STW Zwift Autumn Race Series 1

I might have missed this point, if it’s been raised already…
Are we using 95% of our best 20mins in the last six weeks for FTP, or an actual “hour of power?” I don’t know if this applies to others, but for me 60mins of riding is pretty much always lower than 95% of 20mins (although from just before my back abscess surgery, they were 261 vs 263, they’ve only once been closer in the past ~2.5 years and usually there is a ~25W difference).

Organising handicap events can be an absolute ballache, with people moaning at their handicaps relative to others! 😆

I sorted out a handicapped tournament for the snooker club ~20 years ago, simply basing handicaps multiples of 8 points. Ended up with a final between the best player in the club by far, who had the real potential to turn pro (Bob Cooper, from near Portsmouth) and one of the weaker players (Lorenz IIRC) in the club… In hindsight, I probably didn’t make the event challenging enough for Bob and a bit too easy for Lorenz. Bob played the best level of snooker I’ve seen in person over a multi-frame match, to win the final.

95% of 20 mins will be what most people have used or a ramp test. I think someone found their ftp in zwift as well if you are on the main application, click on the menu button in game, under your name is the edit symbol. if you click on that you can find your FTP that zwift has assigned and it will update that if you do any efforts above that value.

Yup.95% of my 20 mins race best…. which i’m unikely to manage in this race as i’m nowhere near my best 🙂

But i’ll be drafting with the best of them !

Makes two of us Weeksy! 🙂

Pretty flat this week then?
*Scans thread for TT monsters to draft*
😅

Well if Nixie and Phil are racing, that’s your lead 2 to try and draft anyway. Although they’re both a massive ask for most of us. I’ll be taking the first 2km as a standard Zwift race and hitting 350w for as much of the first 2 mins as i can manage… I’ll then get dumped on the next 2% up and struggle along somewhere…. But of all the courses this is likely to be ‘OK’ from my perspective… Not flat enough for me to do well, but flat enough for me to do reasonably.

I think the fast boys will win on the road, but whether they can pull out several minutes overall on the chasers, i’m not convinced. I think this one will favour someone who’s about 75kg and putting out 26-270w…. they’ll be the ones winning it after handicaps applies.

The Idea of riding a TT bike could be fun, but unfair on the others. Could work well on a flat course to prevent people sitting on. 😉

You do that. You do know that other riders can draft off a TT bike so it’d just be you that wasn’t getting any benefit right?

At least R.G.V is flat for a while at the start, should give a decent draft opportunity. Douche France with the rollers first is much more difficult in that respect. Without telegraphing too much I don’t see much option but trying to force a split early.

Without telegraphing too much I don’t see much option but trying to force a split early.

LOL you and Phil at 700w out the gate then !

Yeah, anyone who isn’t expecting the peloton to be utterly shredded within 2 minutes has clearly not raced on Zwift before!

just got to dig deep for those first vital few minutes then try and find some good wheels to follow..

LOL you and Phil at 700w out the gate then !

😎 Not quite what I had in mind.

At least R.G.V is flat for a while at the start, should give a decent draft opportunity. Douche France with the rollers first is much more difficult in that respect. Without telegraphing too much I don’t see much option but trying to force a split early.

Unless I have the wrong end of the stick (nothing new there), riders will be setting off from the pen according to handicap, so the only split you will get is if other riders have a very similar handicap start to you?

Thought we all go at the same time? The handicap applies after the race?

Thought its a group rolling start and handicap added at the end.

Yeh rolling neutralised start and handicap added to the end. If you can hang on to someone’s wheel it will be an advantage.

Basically us high level Cs low level Bs have to team up to slow the rate of loss to Nixie etc once we are shelled while trying to dump each other out of the group before the finish.
Work together for 7/8th of the race then work against at the end.

What’s the overall based on assuming you are running this as a series?
Points based on finish position or time?
Can we drop an event or not?

I know it’s not serious…

Anyone employing a DS to let them know how far ahead they can let the W/Kg aliens go and still win by handicap? 😆

Tom. Points system as per F1 scoring so as follows:

25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1

You don’t have to do every event. It will be about consistency to win the series.

amazing work being put in there.. thanks!
looking forward to it, though I’m getting tanned and fat here in Greece on an all inclusive holiday!
will get some ‘training in on BH mon!

DrP

Hi, thanks for organising this. I would like to join in on this but haven’t done anything much on the bike since an etape stage back in early July so am planning to do an FTP test tomorrow. Could you add my name to the list please and I’ll post an up to date ftp soon. Andrew Atkinson (stw). Cheers
Andrew

Without telegraphing too much I don’t see much option but trying to force a split early.

I’m not sure there’s much telegraphing required! The only way the higher handicapped have any chance is to go off as fast as possible and hold it until our ears bleed!

