Forum menu
Got out for a faff about in the woods on my mtb which was good.
Hope everyone enjoyed the weather. Indoors in this would have been awful
I got owned tonight On the TTT. Due to people dropping out I entered our A team as a Sub, which includes a County TT champ. I was way out of my league, and everyone knew but I was making up the numbers in a team of 4. Also my man cave was 37 degrees
Halfway through with an average 3.9wkg and some pulls at 5.5wkg I couldn’t take it any more, stopped, had a couple of minutes rest and completed the course doing solo one on, one off Z5 intervals. Kudos to the guys, they finished strong.
Im not discouraged, I was clearly above my station and did average my highest 10 mins at 4.2wkg and matched my ftp, All of which is at my weakest point of my power curve.
My God. The fans, they do nothing!
That felt like the hardest TTT I've done, hot as balls. Didn't feel like I went over the climb especially hard but was absolutely under water after it for around 10 mins.
Managed to hang on as we were 7 deep this evening, and the legs slowly perked up so finished it OK. 42.38 for us at the line.
Sounds like a strong effort Kryton in a fast 4 - need to go very deep to hang in a small group like that.
^^^^^
The STW squad?
Hadn’t spotted the Alpe race on that profile.
You won the C cat by 5.5 minutes
You’d have been 13th in B cat out of 35 proper B cat racers.
I have No idea what you are looking at, if there are some alternative results out there I don't know about them and don't use zwift power to check retrospectively.
All I know is I've done the alp race and came 5th in the Cs (just checked). No idea why is be showing as first anywhere. I assume because they aren't registered on zwift power maybe?
You say the zwift results don't count, but given they are the only ones I look at that's what I take my results from. I like racing the folks during the game, I don't care if I get a win on zwift power later because half the field hasn't registered.
You say the zwift results don’t count, but given they are the only ones I look at that’s what I take my results from. I like racing the folks during the game, I don’t care if I get a win on zwift power later because half the field hasn’t registered.
BUt that's the whole point of Zwiftpower mate. In Zwft races you're racing against people who finish a C race with an average of 5w/kg. They're not Cs, they're As racing out of Cat. You're equating it to real-life, but if you turned up at a Cat 4 and were soundly beaten up a hill by a Cat A, you wouldn't say "oh well, that's racing", you'd complain they were allowed to race.
Well Zwift doesn't stop people racing, but Zwiftpower retrospectively kicks them out of the 'true' results. They're not necessarily kicked out on Zwiftpower because they're not registered, but because they're racing in the wrong Cat.
I had a long post typed, realised it feels a lot like we're picking on TP so moving swiftly along...
On a related subject, anyone fancy the 17.45 crit city this evening?
It'll be very warm...
They’re not necessarily kicked out on Zwiftpower because they’re not registered, but because they’re racing in the wrong Cat.
But Tom says I came first in a c race once on zwift power. Zwift says I came 5th. Surely I'd be disqualified like the 4 guys in front of me?
Either way I just had a look and can't see any of my historical results in zwift power.
You did.
You have to dig about as you are DQed on ZP. I've explained it all up there.
I know it's utterly ridiculous that you have to look at a separate website not officially associated with Zwift but that is where the results are that actually put you against people you should be racing. Race your heart out against the people on the road but to pick a category use the one ZP give you and your FTP leads you towards and accept that you will probably never "win" on Zwift as there'll be someone pulling 5+ wkg on a dum trainer.
You will get so much more out of the racing, espeically bunch races, if you register on ZP and do a bit of reading of the rules.
One day Zwift might enforce category selection with the data they have.
Yes WKG is a flawed system but you are actually competitive in B races against the actual B racers. Not the sandbaggers who enter the wrong category.
I can relate to TP. I’ve won C’s, then I’ve been off the podium by rider doing 90 minute at 5wkg in C. I’m racing to top 10-15 B in the longer races, but you can still see A’s and A+ entering for the podium.
They are cheating themselves, I prefer to take the moral high ground and focus on my performance markers for my training purposes, after all I’m an MTB endurance racer not a Zwift crit champion.
You were first in C on this race.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=896535
On the filtered tab your time is 1:31:27 1 second up on the official C winner.
