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so cameron jeffers has got himself banned for 6 months and for winning nationals with a tron bike without unlocking it in game
I’m in for the 3R 100k tomorrow afternoon at 3pm, any others STWers playing?
Outdoor tomorrow sorry
I’m in for the 3R 100k tomorrow afternoon at 3pm, any others STWers playing?
100Km on the turbo? 😮
Not a chance for me, I get serious saddle discomfort by ~60mins, it's not often I manage as much as yesterday afternoon's ~82mins for the 1615 2 laps of Sand And Sequoias. I'm back to experimenting with various impropvised front wheel risers, as my Direto v1 did not come with one, but given I also get pain on rare 2+ hour outdoors rides this year I'm not sure if there are other issues like the saddle and tyre pressure!
Tactically yesterday's race was awful, really wasn't sure what I was capable of, feeling a bit physically fatigued due to some mild throat lurgy... But found some energy on the second lap and managed to catch and pass a few riders on my way to my best 20min power effort since around March, using 50/16 with 80% trainer difficulty from just before entry to Titans Grove to the finish.
I was getting the pain.
Looked into building a rocker....not done that yet but I did take a length of pipe lagging and put it over all contact with the floor.
This takes away the vibration from being on a concrete floor and allows a little natural bikey movement.
Cheap too
Do people ride out of the saddle on sprints and climbs? I tried a few times but everything wobbles so much it is counterproductive and I lose power not gain it. Also why does my arse hurt more on a 45 minute turbo session than it does on a 3 hr ride....Do fat padded 'recreational' saddles work or are they too restrictive?
100Km on the turbo?
Yep, ive been ill so am playing catchup on my endurance, so 4hrs of quality z2 today with 30 mins either side of that event on erg mode also.
Last big effort before an mtb 3/4 marathon next week.
Double shorts on the turbo works for >1hr for me.
Do people ride out of the saddle on sprints and climbs? I tried a few times but everything wobbles so much it is counterproductive and I lose power not gain it.
Yes, but it depends on how stable your trainer set-up is. There are some alarming videos out there of trainers actually jumping about when the rider sprints which can't be good for the bike or the trainer or - potentially - power measurement if it shocks the measuring system.
Also why does my arse hurt more on a 45 minute turbo session than it does on a 3 hr ride….Do fat padded ‘recreational’ saddles work or are they too restrictive?
Yes,
If you're riding outside, the bike moves around under, the angle of the bike itself changes on hills and descents, you move more on the bike. With a trainer that's clamped in situ the whole set-up is rigid, the only real movement is between your backside and the saddle. Also, if your bike is angled slightly up or down relative to how it would be on the road, the saddle angle could be different too - nose up or down.
One solution is a rocker plate that lets the trainer move a little on a central pivot so there's move 'give' in the system. Easier on the bike and rear dropouts, but also more comfortable. I've found the combination of this and a pivoting front wheel support - I got the Kurt Kinetic ones relatively cheap on Wiggle - makes a huge difference, feels much more like riding outside. Also chamois cream, which I only use on four-hour plus rides outside, is a big plus indoors ime.
I've never tried a fat recreational saddle. Maybe go for something that's more padded than what you'd normally use, but not OTT?
so cameron jeffers has got himself banned for 6 months and for winning nationals with a tron bike without unlocking it in game
It's slightly bonkers that he was sanctioned for breaking a rule that wasn't in force when he broke it. And having the Tron bike wouldn't have made a difference anyway. It's just no faster than several other frame wheel combos. Also, when he did the whole Tron thing, he didn't know he'd be racing for the GB champs on Zwift.
I'm not saying that he should be allowed to get a Tron bike by using a bot, but it does seem a little bit like being sent to prison for cheating at Monopoly with the family on Boxing Day 🙂
I think it was the way he broke the rules more than anything else, using and ANT+ simulator to crank out 2000 watts and setting the rider weight to 45kg, logging on from different locations as if friends had his Zwift profile credentials and not saving the rides after completion to try and mask his activity had something to do with it.
Check out: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/10/british-cycling-strips-zwift-championship-winner-for-cheating.html
It doesn't do the fledgling eSports / Zwift leagues reputation too much good either, personally I think all competitors should have been issued with a new specific bike just for the event.
There are some alarming videos out there of trainers actually jumping about when the rider sprints which can’t be good for the bike or the trainer or – potentially – power measurement if it shocks the measuring system.
