Zwift, my journey, my weight and my fitness.

Chuffing hell Nath!! Just watched some race highlights on Twitch. You were amazing!! You beat a group of well established Zwift racing names too.

I'm going to show my hand now and say you will win a Zwift race before very long- probably by the new year if you do a few 🙂

The distance countdown didn't work for me in the KISS race, it also didn't work for my wife in the earlier ZTR race.

At the start of the KISS C race I found myself in the strange position of being at the front of the lead group as we went into the first tunnel. We formed a fairly big of 20 or so riders and kept a steady pace up on the flat. Tactics seemed to be a big part here as no chance of going off the front, and best to let others sit on the front. The pace picked up a fair bit on the reverse KOM climb and I went over the top with a lead group of 10 riders. For the next flat section we all stuck together and increased the gap on the riders behind. The KOM climb split us further and I ended up in a group of 4 riders, chasing 2 riders who had opened a gap on the climb. We split further on the final small climb, I think I finished 4th on the road, out sprinted by someone who timely used an aero power up. All in all a good race.

Sounds great Jason, well done 🙂

You may pick up some places in the sift??

My progress bar broke about 4km into the ZTR mountain 8 race. Also, everyone else disappeared! I was on my own for the remaining 28km, which pretty much turned it into a mountain TT.

Judging by Strava results, average power seemed to be pretty bang on 2.5, so I'll wait for the results to see what the actual deal was.

You may pick up some places in the sift??

Looking at Zwiftpower probably 2nd overall. Out of the top 9 it was only Skyler and me who were under the 3.2w/kg limit. I think we both spent most of the ride sat in the group...

It's practically always a problem with your internet when everyone disappears. I run an Ethernet cable all the time now and it cured it completely. It used to be ok for solo riding and bad during races but as it got busier, it ended up being a problem that might occur at any time.

crosshair
Chuffing hell Nath!! Just watched some race highlights on Twitch. You were amazing!! You beat a group of well established Zwift racing names too.

I'm going to show my hand now and say you will win a Zwift race before very long- probably by the new year if you do a few

Thanks!

On twitch, what's that?

I concentrated this evening, attacked when everyone else did so I didn't have to TT it. Very nearly lost them at one point and worked hard to get back on their wheels, I got dropped in the sprint though.

Nathan Guerra mentioned me a couple of times, does that make me famous? 😆

One of the places that Nathan streams 🙂

https://www.twitch.tv/nathanguerra/v/107245066

I find it better for watching past broadcasts but use Beam to watch the live ones.

Could well be the Internet, I was upstairs tonight and streaming Radio 6. Exercise Man by Dean Ween came on about 500m from the very top of the mountain, spurred me on a little 🙄

crosshair -
One of the places that Nathan streams

https://www.twitch.tv/nathanguerra/v/107245066

I find it better for watching past broadcasts but use Beam to watch the live ones.

Ah cheers, yeah I watched that while eating my dinner earlier.

Will set up a strava discussion about tomorrow evening in the morning, probably not going to do a race though as my legs are shot now.

Is there anywhere I can read into my ride data to work out how tragically unfit I am and what to expect in 2 months if I do around 30 - 50 miles a week on zwift? I obviously know it depends if I'm doing intervals ect but I'm following their 6 week ftp plan and want a rough idea of where I'll be going by the time it's done. (being impatience and not waiting for actual results basically)

You'll never know from just a single workout ... you'll need to track progress as time goes on. The chap who made the comment below in italics stated that from a starting point FTP in week 1, to doing a hard regular ride at the start of week 6, his FTP had been recalculated at +40. A decent improvement if you started at say around the 200 mark.

Regarding FTP:

[i]My advice for doing the FTP Builder program would be to do a few rides with a high perceived effort in Zwift prior to starting the (FTP workout) program. Then each week on the optional 5th day of the program, do a regular ride in Zwift with a high perceived effort in order to retweak your improving FTP. This should allow for the program to adapt to your improvement and get progressively harder as the program progresses.[/i]

I would agree with that. I did an FTP test at the start, faffed around for a few days on the FTP builder and then did a KISS race for laugh, and my FTP jumped +15 upwards in just that time. ( I make quick early gains in fitness if I've not been on the bike for a long long time)

Impossible to estimate how you'll respond to the training plan. Someone relatively untrained can make huge jumps just by riding regularly, whereas someone already well trained has to work much harder for a smaller gain.

And thats before factoring in like sleep, diet, genetics etc.

I know its not quite the answer you are looking for, but after a couple of years at it, you start to learn what works well for you, and which types of workout generate what type of improvement for different target areas.

Thanks guys - good actionable advice from fisha and a good reality check from andy! 😀

I used Zwift for about six months last winter and found my FTP increased quite a lot when I retested myself every four weeks or so, but the increases weren't necessarily because I was getting that much fitter. I think your FTP is partly a mental thing as in knowing how far into the red you can push yourself, and for how long.
Once you've done a couple, you'll figure out how hard to go out of the blocks and what pace you can sustain, plus whether you can ramp it up for the last couple of minutes to squeeze out another couple of watts.

