STW Zwift Racing League – Spring 2022

Damn you DrP and your IRL rides! Our local trails have been closed (officially, still get some cheeky riders using them 🙂 ) and no sign of a reopening date.

@sturdylad where abouts is that? I’m assuming they’re o fish ul ones not bridleways etc?

For tonight’s TT, https://zwiftinsider.com/canyon-speedmax-cf-slx-disc/ is the best performer, combined with https://zwiftinsider.com/dt-swiss-arc-1100-disc/ . The wheelset is superb, I recently hit level 42 and they fly on “flat” routes!

https://zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=2740770 suggests you are 19.5Km, which sounds like through the arch and around the loop before getting back to the arch.

Part of me is tempted to ask if I can sign up for fun and keep me out of the league standings, but I probably really shouldn’t be doing anything much above z2 after short intensive Zwift races the last couple of days and a silly hybrid TT-esque ride home this afternoon.

Zwift TT & DT Swiss ARC110 DICUT 62 for me, I’m just a lowly level 20 kid!

@dangeourbrain – Woburn

I’m joining in tonight, but I’m going to get my excuses in.

Not really been on the bike since my back injury 5 or so weeks back. Then to cap it all off, I’ve had a stomach bug over the weekend. Not really ate much, but managed to dispose a hell of a lot through the other end!

Hi @Robbo1234biking So just to confirm, there is no drafting, so pick whatever bike you want, but you may as well choose a TT.

What order have you done it in favourites out last?

P.

No drafting. I don’t get to decide the order. A time is assigned to you when you sign up. Assuming I will be of first as I was first to sign up.

Going to have to skip tonight. Turns out my ‘cold’ of last week was COVID and although well on the mend it has taken quite a lot out of me so I think it would be unwise for me to join the race tonight. Can’t make next week as I will be away in Paris for work, so that is me done for this series. Enjoy the racing and thanks @robbo1234biking for organising the series as always – it has been a blast and wish I could have joined more – was just getting back into it as well.

7:31 – but the warm up feels like treacle.

Chase me.

Changed my mind on the MTB 🙂

Going for TT bike but trying to stay under 250 watts and see how bad the knee is tomorrow…

By heck you were flying tonight robbo!

That was hard! The half way point seemed to take forever!

FTP increase though to 266w

Indeed he was. I was 20s back at the start and he was nowhere to be seen! Thanks for keeping me honest Brian. That was bloody tough. Great ride.

First race of the series for me and first TT ride of any sort, feels like a sweaty baptism of fire. Set off dead last so was able to enjoy a race where i wasn’t overtaken for a change!

Big FTP increase though 247 to 260. Happy with that.

I must be sick in the head….
I really enjoyed that, brought back memories of all those Monday nights doing real TTs usually in the wind and rain!

Passed a couple guys on the road (sorry I can barely remember my own name most of the time!) and was chasing @jimdubleyou for all I was worth at the end, taking a bout 7s/km at one point but just ran out of road.

Some really fast guys at the sharp end again.

Well done all.

Please give me some nominations for Riders Rider!

Thanks for everyone for taking part in the series! Hope you all enjoyed it.

The results are provisional in case I have made any mistakes. Please let me know.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SYEJq-_k2w-I3LUIgg6hoi5LAb7angXxiRasZfjvPE4/edit#gid=1334036094

Race 5 – Tempus Fugit

Overall Race Winner
1. robbo1234biking
2. Phil56
3. Yanboss

Overall Race Winner (with handicaps)
1. robbo1234biking
2. vanilla83
3. Paul-s

Tempus Fugit – Short
1. Straightliner
2. Robbo1234biking
3. Phil56
4. Vanilla83
5. Yanboss

Overall Standings
1. yanboss
2. robbo1234biking
3. Paul-S

Please vote for the Rider’s Rider of the Series/Season on the below link:

https://linkto.run/p/IN49225G

Nominees are:

Yanboss
Vanilla83
Nixie
Ogg

I know Stumpy was nominated but he already won a prize for his shit jokes and I have 3 days of them IRL in May

I have set up a GoFundMe for people who have enjoyed the series. This time around we are raising money for Diabetes UK. Slowpuncheur has been a regular in this race series from the start. On Fathers Day last year he ended up taking his son to hospital as he wasn’t feeling well. Many hours later they were delivered the news that his son is Type 1 diabetic. His son has adjusted well to the changes in life and continues to do everything he wants to. Diabetes UK helps his son and others like him through investment in Diabetes research and support for other Diabetes sufferers. I know there are also others on the forum who have diabetes or close family members with diabetes.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/e3732-stw-race-series-fundraiser?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Please dontate if you are able to and would like to show your appreciation for the series.

Cracking time @robbo1234biking!

Thanks to whoever nominated me for Rider’s Rider as well!

Well that was 25 minutes of pain. I went of a bit quick in typical fashion but I managed to keep my power above FTP all the way (well I got an FTP boost at the end in any case). Pretty pleased with a win to be honest!

I waved at @slowpuncheur on the way back but a typical bloody roadie and didnt wave back! As i was first across the line it was quite interesting to watch the times as they came in.

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I didnt have a clue who was out there so had no idea if my time was going to be good enough or not. Just managed to pip Phil by 6 seconds – looks like he managed the negative split better than me so it was touch and go by the end.

