Getting back to normal now hopefully, it seems the cat aids is on it way out of my chest. I did the MGCC race this morning as my internet buddy is the race leader so went round with him, i finished 6th but i wasnt really going for the result, just fast pacing with the race leader. I felt so much better than i did yesterday and my stats are heading up towards normal again so a couple of days and i shall hopefully contest a podium again.
Excellent news Blader 🙂 Keep it up !
3:05pm for me for London Classique 4 lapper. Only 24 at the moment overall, but i'm hoping to get 10-15 in C by the time it's off.
Kryton, what's your setup? What do you actually have paired to Zwift for cadence?
Ah, you may have struck gold here. I have my HR strap, 4iiii PM, and the older magnet Garmin Speed/Cadence sensor.
Of course now i realise my 4iiii will also be transmitting cadence so i wonder if Zwift is confused.
Am i on ignore then ? 🙂
I've had to migrate to 6pm race instead.
5 laps ! ouch.
Am i on ignore then
Who said that? 😉
Ha ha no - thanks for your input Weeksy - yes they all definitely appear connected.
SO in the pairing, if you pedal quicker/slower does it go up and down on the 'live' bit ?
might join you for that, didn't fancy racing yesterday as the field was so low, ended up doing the PACK social ride instead (plus attempt at BH KOM at end!)I've had to migrate to 6pm race instead.5 laps ! ouch.
5 laps isn't [I]too[/I] bad as they're quite short so 20 miles in total. Quite like the Classique course too
I'm going to give either the 6pm or the 8pm race a go tonight depending on when I get home. Any tips for the London Classique course? It'll be my first time on zwift on anything other than wattopia
from memory it's fairly flat so suits heavier riders well. There's a short, steepish hill (near the end?) that's ideal if you can muster a short burst of power - I often use it to make a move and gain some places. (and since PRS allow power-ups it's worth saving a featherweight for here if you pick one up!)
SO in the pairing, if you pedal quicker/slower does it go up and down on the 'live' bit ?
I didnt try there, I'll have a go later.
Classique course can be tricky because on the opening lap you have quite a few climbs to get up to get on the actual course and thats where it all gets ripped apart. If you get through that opening lap still on the pointy end then you stand a good chance of still being there at the end. I do ok on the course but its not my favourite.
Is that the one where it lulls newbies with the ‘warm-up’ lap banner?
There is no warm up. Go like **** from the start
you only fall for that once though 🙂Is that the one where it lulls newbies with the ‘warm-up’ lap banner?
Horse guards hill. Its where I usually go pop in the race at some stage as I use all my energy to get up it then as we crest, the lighter guys gap me.
It seems Muggo is also in for 6pm so could be an STW fest!
You should be able to make up for it with power though Weeksy. That's why you need to vary your intensity- to a)be able to put out bigger power for the short durations and b) increase the number of times you can go hard in one race.
It's what? a 30second effort- so work on your 30 second efforts.....
Absolutely CH, its very much something I need to work on. Its not the burst of power I struggle with but the 2 minutes after to recover.
Pride tonight will hopefully help me
That is sadly why racing isn't training 😉
10x Hill-Reps up Horseguards Hill with 3 minute recoveries are the answer 😀
I'm ready, bike ready, turbo warmed up and spindown calibration done.
Legs feel hmmm.
Thinking about trying higher cadence tonight of 105 give or take. See what happens.
Generally higher cadence = higher heart rate. So it depends what's been limiting you.
If it's your legs then it could help but if it's your hr/aerobic fitness then it may fatigue you quicker.
Also, if you want this to translate to MTB fitness then whatever cadence you average on the trails would be best.
Also, if you want this to translate to MTB fitness then whatever cadence you average on the trails would be best.
Not really. Racing zwift is racing zwift, its only loosely related to MTB stuff.
Currently other than zwifting I don't have any aims or goals, so any riding is just for generic fitness and health.
So it's 8pm tonight for me, looking quite busy already with 49 riders in C so far.
