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I came to post about Sunday hills 🙂 - I've now seen the invite. You bad bad man.
I'm doing tdz at 6 this evening I think DrP, least that's the plan.
Yeah... NY is the WORST map..but it'll help us tick off some routes!!
DrP
I should be in for Sunday, I haven’t done that route so at least it earns a chunk of XP. Did you need this course, wondered why you opted for two laps of this rather than everything Bagel which includes the same climbs but a longer ride? I also need everything bagel.
After doing a few races in New York I’ve never opted to ride there voluntarily.
wondered why you opted for two laps of this rather than everything Bagel
Because he doesn't want anyone to go. He put the invites out, expecting no one to sign on so he could have a lie in instead and blame us lot obviously.
There is no other plausible reason.
I've done Everything Bagel...Soz!
This is fine... a bit of Central parkery..then the weird glass climb!! Can take it as a group on teh first lap, then race the KOMs on teh second lap, with a regroup at the top/descents...
DrP
Cheers Robbie, I’ll go take a look
Rising Empire is a great course...for a one lap ride. But @drp 2 laps is a bit evil.
Anyway, I'm in. As usual, I'll only actually be able to ride the distance if my children are sufficiently lazy to stay in bed...
Did I mention I like NY?
well one lap is only 22km..which is a bit short for a Sunday hills...!!
😉
DrP
It turns out I also need to tick off Rising Empire, so at least there is some benefit to riding in New York again!
Anyone picked up a budget but decent for Zwift TV lately?
Anyone seen any bargains about?
Did I see mention of a ride Saturday? I need to squeeze in at least 350m of climbing to hit my target on Saturday. Not exactly a mammoth ask but thought I'd rather ride with some company than without.
@dangeourbrain How about you join us on the 8am TdZ ride, Robbo and I* are signed up for the Yorkshire one if you are interested. That will get your climbing numbers up.
*all dependent on me getting back in time from dropping the car off for the MOT.
I had a quick look but seemed it was still London on Saturday? (edit, it changes at 8am it seems.)
Ahh found you. I'll jump on that, seems to be race cats though so I'm headed for a dq😉
No it's definitely TdZ round 2 at 8am, I just checked the app. Choice of Richmond, Innsbruck or Yorkshire UCI courses
No it's not race cats, all abilities in whichever you choose 1.0w-5.0 w/kg
Yorkshire is 2 laps.
I’ll do a ride in the morning if you like, I need it just to set off against the usual Saturday calorie intake.
However I’m riding today and then planning the Bologna TT for tomorrow morning with a longer ride afterwards, then Ian’s New York slog on Sunday morning, a block of 4 rides so a sedate pace would be preferred.
I think I need to complete Surrey hills, cobbled climbs or any other hilly London course other than the triple loops. Also need tour of pecket well or queens highway.
Upto you just Chuck us an invite 8.30 or 9am are good.
Just see Oop north’s mention of one of the tours, happy to join up for one of those at 8am,the Yorkshire one would be good and as it’s a bit earlier I’ll just do it as a steady fasted ride.
Happy either way or if it’s the tour either course. It might be harder to stick together so all opting for the bumble bee kit might be a good idea.
Ah yes, choice of courses, not cats, that makes sense, though I was quite looking forward to getting left for dead by the front group of a cat C race.
Can't choose a kit Kirky, it's an automatic TdZ selected one.
However I’m riding today and then planning the Bologna TT for tomorrow morning with a longer ride afterwards, then Ian’s New York slog on Sunday morning, a block of 4 rides so a sedate pace would be preferred.
Yeah, I feel you man, I feel you. Robbo's Tuesday torture. Tdz London yesterday, TTT tonight, I've signed up for a [s] sprint [/s] crawl race tomorrow as I can't do bologna at 5. Thankfully the gentler tdz Saturday then Ian's horror story NY ride Sunday. Still I should be shot of the mince pies by next week at this rate!
There is a lot to fit in right now, the Zwift calendar is packed and I was just saying the same to Robbo. Think my first break will be next Wednesday...
@dangeourbrain who said the Saturday TdZ was going to be gentle? Not if this morning's effort was anything to go by...
TdZ can be as gentle as you choose! If my son is up early then I will do the 8am one but I am not going to put an alarm on - it has been bad enough going to an alarm this week!
TTT tonight should be fairly short as will Brian - between 35 and 40 mins?
Well I for one (or is two @savoyad? ;)) am looking forward to Sunday. I got caught up doing my usual TdZ trick last night of promising myself an easy roll around a flat course and getting into a race. Did the longer ride in 57odd minutes and had average power of 1w less than Tuesday! So much for a recovery ride. You can really rattle along in a big group around the flat London routes.
