Zwift, my journey, my weight and my fitness.

So how do we find out how we got on?

Or doesn’t it matter ?

(Mid run with dogs which is sort of more a walk now)

https://wtrl.racing//ttt/TTT-Results.php

We beat you this week (Cleveland Wheelers) although I did exactly what I told everyone else not to do. If you aren’t on on the Volcano downhill you get left behind. I tried to pull our 1 straggler back on and then killed myself trying to get back when he couldn’t but had to let them go.
Think we were about a minute up. 4 Bs and 2 Cs this week. The Bs are low Bs and Cs high Cs.

What an odd selection of routes for TFA stage two titled “rolling hills”…

Harrowgate UCI: ~14Km, ~247m elevation, 1-lap (C/D- 3.2-5W/Kg and sub 3.2W/Kg respectively)
Watopia Magnificant8: ~29Km, ~155m, 1-lap (A/B- 3.2+ and 3.2- respectively)

Mag8 is a reasonable event only course, but rolling hills? More like pancake with a gentle incline! Shirley there are loads of better rolling routes, such as one including Titans Grove.

Yesterday evening’s TTT was fun (kind of). Great teamwork and real support from the stronger riders, thank you.

I’ll get our entry in for next week (36.8km of volcano flat) but before I do…there was some talk of choosing a later start time in the hope that would mean a shorter delay sat in the pen. So any objections if I choose the 7pm slot this time?

Final result yesterday: our 1:07:11 at 37.86km/h put us 283/520 overall and 156/197 in frappe category, our 5 riders were categories ABCCC.

Earlier is better for me tbh but 7pm is not a problem. Pairing screen trick worked fine for me yesterday (on iPad) so I was still able to warm up in the pen!

I think they’ve also added an extra time slot at 6.05

I’m OK either way – at least until everyone is back at work but we’ll cross that bridge.

Just seems daft to enter the 6.30 but not be riding until nearly 7pm any how. That said there’s every chance the later slot will be the same.

I’d love to tag along and I’ll be much stronger on the volcano flat course. (And I promise to be fresh)

Either time works 👍👍

I should be OK for any, generally prefer earlier but it’s not an issue really.

I’m fine with whatever suits everyone – @savoyard, thanks for organising again – much appreciated

Yeah I’m in.

And me too, feels like could be a big team this week

Not sure I’m up for a complete sweat-fest attempting TFA stage2 race today, it’s ~24C indoors before I turn a pedal, trying to decide between an outdoor pootle before dinner or doing the stage2 group ride and try the race perhaps on Sunday when it should be a bit cooler.

The day started so constructively with a pop to the shops just after 0900 and went downhill from there!

I did the tour for all group ride at 11 whilst doing a TrainerRoad z2 recovery ride. The route was ok. 1000 riders but well spread it throughout the route. Was pretty hot though so glad to be done.

I’ve just signed up for tonight’s ZHR hate and hounds – see how they should be run!

see how they should be run!

I think you good a good job for a first attempt.

Possibly split into two hare groups or try keep everyone a bit closer together but was a good effort.

That was hard work, enjoyable though. Four groups is def the way to go, and if you get the headstart right there’s always something to keep pushing for.

I jumped into the first stage 2 in Harrogate yesterday after failing in the TTT.
Bumped into Bath Salts (well he had originally signed up to the other course but switched).
He went of HARD as expected but sat in the front group then the Cs(A and Bs) caught up and mingled in and chaos resumed. He looked to get ahead after a split and I was working as hard as I could then 5 minutes later suddenly he appeared behind me. Knocked it off a bit and sat with him as he was the main competition. Anyone else ahead would likely be kicked from the results.
Coming into the start of the KOM I anticipated him kicking hard and he did. Held him for 30 seconds then blew up and lost over 30 seconds up the remainder.
Pulled myself together on the downhill and sat in a small group. Someone kicked on the steep final climb and I went with them but couldn’t get past as flagging again.
4th on ZP and lost a minute to Bath Salts. Looks like it made him work though as his normalised power doesn’t generally get into the 320watts.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=713069

Got 8th in the Cat C Crit City race just now – it was the first zwift crit race I’ve done and it was surprisingly enjoyable.

Obviously zwift doesn’t have the braking or steering for the full crit race “dear god I’m gonna die in a heap of broken Spesh Allezes” experience but it was a touch less drag-racey than I thought it would be.

