Zwift, my journey, my weight and my fitness.

Nuts, I started not far from that, as have many others, we've all worked our way up to mid/high 2s. So just be patient and enjoy it and its benefits.

What's not to like about that... a full on assault of staying in a group with a flat out sprint at the end

by stop-gap I mean that eventually I bet there'll be climbing up & around it but also I reckon eventually they'll have 2 different live venues at once, one for racing and one for "rides"

I think the terrain/view really only matters to people with a smart trainer as they have a vested interest in the lay of the land so they know whats coming up. For me with a dumb trainer i very rarely look at the scenery as it has no impact on me so i only ever look at who i am riding with so i know i am still in touch. I guess this makes zwift less emmersive for me which is a shame but i still love it as its motivating to be riding against people.

We should have a day where non smart owners go round to smart owners and try it.

I'm between Newbury and Didcot if anyone wants to try a wahoo snap.

Drivo between Southampton and Salisbury

... but my family tell me I look a bit like a mass murderer and you'd have to go upstairs into my garage attic

Welcome to come try my neo - Thames ditton
Be good to see pictures of setups - I'll post mine when I get a moment

I would hazard a guess that it would be an entirely different experience on a smart trainer and probably more beneficial when it come to real riding fitness. When i start gainful employment again i think a smart trainer might be high up on my shopping list.

They teased this photo the other day, so hopefully more routes coming

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7km route apparently
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Did a session earlier and have started getting intermittent wi-fi which is a pain in the arse...

I lost all other riders etc. although everything else worked...
I ended up connecting my phone as a hotspot, it connected and I definitely had internet connection as I checked with Chrome but the other riders didn't re-appear so I ended up riding on my own for over half my ride. Not the end of the world but definitely not as interesting as seeing other riders to catch or stay ahead of...

I can see it as being a very good crit racing simulator without the shouting and broken carbon/bones.

A race on zwift i'll sit between the middle 3 power zones (so tempo, threshold and vo2) however in a a crit the biggest couple of zones are often 1 and 6. Not sure how they could recreate that with how the cornering and drafting works.

I realised I was getting dropped a little on the corners last night as I was easing off the power into corners without thinking about it.

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KISS- Watopia Fig8

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Hillingdon Cat4.

I don't see how Zwift can recreate the constant accelerations as you never have to slow down for corners/others.

Not a million miles away though....

Did a race tonight round the fig 8 - as a B. Very much mid-pack (14/27 I think) and much the same 20min power as last time, but loads of variability this time - lots of kicks and slowing of the pack

MAde an interesting discovery (well, it's obvious really but does work) that you can get off the bike completely when your avatar's in a tuck down hill (pile of boxes collapsed next to me and was fouling the pedals so had to move it). Think I actually improved my position while doing that 😆

Ordered kickr snap today, been using a dumb trainer but not on Zwift. Next weekend straight on it !! Weeksy made my mind up.....he doesn't know that but he did

stonecoldhhh - Member

Ordered kickr snap today, been using a dumb trainer but not on Zwift. Next weekend straight on it !! Weeksy made my mind up.....he doesn't know that but he did

I'll be very interested to hear/see your reaction fella... IT's certainly made my riding (limited at the moment i admit) a bit more interesting. Some of that coming from the fact i can now put out better numbers as it's a calibrated turbo, but also the fact that i'm changing gears, tactics, plans and ways of riding/attacking.

Going uphill on a section yesterday i actually got out of the saddle into a sprint as i was putting out 500w+... I also got into a Sagan tuck on the way down for the first time ever ! I didn't even know you could do that.
Getting 7th (at the time anyway) on the Village sprint was a highlight as my Bkool never allowed me to have a kick/sprint, but the Wahoo gives me the ability to have a burst of power when i need it.

There's been times in races where i think "if i kick off the front here i'll leave these 2 riders behind floundering"... but the Bkool taking 30-40s to actually build up the power means it just looks to them like i'm taking a turn on the front and leading for a bit, rather than me kicking off the front and gapping them.

In a slightly unrelated but also closely related discussion i had on another forum with CH. I was thinking about my training and realising i need to concentrate on my actual goals for the years riding rather than what i think they may be. Realistically i still don't believe i'm good/fast/effective enough for Crit races, so it's more likely to be an odd XC race, along with the SDW 100 and the White roads 100, along with the 7 days in Andalucia, they're more my targets than anything else that i may ride on a whim.