I might join you guys for the 8m TdZ ride on Saturday. Much will depend on whether I can get out of bed as work this week is crazy. Whether we will be able to see each other is another matter!
I forgot the smiley 😉 Of course the speed of a TdZ is determined by you, but we all know what happens when the start counter hits zero... hahaha
Edit - See...all confirmed by Paul above hahaha
who said the Saturday TdZ was going to be gentle? Not if this morning’s effort was anything to go by…
@oopnorth devil you know isn't it?
Richmond. Horrible. Never ever had a good ride round that course. It's my real bogey man, it sould suit me well enough but it just never works out for me.
Innsbruck. I really like that route (though that reminds me, I signed up for a two lap race of that on Saturday just incase there were no other plans, so erm thanks and I'd best bin that off) but it's always hell for leather, no way that would be anything other than fully blowing up on either the leg snapper or the sprint by Saturday morning.
Yorkshire. It's not my favourite zwift course, despite supposedly being accurate it doesn't actually feel that accurate, but, hey, it's home isn't it? It's like an old jumper that despite smelling like a wet dog, annoying your Mrs every time you wear it and having holes in, always feels nice.
It will be like doing a local spin for you Brian 🙂
Yeah I hate Richmond too, I never get the hills right and always burn out. So that's both the USA worlds that I hate...
It will be like doing a local spin for you Brian
Yep, only not quite so cold or wet! I should see if @DrP still has that spare power meter, I could pop it on, ride the route and zwift it simultaneously and see how much faster it is on Zwift than in real life. The only problems I can see are the extra 400w I get for using said pm and that the one way bit at the end might be awkward though with lockdown traffic...
Extra 1400watts my friend... 1400watts...!!
I think the rocket-mode was a dwindling battery!
I've still got that PM on my bike, but only use it on the road with my garmin... Zwift is all driven by my new Neo 2t now....
Did the TDZ stage 1 at lunchtime today...nice paced ride, blatting round in 55 minutes with a great group...
Bene getting outside too! Rode to brighton yesterday (then had a 6k jog with the GF..) and then rode back this morning..was chilly!!
I'm going to take it easy for the next few days..no Zwift tomorrow or sat (but might do a ride with the GF IRL on Sat (she'll be on the ebike)... I fear I'm overtraining a bit..Garmin keeps telling me my My fitness is going down, and load going UP! "unproductive" apparently!!!
DrP
I fear I’m overtraining a bit.
Work harder. I've got find someway of keeping up on Tuesday, and if that's you hamstringing your self, so be it.
Did the new cliffside watopia route this afternoon, thought it was a bit messy, started steady and got into a race with a couple of guys as you do, or I do rather.
Then in an effort to gain some steady endurance type miles under my belt I jumped on a Westbury group B ride advertised as 2.5 start and 3 to 3.5 at the front.
didn't really pan out as steady as I would have liked. Had to hammer it to catch the lead group as the banner/lead set off like a startled rabbit. Once I caught them it was revealed that there was a lad riding who finished 15th in the world esports zwift finals. The ride leader had won a few high profile US Pro races. I think it got a bit competitive and was tough going just hanging in for an hour and quarter to do 34 miles.
Finishing at 249w for the duration means tomorrow mornings TT might turn out to be just a gentle plod and sighter for Tuesday.
I've got the Robbo workout tomorrow morning & I've signed up for the Fast Friday's Bologna TT at 17:00 tomorrow afternoon. Not sure if I'll do it, as I don't know about 2 hard efforts in a day, but I could just take it easy to get an idea of the course. Doesn't look like there's many people on it at the moment.
I also signed up to ZwiftPower. It's a bit of a confusing website to be honest and I can't say I really understand what it's all about!!
Just looked and there are 6 STW riders doing a course recon tomorrow night in Bologna! Good luck all!
Ohhhh what's the workout tomorrow? Might be a better plan than after work (because then I can have beer after work, which is a good plan)
V02 max 30/30s at 6.45 am? Rubber band is on so we stay as a group.
robbo1234biking
Just looked and there are 6 STW riders doing a course recon tomorrow night in Bologna! Good luck all!
Where can you see that kind of info? Somewhere in Zwiftpower? Zwift companion?
I feel a bit out of my depth with all of these web pages & reams of data!!
dangeourbrain
Ohhhh what’s the workout tomorrow? Might be a better plan than after work (because then I can have beer after work, which is a good plan)
VO2 Max session at 6:45 with Rob. He's sorted a meet-up & has done the workout. He'd have to invite you to the meet-up & send you over the workout, I think.
