Zwift meetups and social rides ?

Saturday
14:45 is 8 laps for Cs or Bs
16:30 is 6 laps for Cs and 8 laps for Bs

Never done the bell lap version, how is it compared to the other way around?

Not sure if I can make either on Saturday afternoon, but more likely the 16:30 if I can.

That Newbury crit looks like it had zwiftpower enforcement turned off altogether @Phil56 - it's got the full house of overpower, undercategory, no HRM and zpower in the results. Including 2 category winners (and people who "beat" you). But they did have it turned on the previous week so it may have been a mistake by the organisers / zwift (or intentional, for whatever reason).

Doesn't matter though - it's a mass start, so even with category enforcement switched back on a big mixed team from here could ride together, each entered in their own category.

After a fairly hard 10k row I thought I wouldn't ride today. But I was spannering the turbo bike and decided the best way to test it was to do a Crit.

https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=1602901

Was all the way in the lead bunch until the last 400m where I didn't have a lot left to give and just hung in.

https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=1602901

Sone fast boys in there today!

A good turn out for that one, there was only about 15 in the one I did earlier. How many laps was it, 8?

Good effort weeksy. Looks like recovery is going well. Does your surgeon follow your ZP profile?!

I’ll jump first and have signed up for the 16.30 crit in the C cat. Works well to get a shower and then help the wife cook tea before family film night. Link below if anyone wants to join me.

https://www.zwift.com/events/view/1610581

Will have a play with my sterzo smart on repack ridge as a warm up.

I’ll jump first and have signed up for the 16.30 crit in the C cat

Ace - bumblebee jerseys?! Once we have a few signed up we can decide who we are setting up for the win!

Why not. I'll be there. Not sure what legs I'll bring

Yep count me in....bike? Tron ok?

Is it a normal one or boost?

Edit....its ok can see its normal

Tron or spec venge would be choice wouldn’t it?

Got the venge but only 808 wheels...not the disc. Think without disc wheels the tron is faster but no draft shown which may be needed.

I rode tron this morning

I'm up and ready for the tdz ride... giving it a go fasted, but lower pace... wonder if I can knock off another kg for next Sunday's madness!

Anyone else in?

DrP

Jumping on the 9am one DrP

Have fun...
The bunches really split on the climb... give it beans and you can jump LOADS of places there each lap! I jumped 90 on the first time up!

DrP

Think I was in the same race DrP. I really struggled for some reason, was sat in a blob around 200th at 3 w/kg but it was really tough. Think I got just 1x feather.

Also... anyone else not having their ride uploaded to strava?

DrP

Last minute decision to go for the longer innsbruck one...planned to just do it chilled.
So by the top of the first leg snapper I had jumped 400 places...so that plan obviously went out the window.
Decided to just sit in after that and did a 250w average.

That leg snapper ain't fun 4 times...and no feather.

@robbo1234biking @weeksy I'll join the crit this afternoon, but I assume I'd have to enter in B?

Is there a plan? What should I do?

If you go into B @phil56 then you won't be in the race with us as its separate cats. You can join C but you may get a DQ at the end or even the cone of shame if you do big wattage. You might just have to chill and stay with the group.

Weeksy will probably know more how it works in the anti sandbagging crits.

@oopnorth saw you at Innsbruck in the pen ahead of me before the start, but not after - sounds like you get well ahead. I decided to sprint on the leg snapper, recover down hill and ride the rest of the loop around SS.

Seeing the snow on the mountains reminds me of the view from Innsbruck airport and the ski season we are not having this year. 😕

I’ll join the crit this afternoon, but I assume I’d have to enter in B?

Yes if you enter C you’ll get coned but it doesn’t slow you down THAT much (unless they’ve beefed up the nerf since they introduced it), possibly it might bring you down to our level, that is kind of the point although no idea how effective it is really!

Don’t think there’s a plan as such yet... just race with each other & see what happens...

