start to you?
Thought we all go at the same time? The handicap applies after the race?
Thought its a group rolling start and handicap added at the end.
Yeh rolling neutralised start and handicap added to the end. If you can hang on to someone’s wheel it will be an advantage.
Basically us high level Cs low level Bs have to team up to slow the rate of loss to Nixie etc once we are shelled while trying to dump each other out of the group before the finish.
Work together for 7/8th of the race then work against at the end.
What's the overall based on assuming you are running this as a series?
Points based on finish position or time?
Can we drop an event or not?
I know it's not serious...
Anyone employing a DS to let them know how far ahead they can let the W/Kg aliens go and still win by handicap? 😆
Tom. Points system as per F1 scoring so as follows:
25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1
You don’t have to do every event. It will be about consistency to win the series.
amazing work being put in there.. thanks!
looking forward to it, though I'm getting tanned and fat here in Greece on an all inclusive holiday!
will get some 'training in on BH mon!
DrP
Hi, thanks for organising this. I would like to join in on this but haven’t done anything much on the bike since an etape stage back in early July so am planning to do an FTP test tomorrow. Could you add my name to the list please and I’ll post an up to date ftp soon. Andrew Atkinson (stw). Cheers
Andrew
Without telegraphing too much I don’t see much option but trying to force a split early.
I'm not sure there's much telegraphing required! The only way the higher handicapped have any chance is to go off as fast as possible and hold it until our ears bleed!