There was a culpable omission from my little race report (especially as I had a front row seat for some of it): that was a great win by @benman. It took him more than one attack to get clear, it regrouped several times, and his preferred terrain came early where it was least helpful. Very impressive.
Really suffering today, legs are in bits and desperately trying not to eat all the biscuits in the house.
Will add my thanks to @robbo1234biking for organising, if I wasn't signed up to race I would have just sat on the sofa last night feeling fed up with everything, so this race series is really helping me mentally. Hopefully when the weather/lockdown situation improves it will have helped my fitness too.
Just to give Robbo a bigger ego boost...I can highly recommend the workout series that Robbo has set up for myself, Stumpy and Rob every Monday and Friday early doors. I really noticed a difference last night in keeping the power down for longer and I'm pushing higher numbers in all of my recent ZP events, so something is working. Psychologically it helps to know what power I am able to hold in the workouts and for how long.
So, if you can make the workout sessions, it helps!! 6-45am Monday and Friday.
Robbo... are you able to share the workout at all?
email it perhaps? can it work that way?!
DrP
I would be interested in this too if poss!! 😃
Also keen on the training, can the session be joined, if i can get out of bed
Happy to share the workouts. Disclaimer: I am not a coach - I have just found this works for me over the past 18 months of getting interested in cycling training but didn't find any of the Zwift/TrainerRoad offerings fitted in with what I wanted to do outside of structured training.
It is 2 sessions a week - one on SS and one focussing on VO2 max. We currently do them 6.45am on Monday's and Friday's. It is in 6 week blocks so 5 weeks on with a recovery week which will be less intense (but also allow for races). The current block is likely the easiest with the aim to progress to over/unders on the next block.
I am happy to share the workouts. You just need to place them in your username folder on your Zwift directory assuming that you are using a laptop. They are .fit files so I would have to email them out.
If you can make the sessions that is great. If you want to join in PM your email address and I will send out the workouts and I will add you onto the invite list. We have elastic band on so we all stay together and each session is adjusted to your own FTP so we work to different power figures but the same comparative frequency. If you cant make the sessions then I am still happy to share the workouts for you to complete at a time to suit you.
Monday morning SS work is a great way to start the week to be honest - it sets you up for the week ahead in a positive mindest (assuming you work Mon-Fri!).
So, I did my first ever Crit with a visit to Downtown Dolphin. That was double bad news.
Firstly I’ve learned that flat Crits just aren’t my strong point. And secondly it wrung an FTP increase out of me.
So @robbo1234biking please put me down for 280W.
They are evil and with sprint and fast lap points available next week even more evil.
Congrats on the increase @j-r.
Congrats on the increase j-r (he says rubbing his hands in glee!!)
Robbo, not sure if you noticed my increase. 266, not as much as j-r’s, but an increase is an increase.
Got FTP increases for J-R and w00dster and weight decreases for DrP.
It will be 5 second gaps on the handicap this week - needs to be pretty tight as the whole field is pretty close this week. The fast guys will be a few seconds a lap quicker but that is all. You wont get the big gaps we got on the TT as the hill was such a big differentiator.
Lots of people doing Crits this week as well which is good to see. The addition of the Crit and the TT has encouraged people to try some new stuff on Zwift which cant be a bad thing!
Absolutely. Like who in their right mind would do a MTB TT or Crit!:)
I'll be riding Tue. Although not racing. Don't worry about a handicap for me, I won't be threatening a point. Which is s shame as the legs feel great and I think I'd do better in this one than any other.
Thanks matey. First time back and feel ok. Back to work next week too. Well, back to the sofa.
@robbo1234biking - would you mind updating my stats for this week's handicaps?
Not a massive change, but my weight has changed - now 74kg.
No change to my FTP.
Dunno if that will affect things, but thought it worth mentioning.
2 people with weight losses this week – clearly some have their eye on the climb at the end of Keith hill after party!
I'd forgotten about that!
Chub club and the shock of an XL label 🤣 are the main motivators for me!!
The Wispa i just nicked out of my daughter's treat tin probably wasn't a great idea!
Gave Repack Ridge a go as a warm up before my TdZ Stage 4 ride today. Got 8min 20 and 9 stars so I am top of the leaderboard!
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Can I ask what steering set up people are using for repack ridge? I currently have nothing so would I just need a phone mount for my bars? What do you need under your front wheel?
I have something like this for mounting my phone to the handlebar but it came for free with something my wife brought for running with.
Byking Bike phone holder, 360° rotatable universal bicycle phone mount for smartphones up to 6.7″, phone holder for bike motorbike scooter trolley, silicon anti-shake https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08BK43YSX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_fpedGbKCD7104
But anyway of mourning your phone you can come up with. You only need small movements of the handlebars.
