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Got on a crit this morning, dolphin direction which I'd not done before - which direction do people like here? I thought a more concentrated climb made it harder for me, although there's probably not a lot in it.
Going down the straight and rollers was easy street, but up the cobbles was very hard when the group pulled. Got gapped there on the penultimate lap but got back on with a match-burning effort, and stayed on last lap only with a powerup. Desperate sprint for the line got third on zp, pipped by my club mate who was racing with me. Would have been nice to see who we were actually sprinting with in category but that's the game.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=729658
Big numbers! Next social ride I won't bother asking if you're ok
I've done Dolphin once and found it easier. Seemed to get more rest on a lap as the finish line came sooner which people seem to relax at. In the other direction you had to get on it straight after the first corner and often it didn't seem to let up on the way down.
The shorter section of climb suits me better also.
I fancy trying one of these crit races...any tips to how to ride them?
Is it just full on from the off and try and hold on?
Yeh they are only twenty mins so it is an all out max 20 min effort!
My survive rather than win strategy was to dig in hard on the few uphill sections, ideally using power ups, then coast back through the pack when it eased off a touch before getting back to the front for the climbs on the next lap.
OK, the team time trial entry is in for Thursday. We are in the 6.30pm slot after all (the consensus seemed to be that later was OK but earlier better if anything, the 7pm slot is just as likely to be busy as 6.30 and I think it's fair to hope that the new 6.05 slot will take some time off our delay. let's see...).
This week it's three laps of volcano flat, 36.8km.
Riders:
First, enter CATEGORY D here: https://www.zwift.com/events/view/759124 - you must enter category D.
Then, make sure your zwiftpower rider name ends (STW) in zwiftpower...profile....settings..rider name.
Finally, see you in the pen by 6.30 on Thursday.
I'll post more precise times, our start time (and therefore our non-pedalling delay), the discord link and the info the non-pedalling delay if anyone joins in for the first time etc later in the week.
Looking ahead, some good news: next week has apparently been knocked back to just the one lap of the Magnificent 8 so there is now no prospect of a 60km effort for the time being.
I fancy trying one of these crit races…any tips to how to ride them?
Is it just full on from the off and try and hold on?
Basically yes. Wind it up into the redzone before banner drop and hang on the front group like a limpet for two laps, then take stock. If it's completely, obviously unsustainable then drop back and get it together with the next group. If it's only moderately unsustainable then refuse to get dropped and dig in for the full 8. Power ups are massive.
Depends on where you are in your cat really - I'm middish B and can hold the front group with good legs, but the last two laps are a proper gut check. With less good legs, or just jumping on zwift short notice for something to do, then I can't.
Yep, nice one! Entered!!
Annoyed. Rode a good Newbury Velo RR gaining a new 1hr PB of 3.65wkg only for Zwift to magically vanish off my screen 700m from the end. Would have placed 4th C.
1hr PB of 3.65wkg only for Zwift to magically vanish off my screen 700m from the end. Would have placed 4th C.
That ain't C power lol.
Well, my time of 1:44 puts me 23rd B. But by not posting a result this week I won’t be bumped...
Shame that isn't how the cone of shame worked.....it should be it would be a good deterrent.
Yep, nice one! Entered!!
Ditto, signed up
Entered, no drinking for me this Wednesday.
I'm in. Thanks again savoyad
savoyad - I have entered.
Never done these TTT before - so you will have to let me know what the plan is; tactics/teams/etc
@mooman tactics are: you get your head down & smash it, we’ll try to keep up 😂
Get on the Discord group for voice comms (someone might have to post up a fresh link) as that worked really well last time to keep the group together.
What do you need for Discord? a microphone??
How many in each team? do we all have to finish together or is it first person from team over the line?
Just hit level 20 today. Need another 100,00 drops for the Trek Madone. My virtual garage is starting to look as clogged up as my real one!
Enjoyed reading the TTT posts. Makes me tired just thinking about one of those 😉
@mooman I run the discord app on my phone, in a mount on my bars. The phone mic would be sufficient but I use some Bluetooth headphones anyway that have a built in mic. You could probably run the app on a PC/laptop (as well as zwift) but not tried that personally as I use an iPad setup.
Up to 8 in a team and it’s the time of the 4th guy over the line that counts.
so what is the caddy’s pick for this weeks TTT course?Need another 100,00 drops for the Trek Madone.
so what is the caddy’s pick for this weeks TTT course?
Prob the most aero road frame you have this week
Bumped my FTP in the Alpe race today from 277 to 292, so that should help on the flat this week!
Cervelo S5 and 404s for me
I normally rock the Venge and 808s.
I reckon the Cat A riders should ride the mtb, Cat B the steel classic, Cat C a standard road bike and Cat D as aero as possible - help keep the group together whilst the faster riders still get a workout!
I normally rock the Venge and 808s.
Venge and Enve 3.4 here, I need all the climbing help I can get...
Venge and Meilenstein wheels for me. One positive from riding the Alpe!
Not sure if they are better than some of the Zipp or Enve offerings but they seem a bit "special" so I'm using them 🙂
Anyone else fancy the 4pm anti-sandbagging Crit race today ?
Yes, maybe...
Went out on my bike in the real world yesterday so legs are a bit heavy...
In B or C ?
I'll race C if you want and take the DQ as i'm past caring 😀
did you summit the Alpe once and get the wheels? If so, I hate you 😂Venge and Meilenstein wheels for me. One positive from riding the Alpe!
@Zilog On my 4th attempt, the day we did the STW group ride up it. I know, very lucky 😉
Either as I also don’t care 😂
LEts go C then, we should get a good battle then 🙂
👍
I'm up for a Crit Race not done 12 laps so should be "fun"
Excellent. C cat yeah ? I don't care about the DQ, will just be fun racing with others.
Yeah Im a C, You will probably be in the group up the road but i'll do my best to stick with the front haha
Brutal 1st lap, then settled, missed a break about lap 7 and finished 11th on the road after a tough last lap
Woohoo! Got my first gold!! 🏆 😎
Only my second of those crit races - definitely my kind of race though... short lol 😂
Zwift gave me the cone of shame! I think only cos I was busting my gut to catch you guys up after I got dropped very early on. Settled down and my average according to ZP was 3.2 so didn't get DQ'd after all! I assume you did tho @Weeksy as I can't see you in the results?
Slight FTP bump too, only 2 watts though (to 247) but not complaining as been a long time since the last one!
ooooh a little Bronze next to my name on ZP! Said 4th on the Zwift results
Happy with that..
1st ever Crit and it was short sharp tough fun.
Nice to see Team STW turn up and take 2 podium places..... 🙂
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=741903
New FTP as well 🙂 283w
May yet get a DQ though as it says 3.4w/kg ave
Nah you'll be ok Dog.
I'm a B by their rules so was always going to get DQ
Much prefer that way round the course missed the front group as predicted but pretty pleased to come in 11th on zp as that's 4 laps longer than what I've done before. good work on the podium guys solid showing from STW.
I saw that cone of shame flash up does it do anything during the race isn't it supposed to slow you down?
Never slowed zilog!!!!!
Nah you’ll be ok Dog.
I’m a B by their rules so was always going to get DQ
Noticed on my ZP profile it now says
C almost B