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I am doing the mgcc pursuit race but if my legs allow it i might jump on that race weeksy although i may enter as a C and just tag along if i can keep up.
I saw you were 🙂 But i'm not in the same league as your races... Your stats have been impressing me massively mate... every time i see you you've got multiple 50+ minutes per day.
Looking at the layout it should suit me reasonably well.... Legs are a bit stiff today but far from terrible... long warm up today to get the KMs in for the week and then a shortish race... sounds ideal.
I might do the 10pm Innsbruckring race tonight. Little one has football so by the time we get back and have something to eat. Saying that tea is in the slow cooker so the Mrs can have hers and I can wait until after a race.
10pm ! I'll be going to bed about then.
Think I'm going to do the BRT crit at 7.20 as logn as the children comply atbed time!
I’m going to give the 3R LaGuardia race a go at 17:15.
First time racer so it should be an eye opener for me.
Had missed that crit nixie so I might do that. Think 10 laps put me off but they are only 1.7 mile laps.
The pursuit race today was out of this world fast and it had a twist. Riding in my B group today was none other than Mark Cavendish. We had a good bit of banter during the race but it was so fast that texting was difficult. I actually got dropped for the first time in the pursuit rsce, pace was crazy through the ruins and then the A group came through us like we were stood still, it was impressive and shocking how fast they were going. I think Cav stayed with the B group but i think he actually came second! It was hard to tell as i was a minute behind him. Nice of him to join though and have some banter.
I enjoy this thread even tho I've never done a race. I'm in week 7 (of 12) of the Build-me-up Workout. It's 4-5 hours a week so quite a commmittment and I've found myself in a cold shed when I could be in the pub!
It's felt quite easy most of the time. This week tho emphasis has moved from under/over intervals to lots of vo2 max and 115% FTP stuff. After the last one, I still felt okay and had a go up box hill. Really wasn't sure the training was 'working' but was amazed I could hold 3.0kw/kg (which is not much compared to most on here) after an hour of beasting myself doing intervals.
I'm sure it's easy to get power (and HR) with ERG Mode off. Also how much more 'fun' it was with other riders (and DRAFTING..) than just watching the screen for interval stuff. Still I'll stick with it until the end. All these extra kms (done around 750km on Zwift since 1 Jan) have unlocked the aero bike on level 13...
Do enjoy the odd Cat C group ride. Still not sure I want to try racing tho...
@robbo It's a short and easy enough lap (unlike the five laps up to the NY KOM last week!). Double draft though so watch the gaps. It only appeared last night as there were problems getting the event listed for some reason.
I know this is a wee bit off topic but I used to use zwift but I work away from home and the bike in the gym is Ant+ only has there been any more word on the Android version getting Ant+ compatibility?
I could use it at home and not at work but it sort of breaks the flow and I have serious motivation issues with going to the gym after work and think having zwift would help.
I'm tempted by the 7:20 one now too. Don't bank on me turning up though.
@alex I tend to do races when I'm a bit bored of training sessions. Might not be getting the same benefit but mentally I might need it. I do a few then step back again for a while.
Thanks Tom. I've been doing the group rides for that. But I get a bit bored when I think I can try a bit harder (especially on the hills) but I don't want to be one of those who rides away from the group.
What's the easiest/simplest race to join? I expect it entirely depends on what you're good at. I'm pretty rubbish at anything but I'm okay at hills and rubbish at drafting!
That looks like a big BRT fest in C cat... One of my 'zwift enemies' on too, Patch Harvey. There's not many Cs who beat me every time but i don't think i've ever beaten him.
The Zwift first base races on Monday nights are a pretty good place to start but any races are easy to join. Just check the course in Zwiftpower to see what you are facing!
You'll have to get good at drafting (hanging on?) Any really but not the ones with massive hills as you'll find you aren't good at climbing (in comparison) and end up on your own.
Any of the Watopia ones are good IMO. Enough climbing to be interesting.
Pick a race any race. The more riders the more likely you are to get in a pack of similar ability. I'm guessing you'd be a C so don't try and hold the front end out of the start but do go hard and then try and sit in.
That 7:20 one looks good. If you do get dropped a group will be lapping you pretty damn quick to try and tag onto.
Quick question about the races.
For the start does it all do everything automatically when I'm signed up for it so I just need to start pedalling when the flag drops (or whatever start signals they use!)
Start pedalling before the countdown finished. You'll need to be 120% or above FTP when it goes off (or a few seconds before). Expect pain for the first few minutes. Most races settle down by 5 minutes to a more sustainable pace.
Get into the game about 20 mins early if you can to warm up. The main game will give a count down to join the event in the bottom right and there are several prompts which will auto join. I'd not go in later than 2 mins before the start. If its a big event then up to 10 mins early so you are at the front. The companion app will also prompt you to join the event. Easiest way to sign up is via companion app.
Also some races are mixed start (A,B,C,D start together from different pens). Others are your cat only. If mixed cat don't try and hang on to those much faster than you for too long (though this is a useful tactic for pulling you away from the rest of your cat). Try and keep an eye on where the first of you cat is. I think the position you are shown is for your cat only even in mixed starts.
Thanks nixie, sounds pretty straightforward.
18.55 Gladiators race for me tonight. Just got in from work - so bite to eat first ... will struggle with the warm up!
tomlevell
Member
@mooman there’s a calculation on your profile under the ? next to your category. You have to work back your 3 best 20 minuntes @ 95%.
Might give you an idea though. You’ve probably improved on your worst one to bump you back over the limit as an average.
Just found that thanks. Average of last 3 races is 4.16wkg .. so just scraping over!!
Thanks Tom/all - useful info...
Well that's my first race done.
I wasn't sure what category to go for so decided to start at the bottom in D. From what I can gather from the results on Zwift Power I've been disqualified from the category due to my w/kg being too high for D.
