Zwift meetups and social rides ?

I'm booked on to do the 12.31 crit city race this Saturday @oopnorth, like yourself I've not done that course so 8 laps will defo be beneficial.

I see there is some mention of people wanting to try a crit and also a bit of unsure about Sunday hills...

There's a "boost" crit at 8am Sunday. ZHQ FutureWorks Crit City Race - Boost mode https://www.zwift.com/events/view/1569659

10 laps but it's in the right direction. I've not done a boost race before but I think it basically gives you a once a lap power up or something?

Might be worth a bash then we can pencil in a shorter route like muir and the mountain or something for Sunday hills at 8.30? - or volcano after party is 9am for the tdz. They're all after parties this week so good chance to grab some new route badges.

I need to fit in this weekend:

Stage 4 TdZ (as yesterdays activity crashed 1km from the end)
Stage 5 TdZ
At least 2 laps of Downtown Dolphin on a MTB (going to look like a right wierdo on that start line) to calibrate the times for Tuesday. Cant get a logical time at the moment and fastest lap times in ZP and Strava don't match either (about 20 seconds difference between them!).

Not worked out when I am going to do what yet. Also need to not annoy the wife!

Also need to not annoy the wife!

Are you giving up breathing?

when do the TDZ routes switch over?? I've just done TDZ 4... I thought they change on wednesdays...not weekends..?

DrP

https://www.zwift.com/uk/tour-de-zwift/ride

Think they are every 4 days so the changeover day is random.

Are you giving up breathing?

That's a good point!

@robbo1234biking - but TDZ Stage 5 doesn't start until Sunday and runs until next Thursday - unless you're plan is to agree to leave that ride until later when your wife complains?!!

Thnaks @dandasbike. There is also a ZHQ Futureworks crit on Saturday at 8am, which I'm kind of eyeing up, 6 laps for Cat C (me), Downtown Dolphin as well. Right now there is only me signed up in C plus 1xB and 2xD riders. Just want to get a feel of the course but if I can't make that then I'll do the Sunday one.

Sunday I'm doing the TdZ stage 5, signed up for the 9am Volcano one...definitely not doing New York!!

@phil56 I am jesting really - she is fine with it. its not like we have a lot of other things to do and now she puts an audio book on with headphones when I am riding to drown out the noise!

I just want to get Stage 5 done this weekend rather than during the week as it is a bit longer and the week tends to be busy with workouts and races!

@oopnorth I've joined the 8am Crit on Saturday too, have never rode a Crit before so keen to have a nosey.

Great, see you there!

There goes my chance to just chill around the course 😉

^ I might join that too. We can't be having @oopnorth getting a cup with a start list of 2!

I won't really. I've got a nice chilled meetup planned for tomorrow night followed by Zoom and beers so Saturday AM will be a lazy one. Tempted to try on Saturday PM though. Sunday's forecast looks dry and less windy so in two minds whether to head outside. I'll keep an eye out for who's on the TdZ stages though and might see you there.

The more the merrier @slowpuncheur! We could take it over as an impromptu STW event..."Saturday Crit" anyone?? 😉

Anyway even in a field of 1, I would still lose!! Lol!

ZP has now bumped me in to Cat B so I either sandbag in Cat C or get my ar*e handed to me in Cat B! I expect a write up of your recce. I reckon you'll do well on that circuit and that length race.

I think it's everyone riding together, A, B, C and D's, just different number of laps for each Cat.

#Dangerbrian the boost mode is altogether different, at the offset you can pick mild boost, medium, massive. You get a boost in watts for a given period plus 100/200/300w onto your current speed. However you have to charge it, whilst charging your power is reduced by an amount 50/100/150, the longer the boost the shorter it lasts. If you want a more normal ride pick the lowest option, or do as I did and edged my bets with the medium. It takes a bit of getting used to, however having said that the first time I did one I managed to win after disqualifications.

#oopnorth, pretty sure the future works ones are staggered and separate starts also with differing numbers of laps from a to d. 12 laps down to 6. I’ve done a couple of 10 laps and would say that 8 is a good number to allow people to go all out for the duration.

Ah ok @kirky72, not a problem as it will only be a recce, although it would be nice to have more riders to see how it rides as a group and gauge tactics.

I might jump on the 8am one tomorrow morning instead, joining Robbo, after our workout ride. All depends on the legs.

Well my Crit virginity has been popped...just finished the 8am one with boost mode.

Got on straight after the vo2 workout with Robbo and Stumpy, so the legs were not exactly fresh.
Anyway it went ok, stuck with the front group all the way round, medium boost definitely helped on the hill.
On last lap I was at front over the hill but then I lost the group before the rollers, legs were jelly after the workout. Managed to put in an effort to catch a few and came 6th.