Still finding my feet with this and racing full stop really, at 76kg would I be considered one of the lighter guys? On basic club rides I seem to cope better than others on the hills but then again it's not a race condition.
When it comes to training and trying to build up to sustaining hard efforts on the flat, which training programme would be best? The FTP builder? It seems to be the fast flat stuff in the real world where I'm struggling to hold on.
You're in the mid to slightly lower than mid level for weight I'd say. It depends on the race at times, as you can imagine, some of the Asia based races have a bunch of small lightweights in there, the Szr are Swedish and some bigger guys in there riding.
I'd love to be 76 though, I'd be racing in B for sure. But I'm a mid level C at 96!
I think the FTP builder gets good results. Many people find the early workouts too easy though- especially if you've tested your ftp conservatively. They either skip ahead or adjust the ftp slider up if that's the case.
I might do some stw stalking of that race, have a good one chaps.
The KISS race this morning at 10:15 had the first 28 riders all finishing within 5 secs of each other, i wish i could have seen that sprint finish. Mr Cartwright finished a lowly 8th so that must have been one heck of a finish.
Epic battle that !
Weeksy, Zilog and Muggo all in the lead pack till 1.5 to go. I got dumped out after the hill ! Sorry Muggo, i know i was OK on the other laps, but that time i had nothing to go after them.
Zilog got 10th ish, Muggo 18th, me 20th.
It wasn't too bad for me in honesty, right up until the last 2km, i took a draft PU and died on the tiny kick before the statues, then on the hill i wasn't bad, but lost it all at the top.
Nice race boys !
Bloody hell that was the toughest race I’ve done. Not sure if it was a result of the time off or just a particularly strong field, but Christ that was hard.
If it wasn’t for you and zilog near me I think I might have just dropped back and coasted to the finish from about lap 3!
Felt really sick as I tried to get back on to the group. Got close but just didn’t have anything left on the u turn so just had to hold the level I was at for the last 1km.
See, I didn't think so apart from the last 3 mins, I was sitting pretty at 165bpm or so apart from hill kick where I hit 175 but quickly settled down by the start line, then on the last lap the pace goes north and I go south! Arrrrgh.
I’m putting down to the flu jab I had yesterday then 😀
I watched that for the first 20 minutes and weeksy you did a few turns on the front there. It looked like a nice big group and it was going at a very decent pace so i reckon that was quite a fast ride.
lol, I was thinking the same... would definitely have bailed if you guys weren't there, my HR was in "uncomfortable" zone from about end of lap 4 onwards! Well pleased though, that's literally my first race ever I've been able to pace myself properly and stay with the same group the whole time. Normally burn out & have to drop back! Got v lucky picking up a featherweight for final lap though!If it wasn’t for you and zilog near me I think I might have just dropped back and coasted to the finish from about lap 3!
Weeksy, thought you were trying to make a move off the front at the end of lap 4!!
Great race lads, really enjoyed it!
Zilog was that you in 7th?
Yep that's me 🙂
I was Zilog, I thought you were coming with me off the front and I felt good enough at the time if you were, but as soon as I looked, the bunch were there again.
I got a truck on final lap, which to me is the best part of useless! I wanted an aero or a feather of course.
I'll have a look at my HR trace after food. But honestly felt good.
Disappointed now!
Great result that, well done.
I raced that course yesterday in the cat B race and from watching weeksy for a while i didnt see much difference in the pace you guys were going compared to us in all honesty.
I did a race today. Entered through Zwift but it isn't on zwiftpower.
There are some other races by the organiser on there. Anywhere else that might have results. It was a bit messy at the finish and the Zwift results themselves looked dodgy.
race was
Sydkysten Cycling - Carl Ras Race A
Think I might have won, definitely 1st or 2nd. New FTP 328W (4.6w/kg) which I'm about to lose as my racing season peaked and ended on Sunday with the national hill climb. I'm off on holiday for two weeks on Sat and intend to get fat.
I felt good enough at the time if you were, but as soon as I looked, the bunch were there again.
I gave it the beans for a second or so, didn't really have anything spare though to make a proper effort tbh!!
