I not really see the appeal of the Tron bike; because if your really that bothered by getting an advantage then it’s easier to just drop 5kg off your entered weight.
It has cool glowing wheels which can be changed in colour to match your eyes. What more justification do you need?
To match my eyes?
That’s different then👌
Wet out today so gave the Kiss 100 Choice Race - Americas (A) a go. 90k Race ... so about 60k longer than I usually do.
Quite surprised that it flew by; certainly didn’t feel like I’d been sat on turbo for 2hrs.
Ah, my Cycleops Magnus has broken just as the weather has gone back to 'normal' for this time of year. Is doing a great job of keeping me fit and balancing family time as a new parent.
Debating ordering the Kickr Core as an upgrade and selling the Magnus once it's back from repair... I'll see what the prognosis is on Monday when the shop call me.
242w over that time period is impressive mooman!
Tour of Fire and Ice tonight at 7pm. Third ride in three days, will be a leisurely trip.
Do you guys race with trainer difficulty at 100%, or 0, or in between?
50% give or take for me
100%
Thanks - but it not that impressive to be honest; I was 2nd slowest in my category!
I really dont belong with the A cats ... I can usually hold my own with the B cats, but the A riders are just too strong/fast for me.
I have never done anything over 30-40k on the turbo before. So kept the front of the race in sight, and purposefully looked to stay with a biggish 2nd group when I could see it splitting after about 10k.
Finally stayed in a good group of about 15 until three quarters way up the last climb - and just lost them - no way could I get back on as they descended.
Very surprised how fast that 90k went; I thought I would get bored after 40-50k and get off.
5th overall.
*tiny dance of happiness*
Great result flaperon!
I entered cat c flat race 3r park perimeter loop 29km. Blasted off with the front pack and tried to hold on but slowly slid back through the packs and ended up 14th in my cat. 3.16w/kg and popped up with an FTP increase which was surprising after about 2 weeks off cause I stupidly got my knee tattooed. Never. Ever. Get your knees tattooed!
Very surprised how fast that 90k went; I thought I would get bored after 40-50k and get off.
I don't really race but have done a few group rides. Today I had a 230w 2hr solo interval in Erg mode and nearly died of boredom. Having a race / others to distract you really helps.
I've been staying away from the races to follow the build me up training program over the last month, that and taking advantage of the unseasonably good weather.
Today I had the first chance to test if my winter zwift training had paid off. I raced my first ever A4 open race, there was a field of 50ish riders on a fairly flat course, 4 laps just over 35 miles total. It was a windy one and a block head wind up the only climb on the course, I was surprised at the speed of the bunch actually and the first lap me in difficulty for a bit until I settled into it. 24mph average and I stayed near the front most of the day to give myself a bit of fall back room. Thankfully I held the bunch to the line. Went on the wheel of one of my team mates for the sprint which was just a bit too long for me. I ended up seventh despite sitting second wheel when the sprint really opened. Had it been 100m less I would have had a podium. I can't decide whether to be pleased or disappointed!
So zwift training does pay off. K keep at it!
Been off the bike for two weeks with colds, but I have redesigned the garage and cleared out, decluttered, added flooring and new shelving lighting and a TV. So now have permanent Zwift with the Wahoo and can swap to rollers quickly. First ride back this week. Might need a fan now I’ve blocked off the gale under the garage door!
TiRed I'll be your fan. I won't compare to Gale though, she was something special!!
Nice work @Flaperon. Tried to join that event but didn't have enough time to get water, get changes, marshal a young child upstairs and then get the zwift update.
@mooman, 90k is still 90k so impressive especialy if you've not been that far before. Stick with it and I'd bet you move toward the A midfield rapidly. There does seem to me to be some adaptations you need to make to stay with the A bulk (vs B pack), especially around when to bury yourself to stay in touch and when to hide.
I was in the same 3r park perimeter loop race as @"Big Yim". Despite all the chat in the pen about going off easy it was the same old hard push. The 2 large and 2 smaller ramps did most of the stringing out and breaking up as you'd expect. On the second bigger ramp of lap one I was struggling. Had to go really hard to stay attached, at this point was hoping to stay in touch till that point on lap two but not really expecting too. Being DD there were no serious attacks off the front though the pack pace stayed up. Against my expectations I stay there right until the end. Collected a few useful feathers to help on the worst ramp of laps two and three. The sprint didn't hit huge heights but did wind up from about 1km. I initial dropped back a bit but managed to claw back a few paces before the line. 7th overall but most satisfying for me was staying in the running. I stupidly had a blast at the spring in both directions afterwards. Big mistake which resulting in be revisiting my Pizza overload form lunch time (2.5 pizzas and zwift do not mix)!
