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Starting the race from zero is fine by me. If your finish line is determined by your start point at the beginning you just need to remember where you started. I typically finish alone anyway 😭😂
Pretty excited for some racing now
Thanks @nixie looking forward to the pain! Only done one other zwift race so we'll see what happens
No opinion on the start, I don't know any better... probably for the best
Ok no worries let’s give it a go.
Did a recce on the course tonight - you start climbing after 400m after 600m you are hitting 6-7% so def worth a go of going as the timer hits zero tomorrow night. Will remind everyone on the start! The race is still going to split in 600m but hopefully you can find a good group.
@paino I have updated your handicap - 14w should save 55 secs of your time.
I won't be in tomorrow because of ZRL but I am missing STW races, and want to chip in on the start issue.
For me, its not a question of missing the GO, or having race experience. I've done hundred of races.
For me its fairness, I am trying very hard to stay level with robbo, not be in front, and frequently GO appears to be announced when robbo is still accelerating, or mostly just when there are a large bunch in front, rather than level with or ideally behind.
Thats probably because it's almost impossible to get a blob at slow speeds/w per kg, the variance in speed is too much, and everyone is desperate to be at the front to mitigate the delay.
Aside from saying 'no go until 5k/30 kmh ' or something, to allow speed to build up and everyone to be alongside if they can, I don't see a better system, so it is what it is.
The launch from the side of the road does not work well for me, it's a crap shoot, because everyone does not go at the same time. Record your starts - I only know apple tv and often see people pulling out and riding across the front of me before I get to move, or me doing the same to them. Seeing everyone disappear before you have even moved does not make a nice experience, even if doing the same distance as a result.
One day Zwift will get their finger out and make it work for meetups.
Can you be spinning on the turbo before the timer hits zero in a meet up, like you can in the pens before a race?
You can yeah but meetup starts seem more glitchy IME. Dont think Ive ever tried a proper hard effort off the line in a meetup, though, so we'll see tomorrow.
Can you be spinning on the turbo before the timer hits zero in a meet up, like you can in the pens before a race?
Yes, definitely. So for anyone who's not too familiar with Zwift racing: About 5 secs from 0 on the countdown clock, start pedaling like a madman to get the watts up as high as possible. Otherwise, when it hits 0 you'll be sitting there when everyone else has gone from Zero to 30mph in 0.5secs 🙂
imdubleyou
Full Member
As one of the few cat D riders in the group I don’t have much to offer on the sharp end of racing.Just going from the beginning would probably help me not get carried away trying to stick with a cat B group when in all likely hood I’m going to get spat out of the C group at some point…
Pretty much saves me typing that. Lol
There are only 3 in Cat D? I'm one of them and not actually racing at the moment anyway.... Though was thinking of trying to keep up with the other D's for at least a while and see how hip feels. Dunno yet, possibly a bit too soon as Its aching today from a nice country walk. Dont want to set myself back.... But Zwift. Difficult not to give it a bit of welly!
Either way, I'll be on tomorrow and I'm good to go with whatever start robbo and everyone else wants to do regarding the start.👍
One alternative that seems more fair is a self imposed start delay, based on a figure from Robbos spreadsheet, rather than a later imposed time penalty.
This is how the TTT works, and it's pretty easy to follow. It does require everybody to be a little bit clued up by looking at the spreadsheet though, and starting on their time delay. Slower riders go first, faster later.
It does require everyone to sit on the start line until their timed delay, either small groups or individual delays, but we are all trustworthy guys/gals right ?, it should mean that we all come together at or near the end, with the faster guys chasing and the slower up front.
I've done this in another meetup with two teams, rather than individual riders, but it was more fun being chased than being dropped, and no one can complain about missing the call to go. Just another 2c !.
One alternative that seems more fair is a self imposed start delay, based on a figure from Robbos spreadsheet, rather than a later imposed time penalty.
This is how the TTT works, and it’s pretty easy to follow. It does require everybody to be a little bit clued up by looking at the spreadsheet though, and starting on their time delay. Slower riders go first, faster later.
