Zwift meetups and social rides ?

Added a few mince pies into the equation also.

Sorry folks, I think it’s my dongle that’s failed. Gutted ☹

Sorry to hear that gavin. Though mainly you got the fun bit done today at least.

Cheers for coming all. It was a good turnout today.

It also seems the meetup stopped short of the badge. Drat.

That was awful today lol! I think my ftp isn’t going to go down about 20w tomorrow for the ramp test. Think I might be dehydrated actually – going to focus on rehydrating without alcohol today lol. Thanks all for bearing with me. Hope I can find something this week otherwise the course horseman isn’t happening for me.

I’d suggest next week we do pencil in a “cafe” stop. If nothing else it’s a long time to sit on a trainer.

I don’t think I’ll be doing next week, at least not all of it. Might join you for an hour or so though, well as long as my replacement dongle arrives and I can get it all working.

And thanks again for organising 🙂

I’ll be doing it slower next week for sure, I’ll need to pace it if I’m going to finish.

We may need a group split for both fast and slow pace, so that everyone can choose their group and we are not holding some back.

Thanks for today all, there are some dull bits that you just need to push through. I’d be happy just doing laps of the zig zag section )))

Thanks Brian. Turns out I needed that. Being feeling rubbish this week so it was more of a test than anything. Felt much better as we progressed and no Zwift issues either.

Was glad it finished early so didn’t have to do the full final climb, to get the badge you needed to go to the next banner at the top of the petit KOM. Robbo and I discovered that the first time to our error…had to do it all again the same week to get the badge.

At least it’s only the dongle Swavis…more expensive if the trainer…

Good place for a coffee stop would be at the bottom of the epic KOM at the arch before you go into the jungle and start the alpe. I think we will be fairly similar on pace until there and the alpe will really separate us.

had to do it all again the same week to get the badge.

Well I certainly won’t be doing it again this week!

That was mind of matter not my fav route and I’d had enough of it at mile 30 🙂 anyhow I got it done feel all the better for it.

Great turn out too.

Horseman aim is steady pace, I started a bit quick today, but am looking forward to to and the challenge and yes I think we should pop in a cafe stop on it maybe a top the Epic Kom or bottom just top give a little more time to digest our coffee and cake before Alpe section, top or bottom don’t mind.

My problem is if I stop, the legs don’t work again )))

I did the Horseman back in June when I was a little bit fitter, this time I think it will take me a tad longer to complete. It was defiantly hard going.

https://strava.app.link/6xWyZ3zB3ab

That was a bit of a slog but thought we rode it well together. Thanks for the heads up on the finish, The badge was after the banner at the KOM so that’s a bit extra xp. I now have spotty socks. So how are we fuelling next week? Haribo jelly babies all the way for me.

Good ride this morning, thks for organising Bri. Might get on the 4H, see how I’m feeling next Sat. Reckon 4-5 hrs?

Yeh 4-5 hours for this one.

Haven’t even thought about fuelling it yet. Wil likely use a combination of high5, gels, jelly babies and bananas.

I’m thinking pie at some point Hahaha
We can pick those pork pies up Robbo that we left at the top of the radio tower the other week 🤣🤣

I will be fueling next week with gels,cake bars, some fresh fruit and sweets that’s the current plan, will ensure to have a couple day rest so no riding or running on Thursday or Friday at least.

Something else I will do at the coffee stop is change bib shorts as I can and it will improve the comfort for climbing the alpe! Every little helps!

Luckily this is something that can be done at a virtual coffee stop!

Looks like I’m going to have to dig the old turbo out as commuting to work is off the cards for the next few months.

I’ve got a normal dumb trainer, power meter and speed sensor on the bike, HR strap and an ANT dongle.

Is there anything else I need for Zwifting? Last time I did it I I had a Kickr to use so it was pretty straightforward.

