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How does dropping resistance help?
Because the resistance doesn't ramp up so quickly meaning you don't get caught out by gradient changes as much. Apparently the lower you have the trainer difficulty the flatter the course will feel too you. So on 0% there is very little gear changing (you still need to put out the power though).
In this case, i was getting caught out on a short downhill, think it hits -7% and i couldnt get the power down to stay with the front group
Yeah it makes the down easier so you end up spinning out too easily and get dropped. I put mine to 60ish% before understanding what it did.
Would be interesting if zwift allowed the race org to control it so for example you could have a max realism race where it's set too 100%
The problem is those using power meters are unaffected by it. If I remember I set mine to about 25% for racing and leave it at 50% normally. Not interested in grinding up the really steep stuff in a tiny gear online.
Argh, robbed!
Decided to brave two laps of WBR London Hilly tonight. Got in what looked like a good group off the line and we settled down for the roll in to the bottom of Box Hill only for my connection to drop out as we hit the bridge! Balls.
Joined back in for a lap of the loop, to see whether I could PR Box Hill. Surprisingly good fun, but I can't see which is the official segment, anyone know it?
Matt
Did the WBR london 4 lap race today, at the border between C and B so decided B. Dropped after 10 km which is 5 km better than my last race. Was at at the back of B, 2 minutes off the B leaders, but also 2 minutes ahead of the C leaders so guess I picked right.
Curious though how 2 people in B with better times based on zwiftpower leaderboard finished behind me. Also set a new FTP.
Week 3 of the ftp builder completed, still find the tempo sessions really hard. The long power out puts (6mins) have me making alsorts of grunt and stupid faces 😁.
So far lost 5lb in november and eating loads, had to get a new wheel and set the road bike up as zwift bike as the retro peugeot was starting to complain.
I've signed up to zwift power but dont seem able to find my user id number.
@stevego the two faster behind you may be upgraded C's. Think in upgrade you are out at the bottom in the cat you are upgraded too.
You just wanted the 10,000 post!
😋 only realised as I went to edit the first one.
Ah, makes sense if they had been upgraded.
Cheers
Doing the 12.35 London hilly race. Just checked who is logged on and there is a cat d racer at 43kg! That is just over 6 stone - can’t be right!
Could be a child
I did the 10.10 4 laps of the classique today
This time I went for "upper" mid-pack mediocrity :-/ (9th of 30 Bs)
Managed to keep an aero for the final but lost the bunch by a few yards up the "hill". Couldn't decide whether to burn it there to try to catch up or save it. Saved it and did manage to get a few places but you always wonder, right - "could I have been a contender for 6th" ? 😉
Seems il pinguino was in my race too - briefly, that is, until he and some bigger boys left make their own a mile further up the road. As the age-old saying goes, "Who is il pinguino" ?
Not sure, but he's got some pace!
@nixie shouldn’t children be playing gta or call of duty on a Sunday. Not playing at bike racing! 😀
@nixie actually I have too say my little lad sat and ate his lunch whilst watching me race today. It isn’t so encouraging when he says ‘daddy that man is going faster than you can’t you go faster?!’
Probably been asked, and so I apologise now, but, can I used a mountain bike for Zwift?
Would I be horrible disadvantaged?
I have 38-26t on the front and 11-36t on the back, 29er.
38 ain't enough imo. I used a 38 for ages, but have chucked on a 42 I think it is now. I mostly use 2 gears, the smallest 2.
I reckon based on testing the 29er costs me 15-20w on my hour average.
jonzi,
yes, you can but
1) If you use a wheel-on trainer it'll probably slip and will definitely be noisy
2) You'll likely run out of gears if you're pushing hard (probably on either wheel-on or direct - 38's just not very big
If you've already got the trainer, give it a go & see. My bet is you'll end up with a frame rescued from the tip as a trainer bike, using bigger chainrings
... then in January you'll have bought a new road bike in the sales ;-D
Yeah buying a road bike is what I am trying to avoid.
Cheers for the advice, ill have a think.
I run one of these on a 2nd wheel. Tacx big 700(29er) x 32mm. Works perfectly well and is quiet. Only minor issue is the indexing between the two wheels is slightly out, so a bit of a compromise.
