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Following today’s miserable real world ride, freezing cold, strong wind, thorn through tyre, shitty shifting. I might find it easier to resist heading out again on Saturday and join you guys instead.
6.30am or 7 is a bit early as I need to take a tablet 20/30minutes before any food eat digest and set off, normally have one more morning ritual I need to get rid off before being comfortable on a bike. so need to decide if I can eat that early, or to start the ride fasted and just have some cereal bars, banana as we get going. Then a top up and pit stop at the first proper stop.
However please don’t change the time for me, I’ll just jump on if I can make it work.
I think you are faster than me on the hills @slowpuncheur so will likely be waiting for me. Shouldn’t be too bad on the volcano but likely on the Epic plus Radio tower!
Nah @Robbo1234biking. I'm going to sit on/sandbag my way around and drop you on the Alpe;)
@Kirky72 I'm sure Robbo is the same but happy to pit stop whenever suits. Will be good to have the flying flat cap aboard.
I’m half wondering about Saturday but I’m not sure I’m that in tune with Zwift at the minute to sit on the turbo for that length of time.
@robbo1234biking @stumpy01 sorry for the no show this morning, I had a really bad nights sleep seeing 2am, 3am and 4am, so I took the decision to grab an extra hour before work. With it being an easy recovery ride it was the best option.
Hope it went well and I'll try do it at some point.
No probs @oopnorth was a nice easy recovery session. Felt good actually. Fingers crossed I still feel good on Sat morning!
No Probs, oopnorth. It was a nice session today though, so a shame you couldn't make it. Sounds like sleep was more important though!
I managed to get the 'join' button on my second attempt today. I tried all the tips from yesterday on the first start-up of Zwift, but nothing seemed to prompt it to appear. I waited until we passed the 5 min window, to see if I was being too eager, but that didn't work, so I restarted Zwift & it then showed. Weird that I can't recall having this issue before, but it has now happened 3x in a row.
Game update available now with 4 new routes!
New Routes in Watopia! We’ve added 4 new routes to Watopia which utilize newly discovered roads, both paved and unpaved, and feature 4 new badges to collect.
Serpentine 8 - A winding jungle path dedicated to an ancient deity. This route is 19.3km/12.0mi with an elevation gain of 205.7m/675ft.
Beach Island Loop - A brisk loop around the Beach Island. Don’t feed the sea lions! This route is 12.7km/7.9mi with an elevation gain of 47.85m/157ft.
Two Bridges Loop - A tight, scenic loop featuring the Italian villa and two bridges. This route is 6.8km/4.2mi with an elevation gain of 79.9m/262ft.
Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop - Explore beaches, volcanoes and a precarious cliffside. This route is 19.0km/11.8mi with an elevation gain of 155.8m/511ft.
Don’t have any more details at the moment though!
Great! I did notice when riding recently that there was a closed off turn on a bit of road with some barriers and flashing lights.
That's normally a surefire sign that there's some new bits going in soon.
Is it on for the Uber Pretzel?
Robbo,
can you send me an invite for tomorrow can’t do all but will keep you company to about 8ish.
Neil
Cheers for the invite.
Think I’m in for the first 100km, almost certainly no more than say, 115km 😜
Yep it is on - have sent you both an invite.
Think we will regourp at top of the radio tower, then have a rest at the top of the Volcano for 5 mins. After that see how it goes and who is left but likely another 5 minute break before the alpe ascent.
Might have to try some of these new routes this weekend.
So what's the plan for tomorrow if we join you later? Is there a discord running?
Yeh discord is running for chat - I wont use voice as will listen to some podcasts and music. @savoyad do you have a fresh link for the discord? I don't know how long the links are valid for.
If you do the new routes watch the spawn point. It might not spawn in the right place for the route so you might need to do a u turn and then use manual turns. Classic Zwift!
https://zwiftinsider.com/update-1-0-60239/
Cheers Robbo, I know this has been asked before but how does discord work has never used it.
Neil
It looks like the new routes have been opened up by adding 4 "shortcuts" to the watopia map and then using them to link things together in new ways. I quite like it. I think they've added road:
- from the switchback on the forward KOM straight across to the statues at the steep bit of the reverse KOM
- along the bank between the two bridges (then not used it in the route called two bridges...)