It does require everyone to sit on the start line until their timed delay, either small groups or individual delays, but we are all trustworthy guys/gals right ?, it should mean that we all come together at or near the end, with the faster guys chasing and the slower up front.
I’ve done this in another meetup with two teams, rather than individual riders, but it was more fun being chased than being dropped, and no one can complain about missing the call to go. Just another 2c !
Absolutely, but is FAR harder to organise and then potnetially to do the results to. I can imagine they then become a nightmare for Robbo.
That is basically the hare amd hounds event we did, isn't it!
I reckon stick with the simple "go from zero" approach and see how it pans out....
DrP
(New Bluetooth power meter still not here yet... eek...)
Wtrl have to validate every team does not go till their time. That would be an administrative headache and require an account sat on the line recording. Also would result in very little draft for most people.
This seems to be getting very serious and technical for something that is meant to be a fun event and ultimately a laugh to get us all together.
Let's leave the harder bits to the official zwift races, the way we have been doing it has given us a fun series the last time and perhaps a zero and go start may be better, or may be worse, but we should try it to help Robbo. I'm against giving him a worse nightmare of times starts.
Just my opinion but happy to go with the majority.
(New Bluetooth power meter still not here yet… eek…)
1400w for an hour it is then DrP
I'm happy to go with either: a). from the start of the timer or b). as you've done it so far with Robbo calling it. As Oopnorth says, I just want to race someone's avatar and give it a bit of a nudge without tying Robbo up in admin work! It's his call but all I will add is I think a decision needs to be made say by lunchtime as not everyone can check in on the thread all afternoon. Looking forward to it.
as potentially my last few hours as series leader.... i'm happy to go with either option. Its all a bit of fun. lets keep it that way without bogging down with too many rules etc.
I suspect there will be enough riders to draft and leapfrog at the start if you are a stronger rider a little further down the start line (if we go from zero).
fingers firmly crossed I am not last on the road! 😀
WE ARE STARTING THE RACE FROM ZERO TONIGHT. I WILL REMIND ALL ON THE CHAT BEFORE THE RACE
Cheers Robbo. Couldn't be clearer.
FWIW I should have a stream running again;
Cheers Robbo. Couldn’t be clearer.
haha it wasn't directed at you - just wanted it to stand out in the sea of posts! I think the race will go quick tonight - the first climb will hurt but then you have the descent over to the aquaduct and then you are on your way back!
@robbo1234biking I know;) So I browsed Zwift Insider and I mistakenly thought we started with a nice descent. How wrong I was! Going to be a bit of a grunt at the end:)
WE ARE STARTING THE RACE FROM ZERO TONIGHT. I WILL REMIND ALL ON THE CHAT BEFORE THE RACE
Zero as in KM zero, ie the end of the neutralised zone?
Just kidding. 😉
It's a bit unusual for me, I usually finish as zero.
So if I get to the meet up at 1730, does this mean I start at the front.... 😉
@slowpuncheur said:
So I browsed Zwift Insider and I mistakenly thought we started with a nice descent
This zwiftinsider?
We begin with a significant lead-in climb
The start will always be a bodge, until zwift sorts it out (maybe our grandchildren will start their meetup zwift races in the start pens?). The best bodges - the only two really in contention - are those that result in a grouped race as close to the start as possible, surely?
So if I get to the meet up at 1730, does this mean I start at the front….
Nope - cos Zwift loves to hate people - just be happy in the fact that wherever you end up DrP and Dangeourbrain will be in a worse situation as Zwift hates them more!
For me, where i jump in on the pen won't matter much, not on this route anyhow. I'll be more struggling to get up the climb, so being 1s or 3s ahead or behind some will be of little significance.
I've gone CRAZY for tonight and am testing 'mirroring' using Android and Amazon firestick.
That's a sodding HUGE screen, so i can't blame missing something due to being on a small screen 🙂
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50586680842_01e6be070d_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50586680842_01e6be070d_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2k5aXNs ]2020-11-10_11-49-04[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Is it held up in a vice?
Do you have to reach round the screen to hold the handlebars?
LOL nah, it's sitting on the workbench just behind the vice, when it was in front it was a bit too close to the bike.