Not bad for first time and after an hour long workout, on fresher legs I reckon I could podium.
Good fun tho, not much time to think really...its over quick.

Oh and thanks @robbo1234biking for the motivation from the sidelines! 🤣🤣

I tried my best lol - I didn't expect you to reply! Looks like it is about 12-15 seconds a lap slower on the MTB (I did 2 laps on the MTB to try it out).

Also you got a podium on ZP!

https://zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=1556469

Ta for the invite for Monday robbo, will see how I go. Decided to pedal to the office this morning instead of joining you folks and I'm rather regretting it - right leg is completely dead after I slipped on ice and skidded across the road, somehow straight between oncoming cars. It was like something from frogger.

I think I'm going to hurt tomorrow.

Also you got a podium on ZP!

Hahahaha awesome!!! Result! 😀
The power is fine, it's the tactics I need to work on for these, when to be on front, power up's, etc. The burito and ghost confused me cos I've never had them before. A different type of race but all good fun.

Was so funny seeing you Robbo in full aero gear, helmet, etc with a MTB, everyone must have thought who is this crazy fool!! Lol!

Oh no @dangeourbrain, hope you are OK. It was slick, invisible ice round here first thing as well. Weird conditions.

I got a screenshot of me in the lead @oopnorth. Had to be done really. Although it says I am 4th I was first on the road for sure.

[url= https://i.postimg.cc/jjrHPpPs/F6-DDAE87-F91-A-4-F05-A77-A-07-F324444-AB6.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/jjrHPpPs/F6-DDAE87-F91-A-4-F05-A77-A-07-F324444-AB6.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

Weird conditions

Thing is, in hindsight, I saw a driver doing what looked like a three point turn mid junction as I approached and wondered WTF the idiot was doing. Having then measured my length on the same bit of tarmac it became clear their attempt to turn right had in practice just been straight on instead of either turning or following the road left.

I saw three more cars make a bee line for the hedge as I attempted to walk up the very icy hill in cleats.

I'll be fine if a little uncomfortable mind, nothing more than a bruised [S] ego [/s] backside to worry about.

Still I guess that another reason to add to the "why are my numbers rubbish?" list for now.

@robbo1234biking What on earth is that battery thing?!?

@oopnorth Well done ont podium.

An all cat crit on Tuesday is going to be hilarious (by about 22.00 when I can see straight)

"Just slap the boost bar anywhere, it's not like it's an award winning interface to begin with".

Otherwise, that is a superb screenshot @robbo1234biking. The (STW) tags with you both at the front lend just enough of a team/conspiracy vibe that it looks like you might even have been up to something and known exactly what you were doing bursting off the front in your aero helmet / MTB / purple socks like that.

The battery is boost mode. Bit of a description here - you essentially charge up a battery and then choose to use it at appropriate times. Just another power up really.

https://zwiftinsider.com/boost-mode-zwifthacks/

The battery is boost mode. Bit of a description here – you essentially charge up a battery and then choose to use it at appropriate times. Just another power up really.

How easy is it to actually use? I find using normal power ups a pita so never really do as I can't reach my keyboard /mouse from on the turbo and my phone screen is usually blathered in sweat and just does random things if I try it through companion.
Oh and of course I only seem to get small xp bonuses unless I'm doing laps of ticktock, when I get feathers.

I didn't bother using it as I wanted data on the MTB but I think @oopnorth used it pretty successfully each time round the hill. Its a bit of a gimmick I guess and it only available on crit races. The crit race on Tuesday isn't in boost mode though.

I was just going to say it's great to see @oopnorth and @robbo1234biking flying the STW flag so well in that screenshot until I realised that you were 10 SECONDS into the event! Still, those Tuesday nights have clearly honed your starting techniques.

Did you manage to race tactically with such a small field or did it feel like a 10m TT?

@dangerourbrain in the last week alone I have sweated enough to accidentally invite a random Zwifter to a meetup and to get a wiki search result for Great Britain. Hope you heal well and you make Tuesday.

Really easy to use Brian, you get to control it through your companion app, it has its own tab and you can also fire your Power up off from the same tab. I chose the medium boost which gives you 17 seconds of 200w extra, which worked great on the hill, then I hit charge over the top and it didn't affect your speed at all, plus charged pretty quickly. In one lap I used it on the hill, then charged and used it again in the sprint after the rollers.

Only thing is that depending on which level of boost you use you get extra weight added, so the medium was and extra 7.5kg for me, but in this kind of race it wasn't a big factor.