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=160730
Hmmm interesting on the Park Perimeter layout, that's the layout i was debating this afternoon in the 5:10pm race... reverse layout if that makes a difference. But don't want to give myself an instant disadvantage.
There's an 8pm KISS race @ 3 laps watopia flat.... but 8pm is a bit later.
Did a group ride this morning, wasn't bad, not done one before I don't think. A lot of time saying "slow down at the front", but more interesting than just bimbling around, as I'd rolled out of bed 10 minutes before it started it was far easier than a race! Actually quite enjoyed Richmond too, did almost a lap of the UCI course afterward, I'd forgotten how tough those three little climbs are, been years since I rode them!
Richmond hilly short is a good course (and for racing) missing out the really dull flat bit that Weeksy loves ;0)
I quite enjoy racing on the flat course actually, makes for close racing and high speeds!
Not a race, but just looking at ZP, the guy who came 4th is 46kg. Chinny reckon... 🙄
On closer look he's also got 21cm shorter, presumably shares an account with his partner and hasn't changed the settings back.
Well done @nixie; top 10 in A cat is good.
I giving the 17.40 Team Italy Gladiators Race a go. Its the horrible Richmond UCI route ... but I have not found any course, hilly or flat, that particularly suits me ... just gonna hurt and hope my legs can hold out.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=161187
Legs tired so went for a short one. I'm hoping a few get DQ, for HR monitor and also being B riders racing in C.
I'm not sure how you report it, plus a don't have a Facebook account lol
Good battle though, twice recently Fandango has beaten me!
Did my second race Friday night and tried to race more sensibly than last time. Got into a good group and was tough but manageable until someone put in a monster attack about 3/4 way into the race. I managed to chase back on eventually and was comfortable again until one of those small rises from the underground and they just rode away from me and could not get back on. Finished towards the bottom of the B's (last on zwift power!).
Then did a group ride Sunday that was meant to be z2 and seemed to almost turn into a race!
Went as expected. The first rise split the group, and then a case of putting the effort in to bridge across to the couple of riders in front; in the hope there are a few others behind thinking the same.
From start of 2nd lap till almost the end it was just me and two others in no mans land of off the back of the A riders - and in front of most of the B riders.
Finished as 3rd slowest A rider .. I guess its a slight improvement.
I may have ago at the race tomorrow afternoon at 5.10pm depending on how works goes etc
I could be persuaded Eskay
Slightly and maybe ridiculously so, irritated that the guys in my race were removed, giving me 2nd place but then restored back in, especially the guy without any HR dat https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=161187
When the rules specificially say no HR data, no podium and 2 weeks ago i was kicked out of 2nd place because i wasn't wearing a HR monitor...
I know it doesn't matter... but these trophies are in short supply now 🙂
I've also seen riders being left in with no HR data in 3R Races. Going to ask as they did used to remove them.
i may see you on there later then weeksy. My intention is to ride but it depends on getting off of work on time and not getting drowned cycling home!!
Category A and B: All riders must wear heart rate monitors, and use non-zpower sources of power data.
Category C: Podium finishers (places 1 through 3) must wear heart rate monitors, and use non-zpower sources of power data.
A rider may become a podium finisher through other riders being upgraded or disqualified.
2nd and 3rd are Bs anyway!
1st is height doping.
Ask on the ZP forum and it'll probably get sorted.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=164529
Womens pro/super league race tonight. Usually on Youtube etc...
First one in the series was a cracking watch...
Ask on the ZP forum
ZP forum ?
found it 🙂 added one.
I see you have arrived on the forum. More posts than you've made here today ;0)
Oh and you've put the wrong link in for the race results.
I'd mention the winner has changed height regularly. He's gone from 178cm to 122cm then settled on 150cm as he was pinged for being too short. 150cm is 4 foot 11 inches which is tiny!
Indeed... found it... Some interesting things on there.