Think that 20 minutes of Alpe downhill will be a good opportunity to get off the bike…go do something else…refuel…piss…change…

@notmyrealname you should be fine with that set up you just won’t get feedback on the hills etc.

@oopnorth on the way down from the alpe we should almost be done apart from the jungle climb and then the climb out of the jungle loop – which might actually be my worst climb in the whole game!

Given ’tis likely to be a proper pig, shall we have a proper strategise come Friday?

I’ve a few suggestions but need to see where we are in numbers really etc before any of it makes much sense

Could be an idea Brian. I’m up for any suggestions to help.

Doing the 100km the other week my arse was numb, This will be another hour at least on top…think that will be one of the main challenges, to keep moving around on the saddle to avoid saddle soreness.
I am looking forward to this route though in a sick way ))))

I am happy to strategize on Friday – I am back at work this week so plenty of time to debate on a forum about the best strategy for a virtual ride 🙂

So far 9 people have signed up for it!

Yes we should have a plan be it a couple ‘cafe’ stops, regroup points, when I did Mega Pretzel I stopped for about 10 mins just after the mid point of the ride which helped.

Maybe for a ride like this split it into thirds. Breaks at 25km/45km top of Alpe for example.

man you boys are bonkers… i’ll be outside… i can’t do 4-5 hours on Zwift that’s for sure.

I think two hours would be my limit. I was gutted yesterday that I didn’t manage to finish as it was going to be my longest Zwift ride and there’s no way I’d last that long solo.
I have two young boys to entertain too and even they get bored with a solid two hours of Minecraft on their tablets 😁

I think I’m in and I’ll be extending it if I am to tick off the 100km badge.

Looks like a good route.. I’m not around/free this sat, as got the kids and don’t want to turbo for 4 hours++ with them..

i MIGHT join you for a small portion… Or is anyone up for a shorter stint on sunday am??
Or.. is there a route that only joins a portion of the 4 horsemen?

DrP

Good ride yesterday, struggled at the start and needed a tow to get back on to the group, but then found it ok / good workout overall. My phone battery died so wasn’t able to communicate via the companion app.

Was glad it finished early so didn’t have to do the full final climb, to get the badge you needed to go to the next banner at the top of the petit KOM. Robbo and I discovered that the first time to our error…had to do it all again the same week to get the badge.

I was about to stop at the end of the group ride and saw your comment on this, so did continue to the banner and got the badge, cheers!

Hoping to join on Saturday (if hope is the right word for what looks like a pretty unpleasant way to spend a morning lol), especially as lockdown has scuppered plans to meet family for the day.

is there a route that only joins a portion of the 4 horsemen?

You should be able to “ride with” regardless should you wish.

Sunday I’ll need a bit of something to loosen my legs up though it’s likely to be outdoors and involving my better half so any zwifting will be short indeed.

Just looking into this further, when I did the Quatch quest back in September it took 2hrs 45 mins, that was Epic KOM and Alpe with the Titans Grove thrown in too, no radio tower on the KOM though. Not many breaks in that one and I did the Alpe in around 70 minutes following the KOM. If I can replicate that on Saturday I will be happy but definitely looking at a 4+ hour ride based on that.

Have we discussed bike choice yet?? hahaha

You should be able to “ride with” regardless should you wish.

Cool..i’ll accept the invite and ride for maybe an hour or 90 min….

DrP

Have we discussed bike choice yet??

I’m thinking it might be the day to do some swapping

Cool..i’ll accept the invite and ride for maybe an hour or 90 min…

You’ll be mostly done by then anyway 😉

I’m thinking it might be the day to do some swapping

A MTB will help on that Jungle bit after the Alpe for sure. Other than that it’s either the Tron or the Tarmac Pro with lightweights

I’ll just be sticking to the one bike just going to check it’s a light one, which I am going to look at now.

So what pastry item are people choosing for the coffee stop?

Going to need to take in about 2000 calories before and during the ride. That is going to be tough to achieve!