Zwift, my journey, my weight and my fitness.

Fast fridays flier in the 14:00 Tempus Fugit TT.

Opted to race smart looked at my 2 previous attempts -both starting out at 450-500 watts before barely being above 200 by the end averaging a pathetic 280 watts over the distance. For 26 high

So today paced it like an actual TT sitting at FTP+% and holding as damn near it.

So averaged 343w for 17.6km for 24:34

Big improvement seen simply by treating it as I would a standard time trial on the road IRL.

@tiger6791 missed your post earlier. Sounds really shitty. Hope they are ok and back their feet again soon.

Nice power @trail_rat

@savoyad I’d quite like to have a bit of TV time but the commentary does look heavy on the espresso side. It’s difficult for kids bed time as well as the noise would disturb our youngest. Shame really as this weeks winners will need a squad change next week due to upgrades and we’ve now become quite well drilled together.

I tried to enter that one too but it was full

It was busy lots of folk to hunt down and I was off at 4 minutes past. They looked to be setting groups off every 10 seconds. Not seen it like that before usually lots of empty rows setting off from folk entering and not showing up. A mate tried to cancel and sign up again for a later start time cause his kiddo was playing up with napping and got told it was full. He was raging

Legs tired today but going to do stage 4 TFA longer race A at 14:10 if anyone fancies it . Road to the sky up AdZ

On a TT as there is no drafting I assume you dont need to stay up with the group?

I quite enjoy not racing of at the start and then picking of the people who have cooked themselves. It feels more satisfying than trying too hard at the start and then trying to hang on.

Yeah no drafting so no group no pressure it’s you against the clock same way it is on the road TT.

Must say I just had a look at the results for an earlier adz event. Why do folks bother. Top 5 all suspect results. 4 of them weren’t using a power meter or HRM.

And the other one is a local lad who can’t even get close to that power on the road so he’s playing funny business in the computer game I’m sure…

What do they gain from it ? Those without power meters I discount straight away – as does. ZP

Same thing when I raced on Wednesday – there were two lads at the front of my group who were not using power meters but power curves but shouting about folk not working on the front….. Averaging 4.8w/kg in b….. Nope if your sandbagging or playing the system I’m not working with you I’ll just ride your wave. They got dq’d on ZP

We didn’t do that well this week on the TTT. 9 riders available ended up with 6 racing due to turbo issues and one entering wrong category. We do better on the hilly/lumpy routes which nobody wants to here :0)

Stage 4 short this morning. Originally another line up against Bath Salts but he was a no show.
Pretty hard start and picked my group and decided those pulling away were all out of category (correct assumption) noticed Otto and Niigaki (who were the top ranked Cs in ZP listed and also near the top of the League) were in my group so tried to settle in. Too far back up to the bridge and by the time I’d worked back up to Niigaki. Otto was in the group just ahead.
Drop into jungle and was getting distanced as soon as the turn left to the rope bridge so just before stopped and swapped to MTB. Turns out Niigaki did too so 2up to catch a group by the banner then lost him as we set off up. Ripped through groups and caught Otto and tore his group apart as some went with me. Swapped back at the tarmac and had 5 seconds on him so settled into a group of 5. Niigaki pulled up just as i set off and caught us up.
Turn up the Epic and pretty quickly Otto put the power down and slowly crept away. Managed to drop Niigaki and held him behind by 2 to 4 seconds all the way up and put a dig in on the last rise to break him successfully. 2nd and we were 1st to 3rd on ZP as it turns out.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=734555&fbclid=IwAR2FZq7AIsA8upQcqylVFCoTZS_MP8TAJ8ENMSc0KQ_UYzFgfGWHISF_n-s
Stage 4 Alpe tomorrow with a bunch of the club.

Been feeling strong on zwift so rode the TT bike outside to our local ten course to see what these zwift legs are made of. Not too bad actually – went full skinsuit, helmet, covers (not even arsed). Rode a short 23 on a course where my best is a mid 22, but I usually start the season with long 23s, so a decent first ride outside. It was a very blustery headwind on the outward leg, as well, and you just can’t dig as deep without the number on your back.

Trying a more aggressive position for the tens – work to do with it but felt like the power was there, but front end tuck needs more race practice. You’d think the tests would be the first cycling discipline to get back on the calendar, but I guess it will be down to the overall atmosphere in the country regarding organised sporting activity.
Position also underlined that I am now officially an old man – need varifocals! Can’t read my computer in position without reading glasses, but if I wore them I wouldn’t see where I was going properly.

Varifocal visor ?

Rode the 14:10 longer race A cat.

Passed the half way point on the alpe in 28 mins from the road to the sky start …thought that sub 50 might be on.

Managed 50:34 which is 6mins 10 off my pb. In its self set smashing my self off club mates.

Got pipped on the line by some guy who sat on my wheel for ages and wouldn’t come round. Wasn’t best pleased till the wheel stopped spinning and I got mellensteins …. Said I got them in the chat and he had got gloves again. Karma.