Plus it was short, I was on the bike, warmed up, raced and cooled down in an hour so that’s a bonus as well.

7/10 – would recommend.

Tried to go for a ride in the real world today on the propel.

Got 6km before the heavens opened and the gods got angry with thunder. Sprinted home and saw new peak power numbers

Jumped on the stage 2 tfa magnificent 8

My internet was shit so ended up riding it on my own as a TT. Occasionally saw a few riders when the internet worked but largely alone.

New FTP.

Went to London and tried to replicate my peak power to see if this being unable to hit power numbers inside was a thing. .. nope hit the same power inside as I do outside.

Tomorrow is club ride. 7.30 am for 100k…..possibly extending to a 100 miles on watopias waistband

Got on a crit this morning, dolphin direction which I’d not done before – which direction do people like here? I thought a more concentrated climb made it harder for me, although there’s probably not a lot in it.
Going down the straight and rollers was easy street, but up the cobbles was very hard when the group pulled. Got gapped there on the penultimate lap but got back on with a match-burning effort, and stayed on last lap only with a powerup. Desperate sprint for the line got third on zp, pipped by my club mate who was racing with me. Would have been nice to see who we were actually sprinting with in category but that’s the game.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=729658

Big numbers! Next social ride I won’t bother asking if you’re ok

I’ve done Dolphin once and found it easier. Seemed to get more rest on a lap as the finish line came sooner which people seem to relax at. In the other direction you had to get on it straight after the first corner and often it didn’t seem to let up on the way down.
The shorter section of climb suits me better also.

I fancy trying one of these crit races…any tips to how to ride them?

Is it just full on from the off and try and hold on?

Yeh they are only twenty mins so it is an all out max 20 min effort!

My survive rather than win strategy was to dig in hard on the few uphill sections, ideally using power ups, then coast back through the pack when it eased off a touch before getting back to the front for the climbs on the next lap.

OK, the team time trial entry is in for Thursday. We are in the 6.30pm slot after all (the consensus seemed to be that later was OK but earlier better if anything, the 7pm slot is just as likely to be busy as 6.30 and I think it’s fair to hope that the new 6.05 slot will take some time off our delay. let’s see…).

This week it’s three laps of volcano flat, 36.8km.

Riders:
First, enter CATEGORY D here: https://www.zwift.com/events/view/759124 – you must enter category D.

Then, make sure your zwiftpower rider name ends (STW) in zwiftpower…profile….settings..rider name.

Finally, see you in the pen by 6.30 on Thursday.

I’ll post more precise times, our start time (and therefore our non-pedalling delay), the discord link and the info the non-pedalling delay if anyone joins in for the first time etc later in the week.

Looking ahead, some good news: next week has apparently been knocked back to just the one lap of the Magnificent 8 so there is now no prospect of a 60km effort for the time being.

I fancy trying one of these crit races…any tips to how to ride them?

Is it just full on from the off and try and hold on?

Basically yes. Wind it up into the redzone before banner drop and hang on the front group like a limpet for two laps, then take stock. If it’s completely, obviously unsustainable then drop back and get it together with the next group. If it’s only moderately unsustainable then refuse to get dropped and dig in for the full 8. Power ups are massive.

Depends on where you are in your cat really – I’m middish B and can hold the front group with good legs, but the last two laps are a proper gut check. With less good legs, or just jumping on zwift short notice for something to do, then I can’t.

@savoyad – I’ve entered – thanks for organising again

Yep, nice one! Entered!!

Annoyed.  Rode a good Newbury Velo RR gaining a new 1hr PB of 3.65wkg only for Zwift to magically vanish off my screen 700m from the end.  Would have placed 4th C.

1hr PB of 3.65wkg only for Zwift to magically vanish off my screen 700m from the end. Would have placed 4th C.

That ain’t C power lol.

Well, my time of 1:44 puts me 23rd B.  But by not posting a result this week I won’t be bumped…

Shame that isn’t how the cone of shame worked…..it should be it would be a good deterrent.

Yep, nice one! Entered!!

Ditto, signed up

Entered, no drinking for me this Wednesday.

I’m in. Thanks again savoyad

savoyad – I have entered.

Never done these TTT before – so you will have to let me know what the plan is; tactics/teams/etc

@mooman tactics are: you get your head down & smash it, we’ll try to keep up 😂

Get on the Discord group for voice comms (someone might have to post up a fresh link) as that worked really well last time to keep the group together.