- from the base of the Epic KOM to the base of the reverse epic KOM along the coast (that coast is elevated, so the bridge/island ramp climbs at either end still need doing to get to it)
- across the middle of the jungle loop to open up the possibility of a figure 8
Neil - open up the link Savoyad posted above and then you can join the STW server. You will need to sign up with email and password.
Within the STW server are two main groups: Voice channels and Text channels. We will use the text channels - there is one called Robbos UBER Support (although others are doing it with me!). Click in it and it is basically like a WhatsApp group we can chat in via text in real time
Will need to make a call on the Uber tonight or as late as tomorrow morning. Cried off an outdoor ride yesterday as I woke up with bit of a cold, pootled in Zwift instead. Throat feels like I’ve gargled with razor blades and have a tight chest today so will lay up and see how I feel. I had a very cold and miserable ride on Tuesday where I also forgot my sunglasses so had streaming sinuses as a result, maybe just a knock on effect.
Good luck if I do t see you on the start.
Good luck on the Uber ride tomorrow 👍
Cheers Robbo sorted.
@robbo1234biking @savoyad thanks for the idiots guide to discord. I'm on it now and just sent a text message to test. Look forward to seeing you in the morning. Must keep away from beer and wine for the next 24hrs now...
Cheers Robbo and Savoyad. Not sure of my plans yet tomorrow, when I'll be on and to be honest I'm now tempted to try these new link roads. Should be good for adding some routes to our rides, or avoiding the big hills 🤣🤣
If I manage to join you guys I'll see you at some point...if not, all the best you crazy animals! 👍
Right fuel all sorted for tomorrow...
9 scoops of High5 Orange in my water bottles
3 packets of Clif Bloks
5 High5 Energy Gels
2 cans of coke (for the 2 planned rest stops)
A pack of Triple Choc Cookies!
Comes to 3000 calories and 634g of carbs, assuming I am on the bike for 6 hours that's just over 100g of carbs per hour.
Not sure if I will eat it all but good to have it available.
@robbo1234biking. That's very pro. I've gone for Aldi mars bars (Titan!!:)), own brand jelly babies, salted peanuts, coke and cold coffee. I might have some energy drink mix at home but the chances of it being in date are slim.
FYI. Your gut can only absorb up to 60g of carbs per hour (which needs to be a mix of glucose and fructose).
I'm saving the Tramadol for the Alpe...
There is evidence that you can absorb more than that.
https://www.trainerroad.com/blog/how-to-use-carbs-for-maximum-performance/
I only generally bump it up for the big rides but will aim to eat every 15 mins depending on terrain etc.
Interesting. They've not referenced that emerging research unfortunately but good to know. The main take away from the article for me was that too many carbs make you fart.
Those new link route releases look interesting, they are not big additions but will add interest and variety. The one that links the 2 sides of the Epic KOM will be fun, we can do laps up it on future Sunday hill rides 🙂
That one that also misses out the long drag on the hilly KOM too, it now make it a straight up and down.
Good luck tomorrow am chaps...
I'll prob be on the turbo in the morning..will likely be doing a workout for an hour or so..maybe on 'big loop' so I can tick it off..
Anyone fancy joinging for an elastic band sprint workout group?
DrP
Good luck tomorrow guys!
Enjoy.... If that is the right word!
Gonna try and join tomorrow from the start. Won't be staying the duration, but perhaps a couple of hours.
Currently preparing with a bottle of red and some 70% cocoa Lindt.
Biggest issue will be getting out of bed 😆
Is discord the only communication method because I'm not signed up, so might be out of the loop.
What's the difference between using discord text and the companion app messaging system? Maybe I should sign up at some point.
If you are there at the start we can use the normal Zwift companion. Discord will come in handy later on if anyone joins us using the ride with feature. Just see how it goes really!
🍕 devoured and no alcohol consumed. I have a 10.5% stout ready to open tomorrow evening upon successful completion!
Cheers chaps. Look forward to seeing some of you in the morning.