I missed the 9am Innsbruck by a minute or two, got stuck with a few jobs, so did the watopia one. It was boring as hell and seemed quite hard work for an easy route, u was riding fasted though and I think I’ve done 30 miles every day since last Sunday with a 47 windy outdoor ride yesterday.

Might be time to rest up or just squeeze in tomorrow ride and take Monday off the bike.

3700ft of the Tron bike and the big foot hills won’t see me reach that so will probably get it later next week. Probably the biggest singular unlock there is on Zwift isn’t it.

@phil56 nothing stopping you joining C so if you are just joining for a bit of fun then join C. You might get a DQ but as long as they doesn’t bother you and it is just for fun it won’t matter.

Like zilog say no plan but if we are all on the front group on the last lap we could maybe work together to establish a group on the start finish straight so when we hit the hill for the last time we have a few second gap and can get the win for one of us?

OK - I'll join C.
I'm happy to play whatever role helps - are we bothering with Discord?

Sorry I missed the tdz this morning @drp. I saw a rival magazine (!) had launched a Sat AM series last night so I jumped on that...and I think I won the Bs! I did not have the big margin it looks like on zp - there were at least 4Bs in our group (they were mixed cat groups, contrary to what the publicity promised!) until the final climb up the petit KOM and the gap(s) only opened on the descent. And one of them outsprinted me but doesn't seem to be on zp. I'll take it though.

Very tempted to join in this crit later with you lot. As I understand it we won't get coned unless our power output in that actual race triggers the flag (which it might do, but it need not). And unless @phil56 goes mad and powers off the front we stand a chance of avoiding that don't we? I'll just try to negotiate a second mid-Saturday ride... I think we should discord.

I think everyone signed up so far has discord don’t they?

Yeh you just need to regulate yourself in the race. You won’t show in Zp results but it is supposed to be a fun afternoon crit!

We can use DrP's everest discord...yeah?
Not sure how good the legs will be after this morning but will help pull where I can

Guessing we will use the audio channel? No time to chat during a crit! Just the STW one will be fine that is used for the TTT.

6 laps? It will be over before we get to say 'hello'!!

So, I got real lucky yesterday and got my hands on a new Tacx Flow Smart trainer. Got excited and was going to give Zwift a try and then realised I need an axle adapter for the trainer and it's a 5 week lead time anywhere 🙁

I was really hoping this would be a great way start turning the wheels again. Hopefully see you all in 5 weeks!

HAd a guy yesterday who got the Cone on lap 2, he stayed with the bunch right to the end, i think we may have dropped him on the last lap, but not convinced, so may end up being a decent workout for you Phil as you'll have to work harder than us.

I've done the jobs with motorbikes i had for today, just settling down to watch Cyclocross now and will be on the line later.

@DrP can you send me an invite for tomorrow please, hope to join

@stcolin do you mean thru-axle? decathlon have one in stock online, scroll down and notes say it fits tacx trainers. worth a try?

I'll join u for the crit. Will be nice on a bike with skinny wheels

What sort of pace is the Big Foot Hills ride at tomorrow morning?

What sort of pace is the Big Foot Hills ride at tomorrow?

Well that was daft or interesting. I was trying some HR stuff as my dual bt and ant+ strap arrived. So ended up on Android phone using Bluetooth for HR and power.

Result was the cone of shame and finished the race with nearly 320w average. Yesterday on ant+ it was 273w and I was happy.

Which is correct and which is wrong?

Great effort lads, we obviously need practise and a plan for that last lap 🤣🤣

I didn't have the legs for a strong last lap after doing 4 laps around innsbruck this morning. But we got 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th, not bad for such a large field. I'm sure we can get it next time.

Well done! It was raining cones at one point.

I just got a 273w average @weeksy if that helps. On ant+

Just to put that in context, that was my fastest crit yet and I came 3rd last time...so a strong field.

That was great fun. Didnt quite have enough at the end to chase that last guy through the rollers but got an FTP boost from 287w to 289w so a much better showing than Tuesday!

It isnt showing on ZP yet but 4th on the road for me.

Thanks guys I enjoyed that. It might work better for a team ride with something around the 40 minute mark with a feature we could attack as a team and really go for a breakaway. Def worth doing again!