I have an Elite Sterzo (the dumb one) under the front wheel but i got it not for steering but for a bit more movement on the front end after I snapped some stem bolts attempting a sprint. Prior to that I had a couple of goes by pumping up the front tyre pretty high and putting a glass chopping board under the front wheel as it was low enough friction to turn the handlebars the small amount that you need.
Did Repack Ridge myself this afternoon as well. Timed at 6.53 and 7 stars. Room for improvement. Steering setup: Rubber phone mount on bars. Birdseye potato waffle cardboard box (empty and flat) with baking paper on top. Works a treat:)
Good effort @slowpuncheur. That is quite a steep hill at the end! Couldnt even give me an hour at the top of the leadboard!
Did Repack Ridge myself this afternoon as well. Timed at 6.53 and 7 stars.
Impressive! Given the momentum loss if you don't get a clean line, you should have an even better time without too much trouble.
Handicaps for Tuesday.
Cheers Robbo, that’s going to interesting on Tuesday.
It will need a early break away for the big hitters to have a chance of making enough back on the handicap. I foresee some massive watt bombs are going to be dropped up that short climb.
I'm not sure there are enough to get away. Going to be basically a TT level effort again to try and break the tow.
Sorry I’m a bit late Robbo but I’ve just completed another half monty ramp test and my ftp came out at 240W so up by 10 from 3 weeks ago. Weight is now 74kg so another kilo lost too. I had planned to do the test on Saturday but had not sufficiently recovered from Thursdays tt!
Did repack tonight while testing new drive chain. Clocked a 'super fast' 12.40 with 3.5 stars. It's basically uncontrollable on a rocker plate with the companion app.
@drew will double check your handicap for tomorrow night later.
Nixie - not that it matters that much but can you put a bit of wood between the plates on both sides to get rid of the rocking effect?
Yeap going to try that for the next attempt. It was a really weird experience. Sometimes turning the bars worked just fine, sometimes you could steerer using body weight movement on the rocker alone. Then other times I full explored the limits of the road, including inside the cliff face (where I found a plant growing :D).
8 or 12?
Description says 12, but companion says 8
8 laps. Got a bit overexcited at first and thought about making it 12!
Mmmm 8. Lol mmmm
12 works for me 😋.
It'll be more like 9... the start is just after the lap counter, so you basically do 2 laps to register the first!
DrP
I think it still counts that lap from the pens as one of the laps DrP - at least the total race length indicates that anyway.
I feel like a longer steadier race would suit me better tonight - not sure I am suited to 20 mins of all out racing!
yeah it does Robbo.
The sprint is uphill isn't it?
Yeh its the short cobbled climb. People naturally sprint there in any case as you don't want to become detached from the group.
So... who's expecting an ftp increase today... I think if I average 312w for the 20 min, mine goes up...!
DrP
To be honest, as sluggish as I've felt the last few days I'll be pleased to get within 100w of mine. Rather hoping the excitement of the race is enough to pull my head from my backside.
Don't think I'll get an FTP increase but do have a plan. I'm hoping the field spreads out enough for lots of draft opportunities.
Don’t think I’ll get an FTP increase but do have a plan. I’m hoping the field spreads out enough for lots of draft opportunities.
A lap is pretty short - we could just form a 60 person long draft that might spread the whole lap. Go to UCI rules if there isn't a gap everyone gets awarded the time of the first person to cross the line?!
deffo won't be getting an FTP upgrade but i'm sitting here with the dilemma of whether to race it or wingman it for my mate. I'd set out with the plan of being a wingman and riding with him, but the temptation is high to jump on an push. I actually think if i go for it i could get a top 20..... Which i think would be batting above my pay-grade. But i race well on the Crit course over this distance and i could flatter myself with a decent effort.
I won't mate, honest. 🙂
Be good to have you in it @weeksy as it's perfect for you....but please don't break yourself, it may be too early and you said back in February.
Listen to the body as you go.
Its going to be full on tonight...will we see some lapping???
Live stream ready to go for tonight's vom fest..
DrP
will we see some lapping???
There's a very good chance that I'll take off like a monkey being blasted into space and i think it likely my legs will have similar longevity to poor Albert if I do so it's a distinct possibility.
Its going to be full on tonight…will we see some lapping???
A lap for the fast guys will be around 2mins 20. The slower guys assuming they bunch should still be around 3min 0 at the most. But depends on the fast guys group size as to whether they can manage 2:20s, i think they'll be closer to 2:30 average. But again, depends on the slower guys too and their group size as to whether they're sub 3's....
I think the front will lap a few riders potentially.
