STW Zwift Autumn Series 2

Yes it is a mass start for all cats (try and hang on to a faster cat group if you can!) but as the meetup spread everyone about 400m along the road the idea is to try and get everyone into one big group. It can get a bit messy but until zwift give us something better we are pretty limited.

I’ve barely ridden since the last series & from the sounds of the posts above, this course sounds like it might be a bit of a shocker.
I’ll commit to my previous tactic of going as fast as possible for about 30seconds, get spat out into no-mans land & then sweat my knackers off for an hour.

I am not entirely sure how the sprint thing works – is it just the normal sprint sections that appear on a course? I take it we don’t get an indicator, apart from crossing the sprint line? Pretty academic, as I always get spat (even further) out the back in the sprint situations, but it’s nice to know the reasons why I am going backwards :o)

The sprints are to add a bit more fun into the competition really and give people other opportunities to score points. It is about 7.5km into the lap on this course (see image on page 1). If you aren’t sure where it is keep an eye out for a green arch on the map. Also you don’t have to sprint – it might be better not to as normally after a sprint I need to drop the power for a bit so I def wont be trying to hit 1000W! Might be more of a 400W type sprint but the fastest times will likely come from being in a good pack and getting the timing right.

Green arch on the map – great! I’ll keep my eye out for that & see what happens.
I suspect killing myself during the sprint phase will be counter-productive though, apart from a personal challenge.

Maybe i put too much pressure on myself to stay with Robbo and Oop North

Funny Weeksy cos I do that thinking about keeping up with you, Robbo, Hoppy, Ivan etc. Think that is what adds to the fun cos you soon know if you are in the right position or not, once the initial sprint dies down. Not going to be going too crazy tonight as I have a bit of a muscle twinge behind the knee but Lets see how it pans out, as I said I don’t know the course really so will be a learning curve for the ups and downs on the first lap.

Anyone know a hack so I can hide behind a tree for a lap?

@slowpuncheur I don’t think you have anything to worry about, as you have 2.5 minutes advantage on me in the handicap and you are faster than me most weeks on the Sunday hills. I’m now setting you as a target!! 😉

OK, minor discussion but directly related to tonight.

Anyone race using ‘assistance’ from things like Gels, Shotblocks etc ? I’m wondering if popping a shotblock 30 mins before and one just as i start may be a good plan ?

I did 3 of the races last time round.

If I remember correctly, I assisted myself with:

1) Full Fish and Chip Dinner, Curry Sauce.
2) Apple Pie and Custard
3) Empty Stomach as late home from work.

I think the biggest thing for me is actually getting on the bike plenty of time before the race so I’m properly warmed up!

I’m properly warmed up!

THat’s another thing i struggle with… i seem to ride better from cold personally.

Anyone race using ‘assistance’ from things like Gels, Shotblocks etc ?

I’m using the e-bike if that counts?!

I usually have a 500ml bottle with 2 or 3 scoops of High5 in before/during the race.

Anyone race using ‘assistance’ from things like Gels, Shotblocks etc ? I’m wondering if popping a shotblock 30 mins before and one just as i start may be a good plan ?

Pint of Stella, a line of Pro Plus and half an asthma inhaler.

I tend to use electrolyte drink before and during the races. I prefer a nice warm up but often find myself managing pace at the start instead.

The race is short so I won’t be using any energy drinks. I need a warm up of at least 30 min to get the legs in the mood for 100rpm for an hour 😭.
I’m hoping an expected delivery arrives early rather than late as otherwise I might have to hop off and answer the door mid race.

I try to get on the bike nice & early. I started off doing that just to iron out any Zwift gremlins, but do feel that I can go faster from the off with properly warmed up legs.

Don’t bother eating during the race & only have water (copious amounts of) in my bottles.
I normally eat with the rest of my family at 5pm-ish, so quite often start the race feeling a bit ‘full’ but that can’t really be helped.

Not tried any gels or other energy sources…bit of cake dangling from a string just in front of the bike could possibly encourage me along…

Alaos (well, kinda..) I’ll be going for one last real ride with my mates for a while tonight, so won’t be at the lineup tonight…!

Have fun chaps… race hard, race safe, but mostly…race legal….
or whatevs…

DrP

@robbo1234biking – I don’t seem to have received an invite for tonights race? Still up for it if it is not too late.