I need to try a "normal" crit now, to see if I am in fact useless on the hill and the boost was covering that 😉

@slowpuncheur To be fair I did manage to stay with the front group until the start of the 3rd lap but I was knackered from a TTT last night and then a 1 hour VO2 max session before hand. Oopnorth was planning to only do a couple of laps but I think he really got into the race. It is quite tactical as well.

@weeksy is the master of the crit - he loves them and knows a lot about the right tactics on the race. I have raced against him before on a crit and he put out a lot less power than me and finished well ahead of me so being tactical can definitely help!

@slowpuncheur it was over very quickly and there is not much time to think in the 6 lap event, I was just trying to stay with the front group but in the draft, ready for any surges. They come thick and fast!

Basically the first lap is fast due to the start, then it's keep with the group, last lap goes all off after the hill...unfortunately that's where my legs failed me.

Oh and I wasn't planning to do the full race but Robbo had stopped and kept goading me and giving me false hope in his messages...so I had to keep going!

Opted for a run up the Alpe this morning so I could spend some time put of the saddle. did it as the tour of fire and ice as I thought I needed the badge it turned out later that I had already done it. oops.

Any how other than the first two times up the Alpe back in 2018 ive only done it as part of a long hilly route so havent tested the best time. my previous best was 1.01 50secs April 2018.

today I managed to crack the hour with 51.34 an average of 296w for the climb. I was up and down in power within the sections but the average power for each section was were I wanted it to be. I aimed for the longer sections to be as close to 300w or just above as possible so lots at 305 and eased off every few sections at around 280w to try and keep my HR below 180 until the last few sections.

So really pleased overall but still know even without increasing my FTP theres improvements to be made. as I struggle to just sit and spin out at a good even pace I'm really up and down constantly.

if my ftp is 303 should I be happy with 296 over 51 mins or really be pushing a bit higher. what average would I need to break 50 minutes and is that possible within my ftp.

for this effort I was rewarded with yet another set of glothes. does anybody want to swap 10 pairs of gloves for some light weight wheels.

Hope you heal well and you make Tuesday.

Makes two of us. I was disappointed not to make the start line this week but the quick 10 minutes at 5pm made clear a race would be bad!

On the upside I've managed to categorically prove to myself that my fitness is a way back from September/October time. Did half a workout last night which should have been hard but doable and was shot by the third rep. Ditto the tdz on Wednesday which I had running in erg from elite, and I was cooked by 45minutes or so.
I twigged though I've barely got my heart rate above 170 in months, not sure if I've just lost the ability to suffer or if something really did knock me when I was a bit grotty back in autumn. Last night was the first time I've gotten up to 180bpm since October apparently.

I think tomorrow I may have to do a proper ftp test to see if I can get some sensible numbers now I've accepted the figure I have isn't right, at least then I can try build up from where I am instead of constantly over reaching and breaking myself!

Well done kirky72, an awesome time! I still need to break that hour but seems a tough one for a big bloke like me.

Small steps @dangeourbrain ...small steps! It will come, just be patient.

what average would I need to break 50 minutes and is that possible within my ftp

@kirky72 4w/kg should see 49 minutes. There abouts.

@danegerourbrian sending healing vibes. I hope you no lasting effects. I havent ridden outside since Xmas for fear of taking a spill.

I'm sure it'll be nothing a beer can't fix!

@kirky72. Nice one. That's a time I can only dream of. If you want to do sub 50 mins try https://www.bestbikesplit.com/ and have a look heZwiftinsider

I've been up 7 times and not got the wheels yet so I'll keep going back I suppose.

@dangeroubrain Doing an FTP knowing you'll be lower than last time is hard to get motivated for but I suppose it's the first step in rebuilding. I've been in the cycle of overreaching on workouts and it's no fun.

I reckon your FTP is about 310 (but now rising) @dangeourbrain.

@kirky72 there's an (imperfect, incomplete) plot of adz times on zwiftpower here: https://www.zwiftpower.com/segments.php?do=analysis&id=11

You can drag a rectangle to zoom. The first sub 50 times are also just but only just under 4w/kg. And no ride of 4 w/kg or more goes longer than 50 minutes. It's not an exact science (because draft speeds you up, sticky draft slows you down, variability and watts matter too etc). But your particular target seems pretty clear.

I reckon your FTP is about 310 (but now rising)

Zwift had me pegged at 326 last summer, but it's set at 316 at the moment.

Wednesday I had the turbo set at 320 and managed 15min at that with a view to finishing the whole ride, 20 wouldn't have been nice but it would have been doable if that was it, not sure I'd have managed 20min at much above that though, so somewhere about 305 at a guess.

