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OK here are the handicaps for the first race.
Hopefully this will give the A's more of an opportunity this time to score some points.
Any issues let me know or if you think I have got your handicap wildy wrong (as it may be based on old data if you didnt update me).
The Cats are just taken from here from a simple one decimal place power/weight equation.
https://zwift.com/news/12012-zwift-how-to-choose-your-cycling-race-category
It might be different to your ZP category as that takes into account recent performances etc.
@scaredypants - I have done your FTP from your last few ZP races and your weight from there to
@mrhoppy - I havent sent you an invite. Wasnt sure if you were in or out due to the Mrs doing the WTRL Zwift league onTuesday's?
No worries @robbo1234biking, I'm out until the current ZRL league runs it's course or the Mrs opts out of a race but her team is short handed as it is so most weeks she's committed. If I can make one I'll give you a shout.
Let me know if there is anything I can help with on the admin side.
OK here are the handicaps for the first race
I think I should maybe have updated you on the impact that three weeks of pies and no pedaling has had on me. 😉
I did a few laps of course today at lunch
Interesting and thought provoking as to how i ride it tomorrow.
Lap time was 17m 30 at lowish C pace.
Sprint 9.89, it' going to matter a LOT as to how much speed you can carry up the incline to the sprint.
Lots of break away split moments in this course, it's proper "all in, recover, all in, recover" compared to some. None of the hills are particularly long so the fast lads will be slamming them hard i bet.
None of the hills are particularly long so the fast lads will be slamming them hard i bet.
This to make this
Sprint 9.89, it’ going to matter a LOT as to how much speed you can carry up the incline to the sprint.
harder work. There is not a lot of recovery between the nasty hilly section and the uphill to the sprint.
I don't really know this course so I will just adapt to others around me during the race, after the first lap I guess I'll know where the sprint and recovery sections are. It's 3 laps...right?
Thanks for sorting the handicaps again Robbo, looks like I'm having to watch the usual suspects! 😉
Just seen the handicap link. Looks like a few lightweight As will need dropping! Hope my legs remember how to zwift after a week and a bit off!
@scaredypants – I have done your FTP from your last few ZP races and your weight from there to
Cheers. Only fair to point out that the Innsbruck TTT should NOT contribute to that. (For reasons I can't possibly go into - mostly to protect the terminally stoopid - that was a significant underestimate of my effort during the race)
🤡
Nice one Robby, looks decent to me.
Will be a bit different this series racing as a B, I don’t expect to be in the top 3 week this time if at all.
Can easily see the fast lads making more than a few minutes gap on this course, our (B guys) day will come on a flatter track.
Forgot to ask as I know there’s still going to be that weird 5 to 10 second phantom gap due to the spacing or timing of getting out of the blocks. Does anybody know if you fall behind by pushing of sooner or later. I tried to wait a bit on the final race of the series which resulted in having to put a big effort in to catch up with the group just as the crazy start kicked in, so a double effort.
I’m thinking the sooner you start means you be been in the race longer, so if somebody starts 10 seconds after and you cross th line together they would be classed as finishing 10 seconds before.
Cheers Robbo thanks for organising and see you tomorrow night
I think the gap is determined as soon as the meet-up starts kirky. So it is based on your start position relative to the start line but you dont complete more than the distance of the meetup which leads to the slight different positions of the finish line for different people. That should mean that those small gaps shouldnt make a difference to the final times as it is still the total time to complete the Xkm.
Oopnorth based on my ramp test I wouldnt race against me. 276W down to 257W! I dont think it is a true drop though. Week off was good but Saturday night news was a bit shit - wife got made redundant last lockdown and now she is going to have to shut her business that she has started on Wednesday night after the latest lockdown so that was on my mind. We are lucky that it isnt a financial worry but she has worked hard to get kicked twice this year (as have many others) and my focus just wasn't there. I thought I got within 20 seconds of equalling my previous FTP and realised I was 1min 20 seconds off and my head just dropped!
Ah well - work hard to improve it now.
Looking forward to tomorrow evening.
Sorry to hear that Robbo, hope things improve for you and your wife too. Hard times!
OK here are the handicaps for the first race
Lol you think I'm a lot quicker than I am!
Hi all and really sorry to hear the bad news regarding you're wifes fledgling company @robbo1234biking
My hip finally on the mend so I'm going to join the ride tomorrow but I'll be bimbling. Realy dont want to set myself back again.
Totally not a big deal robbo as I won't be racing as such but my weight is now upto 110kg. Been comfort eating and lost all the weight loss I made over summer. Gutted.😐
Back on the wagon now and (hopefully) being able to get on Zwift again is a primary motivation for me at the moment.😁
Good man Scoop. Get the attitude right and get the fire back !
Thanks weeksy, I'll be "seeing you" tomorrow!
Robbo, throw Figg an invite please. Otherwise he'll be hassling us both tomorrow
Cheers poopscoop and oopnorth.
Poopscoop - I can adjust the handicap time for you tomorrow morning assuming you have updated it in Zwift.
mrhoppy - admin is all good cheers. A lot easier this time round!
Can I get my handicap reduced if I’m covid positive? On a more serious note, wife and kids just tested positive after kids had temperatures, so pretty sure I must be positive too. Fingers crossed it isn’t too much of a rough ride for the next few days. Guess I might have to drop out of the race to be sensible...redlining for an hour probably not advisable...though am I just being soft as feel fine just now?
robbo1234biking
Full Member
Cheers poopscoop and oopnorth.Poopscoop – I can adjust the handicap time for you tomorrow morning assuming you have updated it in Zwift.
