Zwift, my journey, my weight and my fitness.

So my first A race technically doesn't exist and I'll never accurately be able to work out where I finished.

I'm Rob Johnson on Zwift / Strava / RL, and you?
Thanks for the Ride on Weeksy, that was my first race up Box Hill, didn't mid box hill at all as I can lay down pretty consistent power top to botom - 280w first time, 260w second (315w at previous sole PB attempt) but I apart from the first 5km and last 1km I struggle to get over 240w on the flat. I overtake loads on the hills an none on the flat and at 94kg I'm heavier than most. In that respect its not like real life at all.

So my first A race technically doesn't exist and I'll never accurately be able to work out where I finished.

Charming!!

Good job it's just a game...

You were going really well on box, my lad was impressed. We only watched until the top and logged off.

scaredypants
Is nath riding too ? - got a thumbs up from him just now but he was nowhere to be seen, wondered if he was in a start gate somewhere

No I had just finished a workout (SST - highly recommend - see my racing thread).

Well, it's on Strava so it did happen 😉

It all seems to have gone to the dogs lately- around the same time that all the "we're only doing this as a hobby with our own money blah blah" posts on FB dried up. Hmmmm. Coincidence? I think not........

Let's hope Zwift get a grip on it quick sharp.....

failed in my quest to get daughter in bed, so didn't do the race. Instead, cruised over to Box Hill and then thrashed myself up it.

First time I've done it properly since mid jan (have been up but as part of other stuff and not at full chat) and pleased to knock a full 90s off my previous pb

Good bits - the higher FTP I tested at on Tuesday gave me a watts target to aim at and which was pretty spot on; I added another 15w on the middle straight and promptly realised that wasn't going to be sustainable to the top.

Other good bit - I'm doing enough absolute power to easily be mid pack of the STW Zwifters and I'm confident a few more months of Zwift will see me add a few more W to what i can do now

Bad bit - although chub club's trimmed a few kg off me since Christmas, the W/kg up hills means I'm still languishing on P3 of the STW leader board. But only just..... watch out if you're at the bottom of P2, you'll be scrolling down further than you think soon 😉

I'm Rob Johnson on Zwift / Strava / RL, and you?

I'm S.caredypants on zwift

No Kiss results again 😕

Well results are up but I'm not there, presumably I'd left EVR it my description when I logged in and only changed it when warming up.
So many things that the Zwift world could do better, perhaps with no real competition they feel they don't need to.

Get in 🙂 4th in KISS cat D. Considering I was last 4 weeks ago I'm happy with that !

That's a massive improvement there Geo. 🙂

Better course for you ? better training ? or just learned a few lessons?

WEll, it's the usual debate here today in my world. I'm struggling to have a days rest. I've got Afan for W2 tomorrow along with a 50miler planned for Sunday on the HT on road. So today REALLY ought to be rest day. But i like pushing the pedals and enjoy it.
My calves are holding up fine now, but i had a little 'feeling' in them yesterday that they were not a million miles from cramping, i was about 90mins into my ride, so eased and called it a day... So today.... rest day.

Who's riding, who's racing, who's winning, who's battling ?

Weeksy, you know you should rest 'em

My calves were a bit "nippy" on last night's bimble - tried a couple of pretend sprints & def felt them. I've also lost some power in the last couple of weeks. No way am I overtrained but I think I'm still getting rid of a cold from new year and that's making me do it all badly - feels like a real effort and I'm forcing the pedalling even though I'm down on output

What I need is a week off to relax

... oh ! 8) 😀

Well done Geologist, it won't be long until you're in C

Quite interesting that you are all paying your monthly fee to zwift when the bit you actually like is being run by 3rd party volunteers.

Not me, racing is an additional extra. The workouts and interactions with other riders are what I pay for.

I, along with many others, would happily throw in a few £ a month to help run Zwiftpower for the racing side of things - but they don't want any money people have asked.

fifeandy - Member

Quite interesting that you are all paying your monthly fee to zwift when the bit you actually like is being run by 3rd party volunteers.

