Zwift meetups and social rides ?

That was great fun. Didnt quite have enough at the end to chase that last guy through the rollers but got an FTP boost from 287w to 289w so a much better showing than Tuesday!

It isnt showing on ZP yet but 4th on the road for me.

Thanks guys I enjoyed that. It might work better for a team ride with something around the 40 minute mark with a feature we could attack as a team and really go for a breakaway. Def worth doing again!

Not sure what happened with you Weeksy – perhaps a DrP power meter? Would be surprised if you grew 50w overnight!

I seem to do ok on the hill as a few times I was at the back of the group and was hitting the front over the top, so that could be a possible attack point and try to make it stick to the rollers.

I’m not saying I’ve increased that much, but what if like to know is, which is accurate, ant+ or Bluetooth? And why are they so insanely different.

I’ve just pinged crosshair a message who some of you may recall as he has a power meter.

Really enjoyed that, tbh was on the limit the whole time hanging on the back of the lead group, but I did actually manage to hang on until after the last hill (just didn’t have anything left for the finish after that) so pretty pleased!

How come there’s only 3 of us on ZP? everyone else DQ’d?

I seem to do ok on the hill as a few times I was at the back of the group and was hitting the front over the top,

yeah I found that too. Could be a plan!

Definitely up for doing something like that again next weekend!

which is accurate, ant+ or Bluetooth?

shouldn’t make any difference, they’re just different protocols for transmitting (what should be) the same data…

Got a garmin? Output the ant+ signal to that and then you can compare the two outputs live?

That was fun. Managed to avoid the cone of shame but I’m on the ZP naughty step as averaged 3.59 w/kg. Winner also DQd.

The anti-sandbagging measures your 5 min power so I think if you manage to hide a bit and lower your watts for a few seconds it helps.

If the next race stays together I would suggest the old Team Quickstep classics approach of several attacks to tire out chasers. So maybe one half way around the last lap, one before the hill and then one of the top of the hill with someone in the bunch for the sprint. No-one is going to want to chase every attack.

Saying it and doing it are very different things though. I just didn’t have the legs (no PU) over the top of the last hill to get to the front today.

Got a garmin? Output the ant+ signal to that and then you can compare the two outputs live?

My Garmin can show live power?

Yeah the power up gods were not kind to me today, a burrito and 2 Van’s….not much use but the Van’s helped to gain back some places.

Looks like I got bumped to 4th in ZP, well done Robbo on 2nd!

shouldn’t make any difference, they’re just different protocols for transmitting (what should be) the same data…

I hear ya, but I didn’t find 50w today over all the other events. But who’s to know which is correct. I may have been self handicapped for years

Yeah the power up gods were not kind to me today, a burrito and 2 Van’s

vans are great! Last ages and let you ease off for a few seconds of recovery! I got 2 burritos tho, bloody useless unless you’re making a move off the front (not a chance 🤣)

My Garmin can show live power?

maybe, lots can… which one have you got?

Depends on model I guess but you can connect an indoor trainer to it and then just select the power fields that you want (instant power, 3 sec power etc). Quite handy as you can get NP from it as well. You can also use them to increase resistance but be careful doing that if you trainer is connected as controllable in Zwift the two will conflict but you can just take the ant+ data from it.

Of course you love vans Zilog – you are the king of the draft!

520 I think mine is guys. I’ve never asked it to show power as I only ever use it inside. Do you pair it?

Does it use Bluetooth or Ant?

I was wanting a feather or the aero…I must admit the van was beneficial to help me ease the hurt at one point, but no good for a sprint or hill 🤣

520 I think mine is guys.

I have a 520, pretty sure it has that feature. Although it does have BT, I vaguely recall that it only uses that to download data to a smartphone, think you have to use Ant+ for a power meter.

Of course you love vans Zilog – you are the king of the draft!

😀 🚛 🚴

Uses ant plus. Go into menu, training, indoor trainer. You should be able to pair from there.

Thanks guys. Something to try

@DrP On the hills meetup tomorrow morning, is it on a tether, or is there a w/kg target…?

Can you get a double cone?

I got a first warning and cone pretty early on, but obviously I just then increased my power output to try and compensate – then I got a second warning and it really, really became difficult!

Not sure if it was psychological, but it also felt like it was controlling the turbo?

One things for sure – the anti sandbagging feature definitely works!

That was fun. If you guys liked it I’d do it again. Nice silver cup @robbo1234biking!

The swarm of bees must have been quite annoying for everyone else. But the cone of shame is a tricky constraint on how the Bs can support the As.