This winter, I've done two FTP tests so far and the second one resulted in me losing 17 watts purely because I didn't get the pace right (a little rusty, I guess). I'll do another FTP test if I switch back to workouts but, thanks to this thread, I've discovered racing so will stick with that for a while.

Great evenings write up lads 🙂 Nice work all of you.

Today i'm planning on a rest day, i've ridden fairly hard since Sat every day, so the legs/body would appreciate the rest..

Although, it is Richmond today and i don't often see that course layout, i think i've only ridden it once.

I miss Richmond. I used to have some great races on there back in the day. Those triple climbs add a great dimension to the longer races.
When they added the flat route, it made for some of the most brutal online Crits too!!

Results are up for the ZTR race, but I'm not showing up on the list. Judging by the other times and my Strava data, I would have potentially come in second 😥

KISS Results are up, wow that sprint finish was close!

http://www.zwiftpower.com/v2/race.php?id=2033#

8/17 Cat D. Happy with that for my second race as a time strapped Dad with a baby in the house. Interesting to see that the winner has nearly the same w/kg as me, my tactics just need to improve.

I've only used zwift half a dozen times or so, but way better than just turboing. I'm only using it for fairly constant-effort rides though - daren't do a race yet, just in case I find myself in contention at the end ! (aye, right ! - though my w/kg would have me as a pretty decent C)

I can't get to 700w sitting down even for a second or two and if I stand up it feels like I'm going to snap the back end off the bike as it's so rigidly fixed (I definitely have had the trainer lift on one side and it has a VERY wide base). I genuinely think something'd snap if I did a sprint

Been in touch with the coplate geezer to see what he can do, or else it's possibly a rock'n'roll dumb trainer for me

Interesting to see that the winner has nearly the same w/kg as me, my tactics just need to improve.

Been in touch with the coplate geezer to see what he can do, or else it's possibly a rock'n'roll dumb trainer for me

I have a road machine currently. There's a thread on dcrainmaker's site/blog about the KK "smart" trainers though and it seems they've been really shit. I guess they may sort them out but currently I'm oot (coplate would also let you change trainer in the future, I guess)

Yeah, been following the DCR thread, and kind of hoping that KK would a) sort their shit out and b) someone would massively discount the smart control unit! (maybe they'll have to if no-one buys it!)

As it stands if I'm spending that kind of money I'd rather spend the extra & get a Tacx Neo which has a lot more features (and apparently a limited kind of side-to-side action)

8/17 Cat D. Happy with that for my second race as a time strapped Dad with a baby in the house. Interesting to see that the winner has nearly the same w/kg as me, my tactics just need to improve.

It sounds like I'm in a very similar situation, time strapped dad on his second race 🙂

12/17 here, as the "Fatigue Rating" on the right shows, I lost 18% of my power in the second half. It looks like you zoomed past at the 20ish minute mark, never to be seen again.

[url= http://labs.strava.com/flyby/viewer/#801655230?c=rtytwzrh&z=F&t=1OK5tx&a=vknIL7REyC_hOsgv ]http://labs.strava.com/flyby/viewer/#801655230?c=rtytwzrh&z=F&t=1OK5tx&a=vknIL7REyC_hOsgv[/url]

Hey Toasty - Yes I saw that on the flyby, you were a constant distance ahead of me before you dropped off. The same happened to be at about 3/4 where a couple of riders zoomed past me as my power dropped for a while. Managed to lift if for the last 5km but it was tough.
I'm not sure whether to trust zpower much but down really want to spend on a power meter, I did a real ride with someone at the weekend who is a Cat C on Zwift and I was a little bit stronger than him in real life.
I've done a hilly race and a rolling race now, if any think I struggled more on the flat that the incentive the hill gets despite a low w/kg. Will be interesting to try a flat race next time, and also not in Watopia where each of my 5 Zsift sessions have been.

Ahh, I'm using a Tacx Vortex, like quite a few others in here. I don't worry too much about it's accuracy, as long as it's roughly the same every time so I can see an increase.

I tailed off to walking speed right at the end due to confusion about the finish, due to the distance not changing I thought it was the green marker at 17.1m. I'll know for next time, I don't think it cost me any positions to be fair 🙂

Yes the 17.1 marker was confusing, I saw total the 28.9 distance so carried on as I had someone only 3s behind, there was no mark at the finish so I did another few KM at race pace to be sure, was then to tired to warm down.
I'm really enjoying it so far and it fits well with the family

@alexxx

1, does anyone elses tacx flow make weird creaky noises at very very low speed? I only noticed when calibrating it when it failed a couple of times and I noticed the noise ... finally got it calibrated and riding normally was fine

Mine does, the last couple of seconds as the wheel is spinning down to a stop, it makes a weird creaking sound. I'm using a Continental Turbo Trainer tyre and it's hard to work out whether it's the bearings creaking or some sort of squeaking rubber sound against the plastic roller.

