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[Closed] STW Zwift Race Series 3 - Winter

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It would look rather unpleasant if you had to ride through a shower of sweat, if the avatars reflected the profusive sweating of the real riders.


 
Posted : 28/01/2021 9:55 am
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@DrP Is your Big Foot Hills meetup on Sunday banded? Thinking of joining but also want to follow a workout whilst doing it.


 
Posted : 29/01/2021 6:36 pm
 DrP
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It's not banded, no.... Also, not sure if you can join a meetup AS as workout if the 'leader' doesn't make it one.. I May be wrong..

Also..turns out I need Big foot hills as a route..! Winner!

DrP


 
Posted : 29/01/2021 7:41 pm
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On group rides you can select to do a workout even if the leader isn’t and you can all do different workouts. It is different for proper Zwift events but the group meet-ups work this way. Trouble is that you might quickly fall of the back of the group and once you are a certain distance away the group chat will stop working.


 
Posted : 29/01/2021 7:46 pm
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Just as an aside: when on Zwift outside of the races does anyone else automatically look at everyone in an MTB to see if it's one of us? Maybe it's just me but there seems to be an awful lot more people riding MTBs around the last week or so!


 
Posted : 29/01/2021 8:08 pm
 DrP
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Ah, cheers robbo....

Feel free to do what you want in the ride! I guess most WON'T be doing a workout...
I'm tapering down my efforts this week, ready for next Sunday... so 70k will be a nice ride with you lot..

Gotta figure out how to fit in tdz 7 AND the stw race in somehow too!

DrP


 
Posted : 30/01/2021 8:57 am
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@robbo1234biking Please reduce my weight to 80.4Kg (or 80Kg if you round) and adjust my handicap for the next meeting.


 
Posted : 31/01/2021 12:18 pm
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Thanks @n0b0dy0ftheg0at will update before posting the handicaps tonight. Any other updates before this evening?


 
Posted : 31/01/2021 1:48 pm
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I have avoided telling you I've had another stupid FTP increase up to 286w as I'm not going to make it on Tuesday anyway (loaning my turbo to a mate so he can try Zwifting for the first time). Will watch on Dr P's YouTube though.


 
Posted : 31/01/2021 2:55 pm
 DrP
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Speaking of....

Might be using a different streaming software..OBS Studio...

Will see!

DrP


 
Posted : 31/01/2021 6:59 pm
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OBS is what I've been using, seems to work alright.


 
Posted : 31/01/2021 7:34 pm
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https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QPxMGqez2VsN-4mD17f90t06NzqSLMMoGe4cUEK1E3U/edit#gid=452795361

Handicaps for Tuesday are live. If your name is in yellow then you have either reported an FTP increase or a weight decrease this week.


 
Posted : 31/01/2021 7:52 pm
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I've got an FTP increase to find on Zwift somewhere so I'll get that over tomorrow when I can dig it out. I don't expect it's a huge change though!


 
Posted : 31/01/2021 8:57 pm
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@ivandobski on the main Zwift page where you select the world etc click on the training tab and then select any workout. Your ftp as set by zwift will then be in the bottom right corner.


 
Posted : 31/01/2021 9:40 pm
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@robbo1234biking

Cheers, it's gone up to 265w - if I can find another 32w I'll be back to where I was in mid-December!


 
Posted : 31/01/2021 11:08 pm
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I think there must be quite a few ftp increases that you e not picked up on Robbo, of the top of my head I recall seeing more than those.

Wowsers, never thought I would get so close to some of those top A handicaps when we started the first series.


 
Posted : 31/01/2021 11:42 pm
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Not been able to join in this series, so looking forward to this one and see what all this MTB lark is about.


 
Posted : 01/02/2021 9:37 am
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How long will the race take tomorrow?


 
Posted : 01/02/2021 5:40 pm
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Around 40 minutes at the front.


 
Posted : 01/02/2021 5:49 pm
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Glad I did a short moderate effort recce using the MTB just before dinner, I'd forgotten how rolling this course is... Must remember to dial back the slope feel from 100% before tomorrow night!


 
Posted : 01/02/2021 8:37 pm
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Evening all. Slight update for tomorrow night.

Sprint points will only be awarded for the fastest sprint time. There is no official lap of seaside sprint so I am unable to get data to award points.

See you tomorrow evening. Looking forward to it. Should be a good one. It is a fun course with some rolling terrain.


 
Posted : 01/02/2021 9:46 pm
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It is a fun course with some rolling terrain.

The esses are not "fun" 😛


 
Posted : 01/02/2021 10:02 pm
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Yeah they are 😃. Show you tomorrow 🤮.


 
Posted : 01/02/2021 11:30 pm
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So race day. I saw Phil had a recon race on the course last night - not sure if anyone else has?

Are you racing as an A now @phil56?

The fastest times on the sprint are likely to come on the last lap because of the course layout. This is one of those rare occasions that the finish line is the end of the sprint so there should be a mad dash to the line. You come onto to the sprint via a brief downhill as well!


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 10:41 am
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not sure if anyone else has?
nope! Looking forward to this as never ridden the course before!


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 10:43 am
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Never ridden the course - these rolling bits sound a bit like hard work! I looked at the profile on Zwift Insider & it looked largely flat. Is it going to be one of those deceptively knackering courses.

I am looking forward to it after the poor effort I mustered last week!
I might dangle a piece of cake from the back of the garage door to encourage me to ride faster... 🙂


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 10:46 am
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Yes it's deceptive, plenty of places to get worn out and places to hang people out to dry after a big effort. IMO fastest sprint will only come on the last lap if the groups are big and the pace hasn't been too hot. I think it's more likely to come earlier.