I got 2 as well mate

@stcolin . i’ve a tacx Neo..it came with a bunch of adaptors… I’m only using the 135 QR.
If your machine is the same setup as mine, and they will fit, i can lend you my others until you get yours delivered to you?
Just post them back when you’re done?

@benman
I kinda opted away from elastic band for this.. it’s mainly flat, with a few climbs in it… though it is meetup only view, so don’t want people left alone, as there’s no one else to play with.

What do you think? switch it to elastic band? we normally stick at about 3.2ish w/kg, a bit more up the hills.

Happy to stick on band if the crowd wants it…

DrP

I was happier with the ftp gain rather than the silver to be honest @savoyad. My Tuesday performances have been lacking a bit so was pleased to get a good result.

@phil56 some info here on anti sandbagging.

https://zwiftinsider.com/anti-sandbagging-plans/

Shame you guys got hit with the cone of treacle…we maybe need to find one that has all cats or without the sand bagging feature. The boost ones I’ve done don’t have that, just a DQ bump at the end.

It’s only zhq that has sandbagging. Although if I race on Ant+ I won’t trigger it.

I’m not sure this is your problem weeksy but does suggest a difference based on gears.

https://zwiftinsider.com/wahoo-kickr-tests-connecting-via-legacy-ant-ant-fe-c-and-bluetooth-ftms/

Yeah I read that too. But weirdly was the reverse of my issue with figures plus it doesn’t tell me which is correct

Jepster apparently can do meter stuff too which I’ve installed and have Zwift on our spare laptop which also does Bluetooth to check tomorrow. Work policy disables BT on my laptop

This might be more useful.

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/12/how-to-troubleshooting-power-meter-and-trainer-accuracy-issues.html

@phil56 did you use the new rocker plate?

did you use the new rocker plate?

I did – felt really weird, can’t say I liked it much. I’m going to inflate the balls a bit for tomorrow to stiffen it up a bit and see if that feels any better – but I suspect it’s one of those things you need to get used to.

Hopefully you get used to it then. I couldn’t use one where my bike is position led at the moment. It goes in the corner of our lounge/diner but doesn’t take up much room. There is a waste pipe in the corner from upstairs which is blocked in and the Direto fits nicely around that so I can tucj it away. If I had a rocker would have to move it about a foot into the room and it wouldn’t fit as well.

I did – felt really weird, can’t say I liked it much.

yeah felt odd at first for me too, but by the 2nd or 3rd ride I didn’t even notice it when riding hard, think your body just adjusts to it subconsciously!

I’m going to inflate the balls a bit for tomorrow to stiffen it up a bit and see if that feels any better – but I suspect it’s one of those things you need to get used to

I bought one that had inflatable bladders. Rides nicer with pool noodle cut-offs shoved between the 2 plates

… but I came here to ask about DrP’s invitation to Sunday hills tomorrow. Do you lot ride it hard or what ? (I’m no climber)

(and now I’ve read the rest of this page I see the answer 🙄 . Hoping to join for an hour or so)

OK, I’ll bite – what the hell is a

pool noodle cut-offs

???!!!!

@phil56 you have to ride in one of these I think

Hahaha funny! 🤣🤣🤣 seriously @Phil56 those large foam large straw looking things that kids use to help them float in swimming pools. Usually pink or green.

@scaredypants just try one, the guys usually stay on the pace of the slowest rider and wait at the top of hills. I’ve never had a problem keeping up etc, so you will be fine.

Noob question, just surfaced into STW Forum after a very long hiatus.

Zwift kit ready….

Belly fat stored and ready to exploit…

(Hoping after an initial reawakening to the joys of zwift Ill be able to keep you in binocular range from the back)

Is there a protocol to join the races? Are they posted up here?

I listened to the podcast and this peaked my interest.

There are various regular & ad-hoc meet-ups (not races) posted on this thread, if you mean the STW race series then you’ll need to do an FTP test (if you don’t already know it) then let @robbo1234biking know and he can calculate your handicap & send you the private link to the races. Big range of abilities, the more the merrier!
The thread for those races is here https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stw-zwift-race-series-3-winter/

Andy…there is a specific race thread, it’s not too far down…entitled winter series.

@robbo1234biking is the main instigator and can set you up in the series, he will need your FTP and weight. Thete are a couple of races left of this session so get involved. A new series will start in the spring.

Edit- beaten to it by Zilog but you get the idea…we are both basically saying the same thing

… long as I can get up in time, I’m in for tomorrow

(I bet this is up ^ there somewhere too, so sorry but) do you use discord or anything like ?