Tried to find your lairy pink jersey when I was in the pen, couldn't though - maybe haven't unlocked that one yet!
That's weird, we as a group beat more than half of B, that's bonkers.
I need a plan B as holding until the hill is crippling my results.
CH you may bow: http://www.cycligentrankings.com/vcr/client/racer/98508/lifetime/all/elite/1/0/0/1/1
😆
Team STW taking the silver. Good work chaps.
I need a plan B as holding until the hill is crippling my results.
Perhaps you should eat more pies Weeksy 😉
Well done STWs on the race!
Well done Nath! That's quite an achievement 🙂
Had to bail due to a complaint from the neighbours 🙁 any idea how to make things quieter? Im using a tacx booster and a tacx trainer tyre at 100psi
What sort of house/flat etc? Mat?
Terrace house, upstairs in a room with laminate flooring (insulated underneath) then an offcut of carpet under the trainer. From their description the noise was high pitched rather than a vibration.
Cheers CH!
Missed the start of kiss so did the WBR race, with my resting HR back to normal my top end HR appears to be returning too!
https://www.zwiftpower.com/race.php?id=14236
Congratulations Nath! STW chief superstar!
rmgvtec - Member
Terrace house, upstairs in a room with laminate flooring (insulated underneath) then an offcut of carpet under the trainer. From their description the noise was high pitched rather than a vibration
Tricky one then maybe.
I'd try some thick gym matting, but if it's noise from the tyre, I'm not sure it will help much.
Great stuff Nath, congratulations!
Your race report was a bit lacking though 😀
Looked like a great finish.
My Tacx trainer is really loud. Might be worth an upgrade??
Race report;
Got in from work about 7:45, having just left a few commuting roadies in my dust by overtaking them at 28mph on a nice flat stretch of road. That’ll learn them for jumping lights, in my head at least! This meant I missed the kiss start, mentally exhausted I sat on the racing bike attached to the turbo trainer, calibrated the power meter and booted up Zwift. Anticipation building I selected the next available race, still in my commuting gear.
The music was selected, no other than the Mac radio (fleetwood variety). I was ready....
We set off the normal Zwift way with a group of about 3 As and a few Bs who clearly weren’t Bs. Tried to break them a few times, but the draft effect had them back on my wheel in no time. Gutted, I found myself at the front far too much for my liking if I was to sit in for the sprint, but I was determined to burn off the cookie I had at lunch... Nothing happened until the last little hill before Trafalgar Square, were 3 of us broke away. Then it was just a sprint finish, I ran out of gears (900w @ 120rpm), but just managed to squeeze into first. Really don’t like sprinting much quicker than that on the turbo, I like to kick when sprinting and this would put me on the side of some boxes...
😆
Damn, I've got a lot to learnI was determined to burn off the cookie I had at lunch
The music was selected, no other than the Mac radio (fleetwood variety). I was ready....
Mental as well as physical torture, nice 😆
Yeah, a Zwift race is cause for more cookies not penance for eating one 😆
nathb - Member
CH you may bow: [url=King of the STW Zwifters] http://www.cycligentrankings.com/vcr/client/racer/98508/lifetime/all/elite/1/0/0/1/1 [/url]
Congratulations Nathan. You are in there with some stellar names.
Down in the amatuer ranks of division [ahem]5[/ahem] 😳
Despite just how unwell it made me feel, I actually got some virtual ranking points!
Funnily though, i got 1 more point than you for it 😀
Yeah I saw that! Maybe it's an extra point for dressing more flamboyantly 😀
I was going for a gentle spin up watopia mountain after my network dropped out on the GCN group ride and its a lot longer than i realised. I was trying to go slow i promise but it seems nigh on impossible for me to do this. I was quite low down in the gears but spinning nicely around 90rpm and it felt so much easier than box hill, i was maintaining about 310w up there quite easily yet box hill that feels like torture, very odd. I ended up 7th on KOM list for my supposed gentle spin, i need to learn to back off more!
Thanks guys!