Apparently i can't race every day... Someone should tell that to Blader too 🙂
Oh and you’ve put the wrong link in for the race results.
Good spot...
I don't mind the winner... i was chatting to them on Strava yesterday after the race. They got a DQ for weight but i'm guessing/hoping the 150cm is OK...
LOL good point... 4'11 is indeed short
I don't wanna get people booted for no reason... just want fair racing.
The winner looks like a clear case of height doping. One of the others is a definite B and has enter loads of B races.
The winner looks like a clear case of height doping.
LOL i added Fandango on Strava 178cm is MUCH closer to his height than 150 looking at the photos on profile.
What's the advantage of height doping? Are you more aero?
What’s the advantage of height doping? Are you more aero?
That seems to be the case yeah. As to how much, i don't really know yet.
Yes by a decent amount when solo.
https://zwiftinsider.com/how-height-affects-speed-in-zwift/
I just dont see the point of weight, height .. or even Tron bike doping.
After all zwift is never going to be able to be anywhere near accurate, or guarantee that others arent doing some kind of doping to get an advantage.
Zwift is just something to keep you motivated and interested whilst sat on the turbo. Of course I look at the results .. but I am more interested in seeing my own improvements because they are the only thing I can guarantee on zwift that is 100% genuine and accurate.
This'll bore you to tears then ;0)
https://zwiftinsider.com/3-fastest-tt-bikes/
I just dont see the point of weight, height .. or even Tron bike doping.
tron bikes not really doping, its not the quickest uphill, its more a badge to say you've done the 50,000m climbing challenge, plus it looks cool
but I am more interested in seeing my own improvements because they are the only thing I can guarantee on zwift that is 100% genuine and accurate
of course, same here, different in game options doesn't increase the wattage you put out, different in game options are nice to have though, as gimmicky as most of them are, 8000 people in game, on the same bike, wearing the same clothes would be cack, plus they have to use that $180m of funding for something
plus, zwiftinsider added this....
The 5 wheelsets above are separated by only 4 seconds on a ~35 minute lap of the Volcano Climb route at 300 watts with a 75kg rider. That’s a slim margin–one that wouldn’t even be noticeable in the midst of a race that involves drafting, accelerations, etc.
I had a browse around the STW team results on ZwiftPower .. never looked on there before.
It seems a bit suspicious that you got a couple riders at, or just over, 60kg ... me being the suspicious person I am - it seems a tad suspicious when I see 5`10 guys down as weighing less than 9 and a half stone ... of course there are stick insects about; but does make you think eh?
You've seen the weigh in videos right...
I feel you're about to fall into the full madness of Zwift racing.
Sign up to the Facebook Zwift Racer page.
I just dont see the point of weight, height .. or even Tron bike doping
I've got the Tron bike and trust me, it makes no detectable difference to anything. As far as I can tell, the only real differences are between 'normal' bikes and TT ones. The TT ones are slightly quicker on descents and slightly faster on the flat, BUT they don't draft, so you lose any benefits from that and aren't permitted in most races.
If you want full on reality, go for a ride in the real world. Zwift is littered with people kicking out improbably power to weight figures for extended periods of time. Folk lie about their weight. Have shite, inaccurate trainers that they don't calibrate. And probably dope as well...
tomlevell
Member
You’ve seen the weigh in videos right…
I feel you’re about to fall into the full madness of Zwift racing.
Sign up to the Facebook Zwift Racer page.
Weigh in videos? nope not seen those.
I safe from the Zwift racing madness. As said - only my own stats important to me. Leaving for work at 7am and not getting home till 6pm 5 days a week means this time of year I have little time to ride outside - and very little energy to ride in doors to be honest - so zwift is very much a couple short tough training sessions/races during week to hopefully keep some fitness for the trip to Gran Canaria end of March; and maybe a longish ride on weekend.
I dont do Facebook etc; thats as fake as a lot of the zwiftpower results!
62kg for me, wish I weighed more. It's not so easy shopping looking for trousers that fit tall and slim, should be a 30 inch waist but they don't exist in many places and end up buying 32's. My Zwift weight is linked to my Fitbit scales, so it updates after every weigh in. A few more kg would help on the windy days which there seem to be more of lately.
