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Did the Kiss beginner C & D race last night. I've been trying the races for about 6 weeks now and that was the first time I've managed to stick with the main group. So much more enjoyable and engaging! Since I've started at it I've gone from around 2.6w/kg to 3.5w/kg. It is strange to look forward to a turbo session! Really liking Zwift, the odd glitch aside. My power froze last night for a couple of minutes which was handy except when it went uphill and I got dropped big time.
Not sure I have it in me today, but it's a decent field in the 4:10 and I like that. But it's hilly, which I'm rubbish on due to weight and my legs are not my friend.
Hmmm
How about over 800 entered for the GCN race at 7pm! 3 laps of NYC.
Might try and do it.
I now sit here and plan particular things around races that suit me…
I've also started doing that. Spend too much time looking at the event list trying to decide which one to do!
Last night was the GGCC race series event of the Watopia figure 8. Been a while since I've raced over those hills (other than at the end of a three sisters loop) so was interested to see how I went. Quite a big field but only around 10 A's (one other from BRT). A and B grouped together at the start though I tried to force a high initial pace which did cause a few (mainly Bs) to drop off coming up the ramp out of the subsea section. This race was always going to be a story of the two climbs. The first knocked a few more off the back but for the most part the lead group stayed together, if a little strung out. We all closed back up again on the flat and stayed that way till climb two. I had been hiding a feather for the last 20k and used this on the first sharp bend to attack. It work nicely until it ran out at which point I was caught and passed. However the effort had fractured the group wide open now. Four or five pulled away from me by a few seconds up the hill. I dug deep at the 300m mark and went hard to keep the gap down as much as I could, then as they relaxed over the top kept my effort up and TT'd back onto a wheel before the significant downhill section. I only just made it though (the wheel I caught was the other BRT rider to whom I was very grateful of the tow). This effort resulting in my best ever five minute power (5w/kg :D). Before the bridges the six of us had closed up again and I managed to catch my breath and calm the heart rate down. The pace to the end started to ramp up again from the hill after sprint bridge and resulted in a longer sprint home. It ended surprisingly close for such a long ramp up. I just snuck bronze though think on the road that was fourth.
All in all very happy with the result (more so as I have a slight cold) and the PRs up both climbs. https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=103066
Well it went ok in the end considering.
I went off at a reasonable pace and grabbed a smallish group on 1st climb. Put in a decent climb and hung in with a bunch. Then settled down for a long bit of flat. Through the rollers we all stuck together and then over start line into final climb there were 13-15 of us. We hit the climb and it splintered, I was sitting at 350-360w on it and holding my own but 4 riders pulled away from us. As we created the Kom we were 2 X 4s and about 7s behind then. The next 2-3km is flat and rolling, I sat for 1.5 km of it then powered 400w on a -1 section, soon closing to the guys ahead and gapping my bunch, first time I recall bridging a strong gap. I then sat on the descent and did the odd turn.
Into the final 3km I kicked a bit on the way out of the tunnel but got a response so waited it out. 700m to go a guy jumped us with 8.5w/kg, couldn't match that but beat the others and we'd pulled out 25s on the guys behind
75/221 or so on a hilly course, happy
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=103235
Sounds like a good race. Congrats on the class win as well 👍.
I think 1000 riders might be a few too many for a flat race :0/
Most of the first lap was one big elongated blob which I couldn't see the front of although there may have been a group of As further up the road for all I know. Splits started showing after the climbs half way round and mostly in a static group by the end of the lap.
Had to hop off the turbo as I noticed the skewer was loose just before the finish line but held the group and then stupidly lost the front end of it along the flat bit by the lake.
Last lap used a feather to ensre I held the front end of the group and any splits up the steep ramp half way round and got another one for the final sprint. Ended up 4th I think in the group of about 20.
Initially upgraded to a B then downgraded as just scraped in the cat limits and was given 3rd. Now bumped down to 4th :0( Saying that all 3 above me are listed as Bs on their profiles. And 3rd pipped me in the sprint of my group to add insult to injury.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=99708
Not strictly zwift but, I've had an evening with the foam roller.