I’ve stopped waving at you @robbo1234biking since you got fast..In truth, I didn’t eve see you. Lol

That was tough, but it was good to get some sort of leg work done.

Well done robbo on the win.

Roll on Autumn, I’ve got work to do in Widnes next week!

Well done Robbo and everyone else giving it some beans this evening.

Thanks for keeping me honest Brian.

Barely felt like I was keeping myself honest tonight.

Hoped the ride home would have loosened me up enough but my the time I got dinner going and things I’d been off the bike too long and only ended up with 5 minutes to try get going again.
Set off with the best of intentions for three negative splits, wanted 90% of ftp for 8 minutes, 100% for 8 and 110% for the last 10 or so.

Think I went off in the wrong gear so at bit too high a cadence for me. The first 8 minutes went OK but felt like an hour, then the rest was just a struggle to hold 100% or there about. Ended up at about 95% average and came in a good 30seconds down from where I wanted but felt I had nothing more to give this evening.

Cheers all for a cracking ride, and thanks again robbo for another great series. Unfortunately I can’t make next week so best of luck all!

Gutted I didn’t make it tonight, was looking forward to a good TT. Congrats all who made it.

Think I’ve nearly recovered from that!
Pretty happy with my performance, was aiming for 250w Paul overtook me and that gave me someone to chase for the 3rd segment bumping the average up to 255.
Well done Robbo on the win.

Made a plan, crossed the line feeling pretty happy with how it went. Nice negative split. Very happy. Saw @Robbo1234biking ‘s result – oh, right, hmm, must try harder.

Great riding all!

FTP bump to 314

I know Stumpy was nominated but he already won a prize for his shit jokes and I have 3 days of them IRL in May

lol. Currently learning my 6-year old’s joke book in preparation for May & the Autumn series.

I didn’t make the race yesterday as I went to see a footie match – Peterborough play Luton, no less. My neighbour & his son have season tickets his son couldn’t make it.
Pretty bad game – Luton played much better, but a late goal from Peterborough meant it ended in a 1-1 draw.

Currently learning my 6-year old’s joke book in preparation for May & the Autumn series.

Ohhh, vastly improved quality next season then?

Missed every race this series. First few due to my own lack of motivation, then we’ve got a relative in hospital so visiting times present a clash, but last week I was poorly with what I thought was gastroenteritis.

It really wiped me out, off work for a week, barely moved off the couch for a couple of days. In hindsight, I wonder if it was COVID, the fatigue was quite a shock to me. No other symptoms though, just some tummy trouble and fatigue.

I tried my first free ride in zwift yesterday and managed a plod for about 50mins. Just tried a workout, but cut it short after 30 mins.

Feel really wiped out still.

dangeourbrain

Ohhh, vastly improved quality next season then?

Undoubtedly, probably not.

Ah come on, that’s not the attitude. I mean improving your jokes is a pretty low bar, lower even than improving on my race points.

Marginal groans?

Marginal groans?

I guess that’s what you get when your skin suit is one size too small.

Pleased with that, tried to keep at or just over FTP, knowing that it would be less than an hour, and was planning on pushing hard for the last loop.

At the start it took will power not to go all out, and not try and chase down @O.GG, in the end it took me 20 mins to close the gap but it was a nice carrot to chase

At the end, luckily for me I noticed that others were disappearing BEFORE they did the loop, so had chance to ramp up for the final km, but could have pushed from a little earlier if I had known. Still cream crackered at the end, but suprised at 3rd with handicap

Roll on next week 🙂

I had that Thursday-Monday @richardkennerley.

Body aching, shivers and stomach for the first couple of days. Then nausea, with toilet visit gaps ranging from 30 mins-90 mins in between. Didn’t eat much until Sunday night, then little bit more on Monday but only soup with bread.

Took a chance last night to ride, but had no power in the legs. Had two COVID tests in the time of infection but both negative. Definitely feel better today and the toilet visits have gone down to two a day now! Stomach still aches every now and then, don’t feel as lethargic.

Last set of handicaps are now available. Dont forget to vote for Riders Rider as well!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SYEJq-_k2w-I3LUIgg6hoi5LAb7angXxiRasZfjvPE4/edit#gid=1759953198

https://linkto.run/p/IN49225G

The new trainer has arrived and works perfectly so I’ll be on the start line for the final race! Might even be a bit faster as it seems that the old one was a bit off on the resistance. Either way I’ll enjoy one last beasting trying to chase you all, @stumpy01 you’d better be on top form on the joke front 😁

Looking like I’ll miss the final…
Away this week but may try and use my brother’s bike and turbo, problem is he’s about 6 inches taller than me!

Have a great ride and I’m already looking forward to the next series

@reluctantjumper – great news on the trainer front!!

Ahem. Joke wise we’ll have to see!!!

Not sure I’ll be able to race tomorrow – tested positive for Covid at the weekend and was feeling fine, but today not so much 🙁

Hope you are feeling better soon Straightliner.

So tonight is a Tour of Fire & Ice including a lead in from the pier so I think it should end around Turn 7 of the Alpe. Keep an eye out on the finishing distance and for the blue banner!

“Tour of Fire and Ice” Route Details (Watopia)