It's going to be an interesting race and it's almost a shame to be riding in it as it will be interesting to see from the sidelines, the attacks up the cobbles are going to destroy groups and riders alike as some of the guys who are Bs try and stay with the As, some of the Cs try and stick with the Bs etc and all end up deep in the red. It'll also be interesting to see the As as they get over the crest, can they hold the power to pull away, or will the group drag them back. It's all well and good having 10w/kg up the hill, but you've then got to hold on for the remainder of the race time and time again as the bunch gets after you.
As I’ve never done this race before, are we expecting it to be a 20 min effort? Also what is the expected duration of the climb? If climbing at about 300 watts and 4.5w/kg? Just trying to judge my effort level needed.
Like the TT, I've never done a crit on Zwift, so this will be interesting. 20min flat route definitely doesn't play to my strengths (still MIA btw) but I recall I enjoyed Paris last series, which is maybe sort of similar to this.....maybe.
Yeh it will be a little over 20 mins for most people I think - between 20 and 25mins. So work on being just over FTP for the duration (say 105% average). Not a lot of places to rest/shelter on this course. Climb is a 20 second effort once a lap.
Im not 100% sure which power ups we will get.
You might get Burrito and Ghost.
Burrito stops anyone drafting you for the 10 second duration.
Ghost means you disappear of other peoples screens for 10 seconds (a bit like a wifi dropout with less risk!)
I can't race tonight. I *might* be able to log in and capture some of the action, but no promises.
@w00dster the climb lasts ~15 seconds (plus a few flat seconds to the arch for the actual prime timing). You'll be well over 4.5w/kg.
There's also a steamroller on this course, which flattens out the cobbles for appropriate trainers.
Never raced a Crit, planned to have a nosey at one last week but never got round to it.
Sounds like it's going to be painful.
Well if i'm racing a Crit in C usually, my Max HR is 184, my average for the race is 175-176. So yeah, it's right up there in terms of flat out effort.
It all depends how you cope at this type of effort.
Climb will double that @w00dster.
I'm not a crit city fan and my last outing (when I was not right) did not go well.
Never done a crit before, so I literally have no idea of what to expect, other than to be close to vomiting by the end if what you lot are saying up there holds true 🙂
I've podiumed a few Cat C Zwift crits before but only done it this way round once - I think it's the easier way round to be honest, the single climb followed by a generally downhill lap seems a bit easier than climbing over the rollers.
seem i'm the opposite... i prefer the rollers. However, when it comes to the finish, if you time it right on the rollers you can get the speed spot on and make up places, which is harder in the Bell format.
Or lose loads of places when you time it wrong. Voe!
Having had a look on ZI, it seems the steamroller only works off-road..making it like road... Doesn't mention cobbles etc etc...
Now here's a thing...a lot of people think/mention that the road feel on a tacx neo slows you down..?? reckon there's any truth in that?
DrP
I think it’s just a psychological thing... messes up your rhythm... certainly that’s why I turn it off for racesa lot of people think/mention that the road feel on a tacx neo slows you down
OK...so have been reading up on it!
Apparently your avatar DOES slow down when going over cobbles etc, just like real life. Thus EVERYONE needs to pump out more power to maintain the same speed.
It's not the road-feel leading to that... it's jsut the road feel happens WHEN the errort increase is needed...
DrP
Never raced a crit before, sounds likes its going to be another FTP test... Or another solo TT if I can't stick with the big guns
@benman I think your safe there as long as you stay smart and in the draft.
Here's my feed for this evening;
He's only gone and worked out how to stick up a thumbnail image!!! 😉
DrP
Well I don't know about you lot but I for one am very glad it's an indoor race this evening.
He’s only gone and worked out how to stick up a thumbnail image!!
Only by hacking it and create a < link > < img > < / link >. It doesn't work properly and embed a player like yours. I wonder if it is something to do with the 'allow embedding' setting in youtube studio against the video however I cannot change that for some reason.
That's a faff!!!
You still jsut running the Zwift screen..? no rider action?!!!
DrP
Did a crit in this course a few weeks ago so know roughly where to attack etc and know roughly what I need to place at but being on MTB's is going to skew the figures a bit.
I know it's going to hurt and I will feel like crap afterwards but strangely I can't wait!
You still jsut running the Zwift screen..? no rider action?!!!
Yeap. Not really sure I want to show you all my ugly face!
Edit: though thinking about it I have a massive pile to ikea temporary blinds downstairs. COuld make a greenscreen with those and have a nice embedded rider without the background.
@nixie ... it's quite fun plaing with the streaming stuff isn't it!
The likes of GPlama etc are quite inspirational for ideas. My issue is that the music i listen to/stream isn't always copyright approved, so popular songs bring my video down!
DrP
Yeap getting quite into it, I've just found some lights downstairs that that I could use with the webcam . Need to look into music and what is copyright approved.
If you green screen it properly you could replace your avatar with you on the turbo 😉