The actual racing aspect is important to me, but only equally as important as Strava integration. Plenty of times, my main targets are training hours, but plenty of time they're Crosshair and ScaredyPants too who are my 'goals'.... I'm not convinced i'll ever reach them goals as when i train they train, when i push harder, they push harder.... So it's a catch22, or a not catch as the case may be.

Several of my races have been TTs, it evens the field and you're only pushing against person A/B/C, there's no drafting etc, so more riding tactics in some ways, less riding tactics in others.

I like the racing aspect as it gives me the ability/desire to push harder, longer... Whereas in standard mode you can pick a section to attack, be it a quick climb, a lap of volcano short or a surge up Box Hill, but in the races, you're carrying on where you may usually stop and rest.

If they canned the racing completely, i wouldn't stop Zwifting though.

Nath and Fifandy- see my posts above. All the FB posts about KISS and ZP being entirely voluntary seem to have dried up lately and in my own personal opinion- it's not a coincidence 😉

To your point though Fifeandy- you are dead right. I raced Zwift literally from the second day I had it (back when Weeksy still dubbed it as PlayStation riding 😀 ) and it was so realistic that I was hooked!
However, it's still early days yet. They are a small team dreaming big and I think they'll get there.

The [s]Race[/s] Event Module was a huge leap forward so they are on their way! We all used to shadily meet at the start finish line wearing the same jersey and go when somebody's typed "Gogogogo!" into group text 😀

@Weeksy- KOM sniping us on segments nobody has ever heard of doesn't count as a challenge 😀
You have to announce it publicly first if you're trying to beat us somewhere 😉

crosshair - Member

@Weeksy- KOM sniping us on segments nobody has ever heard of doesn't count as a challenge
You have to announce it publicly first if you're trying to beat us somewhere

There's only 2 ... There's the mountain and box hill... there's no announcements needed, they're the generic "i want to beat XYZ person" segments.

If i beat someone on a random section in the middle of nowhere it's irrelevant

Who's riding, who's racing, who's winning, who's battling ?

No Zwifting for me for a few days - my daughter is visiting so the spare room has had to go back to being a bedroom. Rest day today, probably a run on Sunday then maybe the club bronze ride on Sunday.

I've not been on this week due to a sore throat threatening a full blown cold which has yet to materialise. Weeksy, I can sympathise with you now.. How much did a week off effect your performance? Due an FTP test really but thinking of just doing the EVR tonight instead. It's London Classique so suits my riding better than Box Hill routes.

real world ride for me this lunchtime, then flying to san diego for a week.

so i'll probably come back 10kg heavier and at least 10% down on power.

Thanks Weeksy and cheers_drive.

Yes I think it was 50/50 a mixture of increased fitness and a different approach to racing.
For the first time in a decade ive had a really good consistent couple of months training and felt really strong on Tuesday. But also I totally changed my normal tactics. In the month I've been on Zwift I've started all races conservatively with the intention of picking up places through the race and not blowing. Usually this means I'm at the back right from the off and I've struggled to catch people as already too far off the back. This time I really went full on for the first couple of miles and hung on for the next few miles and tried to recover slightly. At this point I was only getting passed by cat C riders and started Boxhill at the front of Cat D. I managed to stick with that pattern on lap 2 and hold on .
I have to admit I'm getting addicted to Zwift now 🙂

Oh flip, ZP says its the Classique but Zwift says London 8. Anybody any idea who's right?

How much did a week off effect your performance?

Not in the slightest mate.