Points system as per F1 scoring so as follows:

25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1

Robbo, quick suggestion on the scoring. Given that there are getting on 60 riders signed up is it worth running a more extended points allocation? BRT use these sliding scales depending on numbers in their race leagues. But quite happy to be told to naff off as you’ve put in a grand effort. Thanks again for organising.

Well hopefully see you all Tuesday assuming SWMBO doesn’t have other plans for me since we’re on holiday.

LOL you and Phil at 700w out the gate then !

😎 Not quite what I had in mind.

1700?!?

Thanks Hoppy – I like that idea although I will do points from 1-30 as per that table. Will clarify all of this etc on a post on Monday with the final rules, handicaps etc.

I’d like to volunteer for the position of official STW lantern rouge, please.

85kG – Stop laughing Weeksy, 215 FTP

We’re following each other on zwift already – get us 🙂

Simon Figg Pack STW Hare

Did my first race today in preparation for the big one on Tuesday! Not a pleasant experience but already signed up for another on Sunday 🤷🏼‍♂️ managed to stay with The front group until 4ks to go, more weetabix required I reckon.

Not been on Zwift for a while, or the real thing.

Going to hurt on Tuesday. Mind you, it will hurt even if I had been riding every day.Lol

Might need to update my weight a few kg’s (every little helps when your around 100kg!😆) dependent upon pizza consumption tomorrow!

Looking forward to it. I may even oil the chain on the Dawes Kickback that lives on the turbo.

I’m going to be eating my own bodyweight in tangfastics 20 mins before it.

Mmmmm, tangfastics! I swear they put cocaine in them, that and plain chocolate homewheat biscuits.

How do I join I’m 86kg with ftp 280

^^-pm op with stats and forum/ Zwift name I think.

Just done it cheers

Just a reminder if you want to give this a go can you let me know by this evening. I will post the handicaps tomorrow night.

Don’t worry if you can’t make any etc the more the merrier!

I’ll likely either not be riding event 1 or just cruising round with a mate. I’m not actually sure I can even turn the pedals yet after crashing. Hand is strapped up and I can barely walk.

righto…
I’ve got the laptop etc all working, and doing a test Twitch stream today…

link here…

there’s a high chance it all explodes by tomorrow! but as there’s large numbers in the race, it MIGHT be an interesting watch if it still works tomorrow eve!

DrP

OK so just over 4 hours until the Grand Departe. Below is a summary of everything that has been decided over the last few pages. Mostly importantly remember the start and finish information and don’t be late! No late joins are allowed. You should have the invite.

STW Series Rules/Information

1. This is a handicap race series. The race will be a mass start with the handicap applied to the results at the end of the race. Your handicap can be found at the following link.

2. Any bike is allowed – choose what you think best suits the course. Also wear what kit you want. Traditionally we have worn the bumblebee for Zwift meetups on STW so if you are unsure that would be a good choice.

3. Race starts – as the meetup function is being used we will have a rolling neutralised start. Once the meetup starts I will gently pedal at about 100W. You should adjust your position to congregate on me (I will be very visible with a bright yellow beacon if you haven’t used the meetup function before). As soon as everyone is in a swarm/peloton I will type GO GO GO which will appear across everyone’s screen – then race how you want!

4. Race finish – the race ends when you cross the blue banner. Make sure you race until the blue banner not any other finish lines/sprint line etc on course. Because meetup view is being used this may be a few hundred metres past a sprint line or similar. It is clearly visible on both the map, the distance countdown on the top bar and in view on the screen. Once you finish you will get a results screen displayed. Once this happens you can choose to leave the game, cool down etc. I will stop short of the race finish to remain in the game (my time isn’t counted anyway to any points finish) and provide encouragement and ensure everyone gets across the line (I might just be last anyway!).

5. Results – I will publish the results on the forum within an hour or so of everyone finishing. There will be the overall results. Top 3 from A, B, C and D and then the handicapped results. Points for the series title (and prizes) will be based on the handicapped results. Zwift Cats are based on the cats here and the FTP and weight you provided me so might not match historical data in ZP etc.

6. Points – points will be awarded for 1st through to 30th so the series will award consistency and hopefully give everyone an opportunity to score results. The points awarded are as per this link (26-30) column.

7. In game comms – It is a meetup so only messages sent in the race will be seen. I will prob type some messages etc and reminders for encouragement during the race but feel free to join in with any banter, let us know you have fallen of your turbo, the cat has run through the spinning rear wheel and got its tail caught in the chain, you need another frozen sausage etc!!

8. HAVE FUN AND ENJOY YOURSELF!

4 hours? Is it today? I thought it was tomorrow! Is today tomorrow already?

is tomorrow…

DrP