So my next few sessions/months are going to focus on longer, slower and a bit less worrying about putting in records on Strava and concentrate on putting the hours in on the pedals. Getting the weight down, getting the miles in etc. With that, the odd Gorick/Southern won't be blown out of the water as we know the training on Zwift seems to work OK for that too.. but the extra calories and longer efforts will prepare me better for the things that are important for the year.

I was actually thinking of something a bit random that you guys may have some thoughts on which was putting the Hybrid tyre on the spare 29er wheel for a few rides on it, riding the PArkwood which will be my 100 miler event bike, whilst it makes sense to use the road bike for training, i'm guessing it also makes sense to use the bike i'll actually be riding...

Interesting regarding the new London route, around green park area is a nightmare.

Bit surprised they haven't done this loop yet, the TOB one:
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^^most fun I've ever had cycling in central 😆

@weeksy - should totally try and get a spot either at Hillingdon or Abingdon - I really think that benchmark versus when you sign up to do Hillingdon at the end of the year ( 😉 ) would be a good en!

@weeksy have you done the White roads before? Having ridden the MTB a lot in that area I gave it a go last year. Took 3 or 4 punctures before i realised how much care you have to take descending on 23c tyres when you weigh > 14st. Good fun though.

@Nath, maybe mate, maybe... i just don't want to waste my time at the moment riding it and being blown out in 1 lap... The segment i tried on yesterday and the time associated shows me i still have a lot to work on
https://www.strava.com/segments/9719730?filter=overall
Sure, i can sit here and get hung up on power, stats, times and figures and they don't actually matter... of course, i get that... But the times i can do are indicative of my actual speed/abilty...so of course, they're directly related to my ability to ride quickly.

@Mossimus, No, but i live about 200m from one of the main routes they take, not a million miles from Streatley. So plenty of their roads/sections are 100% my day to day riding and usual terrain. I won't be riding it on a narrow wheel/tyre bike. I'm likely to do it on the Parkwood running Rapid Robs. I'll be riding with a mate assuming he goes, so will be a nice day out, rather than flat out.

weeksy - Member

I was actually thinking of something a bit random that you guys may have some thoughts on which was putting the Hybrid tyre on the spare 29er wheel for a few rides on it, riding the PArkwood which will be my 100 miler event bike, whilst it makes sense to use the road bike for training, i'm guessing it also makes sense to use the bike i'll actually be riding...

Certainly try it, but it might not fit. How big is the tyre?
I mentioned the other day setting my Wife's mtb up on my old trainer.
I bought a new tyre to stick on the back of it - can't remember the size of it, but it's a 26" almost slick commuter style tyre....I couldn't get the bike into the trainer with that tyre on - the roller wouldn't move out of the way far enough - even with it 'released' and unwound as far as it would go....
I ended up swapping the tyre to a 1.5 City Jet. That fits, but there is a small amount of tyre compression even when the roller is released from the wheel....

I don't know if the Kickr Snap has a wider range of adjustment, but it's something to bear in mind.
You could always buy a cheap tyre to get you running with it - just make sure it's a small size.

MAde an interesting discovery (well, it's obvious really but does work) that you can get off the bike completely when your avatar's in a tuck down hill

I also got into a Sagan tuck on the way down for the first time ever ! I didn't even know you could do that.

Certainly try it, but it might not fit. How big is the tyre?

You can wind the adjuster out on the Snap so it has about 4" clearance, so i'm pretty sure it will fit with ease... I have realised though i'll need to pick up a 2nd 29er rear QR wheel now as i sold the rubbish Bontrager i had for the rear, which i could have easily used for this idea. But i'll ideally find a nice cheap 29er/CX Tubeless compatible rear as i prefer to run without tubes if possible now.

I would hazard a guess that it would be an entirely different experience on a smart trainer and probably more beneficial when it come to real riding fitness.

weeksy
@Nath, maybe mate, maybe... i just don't want to waste my time at the moment riding it and being blown out in 1 lap... The segment i tried on yesterday and the time associated shows me i still have a lot to work on
https://www.strava.com/segments/9719730?filter=overall
Sure, i can sit here and get hung up on power, stats, times and figures and they don't actually matter... of course, i get that... But the times i can do are indicative of my actual speed/abilty...so of course, they're directly related to my ability to ride quickly.

You're comparing against racing times there though, not individual attempts up it.