Not going to make it tomorrow, have fun!
Well, how’d it go?
Wasnt as bad as expected, Alp aside after the volcano climb we flew round as a group keeping upa decent average speed. We all stayed together until foot of alp then we climbed at our own pace. 4 of us went for the full route, hopefully everyone made it to the top OK? I was happy enough with a 75 minute ascent.
Not sure if Uber is any easier than PRL Full but it is certainly less boring.
Only ate 2 bits of toast mid ride so going to spend the rest of the day eating.
Yes would like to say it was enjoyable but was pretty un pleasant from around 35mile. Major saddle sores so did a lot of riding out of the saddle even before the alp which saps the energy.
We did really well as a group.
I tried to pace myself up the alpe but struggle to limit the watts when it’s so steep. Managed around 64 minutes up the alpe after a toilet and drink refresh stop, I may have done under the hour but without the rest I may have also imploded.
Spun on after the descent to grab the 100 mile badge. that along with 101 miles worth of do plus the route xp as made good headway’s towards reaching level 37.
Well done guys. Also thanks for the help for those that joined at the beginning, such an early start, and savo who jumped on at the Volcano.
Just one last thing, after this ride and the previous one I have what looks like bad sunburn. The skin on my face is red raw, very tight almost cracking and very sore after adding some moisturiser (the wife’s honest). Anybody else suffer from this, is it due to 6 hours of sweating and face wiping, the fan blowing at my face?
Yeh thanks all. Alpe took 1hr 45 mins - had to get off a few times. I was ok when I could get in a rythm but at each corner it flattens out and then getting back into it was difficult. Stopped a few times but did the whole thing in just shy of 6 hours so I will take that.
Well done @slowpuncheur @kirky72 and @mossimus for doing the whole thing. Good group in the long flat middle section as well.
@kirky72 not sure if it will help but I wear a buff rolled up into a headband to keep the sweat out of my eyes. Might help to prevent some of the sweat. Had to change it 3 times today mind!
Thanks for the encouragement all. Just the PRL full and the 4 new routes to compete before the 1st of Jan now! Not sure if that is realistic to be honest but we will see!
That would have been a death march solo. Thanks to all who rode bits, I can't tell u how much it helped. Kirky, thanks for taking a lot of wind. Thought we rode well as a group - self preservation I suppose. I didn't dare stop on the Alpe. I'll take 72 mins after 117km. Had a mad panic with 5km of the Alpe left. Broadband dropped out in all the house. FYI Zwift continued but everyone disappeared and it was a lonely 5 minutes when I had to have a stern word with myself. 6 times up there now and no wheels! Great effort everyone and special kudos to Robbo for getting the job done.
@kirky72 That sounds like windburn to me. Does your fan move or is it blowing on your face all the time? Had it on the road but not indoors.
No it doesn’t move, I do but not much. It’s terrible around my eyes, I did wear shades that were within reach for an hour but they were getting steamed up.
I’ll try the head band, I always wear a buff or an ear head band outside to keep my ears warm and wind out of them.
@slowpuncheur wondered what happened to you, all your messages became greyed out on companion app and you dissappeared from mini map, only reappearing near the top.
I was in a taxi;) I was cursing virgin media for about 5 mins. It was on that long segment (turn 7?) With the snow banked up. My anger helped push me on..
Firstly massive kudos to you all for completing that...amazing effort. Some of you went up the Alpe faster than I can do it without the 6 hours before it...unbelievable.
Must have been some painful moments so well done all for doing it.
Again apologies for not being able to give you a hand for a couple of hours...brake pads had gone on the car so £75 later its sorted, I would have been better doing the Alpe...why does everything start falling apart around the most expensive time of the year at Christmas???
Kirky...I sometimes get that sore sweat face thing on long rides.
I think the key is changing the towel often, I have also tried the rolled up buff which does really help although I have found it too hot at times especially in our Tuesday night races.
Oh and finally....anyone up for a ride tomorrow morning? 🤣🤣🤣
Well Done on getting it done.
I did the new Ocean Lava Cliffside route quite a nice short ride, which was all I wanted today.