Well I've set my alarm for the morning. Not sure if I'm going to feel up to much beyond a gentle pootle mind! If I think I'm up to it I'll see you all in the morning.
dangeourbrain
Well I’ve set my alarm for the morning. Not sure if I’m going to feel up to much beyond a gentle pootle mind! If I think I’m up to it I’ll see you all in the morning.
You'll be fine as long as you get out of bed. That's the worst bit! Feels good once spinning!
Seems I didn't even hear my alarm. Mrs brain just gave me a shove to get up and explained it was going off for about 10 minutes, at which point I guess it switched its self off.
Cheers @stumpy01 and @oopnorth was a good workout this morning. Nice to get the hard work done early and then meander into the weekend!
@dangeourbrain you don't have to do the workouts. Anyone is welcome to come along and join in the chat. Rubber band is on so you might not fly off but you can pretty much do anything you want but we stay as a group and chat away. Plan is for 6.45am on Mondays and Fridays. It is more a motivation if you suffer with someone else.
you can pretty much do anything you want
Turns out stairs are outside that range this morning!
God knows what I did yesterday that's made my legs feel like they don't articulate, I imagine it's phil's urging a final push for the line that's to blame.
Hopefully they'll pick up across the next couple of hours, though I'm thinking sprint race this evening should be revised down to something sedate!
@DrP may I have an invite for Sunday please? Gavin swavis Belton-STW is my Zwift name. Cheers
Yeah, great workout Robbo @ OopNorth! Just tried to get out of my office chair & struggled 🙂
I've already ridden further this January, than I did in the whole of Jan 2020 and it's only the 8th!
I need to have a tinker with the Garmin cadence sensor on my turbo bike. I think the battery is dead & it needs re-positioning. I am not convinced my turbo trainer gives good cadence info.
Drivetrain also needs some attention, but I've been saying that since about September!
Thanks @stumpy01 and @robbo1234biking for the early pain fest, although it wasn't too bad today...next week will be worse with the less recovery!
See you all for various meetups over the weekend! I'll probably be getting slower as the weekend goes on 🤣🤣
swavis... i've followed you..follow back (like and share, and smash the subscribe button..) and i'll ping an invite
DrP
On it!
Edit - I didn't realise NY was so hilly 😉
I’ll not be able to join today I seem to have some hamstring pain today so will opt for less miles and flat with some stretching and foam roller, Have a good ride today 🙂
Sorry to hear that Forge, hope it's nothing top bad and you are up and running soon.
@oopnorth thanks me to, have had before so know the signs and what to do and not do 👍. I’ve a revised Sunday exercise plan now 🙂
I'll come play as I'm bored. Don't see me making 4 sets of climbs but I'll come and see where the world takes me
You got an invite weeksy?
I had my covid Jab yesterday, so if I start pressing the virtues off windows 98, you'll know why...
DrP
@oppnorth 🤣 that could work 😂
Movies and cups of tea…a bacon sarnie? 🤣
Is that an option this morning?
Cheers for organising DrP. Felt like I had a terrible ride but got PBs on both climbs at an average of 320w so can’t have been that bad! An hour was enough for me today though. It’s very hard to stay together in NY!
Was going ok with the bunch until I hit a 45s dropout, then another, then another. Not sure what's going on there.
Thanks to DB I got dragged back and had a bit more, then waited for Rick and rode a bit more before bailing at 50 min.
Thanks fellas, see you in Feb.
Thanks chaps for the ride. Once Robbo left I solo'd the 2 climbs and even got a pb on the reverse! Then completed the 2 laps...the ride finish was 2km past the normal finish line...how come?
I was picking up the odd message as I went overhead or under the group, even picked up Brian and Rick at one point so they must have been still riding.
Thanks again for the hill pain! 🤣
Cheers for organising DrP. I was doing ok and on for smashing 40s off the third time up the KOM but it froze about 5 seconds from the banner. Estimated time was 4:20 too, I'd even upped to 400w for about 10s as well, gah!
I was on my own then for the last 10.5km so just took it easy and rolled home on my own.
Edit- and what kind of sicko would make you ride that climb FOUR times 😆
That was a good leg stretcher. It's a tough route. Thanks for leading @DrP. If thats how you climb after the vaccine I might have to lie about my age to the authorities.
@DrP - thanks for organising, good fun as always, but that glass climb is horrible!!!
I was gonna join this morning's ride, but going up and down the ladder taking Christmas lights down has left me with a very stiff left quad 😆🙄 so I decided I should rest it.