There were a few points tonight where I'd rather have done 10 laps of volcano ccw
Great work Tom, nice stuff...
First race for a week or so.
Team Italy Gladiators race .. fast start as usual, so sat in with the front group just trying to hold on. Seemed to be a group of about 10 up first climb about 7km in .. then most turned off and only me and another rider left out front with the pack about 20 seconds behind, and 25+km left. The other rider dropped off about 5km later so had to solo the rest of the race. I think the rest has done the legs good, because managed to stay out front and win the race ... putting over 2 minutes on the chasing group.
The upgrade from C to B isn't fun. Decided to enter the WKG chop this evening, handicap races are a bit better for me as the starts aren't just as fast. I was feeling great and sitting in the first third of a big B group when my avatar (being an old git I hate that word) decided to turn off the wrong way. Race over.
Just had an email (and subsequently signed up for) the CVRcade beta (starting 1 dec I think). They're parting ways with Zwift & have come up with their own platform. Seems more focused on "real" racing, with wind, line choice & crashing (!) apparently. I doubt it'll be anywhere near as polished as Zwift (at least initially) but will be interesting to check it out...
I imagine there is a fair bit of money to be made with the likes of Zwift. And I guess it’s only a matter of time before others get involved to get a slice of it.
the races are 95% of what I do on Zwift. I recently started riding the Alpe Du Zwift course because that allows you to target specific times or power thresholds for sections ... the other courses if not racing I find almost as boring as a standard turbo session.
i will look into the CVRcade; I wonder what it will cost in comparison to Zwift ... and more importantly, how many will join to race.
They are trickling info about CVRcade... currently talking about it being free to download/play but having "microtransactions" similar to how some conventional computer/mobile games have gone. Having said that I read on a forum post where someone had a dig around & found some T&Cs which mentioned "paid accounts" so who knows...
If it [I]is[/I] free that will ensure it'll be popular no doubt (unless it's totally crap)! Even if I end up sticking with Zwift though hopefully this will encourage them to up their game in terms of features/support for racing, there are loads of things they could do that would make the experience so much better!
there are loads of things they could do that would make the experience so much better!
For example ? I love the racing and not sure how they could make it any better.
Just little things really. Being able to easily ID teammates or friends during races would be nice as often it's really hard to keep track when the pace heats up. An option to have labels over [I]all[/I] riders rather than just randomly selected ones would be nice too.Giving you a warning before you start a race with the wrong bike 😂 Integrating the racing properly would be good rather than having to go through ZP might be good, maybe they could enforce cats strictly to get rid of the sandbaggers. Not giving you bloody XP during races that allow power ups would be good too!!
Not giving you bloody XP during races that allow power ups would be good too
Sometimes i just sigh when it gives me that and i really really needed an aero.
I wish they would incorporate the distance markers for riders on ios like they have on pc version, the one which tells you a rider is 5mtr in front or behind. Also multiple chat windows can end up piled on top of each other so you cant read them. Also may be some way to easily identify yourself when in a big bunch all wearing the same kit.
Yes, it looks great from outside the race when a massive peloton all dressed in team kit comes thundering past, but it's **** all use otherwise!Also may be some way to easily identify yourself when in a big bunch all wearing the same kit.
Not giving you bloody XP during races that allow power ups would be good too!!
Oh jesus christ, THIS.
8 laps of The 6 Train last night, EVR double draft, with a cold and only 4 hours sleep. 6 of the 8 laps I got 10xp. It was quick, and long (50km). The first 3 laps were ridiculously fast, got a bit of a break in the middle until it was down to me to chase down the one bloke that had got away.
He had 25 seconds on the bunch and was well over 5w/kg for about 10 mins, monster. Even with doubledraft on people weren't pulling on the front and I wasn't having a breakaway with DD 😀
I got us within 4 seconds and the peloton decided that they might do some work now *rolleyes* the bunch satyed together until the last 2.5k - the guy that had spent ages away kicked again and two of us went with him (or tried to) I completely missed the draft and ended up 6 seconds down on them and 6 seconds up on the rest of the pack with ~1.6k to go. I gave it everything I had, 3rd with 800m to go then everyone was steaming past me, 13th at the line :'(
Good news this morning though, i'm no longer weight doping! #BackToMyZwiftWeight
That still sounds like a fun race scaled.