Not to worry about that matey, I'll be there for the banter and "hip tester" only.lol Just wanted to keep you updated with weight. Not a clue what ftp would be these days anyway but I'm not even concerned by that. Just want to get weight off and fitness (well, what I had anyway) back.👍
though am I just being soft as feel fine just now
DON't worry, you can't infect us through Zwift 🙂
@Oblongbob fingers well and truly crossed for you and family mate.
robbo
poopscoop no problem! See you at the start line.
I'm looking forward to the ride this evening!
Looking forward to series 2 tonight - many thanks again to Robbo for all the work in putting this series together
good luck everyone, see you on the start line...
I'm not sure 'looking forward' to it is the right phrase... Maybe i put too much pressure on myself to stay with Robbo and Oop North... rather than just getting on with it and enjoying my own race.
Also looking forward to it tonight. I'm just about to head off for stage one of kill my legs, an hours PT session! Stage two is an hour later with a run!
Start Procedure:
Once the timer reaches zero I will start pedalling very slowly.
If you are behind me on the road, start pedalling slowly to catch up with me.
If you are in front of me on the road don’t start pedalling until I get close to you.
This should mean the group forms quicker at a slower pace. Once everyone is together I will say go but this will be after the start/finish line so there is no need to rush.
Thanks Robbo. I was going to ask as I haven't done one of these yet. I'm assuming all categories start at same time?
Anyone know a hack so I can hide behind a tree for a lap? 😉
Yes it is a mass start for all cats (try and hang on to a faster cat group if you can!) but as the meetup spread everyone about 400m along the road the idea is to try and get everyone into one big group. It can get a bit messy but until zwift give us something better we are pretty limited.
I've barely ridden since the last series & from the sounds of the posts above, this course sounds like it might be a bit of a shocker.
I'll commit to my previous tactic of going as fast as possible for about 30seconds, get spat out into no-mans land & then sweat my knackers off for an hour.
I am not entirely sure how the sprint thing works - is it just the normal sprint sections that appear on a course? I take it we don't get an indicator, apart from crossing the sprint line? Pretty academic, as I always get spat (even further) out the back in the sprint situations, but it's nice to know the reasons why I am going backwards :o)
The sprints are to add a bit more fun into the competition really and give people other opportunities to score points. It is about 7.5km into the lap on this course (see image on page 1). If you aren't sure where it is keep an eye out for a green arch on the map. Also you don't have to sprint - it might be better not to as normally after a sprint I need to drop the power for a bit so I def wont be trying to hit 1000W! Might be more of a 400W type sprint but the fastest times will likely come from being in a good pack and getting the timing right.
Green arch on the map - great! I'll keep my eye out for that & see what happens.
I suspect killing myself during the sprint phase will be counter-productive though, apart from a personal challenge.
Maybe i put too much pressure on myself to stay with Robbo and Oop North
Funny Weeksy cos I do that thinking about keeping up with you, Robbo, Hoppy, Ivan etc. Think that is what adds to the fun cos you soon know if you are in the right position or not, once the initial sprint dies down. Not going to be going too crazy tonight as I have a bit of a muscle twinge behind the knee but Lets see how it pans out, as I said I don't know the course really so will be a learning curve for the ups and downs on the first lap.
Anyone know a hack so I can hide behind a tree for a lap?
@slowpuncheur I don't think you have anything to worry about, as you have 2.5 minutes advantage on me in the handicap and you are faster than me most weeks on the Sunday hills. I'm now setting you as a target!! 😉
OK, minor discussion but directly related to tonight.
Anyone race using 'assistance' from things like Gels, Shotblocks etc ? I'm wondering if popping a shotblock 30 mins before and one just as i start may be a good plan ?
I did 3 of the races last time round.
If I remember correctly, I assisted myself with:
1) Full Fish and Chip Dinner, Curry Sauce.
2) Apple Pie and Custard
3) Empty Stomach as late home from work.
I think the biggest thing for me is actually getting on the bike plenty of time before the race so I'm properly warmed up!
I’m properly warmed up!
THat's another thing i struggle with... i seem to ride better from cold personally.
Anyone race using ‘assistance’ from things like Gels, Shotblocks etc ?
I'm using the e-bike if that counts?!
I usually have a 500ml bottle with 2 or 3 scoops of High5 in before/during the race.
Anyone race using ‘assistance’ from things like Gels, Shotblocks etc ? I’m wondering if popping a shotblock 30 mins before and one just as i start may be a good plan ?
Pint of Stella, a line of Pro Plus and half an asthma inhaler.
I tend to use electrolyte drink before and during the races. I prefer a nice warm up but often find myself managing pace at the start instead.
The race is short so I won't be using any energy drinks. I need a warm up of at least 30 min to get the legs in the mood for 100rpm for an hour 😭.
I'm hoping an expected delivery arrives early rather than late as otherwise I might have to hop off and answer the door mid race.
I try to get on the bike nice & early. I started off doing that just to iron out any Zwift gremlins, but do feel that I can go faster from the off with properly warmed up legs.
Don't bother eating during the race & only have water (copious amounts of) in my bottles.
I normally eat with the rest of my family at 5pm-ish, so quite often start the race feeling a bit 'full' but that can't really be helped.
Not tried any gels or other energy sources...bit of cake dangling from a string just in front of the bike could possibly encourage me along...
Alaos (well, kinda..) I'll be going for one last real ride with my mates for a while tonight, so won't be at the lineup tonight...!
Have fun chaps... race hard, race safe, but mostly...race legal....
or whatevs...
DrP