Mooman - you do realise zwift is just blokes playing video games in their garage! You keep telling us you are only interested in your own data but you seem quite interested in what everyone else is doing or riding,just sayin. Take it all with a pinch of salt and remember its better than nothing.
@blader1611 I struggling to see how you come to that conclusion. Rereading my posts it seems clear I only interested in my own data ... I have numerous times said I don’t belong in the A group, but enter in there because that’s where zwiftpower places me.
I can only assume your one of the 2 fellas in the STW team who stating their 5’10 and just over 9 stone ... just saying.
I can only assume your one of the 2 fellas in the STW team who stating their 5’10 and just over 9 stone … just saying.
It's just as well that you're 'only interested in your own data' 🙂
today 18:15 Flanders De Ronde Race (B) up the epic kom climb, doesn't go up to the radio tower, then down and into the jungle and back out
too many pancakes, too hot, too knackered, did crap, sprint against 1 other gave me some power pbs for everything between 4-51seconds, so not a total write off, 34/37 in B - but it was always going to be that
I can only assume your one of the 2 fellas in the STW team who stating their 5’10 and just over 9 stone … just saying.
I imagine that’s Njee and his twin brother, perhaps the 10 inches could be a typo of course 😉
Not completely Zwift related but as per topic heading this was more about my general health too
This week I've been using a blood pressure monitor from the docs as I had a couple of borderline readings.
Back in 2011 I was getting 180/155 even when fairly fit.
Average this week is 138/82 which as you can imagine makes me happy.
For info, my HR this morning was 41 at work.
Sadly my weight still sits higher than I want, but the causes and reasons are there for all to see on my plate each day lol.
41! I assume the doctor is falling over themselves to find out what is wrong with you.
HR is all individual I'm just under 50 at complete rest. Generally if I'm mid 50s when sitting I'm happy.
I imagine that’s Njee and his twin brother, perhaps the 10 inches could be a typo of course 😉
thought he was in the fat dad club? 🙂
@dirtyrider you can offically downgrade to C if you wanted and get some cups.
41! I assume the doctor is falling over themselves to find out what is wrong with you
Nope, it's always been low. This evening was just on 50 for the tests, I bet you'd be in the 40s in the morning too if you try.
He was a little worried with the BP but I'm more than happy with the results I've been getting.
Back in the early part of the decade my gym wouldn't let me train.
Nice reduction weeksy 👍
41! I assume the doctor is falling over themselves to find out what is wrong with you.
ummmm is that bad? just had a look at my health data on my apple watch and I'm regularly in the very low 40's, was 40 this afternoon for instance
No no just doctors generally don't see people with a really low HR and have been known to be concerned.
HR is also purely individual. Literally nothing can be taken from a comparison between two people. Some probably reasonably accurate assumtions could be made. ie resting heart rate in the 70/80s does not indicate a trained endurance athlete but it's possible.
I know nothing about blood pressure other than whatever mine is is fine.
Ended up doing the race last night, as usual I tried to stay with the front group but ended up being in the second group (totally smashed!). Eventually got dropped and rode with an Italian rider who wouldn't (or couldn't) do any work. Was around 50th overall until a large group caught us in the last couple of kms, ended up 63rd overall and in my usual position in the B's (towards the back). Recorded a new ftp which was surprising.
To add to the discussions above, I genuinely don't understand what people get from cheating on Zwift, they must have very low self esteem.
nice going Weeksy - that's a massive change !
I've signed up to Zwift and had 2 rides... forgot how hard work it is
Is it just me or has DD destroyed most attacks. Even in none DD races there seems very little appetite for attacks off the front at the moment. Even when I tried one last night we an aero so could have towed people along there were no really bites (sadly I'm not strong enough to go alone off the front).
I did the kiss choice short night. A cagey affair as hinted in with no attacks of note. The big lead group divided a few times on the back straight climb (6 train) but other than till the last lap not much happened. I tried an attack on lap 4 after the hill but got realed back in. Unfortunately I blew up at the top of this hill on lap 3. The lead 10 or so started to pull away and instead of popping my aero to catch I stubbornly hung onto it for the sprint. Costly mistake as I got dropped. Ended up with two others who also appeared spent. Aero at 0.6k was enough to gap without needing to sprint. Tired legs now. Think I need some rest days.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=100161731
Lol at Dirtyrider...