You'd have been 13th in B.
IMO with the power you can hold for Bologna you could probably stick with the next B group who fnished 1:28:20 and were 2nd to 10th. Maybe you'd be cooked by the end and have come 10th but next time you might be a bit stronger or a better racer and be in the mix for 5th.
That 3 minute gap is not much over that length of race. Not one you'd be able to bridge but one you could possibly stick with early on before the groups split and you made sure you were on the right side of that split.
No-one fancying the crit this evening then?
I just tried the 16:00. I lasted only a few mins. Just way too hot in there I'm afraid
Sweet baby weeksy and the motorbikeicleists that was hard!
[edit] three pb laps[/edit] 16th on the road. Ftp increase which isn't ideal so think I'll be on for DQ and bump on zp. I was mixing with the front up to the final lap so misjudged that a bit, not enough left in the tank to pull with everyone on lap 8. Ended up too late with the surge at the end so only picked up a few places to the line.
[2nd edit] 9th on zp. Winner of B was 71kg @291/w, 8th was 280w and 70kg TP so it is do-able. That said there was a chap at 108kg pulling 421w average in 3rd...[/edit]
I wouldn't be surprised if everyone under 20th got DQ'd. Lots and lots of big numbers all the way around there.
New update has dropped....new routes including France and Paris.
Unfortunately they are event only for now from the feedback I've seen, hopefully after the virtual TDF they will open to all.
I've heard there is meant to be a Mont Ventoux included
Be good to get to race on a few new courses at least. Though I imagine Paris will just be another crit course to all intents.
Zwift so needs to introduce something equivalent to RGT's auto-power/speed brake on bends, so we have to accelerate back up to racing speed on anything but shallow corners.
So needs to introduce wind influence too.
Looks like I might have to set the road bike up on the turbo today after the ongoing overnight rain, can't see the roads drying up... First time in over a week, making excellent use of a second consecutive monthly sub! 😆
I'm excited for Ventoux! IRL steeper than most trainers go right? Wonder if they'll tweak it slightly?
Paris should be fun as well as short course like Crit City but even more flat, which should be bonkers, draft-and-sprint-tastic!
I'm not sure the Paris sprint course will be much flatter than the existing crit course, IRL it has a surprising amount of climbing in it.
Speaking of crits (shoehorn alert) I've just bagged a podium on the 1545hrs Crit City cat C. I'm honing my "do as little as possible for as long as possible then go for a surprise long sprint" technique quite well!
Well I've entered my first Cat A, the 18.00 ZHR hare and hounds for today. Two laps of tempus fugit so pancake flat which really isn't my strength and it's double draft so I'll be dead in the water as soon as I lose the wheel in front. I think I shall be pleased just not to get lapped.
Wish me luck.
Or come along and laugh.
Unfortunately they are event only for now from the feedback I’ve seen, hopefully after the virtual TDF they will open to all.
Apparently 7 new courses have appeared in the badge section, which implies post-TDF they will be. Would be good to see some maps but I haven't found any yet.
IRL steeper than most trainers go right? Wonder if they’ll tweak it slightly?
I thought the default setting for the perceived gradient was 50% of the actual though? (e.g. mine goes up to 12% which on default settings is in-game 24%)
I thought the default setting for the perceived gradient was 50% of the actual though? (e.g. mine goes up to 12% which on default settings is in-game 24%)
I'm really not sure about the difficulty thing, the default 50% certainly feels a lot steeper on shallow gradients than riding outside. That said the 15%+ sections are a lot easier. If I had to I'd guess it's on a curve rather than a flat 50%.
(on the one occasion I set mine to full the incline out of the watopia tunnel felt like hitting a brick wall, I did seem to be having trouble with the turbo over the next few days though)
Normally have the gradient slider on max (although nudge it down for certain races so I can do the whole thing in the big ring), lots of higher end trainers e.g. Neo simulate up to 25% which is bloody steep. Really pumped for these new routes & the presumed vTDF!
dangeourbrain
Subscriber
Well I’ve entered my first Cat A, the 18.00 ZHR hare and hounds for today. Two laps of tempus fugit so pancake flat which really isn’t my strength and it’s double draft so I’ll be dead in the water as soon as I lose the wheel in front. I think I shall be pleased just not to get lapped.Wish me luck.