Last night was supposed to be 1.5min on 5off 2/5/2.5/5off & 3on at 125% & 90% respectively so effectively 24min at about 103% ftp avg. (so a little below 20min best for 24 minutes) It is do-able if unpleasant assuming the numbers are right.
If my guess work is right on 305ish it works out at 130/95 ish and about 108% (a bit above 20min best for 20% longer) which might not sound much...

I'm torn about doing a "proper" test or just slapping a 1hr block in at 305 and trying for the end of it.

Bah, why bother testing further? 2x recent bologna is a pretty good dataset unless you really aren't a fan of extrapolating from shorter efforts or you want to be extremely precise for some reason. Certainly a full 1hr pegged at 305 would just be an unpleasant way of learning what the data already very strongly suggests. (I hate testing. ymmv).

2x recent bologna is a pretty good dataset

Tuesday will also be a good dataset. Should be just over 20 mins at a very high effort level!

2x recent bologna is a pretty good dataset

@savoyad ah yeah, I hadn't actually considered that so much 🙂

Thank you, You've just saved me an hour and a half or so of horrid.

@weeksy is the master of the crit – he loves them and knows a lot about the right tactics on the race. I have raced against him before on a crit and he put out a lot less power than me and finished well ahead of me so being tactical can definitely help!

You can't even imagine how desperate I am to race on Tues

So to nip under 50 mins I just need to increase my ftp by 20 or 25 watts or lose 3 or 4kg. At the current weight I need to average around 10 watts above current ftp which isn’t realistic.

Forgot to ask are there any rides planned for tomorrow or Sunday or is everybody jumping on the TDZ race 5. Might give tomorrow a miss or just a fasted morning recovery ride but I’m up for some hills of a moderate length on Sunday if anybody’s on.

Think a few of us are doing TDZ stage 5 on Sunday morning at 9. Can use discord for chat? Volcano after party so a chance to ride something different.

Ooh..are you....

I MIGHT join that... riding IRL with the GF too... but will see about a zwift AND IRL ride...

So to nip under 50 mins I just need to increase my ftp by 20 or 25 watts or lose 3 or 4kg. At the current weight I need to average around 10 watts above current ftp which isn’t realistic

Ooh... so 4w/kg is the target....
I COULD manage this, as it would be just under 280w for 50 min... hmm....
(@robbo123biking .. I've dropped a kg to 69kg now.. wanna update the race stats?)

DrP

Snow and ice now forecast for Sunday morning up here so IRL road ride is out the window. I'll join you for the TdZ at 9am instead.

So....rocker plates...are they any good? Kind of interested but wondering if any of you have one and if they are worth the investment?

If so, any recommendations that are not crazy expensive?

@oopnorth - I've got one for my Wattbike Atom.
This one:
https://bespokerockerplate.co.uk/shop/p/r3-black

Not cheap but my DIY is shocking and I don't have the tools to make one.
It's basically 2 sheets of buffalo board, 4 wheelbarrow tyres, an elastomer fixing in the middle,some velcro and some machining so around £100 for the materials I'd guess plus labour.
Have to admit that the finish is really good and it fits the Wattbike perfectly.
Has definitely made riding more comfortable and I don't get the fatigue or joint pain that I was getting before. More comfortable to ride when seated as the bike sways from side to side slightly (you can adjust movement by adding air to the tubes).
Wish I'd got one sooner.
Think my set up is as close as I can get to that outdoor riding feel, short of getting the other half to do some close overtakes and hurling random abuse.

@oopnorth

As a DIY option it might be worth buying the parts and getting a local carpenter to cut the shape of the plates?

The rest just seems to be bolting stuff together.

Cheers both of you. I'll definitely look into the possibility of a DIY option. It's not something I'm going to get immediately but it has caught my eye, right now I just want to get an idea if its worth it or not, hence my question.
To get real world opinions from those that currently use one, like you @dknwhy, will really help.

Thanks again.

@zilog6128 has one @oopnorth I think it's a lifeline one and I think he recommends but I'm not totally sure...

No worries. I wouldn't say it's an absolute game changer but it does make for a nicer environment. I definitely don't get as much pain and discomfort as I used to.
If you can cobble something together or get something within your budget, I'd recommend it.