However, mine's also making weird creaking noises when I'm out of the saddle, or even just when my technique goes a bit wobbly and I start moving from side to side on the bike when putting power in - I'm not sure whether it's normal or not, I'm keeping an eye on it as the trainer's only a couple of weeks old. In the meantime, it's encouraging me to develop my inner Tony Martin and keep the core strong and stable when I'm pedalling, keeping the pedalling smooth!

However, mine's also making weird creaking noises when I'm out of the saddle, or even just when my technique goes a bit wobbly and I start moving from side to side on the bike when putting power in - I'm not sure whether it's normal or not, I'm keeping an eye on it as the trainer's only a couple of weeks old.

That's exactly the same as mine, also a couple of weeks old. I took the bike off the stand and checked everything was tight which helped for a few minutes but then it came back. Trying to just ignore it now.

Mine used to squeak with every pedal stroke on my Conti GP 4000 tyre, regardless of tension it seemed to slip. I swapped to a proper Tacx training tyre after 1 day and it's been silent, no more unexpected slipping.

A couple of rooms away there's generally a baby sleeping, it definitely seems to be pretty quiet. Tacx Vortex trainer.

1hr 25 this afternoon, longest I've done. Would have been linger but I was getting bored so sprinted a few climbs, well, sprinted in my world, not most of yours.

Big news is, weight now down to 15st 3 from 16st 8 just 10 weeks ago

Good work Weeksy!

FYI:I weighed myself before and after a Zwift session last week and I dropped 1.5kg of sweat!

It's the trainer creaking in my case I can replicate it by spinning the metal contact wheel of the trainer slowly with the bike off - it feels like something is clicking in the plastic / electronics end... can't be healthy!

I'm going to ride it and swap it before the warrantee is out!

I have no doubt I'm showing a bit light as I've just had a session but I'd guess only a tiny bit. I have until next Friday to hit my target on a 14 on the left side, if that means a 3 hour sweat fest on the Friday I'll still take it!

Excellent work mate

Anybody ever stopped at the edge of the road and failed to get going again?

Yesterday did my first race ZTR D cat - felt surprisingly good but laptop battery got critical 5km from end and I had a bit of W/kg to play with so I got off, plugged in and tried to carry on but despite sustained persistent efforts my zwift alter ego wouldn't get going again. No connections were dropped and everything was as it should be.
Milldy annoying as I averaged 2.501 w/kg according to starva and there was a bunch of d cats 20 secs behind and a few jokers over 1.30 up the road(clearly way over D cat) but the racing was really addictive. Got in some nice groups nice some excellent wheel sucking.

That is great weight loss weeksy.

Lowered your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, certain types of cancer.

Plus motivated a lot of people to try something they never would have considered - the dreaded turbo.

TOTY award contender surely.

The BP factor is an important one for me, I've always struggled with it, even at my peak of fitness. Doctors have struggled to work it out as its been borderline high, but a HR of 43.
Once I hit 14 something I'm then at my best weight in 4-5 years. Once I hit 14st 7 then I'll be at my lowest in my grown life. I spent a chunk of my 30s up near and eventually over 20st.

Its not me who needs the plaudits, its Crosshair. I was a massive cynic and not only did he inspire me hugely and also gave me a chunk of the kit to do zwift.

You'll be believing in Santa next 😀

Good skills on the weight! I'm having an R+R week so mines going up 🙁

Wow nice work @weeksy (&crosshair)

Cat B by summer?

Have you set an ultimate target weight/goal?

Me? No chance of cat B mate, none at all. Road stuff isn't my preference, its dirt I enjoy and once the weather allows I'll be out in dirt more. My goals lie more in xc racing than roadie stuff

My ultimate goal weight was 15st 0. That was what I thought as my right maintainable weight. But now as we reach that goal a hell of a lot quicker than I thought possible, I sit and think 14st 7 by June trip, but then I think hmmm, could make 14st 0. Once I get to 15, its all a bonus.

I think once your body is used to shedding weight, eating less and exercising more the weight just continues to drop off. I wouldn't be surprised if you hit 14st by then at your current rate.

For me my ultimate aim was 75kg, I was eating healthy - little but very often. Once my body had got used to that I made it to 65kg before people started commenting I looked ill/ghostly. I then decided that I felt/looked the healthiest at 68-70kg. It's all a happy medium.

Ah I was going to say Hillingdon winter series 17/18? 😆

Gorrick.

Is Zwift Power down for anyone else?

zwift was struggling this evening. crashed several times trying to get on and everyone kept dissapearing. I had to manually upload the .fit file from my activities folder.

first time on the richmond course and i'm not a big fan.