Lesson learned for next time!
The race wasn't too bad but not exactly easy. It was pretty much 30 minutes flat out with no respite. I semed to be drafting ok in the group of 8-10 I was riding with but then just before the start of the final lap a load of riders just took off and seemed to pick up a 10 second gap in the space of a few seconds, not sure how that worked.
Which race? Drop a link to the ZwiftPower results page. What's your zwift name?
was going to do the 10:20 something or other, laptop spat its dummy, then wouldn't see any bluetooth devices, when it finally sorted itself out id missed the start, so climb straight back off and got changed, was feeling under the weather anyway so probably a blessing in disguise
Which race? Drop a link to the ZwiftPower results page. What’s your zwift name?
It was the 3R LaGuardia race. The Zwift Power link should be here:
https://www.zwiftpower.com/profile.php?z=1133980
Robbo seems to have gone pop. Another forum guy I ride with is just ahead of him.
Nixie leading though!
Grim!
Held onto the front group for a full lap then slipped back. Couple more laps with them and 8 or so got shelled and formed a decent group.
2 and a bit laps to go we got lapped and held them for the bit of the lap and our little group was 5.
Went at the junction just as the hill to the line starts when someone went past me and into the front by the top of the hill and just got pipped on the line by 2 others.
Tea too soon to the start and feeling underpowered.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=146930
It was the 3R LaGuardia race. The Zwift Power link should be here
From that your a C I'd say. Probably top end C. Good effort.
Nixie leading though!
Was trying hard not to lead that much. Was 10th or 11th on the road I think. Mistimed the sprint up the hill and couldn't make up the gap in time. Annoying as legs had it. Still the guy that won is an A+ and very strong rider so was happy to be second in the sprint (time wise) to him.
I did indeed go pop! Went out to hard and just didn’t have the legs. Started going backwards rapidly so decided to bug out. Think I need a rest day tomorrow before hitting it at the weekend (unless my cucleschene voucher actually turns up and I can get out on the mtb). Well done to the others. The pace of the first couple of laps was pretty quick!
@tomlevell pace was high to start so any hanging on was good work. Did we lap you? Your time doesn't seem enough back for that (assuming your the stw badged rider in B).
Nixie - did you hit 5 PRs on the lap? Pace must have been high!
4 I think. All on the sprint. Double draft helps a little with that (plus it was the only place any attacks were happening).
According to Strava I'm 7th fastest all time on 6x that loop. Find that very hard to believe!
Yes you lapped me and dropped me again as you were starting your last lap.
First lap was brutal. Really I should have been able to stick with the 2nd group but couldn't shift myself out of last spot in the line so any split and I was done for.
First lap for me was about 20 to 30 seconds faster than all the rest :0o
To be honest the lap is too short for 10 laps as it gets messy if you're not in the front group.
It looks like that 6 lap segment has been set up today so will take time to populate.
Good write ups and riding fellas.
.
I really enjoyed that race, I was seeing how nixie was doing along with Robbo v my mate who posts at times, I'll have to get him on the stw team actually. He never does races so was good to see him out there.
Was only watching on timing though as j don't know how I'd get in viewing mode on a non scheduled world.
10:05am for me tomorrow for 2 lap volcano flat. decent number signed up
@weeksy. I think you have to join the event then change the camera view to follow people. That seems to be how the live commentary people do it.
Right, fair call.... I can do that next time. Was OK watching him on the live tracking text based but would have been interesting to see him when actually riding. I'll know for next time... well, if he survived the night that is.
@Nixie The STW badged rider in B was me. I stayed with the first group for a few laps before getting dropped and ended up TTing for awhile. How do you guys know who each other are? Tom's name is obvious, but not any others?
Just through this thread mostly. You get to learn who's who and all of the people with STW in their name are added as Zwift friends within the Companion/Mobile App. So i get to see anyone who's a friend as racing a particular event.
And I have a cold which makes the feeling of lack of power better.
I just pick up on real names as I've gone along looking at here and ZP results. Obviously those in the STW team are easier to spot. Although currently I'm not as I dropped out to set up a club team then left that and now it doesn't seem to want to let me rejoin STW.
Disappointed disappointed disappointed.
2 laps of volcano flat. I saw the famous Blader was playing, although he was in B.
Went out fairly hard and what do you know, I found him there. Massive group of 20 or so of us flying along. We were group 2 on the road. The pace was high, especially any time it kicked upwards, I need 400w at these times and that peaks my HR, hitting a mid race high of 179 today and way too high overall, lots of 175-176 moments. Over the line after lap 1 I was still with the group, but getting harder and harder to maintain position. I hit my aero on the underwater section, not to try and break away but to try and get the HR to a sensible figure.
Sadly as we came out of the tunnel my luck ended. I'd positioned myself well but just fell slightly off the group. It happened earlier but I caught a lucky wheel and got pulled back.
This time there was no wheel though. I hit 559w in a vague try to get back, but I was 2s off and that was it.
I pulled over and called it a day.
I could arguably have waited for the next lot and tried to hang, but I'd had enough.
One of them days. Failed.
Weeksy i had no legs for racing today so was using the race to do a recovery ride in a group. I let the front group go and was about to let the second group go as well when i saw you flying up past me so i decided i would be your wheel man. It was far too fast to be any sort of recovery ride so thst was out of the window.I saw you dropping off so i stopped to provide a wheel but noticed you were at 0w/kg so i assumed you had a problem. I worked far too hard to get back on the group so hung out midpack and rested. I split the group on the climb to the volcano just so i could make GUTS work as he always wins and always sucks wheels. I made them climb at 7-8w/kg all the way which broke it up a bit. I then did tempo to the line and a little sprint at the end.