I've done the roadie bike on there and it is more effective but it's not as 'nice' for me, so i stick 29er and can't see any reason that will change. It also means my 2nd bike still has a purpose, for example i'm using it today to drop the car off for some work... I wouldn't have taken the roadie if i'd had one...
Only other downside is i have a pair of super duper Fox Forks in the 29er turbo bike which seems excessive 😀
I run an 26" MTB in a wheel off trainer so the wheel size is inconsequential. It has a 42 or 44 on it and rarely use the 11 cog. Never got anywhere near spinning it out in a situation that needs power. Briefly used the road bike on it but didn't do any testing but the difference should be minimal.
hopefully they have lockout 😂Only other downside is i have a pair of super duper Fox Forks in the 29er turbo bike which seems excessive
I run an 26″ MTB in a wheel off trainer so the wheel size is inconsequential. It has a 42 or 44 on it and rarely use the 11 cog. Never got anywhere near spinning it out in a situation that needs power.
That's a good use of an old MTB. I never use the drops on my road bike (using that as I had it and never ride it outside).
Surprised by those of you using only 38, 42 or 44t rings! You must be spinning like nutters. I'm about to fit a 53 to mine as often find myself right down the end of the block even on climbs (currently 52 front), admittedly only at around 65ish RPM. I'm hoping the extra tooth will and a slight bit of extra sprint power.
Hmmm, ZP down for upgrade again, wonder whats coming now.
I'm hoping to join the GGCC race just after 8 tonight. Its London loop up box hill which I've not ridden for months. Will be interesting to see if I've improved.
42T front and a 11 or 12 rear, i'm at 300W and 82-85rpm. If i need more than that, i don't have the legs/lungs anyway
That’s a good use of an old MTB. I never use the drops on my road bike (using that as I had it and never ride it outside).
Shared with my wife so easier for both to swap between. Although most of my riding is road the last few years I'm training for MTB races generally over winter so makes sense for that.
I'm lucky to see 600-700watts in a sprint at the end of a race so not really an issue.
@nixie are you using a power meter or a smart trainer?
Smart trainer, elite direto.
Ah yes of course same as me. You've got a "bit" more power than I do though...
I’m hoping to join the GGCC race just after 8 tonight
I'm thinking the beginners race just before that... C cat and 5 laps, should be ace. I would like to try a full draft race..
Depends on the wifes car as i may have to cycle home.
You’ve got a “bit” more power than I do though…
Not that much more. I've got a tendency to get out of the saddle and grind the climbs out at lower RPM though which forces me in the higher gears.
I would like to try a full draft race..
Just make sure you stay in the draft. Its very, very hard work to get back if you drop even a short way off!
Without sounding too cocky, it's my forte in normal races along with it being only a C race... so i should be ideal for it on that layout.
Yes I'm more of a spinner now. 90-100 RPM average in racing and don't get out of the saddle much on the turbo.
@weeksy DD sounds ideal for you. I didn't really notice it last week but due to the amount of people in the race I was probably in a group I shouldn't have been so DD left me still at the top end of my power. When I lost the group I couldn't get them back and I tried.
which races tend to have DD? Doesn't seem to be any way of id-ing them from the events list unless I'm missing something?
If you look on Zwiftpower there's a little truck icon.
If you're just in the app then it'll have #DoubleDraft in the description.
ta! The Kiss beginners' race @ 8 has it (according to ZP although it's not mentioned in the desc.) so I might have a crack at that just to see what it's like!
Just a quick 1 lapper, thought I'd squeeze it in as a warm up for the 3 lapper.
Had every intension of going easy as it was just a warm up.
1 second in and Chimp brain takes over and f&^k it.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=104797
Then DNF the 3 lapper in the lead out as I was goosed..... Doh!!
Another win for you though big fella! Well done.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=104755
3rd for me today, bloody box hill and fat fellas don't mix!
Thought this might be of interest here. Cheap Tacx fluxes on eBay from Halfords outlet
blimey, that's quite a bargin
Whoops!
Forgot to sign up to the race I was going to do so had a nice 2w/kg want ride. Banged out. 9.5 London sprint so happy with that.