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 10:52 am
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@robbo1234biking I entered the B cat, I didn't know until afterwards that Zwiftpower had bumped me up to A minimum.

It's ironic - apart from the odd recon ride the only racing I've done this year has been the STW Winter Series, where I can't make any real headway into the results - but my efforts have now got me bumped up!


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 10:58 am
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The rollers are kind of like those from last week's crit....just higher.....and more of them....


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 11:02 am
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https://www.theregister.com/2021/02/02/zwift_suspends_digital_dopers/

Ok, which one of you was it?


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 11:06 am
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Regrettably no race for me today - just had to have a wisdom tooth out [which was a nice surprise for the morning] and under instruction to the effect of "no vigorous exercise" for at least 24hrs.


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 11:10 am
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Sorry to hear that @dangeourbrain, hope it settles nicely.


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 11:13 am
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I'm still without my trainer. Maybe I'll be back next week 🤔


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 11:16 am
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@savoyad the lengths I'll go to to avoid a repeat of last week eh!


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 11:19 am
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@savoyad the lengths I’ll go to to avoid a repeat of last week eh!

You could have asked the dentist for a blood transfusion at the same time?!

@phil56 you scored points two weeks in a row! Going for the hattrick this week?


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 11:30 am
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Congrats on the upgrade @Phil56. It is a blessing and a curse isn't it?

You could have asked the dentist for a blood transfusion at the same time?!

Laughing gas or Tramadol more likely..


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 11:40 am
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You could have asked the dentist for a blood transfusion at the same time?!

Yeah I'm not sure if the performance enhancing benefits of novocaine but in the upside I'll be lighter now, so it's got some benefit I guess.


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 11:51 am
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Good luck for tonight all, i'll be watching some/all of you at various times during the race, but as i've said before, racing at 7:30pm just isn't for me. I'll be doing a race at 13:25 with the Crit after doing some rowing


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 11:55 am
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@weeksy what rowing workout are you doing? Something specifically to complement the cycling? Used to be right into it (intervals mainly) but haven't used my rower for years now! Also have you seen the people who've bodged their rowers into Zwift?! (Apparently they've been working on integrating it official for a while too!)


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 12:06 pm
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what rowing workout are you doing? Something specifically to complement the cycling? Used to be right into it (intervals mainly) but haven’t used my rower for years now! Also have you seen the people who’ve bodged their rowers into Zwift?! (Apparently they’ve been working on integrating it official for a while too

Nothing too crazy or structured, Even though i've cycled a lot it's never really seemed to do much in terms of weight. Now a lot of that is of course down to me and a rubbish diet, but i'll struggle to massively change that, so Mrs Weeksy was chatting about something other than cycling/walking for herself and we decided to get a rowing machine.

The obvious answer was a Concept 2. But with used ones way out of warranty doing £800+ we put some bids in at £700-750 for ones ending close enough for us, but they all went up over £800.

We thought about hiring one, but that's £80 a month at the moment which seems a bit ridiculous.

So we ended up with https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/V-fit-Tornado-Air-Rower-Rowing-Machine-r-r-p-390-00/151058378853?epid=1312710763&hash=item232bc7f065:g:~ZwAAOSwc6ZcWVuG

One of these, which is a cheap and cheerful (sort of ) version. It's a little 'short' for me in the context it doesn't allow stroke lengths quite as long as i'd like, it's also quite a difference in power/speed/time compared to a concept 2, i can row 500m splits on a concept 2 in 2min 10 for 10km, this is registering me closer to 2min 30. But as long as it's consistent to itself, it doesn't really matter.

Everyone has used it since it was put together on Weds night, the boy did 10km on it yesterday in 3 split sessions.

Back in the day when trying to get down from 20st i used the rower a fair bit and i think it gave a bit more of an overall body conditioning and a different type of workout compared to cycling. I'm also hoping it helps a bit with leg fatigue due to using different muscles than cycling every single day.

Once i get used to it, i'll also integrate some kettle bell work in with it too.


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 12:28 pm
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Regrettably I'm out this evening too. Suddenly having some migraine related issues which seem to have flared up following last Saturdays STW crit, feeling very heavy headed and spaced out since, so I don't want to get sucked into racing and cause further problems.

Have a good one, all the best!


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 12:30 pm
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I'll be at the start probably. Tinkered with the tacx and it's not grinding now.
Might just cruise so it doesn't crap out again.


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 12:43 pm
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I'm out, moved house this week and turbo is 'somewhere'. No chance of finding it this week I dont think. Enjoy!


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 12:44 pm
 DrP
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Regrettably I’m out this evening too. Suddenly having some migraine related issues which seem to have flared up following last Saturdays STW crit, feeling very heavy headed and spaced out since, so I don’t want to get sucked into racing and cause further problems.

Oof... read the other migraine thread on here posted a few days ago..it seems EVERYONE is getting them at the moment..
I had a migraine saturday eve (took a triptan) and again Sunday eve (again, another triptan)..felt like a zombie yesterday..could barely focus and function at work. I was on the verge of pulling out from today, but have woken up feeling a fair bit brighter so will give racing a go tonight.

Not sure what's going on in the world (bar the obvious!) to cause everyone to be getting more migraines.. My OH had a terrible headache too.
Prob a combination of WFH for most, the stress of home schooling, and the fear that COVID isn't going away anytime soon??

Anyway, heal up doude..

DrP


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 12:44 pm
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Thanks DrP, sounds similar to your symptoms.

Could be down to bad hydration prior to the race or going out too hard, but yeah, felt crap ever since. had it before with a ramp test where I had a bit of acute pain in the head at 400w. Could be a BP thing...

Anyway, best to rest and see how it pans out, only chilled riding for me this week.

Definitely feeling Zombie today.


 
Posted : 02/02/2021 12:52 pm
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