Here's a random video to give you an idea of the movement:

Interesting video...cheers for that! Is there a weight limit on these plates? Asking for a biggish friend...🙄

I don't think so. May just need more air in the tubes to limit the movement.
Take care pumping them up. I A friend (*ahem) almost popped the tube by focusing on the track pump guage rather than the tube that was bulging out the side of the plate...

joined a Dirt badge hunters B ride this morning to complete the Prl half. For some reason even though I seemed to be near the front of the pen I was sat in around 300th place from 450 and no where near the ride leader who was up the road and not hanging around. managed to work up to 80th and catch the leader the first time up box hill. The ride plan was to do the first climb at 3.2 then 3.4 3.8 third and as much as you could muster on the last. I didn’t know that though until the third climb so just did my own thing starting steady but well above the suggested 3.2 and then reduced 35 seconds each climb until I hit a new PB of 7.40 on the third ascent, the last one was a touch slower though as I started to feel the pace a bit.

That’s a weird finish to the route with the trip through the tube only to quickly turn and head back through the tube again up the nasty escalator climb. Badge knocked off and the large group helped a decent pace finishing around 1hr 54.

Good effort kirky..

I SHALL be joining the tdz ride tomorrow am at 9.. catch some of you there..

DrP

I’m not so sure about tomorrow yet, it’s been a couple of hard days, will see how the legs feel early on.

Is the plan to try and stick together or just ride your own but chat via discord?

I would say use DrP's everesting chat (text) channel on discord for discussions and people go at their own pace. I'm going to go fairly relaxed on the flat and maybe attack the volcano to try and get a PB and a time under 9 mins up there.

I think everyone who is signed up so far is on Discord:

@oopnorth
@dangeourbrain
@mrhoppy
@DrP
@slowpuncheur

Just did Stage 4 for the second time (without a drop out at the end this time) so that is ticked of at least!

Not sure why it is called PRL half when it isnt half of it but good effort Kirky!

You can use my discord server, if you want. I can send the link to thems that riding.

I should be sensible and take it steady, and yet again I wont. Friday I ended up racing Casse Pattes despite being supposed to be resting after monstering round the TTT. Meant I had to put today's ride off.

I'm not sure on my pace yet for tomorrow. Had planned to do the crit again this morning but woke at 9-30am...so that stopped that one.
Might jump on later if I get chance but if not I'll wait until the morning.

No TDZ for me tomorrow. Gonna do a ride outside instead.
Did the Pretzel today so will be interesting to see how my legs are tomorrow.

@mrhoppy thanks for the offer but I think we can just use the veveresting one on the main stw channel.

Currently 1300 signed up for this one which will probably increase overnight...not sure we will be riding together in the morning...

We will need to call out position numbers once we get going.

Re: Rocker Plates - I made my own from marine ply and used inline-roller skates under the center line to get back and forward motion, using bungie co-ords to re-center.

My trainer is a Neo 2.

If you want some photos msg me. Its not a difficult job, I used straight cuts with a circular saw and topped it with laminate flooring, with tennis balls or firm rubber balls for balance and movemnt - cost was the price of two sheets of ply.

Definately a game changer in comfort for me.

I made my own rocker and it was pretty easy. There is a facebook group DIY rocker plates and it has all the info you need. I went with a linear bearings? £50 ish of the internet, which gives fore/aft and side to side movement, two kids inflatable golf balls from decathlon and some left over ply. Only tool needed was a jigsaw to cut the ply and a drill.

I have found it has made a big difference to comfort.

Thanks for the feedback guys, sounds like there are quite a few of you that have made your own rockers

Definitely food for thought...cheers

Cheers guys for the chat this morning. Some strange things going on with the placing went from 1100 to 700 in the 2km before the volcano climb and the first half of the climb. Def didn’t passs them all. All ran very smooth though. Didn’t push hard until the climb and got 8.32 on the climb which is a new pb so happy with that. Put the feet up today now before the ss workout in the morning.

500 tss week so more than planned. Need to have an easy day on Wednesday really but def making progress with 2 climb pbs this week.

That was fun...
I pushed at the start, and stick with a good bunch at 150th... worked well as a group and swallowed up bunch after bunch, and were in 85 th going into the KOM... didn't wanna break myself, so climbed steadily, and finished 84th out of 3500 ish! Pleased with that!

DrP

Sorry I didn't make it folks. Woke at 9.05 and decided on a lazy breakfast instead of trying a late start.

There was some speculation on the in game chat about the update meaning less avatars were visible to help it run smoother. I went from low 400's to low 500's in about 5 minutes then back to high 300's just before the climb. Also PB'd the volcano despite getting a bit too kean out if the gate. There's a few more seconds to shave off yet.

I struggle with these TdZ events. I end up racing but not at a committed level so I'm not sure they are doing me an awful lot of good as part of a training strategy. Av power just over sweetspot band. Hmmm