Not sure what happened with you Weeksy - perhaps a DrP power meter? Would be surprised if you grew 50w overnight!

I seem to do ok on the hill as a few times I was at the back of the group and was hitting the front over the top, so that could be a possible attack point and try to make it stick to the rollers.

I'm not saying I've increased that much, but what if like to know is, which is accurate, ant+ or Bluetooth? And why are they so insanely different.

I've just pinged crosshair a message who some of you may recall as he has a power meter.

Really enjoyed that, tbh was on the limit the whole time hanging on the back of the lead group, but I did actually manage to hang on until after the last hill (just didn’t have anything left for the finish after that) so pretty pleased!

How come there’s only 3 of us on ZP? everyone else DQ’d?

I seem to do ok on the hill as a few times I was at the back of the group and was hitting the front over the top,

Definitely up for doing something like that again next weekend!

which is accurate, ant+ or Bluetooth?

Got a garmin? Output the ant+ signal to that and then you can compare the two outputs live?

That was fun. Managed to avoid the cone of shame but I'm on the ZP naughty step as averaged 3.59 w/kg. Winner also DQd.

The anti-sandbagging measures your 5 min power so I think if you manage to hide a bit and lower your watts for a few seconds it helps.

If the next race stays together I would suggest the old Team Quickstep classics approach of several attacks to tire out chasers. So maybe one half way around the last lap, one before the hill and then one of the top of the hill with someone in the bunch for the sprint. No-one is going to want to chase every attack.

Saying it and doing it are very different things though. I just didn't have the legs (no PU) over the top of the last hill to get to the front today.

Got a garmin? Output the ant+ signal to that and then you can compare the two outputs live?

My Garmin can show live power?

Yeah the power up gods were not kind to me today, a burrito and 2 Van's....not much use but the Van's helped to gain back some places.

Looks like I got bumped to 4th in ZP, well done Robbo on 2nd!

shouldn’t make any difference, they’re just different protocols for transmitting (what should be) the same data…

I hear ya, but I didn't find 50w today over all the other events. But who's to know which is correct. I may have been self handicapped for years

Yeah the power up gods were not kind to me today, a burrito and 2 Van’s

My Garmin can show live power?

Depends on model I guess but you can connect an indoor trainer to it and then just select the power fields that you want (instant power, 3 sec power etc). Quite handy as you can get NP from it as well. You can also use them to increase resistance but be careful doing that if you trainer is connected as controllable in Zwift the two will conflict but you can just take the ant+ data from it.

Of course you love vans Zilog - you are the king of the draft!

520 I think mine is guys. I've never asked it to show power as I only ever use it inside. Do you pair it?

Does it use Bluetooth or Ant?

I was wanting a feather or the aero...I must admit the van was beneficial to help me ease the hurt at one point, but no good for a sprint or hill 🤣

520 I think mine is guys.

Of course you love vans Zilog – you are the king of the draft!

Uses ant plus. Go into menu, training, indoor trainer. You should be able to pair from there.

Thanks guys. Something to try

@DrP On the hills meetup tomorrow morning, is it on a tether, or is there a w/kg target...?

Can you get a double cone?

I got a first warning and cone pretty early on, but obviously I just then increased my power output to try and compensate - then I got a second warning and it really, really became difficult!

Not sure if it was psychological, but it also felt like it was controlling the turbo?

One things for sure - the anti sandbagging feature definitely works!

That was fun. If you guys liked it I'd do it again. Nice silver cup @robbo1234biking!

The swarm of bees must have been quite annoying for everyone else. But the cone of shame is a tricky constraint on how the Bs can support the As.

I got 2 as well mate

@stcolin . i've a tacx Neo..it came with a bunch of adaptors... I'm only using the 135 QR.
If your machine is the same setup as mine, and they will fit, i can lend you my others until you get yours delivered to you?
Just post them back when you're done?

@benman
I kinda opted away from elastic band for this.. it's mainly flat, with a few climbs in it... though it is meetup only view, so don't want people left alone, as there's no one else to play with.