Or come along and laugh.
I've just entered cat C so I'll no doubt see you go flying past at some point.
Why are there no tt events showing today?
It's not just Sundays (none), Saturdays are carp for TT events (one or two UK daytime?) too, should have been addressed months ago when lockdowns started imo.
I’ve just entered cat C so I’ll no doubt see you go flying past at some point.
Solo it should be about a 50min effort for me I (completely) guess, and I think it will be a solo effort as I can't see me holding anybody in A unless it splits a lot.
It's a 12 minute gap to the front which is a lot of time to make up anyhow, add the double draft to that and I would be surprised to catch anyone who manages to find someone to hang on to. We'll see though. It'll do me good anyhow.
should have been addressed months ago when lockdowns started imo.
I guess its largely down to who wants to run them, seems there's some sort of arcane system of handshakes and dancing you need to be part of to organise a race on Zwift and I guess most of the [s]masons[/s] qualifiers don't want to run a TT on their weekends. They're likely busy running club events [which they have to to qualify to organise a race].
After the update a few weeks ago do you get finishing times and positions at the end of a group meet-up?
Would have been good if clubs could run their own closed races and tts rather than rely on the 'chosen few' to organise
After the update a few weeks ago do you get finishing times and positions at the end of a group meet-up?
Can't say I've noticed but not looked either. But it does remind me...
Out of interest, would there be any interest in doing a bit of a mini STW race series at all if I organised one? Obviously I'd need to figure out a way of handicapping and such.
I’d be up for a mini race series but not sure how you could handicap it.
I'd be up for it, if you can get finishing positions then a handicap would be pretty straightforward.
So new France and Paris worlds but event only, bit disappointing.
You could use best bike split. If everyone gave you their ftp and weight you can put that in and keep all other variables the same for the chosen course it would estimate a best time for them. Then use that as the handicap on each person from the fastest. It’s a bit of admin but would prob be the fairest way. I am happy to help out to work out the handicap. If you make it time trial bikes no one gets a draft which make it fairer still. Handicap wouldn’t work for the sprinters though...unless everyone knew their delay time to start (slowest goes first then trust people to start x seconds behind them). That should end in a group sprint in theory could always try both
@dangeourbrain - I've entered as well - not sure how long I'll be able to hold on after a real ride this morning, but might be able to help on the first lap
Just looked at the results, Phil how are you not an A?
Oh dear that was horrible.
I held on for lap one, then fell off as soon as I tried to drink. ftp boost to 329 so was putting the effort in at least.
Finding pace was really awkward. I'd be in the pack at 300-350w then suddenly leap off the front and stay there at 250w before being spat out the back at 400.
Then I'd end up getting the wrong draft as we passed someone and needing to pull 600w to get back on.
Could barely hold 200w going into lap two. About half way round put my head down to take a deep breath thinking of getting off and spotted my axle was completely undone so the bike was wobbling everywhere. Got a lot easier to hold a normal effort after I tightened that 🙁.
Phil how are you not an A?
Well firstly I entered the A cat, so for that race I was an A!
Also that race was very steady - I've worked harder than that in our TTT - so that result flattered me - you wouldn't normally get in the top 10 of A with 4W/KG
By heck Phil! That's a bloody good effort and some big numbers for you on the 15 and 30sec breaks.
Good effort Ivan. You made it home before me!
I had a fairly uneventful race, 8th in cat so fairly pleased with that. Pretty consistent top 10 cat C'er now.
Dangeourbrain - I saw Phil come past and thought I saw you on the same group but it can't have been.
Hi guys. Just did that race too (C cat) saw a few of you STW lot in there..rode alongside Ivan for the majority! Fairly new to all of this, but can someone please explain why it’s asking me to upgrade? My average was 3.2w/kg which I assumed was ok...there’s no red numbers on Zwiftpower.
Cheers & good race, P.Payne
Well done Ivan
there’s no red numbers on Zwiftpower.
The red number on ZP is your highest or race/cat highest.
My average was 3.2w/kg which I assumed was ok…
That's just into B, but only just. Does zp rank you as C almost B or B?
It says minimum cat C, almost B.