Lots of that is poor technique. Not all of it mind but when I see some folk on the watt bikes trying to put down big power pedaling squares I do dispair. Smooth is king.
Tomlevell - i have been watching your DIRT cup races on weds as our DIRT team do live streams of it on youtube. You have had some good races and that cat is quite competitive. You are more than welcome to join the DIRT team, good group of people who organise a lot of races and we have time trial teams. Plus crazy banter and race tactics over discord.
Gasp. 3:05 and 122k on the turbo average 194w, 205w NP. My legs are aching! That 3R ride was one of the best non-fence rides I've been involved with.
Looking at tomorrow morning's 6am kiss 100 EU.
Anyone else fancy it ?
Was going to ride to froickheim over the cairn o mount but having seen the weather that can **** off.
First zwift race yesterday. Same one as @n0b0dy0ftheg0at
Only ridden with zwift a couple of times but bought a Wattbike Atom and want to use it over winter. Zwift doesn't compare to outdoor riding but I definitely feel like I get more out of it than I would for a normal ride. Feel like I push myself harder, especially racing.
Entered as a cat D as I have no idea on my output but Zwiftpower.com didn't classify my results as they feel I should be cat c. Gonna race again tomorrow as the weather looks shit.
I think I need to warm up properly:
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=227577
Dropped in the first 60 seconds by the entire B group - I think I may be a C+... Or just have truly poor race craft 🙂
All joking aside I really struggle to live with the pace at the start of Zwift races!
I treat the starts like short course xc. 110% for 20-30 seconds let the group's settle out and take the race from there.
Everyone jockeying for position to bridge to faster groups at the start.
Well me and zwift are having a huff.
Took ages to start so missed the 100km race.
So rode 60k on my own. -out and back (to top of volcano etc) then back round Tempus Fugit to titans grove. Went on the mtb steering bit(which is a bit **** tbh) and it reset my total to zero.
So I rode 3.05km in 2 hours.10mins.
And it says data cannot be accessed and hasn't transferred to Strava..... Baws
Same thing with the steering resetting distance happened to my gf today. Must be a bug in the app....
Anyway, providing I get in from work on time, I'm doing the Namibian race at 4.45pm tomorrow if anyone is about...
Meh, saw that one, wrong layout for me.
17:10 and I may be persuaded. Or the 15:15
Had a decent run of riding this weekend so may need rest day, but we'll see
Gonna get stuck in with next year's TT training if I get a chance to go to the garage tomorrow.
Will be an early doors run in the real world first though
Tomlevell – i have been watching your DIRT cup races on weds as our DIRT team do live streams of it on youtube. You have had some good races and that cat is quite competitive. You are more than welcome to join the DIRT team, good group of people who organise a lot of races and we have time trial teams. Plus crazy banter and race tactics over discord
Is poaching riders from a team on their own forum acceptable ;0)
Thanks for the offer but I'm happy freelancing for now (well part of the STW team who never race together). Plus I'll be rubbish again soon when I get upgraded to B. Probably won't happen until I've had a rest though as I'm carrying fatigue into Wednesday races generally.
I'm going to have to find those videos to see what I'm missing.
Do they keep saying look look he's hiding again doing no work ;0)
Unfortunately this Wednesday I have 8 hours plus of driving to do and I might not get home in time for it. 2 times up the Volcano doesn't bode well if any lightweights make it with the front group.
Is poaching riders from a team on their own forum acceptable ;0)
Thanks for the offer but I’m happy freelancing for now (well part of the STW team who never race together
I must admit i like being part of the forum 'team' more so than part of the bigger teams, even though we as a team don't actually ever race together, don't do discord or tactics etc. I don't see team mates as team mates in the same way as say a TFC bunch will, i see them as competition more than teammates 🙂 Maybe that's wrong of me, but it's how it is.
But i really feel i'd be missing out if i were not part of the gang on here.
Oh yeah I'll definately be trying to help lead you out if we ever end up in the same event...
Oh yeah I’ll definately be trying to help lead you out if we ever end up in the same event
Of all the people you may ride with, i'm the LAST person you ever wanna lead out... you'd be sitting there thinking "OK, go on then...... go on..... Are you going ??? ....oh.... really"
I have a power profile that looks like Holland 🙂
Outside of the Zwift context, but i'm WAY happy with how it's all going at the moment.