Do you have to reach round the screen to hold the handlebars
LOL that's my boys bike not mine.
Do you have to reach round the screen to hold the handlebars
Yeah but it really makes you feel in the game and it's much cheaper than a vr setup.
Don't whether to use my trek emonda or canyon aeroad.... Sounds like it'll won or lost on the climbs in this race. What are people's thoughts re bike choice for this course?
Don’t whether to use my trek emonda or canyon aeroad…. Sounds like it’ll won or lost on the climbs in this race. What are people’s thoughts re bike choice for this course?
Good Qn... i have no idea what bike or wheels... i don't think i own any climby bikes, but i do have 2mill in credit i can spend.
is this actually a climby route though? ZI reckons any course that includes downhills or significant flat then an aero bike is faster overall! I will be going with the Tron as per usual (don't think you've unlocked that though?) as I think ZI reckons that's the fastest for rolling routes regardless, and only 3s or something slower per hour than the most aero frame/wheel combo (which I'm not high enough level for) and is probably slower up hills anyway!
Unless he's wanting the tow I'm not keeping up with nixie on the climb nor the flat, he's the electric rabbit really.
Any time I put into Phil on the climb he'll pull back on the flat unless I can squeeze some serious gains out of my bike. It comes down to whether I think I can stay clear of him or if I'm better trying to hold his wheel and chase down Nixie with him.
Harry is a bit of a nuisance*. I can imagine he'll be with me much of the way then try and takeoff on the final climb, if I'm going to put any time into him I need to do it on the flat.
Cbott I've no idea.
If I don't go over the first climb with Phil and Harry it's very much about trying not to loose too much on the flat.
So it's a toss up really. Aero Road with 808s is my best bet for sticking with Phil and Harry if we go over together but the shiv s works with enves gives me the best chance of holding onto any lead I got on the climb without too drastic a weight penalty.
No draft means I'm penalising my self in a three man group but if I go over solo it's the only chance I've got of putting 45 seconds into Paino and tlr or nearly 2 minutes into TP and Gary.
*in a complimentary way.
[I'm on the aero Road at the moment]
Just checked the turbo bike and the back tyre seems to be wearing a hole in the mat, where the feet are sinking slightly into the carpet.
I've added some chipboard under the trainer which should lessen my effort a bit, with the added bonus I'll be going slightly downhill.
Just checked the turbo bike and the back tyre seems to be wearing a hole in the mat, where the feet are sinking slightly into the carpet.
I’ve added some chipboard under the trainer which should lessen my effort a bit, with the added bonus I’ll be going slightly downhill
Something always to keep an eye on, it's really easy to have a wheel dragging depending on the mat type.
just be happy in the fact that wherever you end up DrP and Dangeourbrain will be in a worse situation as Zwift hates them more!
My nemesis is the ANT+ system!!
I'm still awaiting my 4iii powermeter crank to arrive at home any minute...IF it's not on the doormat when I get home, I'll TRY and race, but it's getting so unreliable now i may just quit and ride IRL.....
DrP
@jamesoz the app is showing you as declining the invite. Not sure if that is a zwift error or not but let me know if I need to resend the invite!
DrP, the 4iiii is a doddle to set up. Just make sure you do so, and calibrate before you turn Zwift on as it gets confused easily with 2 apps competing for data.
This zwiftinsider?
Yeah. That's in the text though. I just looked at the pretty picture:) I'm concerned by how seriously some are taking this. It'll be cotton wool and olbas oil up the nose next...
@jamesoz the app is showing you as declining the invite. Not sure if that is a zwift error or not but let me know if I need to resend the invite
That's strange. If you could resend that would be great cheers.
I’m still awaiting my 4iii powermeter crank to arrive at home any minute…IF it’s not on the doormat when I get home, I’ll TRY and race, but it’s getting so unreliable now i may just quit and ride IRL…..
<Looks at DrP's handicap, looks at course profile >
Post people are on strike DrP. Give up now and and plan your real ride (tm) to save yourself the disappointment and hassle when you get home.
I’m concerned by how seriously some are taking this
S'all talk though init, really everyone will just turn up, pedal like the clappers and try not to be sick for 45min to an hour.