TBH Nixie at many levels it doesn't even register to me if it's DD or not... Whether that's before or during the race LOL. Not actually sure how many i enter that have DD as a feature. Today i'm WFH so i think a slightly early lunch for the 10:45 The Morning Grind Fondo P/B DIRT & Indoor Specialist. 4 laps of classique with proper split starts at 1min intervals. One thing i dislike on racing is where the super fast Cs jump in with the Bs... i'd rather have just Cs..So that 1 min should mean it's a pretty fair race... pay your money take your chance.
My RHR has dropped from low 60's to low 50's (sometimes high 40's) in the past year and most of the fitness gain has come from Zwift. I have also lost a couple of stone in that time. Still haven't done any Zwifting for a couple of weeks!
Mooman - sadly i am not 9 stone either in zwift or real life. All i was pointing out was the fact that you checked everyone on stw yet were only bothered about your own data. I wasnt having a go at you but apologise if it came across like that. I too only zwift to better myself but i do take an interest in how my races went and to my direct competitors. Anyway moving on....
Weeksy thats good news on the BP. That hr is impressive, I wish i could get mine that low when it came to a race, i might get back on the podiums.
LOL racing is a different game. my HR goes up for that.
Especially today as i've got one of the Kings of C is racing with me in 14 min.
0.8s off at the line, i had to close a gap that was opening after Horseguards on the run down to the hairpin... i then hung in as best i could, but i don't have the killer edge in last 500m
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7800/40333569643_88ab23a250_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7800/40333569643_88ab23a250_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/24s964a ]2019-03-06_11-40-06[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=162128
That is a great effort Weeksy, i suspect if it was anything like the B race then the dirt boys work as a team to shell out non dirt riders. So for you to be in the bunch sprint is a tremendous effort. I was in the B race and i listened in to discord and the dirt riders were working in small groups to keep attacking to soften everyone up. IT was a brutal race but i hung on until about a mile out when the group split up a bit. I was 20s behind the winner which i was pleased with as it was my highest avg watts for a race since getting the wahoo.
Not sure about any tactics from them, I had a crack 3 times though, kicked off the front and tried to split it up taking only a few with me, but each time the bunch caught us/me.
We had Bath Salts in our race, who seems to be under scrutiny from the zada guys
https://www.zwiftpower.com/profile.php?z=62302
Each time up horseguards he pinned it at 6-7w/kg so I had to kick hard and find that. In the other flat bits I was pretty much cruising, 162 average isn't a killer, especially as the last 2km was where my average would have gone up as it was tough.
I enjoyed myself and worked hard, which is what I do it for.
Bath salts is banned by ZwiftPower for being a d##k and using an A rider a domestique.
He didn't use one today. He's a clever rider though in races and hides well. But has the power to get out of trouble too. It's a tactic I try as much as possible although not as much today as you can find yourself suddenly 2s behind if 1 wheel in front misses a surge, so last lap I tried to sit has far up as possible until horseguards, which is pretty much where the race exploded
At least you took it to them, i didnt have the legs to do any attacking. Had a few pr’s on my ride so it was quick, i avgd 430w on each horseguards hill segment for all 6 laps,this might explain why the sprint at the end was not that sprinty. I won the sprint for the group immediately behind the front bunch but i only maxed at 786w and that was very brief indeed.
I had PRs which considering i've ridden and raced for example the last KM over 150 times, that's pretty good for me 🙂
HOrsegaurds was 415w, 443w, 408w, and 453w on the last lap... So i'm putting in the effort 🙂
Happy with a PR on last KM, 338w.... but sadly only 465w for the Mall Sprint it seems.
Max power according to Strava was 605w.... but i rekon that was Horseguards, not the sprint.
I am not entirely sure if i would have kept up with the C’s looking at your race. May be ours was a little slower as we did 2 extra laps plus after all the early attacks by DIRT were nullified we all probably burnt a fair amount of matches. I was thinking of dropping to C for a race or 2 as i have been finishing around 3/3.1 of late.
Slightly off topic but is Wahoo support ok to deal with as i may have an issue with my core. I have fired them an email so i will see how i get on.
Slightly off topic but is Wahoo support ok to deal with as i may have an issue with my core. I have fired them an email so i will see how i get on
Decent but US based so timezone an issue