#dreamingofzwiftweight
I have been on zwift for a few years but have yet to dip my toe into zwift racing. It looks full on right from the gun! Can anyone answer two questions for me please?
1. Whats the best races for noobs? If Im dropped from the gun itll be pretty demoralising?.
2. Is there a good idiots guide somewhere about how to get set up for racing and join in.?
KISS First Base, Mondays 8pm. Cat D.
If you an average about 2w/kg for 35-45 mins you should get a decent race.
From the gun... well... not exactly... you want to be winding it on with 10s to go 🙂 HARD !
a very lonely Asia Thursday Race, 2 laps of Lady Liberty, all cats went off at different times, 5 minutes apart, only 11 in B, 3 off the back straight away, cruched through the gears as it hit 15% - got dropped, reeled one in, but he sat on me for the rest of the 1st lap then dropped away, was sat in 4th, then suddenly 1&2 vanished, finished 2nd in C - only 4 registered on ZP - god knows whats going on with the results though as im quicker than everyone who was in A and a C had the quickest time
Typical race go hard from the gun until you feel the group you are in has settled. At 80kg and top end of C WKG I tend to pull approx 350 watts to get in the front end of C with Bs and As. Probably peak at 450 watts. If I go much harder I'll probably end up getting in a group I can't hold onto. That'll generally get me competing with the top5 of C. Sometimes there's someone who got into a faster group but when you see them do it I normally assume they are in the wrong category.
Sign up to https://www.zwiftpower.com/index.php for meaningful results and tracking progression. The results that come up on screen after the race are useful but of the 32 people who beat me in the GCN race 20 were clearly going to be upgraded and no doubt others did too.
Oh and join the team. I assume it's on this page to do it.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/team.php?id=756
Yep its hard to think of how they improve it already.
Maybe split the categories in half again? and the categories going up by half instead of the full w/kg.
I typically average right on the limit of my category, and even though I get into the sharp end of the race and feel involved in it - I know if I move up I would only be riding in with the chasing bunch and having no input in the race.
How do you sign up to the CVRcade?
OK, so Im on zwift power. I have joined STW team. Can I now remove the four digit number from my name?
2. Is there a good idiots guide somewhere about how to get set up for racing and join in.?
Just enter one in the category you think is most suitable, then get on with it. Just remember it's only a computer game, unless you're weeksy or scaled, in which case it's a way of life 😉
Just enter one in the category you think is most suitable, then get on with it. Just remember it’s only a computer game, unless you’re weeksy or scaled, in which case it’s a way of life 😉
You make it sound so easy.....
So here are my current questions.
How do I enter a race?
How do I tell zwift that I am racing when I start it up?
Can I warm up, and if I do, do I need to ride back to the start line?
Do I need to do a FTP test, or can I guess?
I have my zwift power profile linked up now, just trying to figure out the rest of the stuff.
Using the Zwift companion app on your phone. You see 'events'
You pick one there, then using a bit of common snese you'll see.
As you start riding normally you'll get "Join event" and it then takes you into the start pen. Start pen is a static turbo in a holding area at the start line. When you get to 10s left, go go go. !
Grrrrr stupid stupid forum....
So, I can warm up in the holding pen without moving?
Next question..... In a mixed cat race, is there anyway to tell who is in what cat? I don't want to kill myself trying to stay in a group of cat 1s for example.
Yes, in the pen you are on a virtual turbo trainer!
The list on the right has peoples' names and their cat. Sometimes the riders' avatars in the game get a name label but otherwise you have to just sort of work it out via their relative positions. Not a great system tbh. I wouldn't really worry about it though as there are plenty of "sandbaggers" who enter races in lower cats than they really should. After a few races you'll get a feel for what kind of groups you can & can't stick with. Besides killing yourself trying to stick with groups that you really can't is my #1 technique for doing well in races due to the way they drag you along. Probably good for fitness as well, maybe (as long as you don't actually die 😀 )
In a mixed cat race, is there anyway to tell who is in what cat? I don’t want to kill myself trying to stay in a group of cat 1s for example.