If you're using Zwift as a benchmark for crit racing, I reckon a sub 6:20 lap of this would see you in the pack: https://www.strava.com/segments/14032406?filter=overall

If you're using Zwift as a benchmark for crit racing, I reckon a sub 6:20 lap of this would see you in the pack: https://www.strava.com/segments/14032406?filter=overall

Currently Zwift is all i have to go on... None of the lads i know (You or CH) ride anywhere else that i'd ride other than Zwift.
CH does venture out at times and it would of course make sense for me to hook up with him for a ride or 2. It may not answer all of the questions, but if we're on a flat section of road and he pulls away from me... I know there and then, i'm not ready.

Assuming that's a lap i can put in on the drop down menu etc, i'll have a try at it in the next few weeks... Of course, you have to remember though, one 6m 20 is ok.... but 10 of them on the bounce... is more like what's potetntially needed.

My time yesterday was part of a general ride, sure i attacked it, but it's not like i started the ride there and ended 3 mins later and got off the bike 🙂 But i do get your point.

Either way.. i'm still not convninced i'm ready or able.

@weeksy - Yeah it's just called "Volcano CW Circuit" or something like that.

I reckon 9 laps on the TT bike at av 6:20 lap.

How I dervived that:
288W - 5:55
226W - 6:42
Hillingdon = 260W

We'll have to get something sorted for when the weather comes good!

Finally got my classic trainer setup running with speed + cadence and a bluetooth heart rate monitor.

1st impression - revelation, first time I've spent more than about 15 mins on a turbo trainer as it was so boring

2nd impression - FTP threshold test was fairly horrific!

2.6 w/kg to start with.. I want to up that by April but I'm not sure of a realistic target. Also will be down about 5kg by then

I've been playing about with Zwift for a little while now and thinking of joining the KISS race on Tuesday eve.

After a test last night in a "Ride and Race" ([url= http://www.zwiftpower.com/race.php?id=3160 ]ZwiftPower[/url]), I was pushing as hard as I could lost the pack and came in 44/48; had a 95% power output of 2.62 w/kg, so think I'm in the C class... will anyone else from here be on?

You're likely to get a few STWers in for that mate yes.... It's fairly common a race series/time/day for STWers.

I'm trying to stay away from racing for another couple of weeks.... but i'd expect i'll be out on the course anyway as Liverpool are playing Chelsea and i'll be watching while riding.

from twitter:

London calling! We're on the look out for a male Zwifter, 20-35 yrs, to feature in a photo shoot this Wednesday. Are you our guy?

DM us for more details. We'll provide kit, cover expenses and pay a day rate for your time. Ride On!

@GoZwift

thinking of joining the KISS race on Tuesday eve.

I have that pencilled in for tomorrow unless work gets in the way. Also in C

thinking of joining the KISS race on Tuesday eve.

I have that pencilled in for tomorrow unless work gets in the way. Also in C

I usually do the Tuesday 8pm Kiss race, CAT D, although last time I was 2.49w/KG and came 4th so it won't be long until i'm in CAT C.

Cheers folks - more incentive to get on it if I've got people expecting to see me there 🙂

Add STW onto your name so we can cry when you pass us!

Normally a bit late for me but might have a crack at the KISS tomorrow if there's a load of us doing it!

EVR at 1940 tonight for me I think.

Add STW onto your name so we can cry when you pass us!

I'll try do the KISS one tomorrow night too, not in my usual category though 😈

Yeah, I'll do tomorrow too. Generally do Tues/Thurs KISS rides if I can. My last performance was terrible, I seem to be going backwards, I'll be content with mid-D bracket.

EVR at 1940 tonight for me I think.

Boom. 10th on the live results. Might make up a few when the sandbaggers get DQ'd.

Is there a new Elites cat Nath? 😀

You'll get DQ'd for down-catting 😉

I'll be in the KISS ride tomorrow

[quote=jam bo ]
Boom. 10th on the live results. Might make up a few when the sandbaggers get DQ'd.

boom boom. 6th. although I have the same time as 5th and he was clearly cruising with an FTP of 300w/3.8W/Kg. No wonder I got outsprinted on the line.

Slapped up the "difficulty" to max tonight and did volcano>mountain. About 15mins into the climb the Tacx Flow started cutting out at random intervals for a few seconds at a time. Jumping off and having a feel, the thing was red hot. I popped the difficulty down to about 3/4 and it seemed to sort it out, after it had cooled down. I guess the brake unit can't handle the sustained high resistance 😐 Bit disappointing.

crosshair
Is there a new Elites cat Nath?

You'll get DQ'd for down-catting

Elite? I'm going to B - that's where I belong at the moment.

Good Nathan, i'll try drafting you
i didn't think you could "down grade" from A to B ?