If I get the chance later I might go out for a spin but got sweet spot session with Robbo, OopNorth & Dangeourbrain tomorrow, then the Bologna TT on Tuesday so don't want to do myself a mischief...
Thanks for coming guys...
The finish was 2km after as I know the route was 22ish km... and wanted 2 laps, so had to estimate WITH the lead in!
DrP
Lessons from today's ride:
1) Never let DrP choose the route.
2) New York is every bit as horrible as you think.
3) Really, don't let DrP choose.
4) try not to pick worlds on rotation, very very difficult to see your group with that many folks.
Cheers for the ride though folks, other than the glass hill. The glass hill. The glass hill. Oh and another time up that bloody hill for good measure, that was good ta.
Thanks @drp and everyone else.
That route is great. That's presumably why it was so busy!
I'm going to rest up until Tuesday now. I feel about TTs the way you lot feel about glass climbs.
I'm glad I joined in. Rare for me to able to ride on a Sunday morning. I knew it was going to be a tough ride. I'm thankful that Brian held back and encouraged me to complete the ride.
Pity there wasn't a cafe stop half way round.
The finish was 2km after as I know the route was 22ish km… and wanted 2 laps, so had to estimate WITH the lead in!
As I crossed the "line" and still saw distance to go I thought "that [insert insult of choice] has set the finish for the top!"
Yeh if you choose a world on rotation then Meet-up only view is a good option. It is very busy on Zwift at the moment which is prob why people are getting so many drop outs.
Another good thing about today. I’ve no routes left in NYC so never ever need to go back!
The main thing with new York is that silly bit once you leave the park. I actually quite like the central park routes but once you get onto that blue thing there's nothing to see, everything looks the same so there's no real feeling of progress, oh and the gradient changes are downright odd.
Given they put Surrey a short tube ride from Central London I'd have thought they could have done similar for New York, to be honest just riding some of the subways would probably be quite good in a something different sort of way, but the strange 5th element esque thing is just, well, rubbish.
I really found today enjoyable...I think mainly due to the group effort and dynamics, so thank you!
It can be dull riding ina world of many, but you don't know anyone! I found the time shot by with a bit of chat and group effort!
DrP
I think mainly due to the group effort and dynamics
Absolutely this - and if that's what you enjoy, you really should think about joining one of the Thursday TTT - that's exactly what they're all about
Yeh cheers guys, NY is much more bearable as a group. I lost my chain on the inner side so couldn’t pedal back on and had to unclip to sort it. So lost Ian and Phil, completed the ride but didn’t see any Stw again.
I felt like a few miles recovery so jumped on one of the tour rides at Richmond planning to enjoy the massive group draft and bail before the climbs. However by the time came I was enjoying passing riders and felt refreshed so took the series of climbs pretty full on passing 350 riders along the way. Then told myself just cool down now on the flats for a few miles but then thought I was a shame to do just 3 miles shy of finishing it so completed taking the hills a bit steadier the second time.
Pretty tough fifty odd miles so pretty knackered now, will enjoy a rest tomorrow.
but the strange 5th element esque thing is just, well, rubbish.
I was thinking about this riding in NYC yesterday. I’d convinced myself that they’d have been better setting it in 1980s New York. Then I remembered they’d have to decide whether to include WTC, the Sci Fi style bypasses that I guess.
Yeah, I get that I suppose - though a 30s new York would have solved it too and not seemed so silly.
Thing is the brooklyn bridge etc are iconic, could easily have been done and dumped you straight into up state of the rockies for all it matters
All that being said, they should have just done San Francisco anyhow.
I think SF would make a great Zwift city and probably a good UCI worlds course too. Plenty of sharp climbs and some iconic views.
It turned out I had ridden those some climbs before but hell of a lot slower than today, pbs on every incline today the main KOM in both directions by 4.5 to 5 minutes taking more off the time then it too to climb them today.
I somehow seemed to PB each section of the climbs in Richmond as well, which is more surprising given we raced it in the first Tuesday series. Hopefully I’ve not burned out before Tuesday.
If they do this years uci champs course in Flanders with its narrow punchy cobbled climbs it should be fantastic. Have they done the uci course every year or been selective about it?
No Doha (thankfully, imagine.), no Bergen. I'm not sure about what they intended this year, because it was so close to the Olympics and I'm pretty sure they had that ready to go. If both happen IRL next year, that might reduce the chances of Zwift doing Flanders I suppose.
Also @kirky72 surprising himself with fatigued hill-PBs in Richmond 40 miles into a Sunday eventathon is pretty ominous for the rest of us.