Although i think cold/flu would affect it more potentially. My health was fine, just the calves over-tired/hurt

[quote=geologist ]Thanks Weeksy and cheers_drive.
Yes I think it was 50/50 a mixture of increased fitness and a different approach to racing.
For the first time in a decade ive had a really good consistent couple of months training and felt really strong on Tuesday. But also I totally changed my normal tactics. In the month I've been on Zwift I've started all races conservatively with the intention of picking up places through the race and not blowing. Usually this means I'm at the back right from the off and I've struggled to catch people as already too far off the back. This time I really went full on for the first couple of miles and hung on for the next few miles and tried to recover slightly. At this point I was only getting passed by cat C riders and started Boxhill at the front of Cat D. I managed to stick with that pattern on lap 2 and hold on .
I have to admit I'm getting addicted to Zwift now

likewise.

made a massive difference to my race results by hanging onto the lead group for as long as possible. the draft effect is so strong that even is you blow up and drop off the back then you'll probably still finish ahead of where you were starting steady and trying to make up places.

The last race I did I even managed to hang onto the lead group right until the last km where I lost out a bit in the sprint.

made a massive difference to my race results by hanging onto the lead group for as long as possible. the draft effect is so strong that even is you blow up and drop off the back then you'll probably still finish ahead of where you were starting steady and trying to make up places.

Ah, the Thor Hushovd/Greg van Avermaet approach to green/yellow jersey wearing. Nowt wrong with that.

They are a small team dreaming big and I think they'll get there.

Point taken, but for me it seems like quite a large outlay (~£100/yr) for a product that is currently missing a lot of content. Compared to a similar priced MMO for example you are probably missing about 500km of routes and integrated matchmaking/ranking system. Needing a workaround to ride the course you want on a given day for example is frankly baffling.

[quote=fifeandy ]They are a small team dreaming big and I think they'll get there.
Point taken, but for me it seems like quite a large outlay (~£100/yr) for a product that is currently missing a lot of content. Compared to a similar priced MMO for example you are probably missing about 500km of routes and integrated matchmaking/ranking system. Needing a workaround to ride the course you want on a given day for example is frankly baffling.

£50. i'd imagine the majority of people will put their sub on hold for the summer.

Fifandy- Zwift have been taken by surprise I think. Racing wasn't even initially on the radar until it grew too big to ignore.
Eric Minn says in one of the Zwiftcasts that they predicted the average ride was going to be 30 mins whereas it is in fact 1hr.

The reason the current Zwift HQ races are very simple with no categories and no ZP listing or results is to minimise the chances of having to police anything. They don't want to offend their customers!

It's why (also around the same time the organisers stopped complaining about doing it all for free 😉 ) a huge disclaimer appeared at the top of ZP stating how it's totally unofficial.

Basically, it is my impression from what I've seen, that Zwift are attempting to take over the current community organised racing scene (of which KISS is the biggest brand) without actually being seen to do so.
Whether that approach will backfire remains to be seen...

I think it's why ZP strived to be an indispensable racing tool quite quickly- to avoid being outgunned by Zwift HQ and to make some kind of deal preferable to starting from scratch.

This is all conjecture based on FB observations I must add.....

Not sure what is going on with KISS at the moment, have done about 5 of their races this year and don't think they have 'finalised' any of the results.

@weeksy,
Finally set up the kickr, due to being too busy at work only managed the 25km freebie so far. Had a pootle around last night and found myself going up Box Hill which was fun.
As for the Kickr really happy with it, so much better than the old dumb trainer, seems a lot harder. Another ride round later and see what result I can get on the FTP test if I've got the energy.

I tried Zwift for the first time this evening. Had a little play for about 5 minutes, then did the EVR C race. I remembered what you guys said about starting with the power already up, and shot out in front from the gun! Calmed down then went hardish for the first half a lap, at which point I thought "I'm trying too hard here, there's no way I can keep this up, maybe I'll just do a lap or two then bail", but ended up finishing it. I did do a sicky burp on the last lap so I think I was trying hard enough.

I've no idea where I came, there was some kind of leaderboard thing on the end but the screen's too far away for me to read it, and I couldn't safely get off the bike quickly enough to read it. It was quite fun though. I might do it again.