In keeping with most other people here, think my FTP has dropped from my summer “peak” – partly through injury and partly through laziness. Measure over the weekend and seemed to have dropped to 299W. Remeasured it because was struggling to keep up with training plans that I was breezing in the summer.

I’ve joined in on this, should be fun. Just got a ‘dumb’ turbo I’m borrowing from a friend and speed and cadence sensors I bought from Wiggle. Won’t be taking it too seriously but it will help with my fitness I think.

Sorry crazy Harry you should have the invite now!

This will be interesting, fell off at speed last week (not off the trainer 🤕) and ribs are still a bit sore. Will make it to the start line but not sure I’ll stay the course.

DrP no you can’t do that, who’s going to help me around after the lead groups drops me on the first proper climb?

Bugger. I’m going to have to duck out of tonight. Work deadline and family stuff means I can’t fit it in. Gutted but will be on the start line for next one – and Sundays little jaunt. Might treat myself to a ramp test tomorrow instead! Ride well people.

Going to start my warmup soon 😂

I’m starting mine about 7:27

@slowpuncheur, Sundays jaunt is on Saturday Lol! Don’t want you missing that too haha! Shame you can’t make it tonight but everyone usually misses one or two, we don’t take it too serious it’s all for fun.

I’m only just about to leave work myself so my race is to hit the start line in time 😉

I’m a bit thick. So, having never done a meet up, but reading this thread…

I’ll not be on the line on a turbo pre-event, like a normal race?
Wherever I am in Watatopia warming up, at 7.30 I’ll be transferred to the group?
There’s no start as such, we’ll form a group with Rob at the front?
At some point, once we’re all together there’ll be a signal to race?

Is that about right? Just finishing my pre-race massage now…

Yeh that’s about it although you should get the join meet up button about 5-15 minutes before hand.

Signal to race is ‘Go, go, go’ then it just becomes a normal Zwift race basically!

It’s the same but not in a holding pen. You all just sit at the road side.

You’ll get the normal button to jump to event as per races

Is that about right? Just finishing my pre-race massage now…

You do that too?

Thanks both. 🙂

You do that too?

I thought the thread was looking very serious, so I’ve broken out the sweet almond oil…

Errrm. I’m scared.

No pics!

I will be streaming. Will post the link shortly if anyone cares.

Edit, should be here https://youtu.be/1-vbtBXODZo

Going to have to skip this week sorry folks, work has rather gotten in the way.

Anyone getting the join yet?

No button! Resend Robbo please

Weeksy. Robo can’t resend, try saying you won’t go and then will go.

That was a spectacular fail on timing on the second lap sprint, where I started on the banner. I tried to then use it as a solo breakaway, but had too much massage oil on my hands and kept slipping off the goods hoods. Honest.

Need to learn some Zwift etiquette.

I was toying with the idea of giving tonight a miss as have lost my mojo a bit. Decided to give it a go, but mentally quit second time up the climb despite the pace being not too bad.

Ended up spinning round the 2nd half of the race waiting for it to finish so I could pour myself some wine..

Not the mindset of a champion it has to be said..😂

Well that went all wrong then all ok.

Couldn’t get in race so jumped in on phone and that let me in.

However, no Comms meant I totally missed the go go go and got left for dead. Myself and Craig iatr? (top ride mate) flew after riders and for 1.5 laps went caught quite a few who jumped on with us.
But on lap 3 up the hill I got spat out unceremoniously. Nowt I could do to hold, they were over 4w/kg up it and whilst I could have done that on lap 1, but not on 3rd lap. So I was out the back of the group.

It was then a slog to the line, I was trying to help my new buddy but I couldn’t.
He scalped me up to the line though and I couldn’t respond.

All in all, I gave plenty but missing the start killed me.

Great ride with some of the C crew, was about 5 of us for most of the race after the lead group dropped us, but seemed to pick up loads of others from somewhere about halfway through the last lap! Final hill blew it apart and then there was a proper race for the line, sadly my legs failed me about 200m to go and I had nothing left to contest the sprint finish with!

I think we had a very similar ride, Steve. I was waiting to see when it would kick off, and took a drink, by the time I put it down the group had gone. I find it really hard to regulate the power to keep the pace even when in a pair, but I think we did alright.

Sorry for going for the sprint – I felt a bit of a knob 🙂

Craig (IATR)