As if you don't like Fleetwood!!
In this race: https://zwiftpower.com/race.php?id=14236
Who's Mark (3rd place STWer, just noticed on strava)??
He's on my buddy list, but not sure what his Stw name is
I had you down as younger than mid-50s 😉As if you don't like Fleetwood!!
Yey, pretty sure my fitness is starting to show the Zwift effect’ both on the bike and pleasingly with running!
First outdoor ride from Blair Atholl was noticeably improved from the previous outing. And this mornings run was a lot easier than any ‘first run in a while’ effort I can remember.
Dropping way over £1k on Zwift is starting to look like money very well spent.
Quite pleased with this 🙂
Might even risk the scales, not expecting much movement there but now I can reliably train on the bike and xC/Fell running is back on the cards it seems a good point to take a measure.
And has anyone done one of the endurance group rides? I’m eyeing up the 100k on Saturday, I’m just a bit wary it’ll be horrendous!
Is the 2 months free for strava premium users annual or just when you sign up? If annual does it happen automatically?
Thanks pie onster, that answers my question. Its heavy rain here all day Saturday yet I,m scheduled for a 2.5 hr club ride so I might do the “ Team CLS CC -- Vocal ‘n’ Social AM Saturday“.
Theres no instructions for weight and power settings in the event notes, do I need to change anything?
28 scaredy 😆 Can’t stand the modern chart stuff though (99% of it).
Regarding group rides; there’s a 100km one every Sunday at 8:30pm swept by yours truly 🙂
@Kyrton, fwiw and because you’d mentioned something along these line elsewhere. My bike handling was actually better as well. Which I guess is down to increased fitness leading to more focus and confidence.
@Nath. Where’s that event listed, average w/kg, time taken?
Oh wait, what Cat is that listed at?
@Kyrton, fwiw and because you’d mentioned something along these line elsewhere. My bike handling was actually better as well. Which I guess is down to increased fitness leading to more focus and confidence.
Not sure im with you - do you mean with regard to more riding outdoors?
In any case, congrats on the increased fitness!!
I “thought” you’d been advised to do all your training outdoors to keep the handling skills sharp?
I could easily be talking shit 🙂
What's the protocol for racing where I sit firmly on the boundary between classes? I've never raced in zwift before so was considering going for the lower one. That reasonable or if it turns out I'm doing 0.2w/kg over the limit, do I get booted?
That reasonable or if it turns out I'm doing 0.2w/kg over the limit, do I get booted?
Pretty much yup. It's one of them things you just don't know until you put your feet in and get wet.
[quote=atlaz ]What's the protocol for racing where I sit firmly on the boundary between classes? I've never raced in zwift before so was considering going for the lower one. That reasonable or if it turns out I'm doing 0.2w/kg over the limit, do I get booted?
only if you sit on the front doing all the work. Sit in, cover any breaks and then sprint for a glorious finish at the end...
The race I did on Tuesday gave me the following on Zwift Power.
Riders are allowed to go over category limits by 0.10w/kg. This race allows you to accumulate 3 marks, after which the rider will be automatically removed from results.
I clearly should have been in Cat C in hindsight. My FTP test has me in Cat D.
If I keep entering Cat D they’ll send me to the naughty step unless I get sneaky
I'll go one level down for the first race then. In reality I would guess my FTP in Zwift if properly tested will move me up to that category anyway, but I just don't want to enter the race and get blown out the back immediately on my first race. I fully expect I'll have no idea what I'm doing and end up having to chase back on a lot.
You'll want to get on the pace with 10s to go mate, around 450-600w if you can, then hold that for the first 30-60s.
Not all races will allow you to go over the category though. Most will just move you up a category in the results, but I've seen results where people have been DQd. I'd say go for the one above and see how long you can hold on for. I started in D and TBF my w/kg probably still has me as a Cat D rider, but on the flat courses I can keep up with the lead Cs for the majority of the race.
Yet to try another hilly race in C, but the one I did when I first moved up from D to C was bloody hard but I didn't finish last so that was an achievement in my book.