I was using my Vortex though, not my Powertap (wheel needs truing), so I fear that Zwift's FTP estimate of ~270W is a long way off - I think I'm nearer to 230, so I guess that means that I was digitally doping to some extent!

Here's the Strava activity:
https://www.strava.com/activities/861854985/overview

Results will be here fella

http://www.zwiftpower.com/race.php?id=3445

You appear to currently have a DQ for exceeding power with 3.27w/kg.

That may change when results finalised

I've no idea where I came, there was some kind of leaderboard thing on the end but the screen's too far away for me to read it,

You appear to currently have a DQ for exceeding power with 3.27w/kg.

Ah, thanks! That means I'm nails, right?

If you use the Zwift Mobile link, you can take a screenshot of the leader board,

Cunning, ta.

Just gauging interest for a Sunday ride.
*Old school meet up at the start/finish line with a STW tag.
*Ride leaves at 18:30 with a 'Gogogo!' in group chat from me.
*Sync your pc clock or use an iOS device to make sure we leave on time.
*Pace- 2.3w/kg ish. 190w. 17mph average (if you have a previous Pretzel effort to compare against).
*Course- full Pretzel (select the correct autoroute option when logging in).
*Time- about 2h40
*Distance- 45miles.
*Regroup at top of Epic KOM and every man/woman for his/herself once we begin the Reverse Epic KOM (I won't call it a race to the finish but........)
*No pressure to finish. Drop out at will.
*Use the 'Ride with' function if you're late.

Any takers??

If you'd said 8.30am, I'd have been all over it.

Nice idea CH but bad that's time for me too.

2h40 is way too too long on a turbo for me (and also a bad time). If you are going at 7.30, 8ish then I might pop on for a bit. What's your Zwift name crosshair?

"A.Shutler [TFC] STW " if it's a goer, in the yellow CRCA kit.

Now the 'Ride With' function actually brings you up to speed, people can join or leave as they please 🙂

@CH is that what the update was this morning!?

P.s. New jersey is on order: http://www.brteam.co.uk/

9 laps of the volcano this morning. Wasn't looking forward to it at all, but it was good fun.

Nath- no, it's been out for a while. 'Ride With' used to dump you next to your friend at 0 mph which was pretty much pointless 😀

CH - ah sorry the iOS app was updated this morning, we still get dumped at 0mph.

[img] [/img]

Lol! You have to spin up to speed and then press the button. Not easy when my laptop is 6' away 😀

18 laps of the volcano for me this morning in the 7:15am KISS ride. I should have carried on for the 25 lap achievement, but have other things to do this morning. Hopefully going for an outdoor ride later.

Did my first 45 min session - just riding around - and found myself trying to close gaps and even a feeble attempt at a sprint or two!

As I've been off the bike for 7 months I wasn't unhappy with 16.8 MPH average for the hilly course on the volcano island (Watopia?). Just one session in and I can see myself wanting to do more than via the standard Tacx videos etc.

Ooooh did the Pretzel.... 2hours 57 ish.... Long way that ! hilly too ! lol

I've been on zwift for well over a year and finally did my first race this morning. A 10 mile TT rather than a bunch race, but still a hard enough effort to set a new FTP. Must get myself organised to do a proper race (main problem is timing and finding one that fits my schedule as I almost never ride in the evenings and prefer to go outside at the weekend)

Just a couple of laps of the hilly route for me today. The group ride thing sounds like a great idea. Sunday evening is a bad time for me but definitely like the premise though

So is the pretzel at 6.30pm a go-er? I might have a go at that. Pace sounds ok but have only done max of 2 hours up til now..

I'm just there now......

Starting @ 18:35

I think I'm the best group leader ever. The entire group hung together at an identical pace for the entire distance 😀

Oh, groups of 1 don't count 🙁 😉

Was Joe not riding with you?

No- he did ZSUN.