Out of the gate you see either 2/4 groups. They're either A/B and C/D or sometimes ABCD. One group will come in from the left, one from the right... So you can see for the first 15s or so where your group is...
It's then a question of looking at the list on the right hand side, then seeing who is around you.
Yellow D, Blue C, Green B, Red A.... You'll see their little circle next to their name....
Racing is all tactics... As stated, get away with the right group and within 10 mins you're 1min ahead of the group you should actually be in.... You'll get dragged along by the faster guys. It's all about timing, sit behind 4-5 riders from the front and you're putting in 75w less for the same speed.. it's then a question of trying to time your surges right so you're always in-around that position within the group, not the front, not the back. It's harder than you think.
I seem to be pretty good at it, just easing slightly as you catch a bit of aero, then it just stops you overtaking the front few... then holding, and repeat.
Depending on your weight/size will dictate your favourite layouts and what suits you best. I'm at 89kg so the flatter stuff suits me more... You're still having to put out the actual Watts though... but when you get to a hilly bit, the light guys will destroy you. On the flat though, you'll both be putting out say 3.0w/kg, but your 3 is 280w, his 3 is 200w, so you'll be putting more power and right time right layout, you'll destroy him.
It's all great fun though, you'll get killed in some races, you'll win some, but if you pick big enough fields, you'll always get some interest.
Well since cancelling I seem to using Zwift again, 14 days to go, may change my mind...
Anyway tough little race this morning in Cat 'C', I seem to have lost quite a bit of power and with my Ave over last 2 races at 291 & 288 So FTP somewhere around that I reckon. So probably lost 40w from my peak earlier in the year. Add to that I'm now 94kg and was 87kg so my W/KG has suffered bad.... down from 3.6w/kg to 2.9w/kg 🙁
Think I've just talked myself into renewing and swallowing the increase...
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=104173
Whats the little pie chart next to your name on ZP for?
The pie chart gives a graph of your power output vs time for that event. You can add others from the event by clicking the charts next to their names.
Right, well I will try and get in a race tonight. I will report back how I get on.
Thanks for the advice.
Oooh Power Output.
Us fat lads like Power Output comparisons 🙂
It's about the only thing we're good at on a bike....
But you still got the win for the team (and yourself of course) so bloody well done.
I'd have been in for that one too as it's my favourite course, but i'm out later in the woods so thought it best not to. Well done fella.
Well that was …… interesting!
Joined the Chase the Turkey Race. Max 2.5w/kg for cat A so I joined that group. Lots of racers taking off and holding over 3w/kg from the gun. I was quite scared of getting Dq`d so held back a little in the middle of the race. All in all, it was fun in a weird kind of way, lol.
How do I read results on z power? Does it automatically remove riders over 2.5 who should be DQ`d?
Well done. In theory reading the rules of the race they will DQ anybody over 2.5WKG.
I'd jump into a full race on a flat course and see how it goes. I'd suggest you're a C. See how it goes.
I assume you know where the results are but just in case.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=104977
Yeah I can find the results but it list alot of riders who were over 2.5. How does it work?
In normal races where there are the normal category limits they get filtered automagically. I got upgraded this week but after the full analysis had been ran I went back down to my category as I was about 0.3 under :0)
As that had special categories it might not get done or someone might do it manually at some point.
Frustrating ride just now - beginning to settle into life as a non-sprinter 🙁
Ended up in a group of a dozen or so Bs , decently placed overall and that split further, dropping a few as we rode on 'til there were 6 or so, then 4 of us left. 11km out and they started ****ing about, drafting and not doing any turns. Tried to get things moving as the group behind were catching but no interest, so we all regrouped.
10th out of 12 or so in the eventual sprint after being tempted into chasing a rider who popped his aero and went at 1km 🙄
so, 20:25 WBR 4 Laps LaGuardia Loop Reverse, where i came unstuck last week, dropped the neo to 50% - left me being able to keep up on the downhill after the sprint/lap gate, came 3rd in B and 9th overall, showing 7th on ZP - milliseconds between me and 2nd in B, had nothing to sprint with, and only 13secs, chuffed with that
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=104161