Went outside at the weekend with mates i've ridden plenty with and the legs, the HR and the power were all back into the regions i like them, instead of finding it really hard, it was actually pretty easy. Average for the 2 hours was 123bpm, which considering a few efforts i'm more than happy with. But most importantly was the fact that 3-4 weeks ago we were climbing one particular road section and i'm sitting there thinking "Jeez i may drop off here and let them wait for me"... on Saturday i was thinking "I could do this all day".
Whilst i may not be back to 100% of the FTP/Power at my best, i'm in the right ball park, instead of standing outside the ground looking for my ticket 🙂
First IRL ride for 2 months yesterday, 70 miles on the road, ploughed through lots of floods and incorporated 3 climbs up the Ridgeway; Tom's, Bison and Ivinghoe beacon.
Legs a bit heavy today but may do a short race if I can find one that suits.
Does anyone actually use the work outside of zwift ?
I've been using their FTP builder protocols but on a different trainer while I was offshore.
Looking to restart on zwift
Oh yeah I’ll definately be trying to help lead you out if we ever end up in the same event
Of all the people you may ride with, i’m the LAST person you ever wanna lead out… you’d be sitting there thinking “OK, go on then…… go on….. Are you going ??? ….oh…. really”
I have a power profile that looks like Holland 🙂
I definately won't be putting the hurt on every little incline. Oh no not me.
I decided to have a rest day. Then saw the 3:15 had 35+ riders in C and 100+ total, so as i was in the garage working on my KTM I jumped on. But Ant+ wouldn't connect until after Windows updates, which took me till 3 mins after race start. Oh dear.
So rest day it is
Just getting into Zwift. How do I join STW team on Zwift? Can I join STW on Zwift might be a more polite question 🙂
It's open mate, somewhere in your settings/profile. Just type STW and it's done.
done. Thanks.
Racing KISS EU tomorrow at 8pm if anyone is around. Mass starts still so doubt I’ll hang with the front group.
Oooh, but no. It's long for me and hilly for me to compete, I've raced that course and know how it goes, I hold the bunch with fast C's until we hit the start of Titans, I then get shipped out about 500m in after killing myself.
It's then all over.
For the life of me I don't know how you keep up with the light guys on inclines
3rd race back tonight. Bottom end of the B cat riders, but the watts are (very) slowly going up.
Very fast start to the race; a lot quicker than usual i would say ... even taking into consideration the lack of fitness at moment. I admitted defeat pretty early, and let go of the front group probably less than 2k in.
I found myself in a group of about 15 ... for the last two laps we were mopping up the guys who were getting spat out the back of the front group. Whilst not up the sharp end of the race, it was still a good race of trying to drop the hanger ons and also trying to catch the solo guys in front in the hope they`d make a stronger group to go off the front again.
*8pm a bit late for me; will most likely do the Gladiators race at 18.55
I still don’t know these new fangled routes 🤣 I thought it was the flat desert one 🤦🏻♂️
It can’t be as bad as Yorkshire last week- that was just sick 🤢
How do I keep up? Not very well is one answer 🤣 But I try by sitting at 400w generally! Last week was 16 x 30s at 400w for the steep bit then another 30s at around 350/360 for the rest of the climb before coasting as much as possible on the way down.
Against my better judgement, 16:05 for me.
Signed up for TT Tuesday 15:00 Telus Fugit tomorrow afternoon. I may or may not actually rude it.
Might go ride in the real world.
Either way got a 10k run planned after
But I try by sitting at 400w generally! Last
Yeah but Titans is a 5-6min climb in one go. I can't do that. I can hit it on the Innsbruck or Volcano ones, longer than that though isn't in me. Hence the 16:05
Well I won’t be doing it for that long 🤣
Is it literally one hill then? Otherwise I don’t see how there’s enough climbing for it to be that big?
Yes but 2 laps. It's also quite rolly before it and after.
The other thing, is realising that: holding on to a group in front of you at each hill, is a race winning selection compared to the guys you are racing.
So instead of sprinting for 10th overall out of the group of riders in 15th-10th, you’re better off investing ALL your sprint energy in the hill and clinging on to 6th, 7th and 8th for dear life! Then even if they all beat you- you’ve still improved your result.
Lol you say that like I'm strolling up them looking at the butterflies,!
Don't be silly, you play name the dinosaur in Titans Grove. 😉