I've been out for a ride in the big wide world today but I'm definitely up for a STW groupride sometime. We could always meet up off-grid using Zwift Preferences so it's easier to meet and ride together. STW attacks Box Hill?

With a bit more notice next time I'll do it. Same time next week, or perhaps a slightly shorter ride a bit later to be a bit more family friendly?

Does anyone know how to create an official Zwift event? We could have a series of our own - STW in addition to KISS, BRS, ZRT etc. We could specialise in talking about riding online a lot, and then faffing for 10 minutes after the official event start time getting bikes out of the back of cars and then complaining up the first hill that there's something not quite right with the bike and how we used to be a lot fitter than this.

Lol!
I think you just contact Charlie Issendorf from Zwift with details and he'll help you do it.

(But the old-skool 'meet at the start finish line' group rides do have some advantages. We can choose to adjust the start time if folk are running late and people can join anytime via the Ride With button. The group chat messages are a bit hit or miss but we can easily set up Discord or TeamSpeak )

Discord is a good idea. Can we create our own "channel" on that?

Yes. Works really well. Best with Push To Talk as otherwise we'd just hear Weeksy heavy breathing 😀

That's sounds like a race series I could win dc2.0 😆

Created a Discord STW server.
This link should get you there:

https://discord.gg/EaSA9

but expires after 24hrs.

Yes. Works really well. Best with Push To Talk as otherwise we'd just hear Weeksy heavy breathing

We'd make it pay per listen then, the girls would go crazy for that 🙂

I did a lap of the Watopia mountain course for the first time yesterday - that is a long climb to the mast!

Wait till you do the Pretzel... you do it up that way, then down, loop round, then back up the opposite way !

It's long both ways....

Wait till you do the Pretzel... you do it up that way, then down, loop round, then back up the opposite way !

It's long both ways....

I don't think I can do long enough on the turbo to do the Pretzel - I've done 75 minutes a couple of times now but reckon 90 minutes is going to be my maximum before my arse goes totally numb.

I don't think I can do long enough on the turbo to do the Pretzel - I've done 75 minutes a couple of times now but reckon 90 minutes is going to be my maximum before my arse goes totally numb.

That's the great thing about being indoors.

I was struggling at 90 mins for the same reason, so i got off, made coffee, had a banana, chilled out for 5 mins etc... I also used the downhills to get up out of the saddle, i wasn't worried about max speed or times, so on the downs, i just stood up for ages letting it roll.

That's the great thing about being indoors.

I was struggling at 90 mins for the same reason, so i got off, made coffee, had a banana, chilled out for 5 mins etc... I also used the downhills to get up out of the saddle, i wasn't worried about max speed or times, so on the downs, i just stood up for ages letting it roll.

Yeah, I did 3hrs yesterday indoor - did an hour, got off to make up bottles for next 2 hrs. Did another hour and got off for a new pair of shorts, then did the third hour.
Wasn't the most fun afternoon ever, but was a good quality session and beats being lashed by horizontal hail.

I did 2xVolcano Flat, logged out and in again and then did the Pretzel last night for 3.5hrs total.

I think that's my longest one yet. I'll psyche myself up for the imperial century at some point to get the achievement but I'll only be happy if it's non-stop 🙂

I think that's my longest one yet. I'll psyche myself up for the imperial century at some point to get the achievement but I'll only be happy if it's non-stop

well done - 100 miles with a double pretzel non stop should be in your 'crosshair'

[img] [/img]

It's just a question of having 6hr spare that's the problem.....

it annoyed the bejesus out of me that i went over 6hrs - cant be bothered to try again!

Out of interest, mashiehood, was it just you and the bike and the screen? Or did you have the radio on, or another screen with a film, or podcasts, or something?

I'm interested in giving this a try but without the pressure that I have to finish the course to get home, I think I'd be likely to get a bit bored / sore / tired and just climb off the bike.

Finally did the Pretzel yesterday. Its a steady one.

Lost all feeling in my Gooch.