What do you think? switch it to elastic band? we normally stick at about 3.2ish w/kg, a bit more up the hills.

Happy to stick on band if the crowd wants it...

DrP

I was happier with the ftp gain rather than the silver to be honest @savoyad. My Tuesday performances have been lacking a bit so was pleased to get a good result.

@phil56 some info here on anti sandbagging.

https://zwiftinsider.com/anti-sandbagging-plans/

Shame you guys got hit with the cone of treacle...we maybe need to find one that has all cats or without the sand bagging feature. The boost ones I've done don't have that, just a DQ bump at the end.

It's only zhq that has sandbagging. Although if I race on Ant+ I won't trigger it.

I’m not sure this is your problem weeksy but does suggest a difference based on gears.

https://zwiftinsider.com/wahoo-kickr-tests-connecting-via-legacy-ant-ant-fe-c-and-bluetooth-ftms/

Yeah I read that too. But weirdly was the reverse of my issue with figures plus it doesn't tell me which is correct

Jepster apparently can do meter stuff too which I've installed and have Zwift on our spare laptop which also does Bluetooth to check tomorrow. Work policy disables BT on my laptop

This might be more useful.

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/12/how-to-troubleshooting-power-meter-and-trainer-accuracy-issues.html

@phil56 did you use the new rocker plate?

did you use the new rocker plate?

I did - felt really weird, can't say I liked it much. I'm going to inflate the balls a bit for tomorrow to stiffen it up a bit and see if that feels any better - but I suspect it's one of those things you need to get used to.

Hopefully you get used to it then. I couldn’t use one where my bike is position led at the moment. It goes in the corner of our lounge/diner but doesn’t take up much room. There is a waste pipe in the corner from upstairs which is blocked in and the Direto fits nicely around that so I can tucj it away. If I had a rocker would have to move it about a foot into the room and it wouldn’t fit as well.

I did – felt really weird, can’t say I liked it much.

I’m going to inflate the balls a bit for tomorrow to stiffen it up a bit and see if that feels any better – but I suspect it’s one of those things you need to get used to

I bought one that had inflatable bladders. Rides nicer with pool noodle cut-offs shoved between the 2 plates

... but I came here to ask about DrP's invitation to Sunday hills tomorrow. Do you lot ride it hard or what ? (I'm no climber)

(and now I've read the rest of this page I see the answer 🙄 . Hoping to join for an hour or so)

OK, I'll bite - what the hell is a

pool noodle cut-offs

???!!!!

@phil56 you have to ride in one of these I think [img] [/img]

Hahaha funny! 🤣🤣🤣 seriously @Phil56 those large foam large straw looking things that kids use to help them float in swimming pools. Usually pink or green.

@scaredypants just try one, the guys usually stay on the pace of the slowest rider and wait at the top of hills. I've never had a problem keeping up etc, so you will be fine.

Noob question, just surfaced into STW Forum after a very long hiatus.

Zwift kit ready....

Belly fat stored and ready to exploit...

(Hoping after an initial reawakening to the joys of zwift Ill be able to keep you in binocular range from the back)

Is there a protocol to join the races? Are they posted up here?

I listened to the podcast and this peaked my interest.

There are various regular & ad-hoc meet-ups (not races) posted on this thread, if you mean the STW race series then you’ll need to do an FTP test (if you don’t already know it) then let @robbo1234biking know and he can calculate your handicap & send you the private link to the races. Big range of abilities, the more the merrier!
The thread for those races is here https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stw-zwift-race-series-3-winter/

Andy...there is a specific race thread, it's not too far down...entitled winter series.

@robbo1234biking is the main instigator and can set you up in the series, he will need your FTP and weight. Thete are a couple of races left of this session so get involved. A new series will start in the spring.

Edit- beaten to it by Zilog but you get the idea...we are both basically saying the same thing

... long as I can get up in time, I'm in for tomorrow

(I bet this is up ^ there somewhere too, so sorry but) do you use discord or anything like ?