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Sorry to hear about all of the dropouts this evening - especially those suffering with illness/injury/ailments!
Hope you all get on top of them soon.
As DrP says, I do wonder how much of all this is down to the continued working from home, home schooling, being stuck inside etc.
I think people's mental health & general well-being is taking a real battering.
Yesterday I did the Robbo workout at 6:45 but then spent over 10hours sitting in my home office to make up enough hours to enable home schooling on a Thursday. I didn't go out & the furthest I walked was a few steps around the house - I have noticed that stress levels seem to be rising and it is hard to see the end to all this.
Hey @oopnorth. That sounds pants. It's the right thing to do though. One of my colleagues has suffered more recently than normal as well. Frustrating but your body has a habit of telling you when you need recovery not stress.
Prob a combination of WFH for most, the stress of home schooling, and the fear that COVID isn’t going away anytime soon??
That's a good point. It can easy to view the exercise as the issue but life stresses can have a massive impact on that. This lockdown def feels harder than when the weather was nice etc.
Stupidly I forgot to do a training session last night on Zwift so have to do it today, not a hard one but not the best prep for a race this afternoon! Should have 5 hours or so between the two so plenty of time to rest and refuel.
I think people’s mental health & general well-being is taking a real battering.
I know mine is, mentally I'm completely shot and my sleep patterns are all over the place. Physically though I'm in my best shape in years thanks to this race series, the 90-day exercise challenge and Chub Club so it's not all bad. Hopefully when some sort of normality resumes I can make the mental side better and keep most of the physical gains. The physical side is the only thing keeping me going really so even if I was on death's door I'd still be at the start line!
Is it too late to join in on the fun? My new trainer arrived yesterday.
Think I was one place in front of you @dangeourbrain in last nights TDZ shorter ride
@tomnavman ah you were one of the two who popped the aero at the end then? Thought I might sneak into top 20 but when I saw first one then the other pull away with the little blue balloons I didn't see it happening!
I know this is boring because repetitive, but quick shoutout to @robbo1234biking - yes it's just indoor bicycle racing, but this series is also - as we see today, yet again - making a tangible difference to people's well being at a difficult time, and I don't think that's something we can acknowledge enough...(I'll dislike you again later, of course).
haha yes, sorry! I had saved that up for most of the lap to use at the end. I was hoping for top 20 as well, but just got pipped on the line by the other person who pulled away
@savoyad I know I [I]should[/I] be using all my free time during lockdown to become super fit, but tbh my motivation is at an all time low and has been for a while! Except for walking, I can't even remember the last time I did any exercise other than Zwift... and if it wasn't for the original STW meet-ups, the TTT (so well done yourself also, for organising that!) and now these races, I probably wouldn't even be doing that! So it all gets a big thumbs up from me 👍!! 😃yes it’s just indoor bicycle racing, but this series is also – as we see today, yet again – making a tangible difference to people’s well being at a difficult time, and I don’t think that’s something we can acknowledge enough
haha yes, sorry!
No need to apologise! tried to catch you both dashing for the line but couldn't muster much above where I'd been all ride, just no legs left for a good sprint.
Still i'll take a decent pace and no sprint over none of either. I was broadly pleased with my effort last night, was a good steady effort, a reasonable power for the whole ride and I didn't feel like death afterwards so a vast improvement on the last few months and certainly last week's crit!
Totally agree with comments above and the stresses of Covid, etc. I actually am in work but most of my staff are out so ultimately I am doing more to cover certain jobs which would usually be picked up with more staff in, plus one of them has tested positive for covid so I'm now covering that role too, it's hard to get my own work done.
I'm not usually bothered by stress but I think it's beginning to get to me, I had to let staff go in Autumn which was hard when many of them were very competent and valued, but the hospitality industry has really taken a hit this year and all associated businesses are suffering.
The one positive is the Zwift and all the STW activities related to it, it really gives me a buzz and I look forward to all the events each week, so thanks to @Robbo1234biking mainly as he organized the series and the workouts we are doing, plus all you others who have got involved to create meetups or just take part and have some banter...it really helps get through the dark days!
This lockdown def feels harder than when the weather was nice etc.
Indeedy... I'm so bored. I'm forgetting what activities I used to do when I had my kids for the weekend...
At present we jsut watch screens, do a bit of board games, and a short scoot/skate/walk....
So effing boring.. we're all bored and stressed!!
I guess we used to go swimming...play parks... climbing walls... skate parks etc etc...
Meet frineds... Meh..it'll come back..
And YES... tZwift/SWT rides are brilliant in actually keeping me motivated and mentally healthy.
Actually having an 'event' in the diary is really important for me.
The new skills I've learnt (actual training programmes..better pedal technique..how to live stream etc) are all bonusses!
DrP
Is there a Paul S on here or someone who I have missed who want to join in? There is someone signed up on the race but Im not sure who they are! Could be a username that I have missed. No issues with them joining in but want to check I haven't missed something!
@robbo1234biking....
I don't think it's related to your above question, but there was this request a few posts above about joining in...
tomnavman
Is it too late to join in on the fun? My new trainer arrived yesterday.
Thanks @stumpy01 - @robbo1234biking has been in touch on PM, all signed up for tonights sufferfest!
Don't say sufferfest!! Just cooling down after the 'Easy session to work on your endurance' as Zwift put it that tuned out to be an easy run-in followed by a near-20 minute set of step-downs that kept me on my redline all the way to the end. Got a few hours to recover but I fear it might effect me towards the end and definitely for the sprint.
No pain no gain 🥵
Urgh! Really not feeling it today, this is going to be hard work later.
Can relate to the posts above about stress, lockdowns, homeschooling and such like.
I’ve only been on Zwift since about December but Tuesday evenings STW race is always something to look forward to.
I've picked up a groin injury (trying to dummy children on wet grass!) was having to be careful about big movements. Seems to be ok on the bike for normally pedalling (managed a 2 hour session including oh my crit smash race half an hour after doing it). Haven't tried to sprint though. Flip side is PT had no leg work whatsoever today so I'm hopeful that means my legs will be fresher than they have been. We shall see :D.
Stream for tonight!
Nothing to see here! Right worked out what setting I need to change but can't change it via youtube studio!
cool...
I MAY have ordered a green screen!!! Was meant to arrive today, but no sign of it!
Will have a good setup for sunday!
DrP
A green screen? So that it'll appear that you're halfway up Ventoux?
Can we make requests for what you should have on your green screen @DrP for Sunday? I'm going for The Spielberg classic Duel
...or Benny Hill
I COULD superimpose an mp4 file on my live stream!!! But... Will just play about with having plain ol' me gurning as I ascend for the umpteenth time!!
DrP
Dinner done, feeling knackered and a bit headachy, hopefully will perk up in the next 30mins or so before getting ready.
DrP wouldn’t it be cool if you could green screen the view from your rear cam as you plod up so the real you in front of the virtual view behind you.
My legs feel like they've already raced so that's not a great sign for tonight's fun and games.
Having a shocker at work so not going to make it tonight 🙁 have fun everyone
Trying to watch live but can't seem to get on DrP's or Nixie's streams! Ah well, hope the pain isn't too bad all.
Shite..sorry...
the old streaming software just went live VIA the OBS studio stuff...
THis new one i actually have to click via youtube.. whoich i didn't....
Which is a shame, as it was a great race!
Curse you nixie, with that Draft right at the end!!
DrP
My stream only logged 7s for some reason. Grr. Very annoying as that was fun and close racing. Must have failed to start it properly.
Didn't think I was going to let you get away did you DrP 😋
Yeah, really annoying, as that was some of the closest, most fun racing we've had!!
DrP
Always such hard work these things!
Absolute burnt myself out early on trying to keep up with the pack I was aiming to be with.
But then settled in with a great group from 25th-32nd. Cheers all.
That felt very cagey, every climb was max effort and then coasting waiting for the next attack.
S.avoyad awesome bridge and great win. I thought about trying to go with you until I noticed your w/kg, no chance would I have been anywhere close.....I was secretly waiting for your internet to drop again!
Great race everyone! Fair play to you guys out front, managed to stay in the lead pack until the climb on lap 3 then got dropped and nothing left in the tank to get back to the pack
A couple of electricals, rolled in nearly last with A Clowes catching fast, I'm assuming by the speed he was catching he also had an electrical or two.
That.
Was.
Painful.
Was ok in a group of 4 around 40th until lap 3. Started to drop off the back going into the volcano, went to put a quick spurt in and nothing happened. Lefs were completely empty. Spent the rest of the race just spinning the pedals as I had a good 45-50 seconds back to the next rider who then caught me with half a lap to go, tried to hook into the rear of them but again nothing in the legs.
Need to make sure I'm fully fresh for the next race as that has a lot of climbing in it.
Ow...
Tried to stay with the front lot, then remembered that I can't do that, so slowed down, then realised that I might as well ride on my own until I got caught - cue three laps on my tod while holding off a pack of four riders at eight seconds. That was harder than I intended!
Christ, dunno about you lot but I felt horrible tonight. Uncomfortable, proper gassed, turbo felt laggy, I could barely sustain 80%ftp....it's that lockdown fatigue I tells ya.
Cheers Robbo (with yer big crown) and whoever else was towing me round there, I had nothing to give, sorry. Chipps was putting in an amazing effort to keep ~8s out from us the whole race, props that man!
Managed to stick with @ivandobski all the way round, amassed quite a group in the end.
Left my aero too late on the final climb and a few got away, tried my best but no dice. Think I lost a couple more seconds on cat C GC so that’s (wild) dreams of a top 3 smashed as climbing is not my strongpoint!
Whaaaaat? No stream from the pointy end of the race to catch up on? That's become my post-ride entertainment. Damn, sounds like it was a good 'un too.
Interesting and very tough race for me. Still more work needed on keeping a decent position towards the start, but ended up with fordo somewhere in the 20s I think, until we were joined by a few others (Euain, Jules, Scaredypants and I think P Tunstall) hung on with them for a bit before deciding to go all in and have a crack at the group up the road, who were about 10s I think.
Damn nearly killed me catching them, and as soon as I did I eased off to be caught out and spat out the back by a few seconds so had to do it again! Then it was just holding on with the group (Robbo, Andeh, Dpuglas and Daniel Baron I think). Got caught out on the last incline before the finish so wasn't in the sprint (wouldn't have had anything anyway). Looks like Douglas just pipped Robbo from the ZC results.
THanks again everyone (special mentions to Robbo obv.). This really is a strange kinda compelling fun.
Well done @savoyad great battle. Kept hoping you were going to blow up, but you destroyed me in those last esses.
Oh yeah and Robbo's golden beacon is great when he's in the next group up the road, proper motivating haha!!
Had an internet disaster, loads of dropouts and a blank rider list so had no idea who I was racing with. Spent 1st half of race in a group of 4 in about 34-38th position, we Hohenzollern got joined by another group and we pretty much stayed together until the final hill of the Esses.
Looking at results seems I was with @jimdubleyou and @ivandobski amongst others.