Rode the Crit City C race again tonight, I was finishing it relatively easy going in the front group but then got dealt useless power-ups for the last few laps so ended up 12th on the road and 8th on ZP.

Myself and another rider just got slightly gapped over the line but essentially we all finished on the same time.

It is amazing how many people don’t know to put the power on at the start though, their race is done before it even starts really.

It is amazing how many people don’t know to put the power on at the start though, their race is done before it even starts really.

took me ’til my third to really catch on – hadn’t even considered it as an option. Race 1 – totally dropped as didn’t start pedaling ’til 0.00 and then just set off “hard”. Race 2, waited ’til 0.00 and then smashed it – still missed at least the first half of the field.

Race 3 – Well I’d read it somewhere by then so was on full gas at five seconds. Actually shot off the front, then backed right off and then group 1 shot past me never to be seen again

I was magnificent in race 4 though

You’d think the tests would be the first cycling discipline to get back on the calendar, but I guess it will be down to the overall atmosphere in the country regarding organised sporting activity.

Problem is a lot of the organisers and helpers are elderly/at risk group. I am down to organise my first one this year in July but not even being in those categories I’m not intending to organise even if the CTT allow it as I’m not taking the responsibility of bringing people to a location together especially the people who have to help at sign on and timekeeping.
CTT were quick to respond to the last PM statement but it’s been deadly quiet since then for anything beyond June.
We might put September Hill Climbs on which I help the organiser with but there’s been no decision other than to see what the official line is.

PS Make sure you volunteer to help next year if you want TTs to carry on.

The opens will take time to start back up – you can’t run an open without two arl fellas in deckchairs at the start and finish, this is known. 100 + riders driving to the HQ from further afield, creates challenges.

Club tens could kick off though as everyone in principle could ride to the event, emails their contact details ahead of time and then yells ‘I’m here’ to a person at signon across the carpark. So no-one’s getting changed, warming up, congregating. Time-keeping and marshalling is then as normal with appropriate distancing (no push-offs).

With things like golf already starting up last week this is an easy play, but of course depends on what position the CTT takes. THe financial picture for a governing body like that versus a golf club, say, must be very different so perhaps they can afford to take a more conservative approach (e.g. let’s just leave it till next year).

Just did the Alpe for the first time, as part of a Tour for All group ride. Managed it in 1h26 which I’m fairly pleased with. I probably paced myself a bit too well because I had enough left in the tank for a sprint at the end and overtook a few people. Much better than dying halfway though!

Entries are open for this week’s Team Time Trial. We are riding at 6.30pm on Thursday, exact start time TBC nearer the time.

– Enter category D here https://www.zwift.com/events/view/793924

– then add “(STW)” to your Rider Name in zwift power settings.

It’ll be one 29.95km lap of the Magnificent 8 – round the flat part of the volcano, up the reverse KOM (we did this admittedly a little scrappily the other week, but that was after the volcano climb and it comes earlier this time), then miles and miles of flat desert to the finish.

I’ll post detailed instructions later in the week, including a discord link if any new riders want to join us.

If you need me, i’ll ride. Lets see who else enters first.

Thanks Savoyad – I’ve entered

Entered. I am going to make sure my iPad is charged this time 😂

After a hard weekend I am going to take a gentle early week I think.

Did the fast Friday Tempus Fugit , TFA stage 4 up alpe , our club 100km yesterday morning (as part of 3R ride which got spicy at the end ) and finished off last night with the bcbikerace road to ruins …..

Very tired legs today.

Might even ride in the real world for a recovery spin tonight. No one to chase 🙂

do i need to do WTRL stuff ?

@weeksy it’s not totally clear but I don’t think so. I think it was resolved. And if there is a problem, it won’t kick in quite yet. Just sign up on zwift.

have done Sav. If team get full i’ll give someone else a shot if they want, but more than happy to ride it too.

A bit hilly for me this one I think, might have been tempted if it was later in the route but I’ll just be a bit of an anchor on that climb. (I’d say that’s not rhyming slang for anything but some people on here have met me and would probably say otherwise!)

I’m out this week chaps, best of luck!

@ivandobski it’s really not that big a climb you know. Stats say 2.5km @ average 1.8%, most of the climbing is concentrated in two short ramps. We went up it at 30km/h last time it featured in the TTT.

Magnificent 8 is often described as a flat route (OK it was included in the “rolling hills” category of the tour for all but that was mystifying).

ARGGGGHHHHHH jumped on a VERY short 1 lap volcano circuit. Trying on some days to work on my explosive power. Went off with the Bs and was in the lead group up the first kick to volcano tunnel, down into volcano i was surprised we went left, ooops, that’s the clockwise, interesting, OK…. So over the start line for lap proper i’m sitting in a bunch of 25, happy. Down from the line and up the snakey bit and holding my own in 10th place or so up there, then the next little incline and i’ve dropped back a bit, but OK, next thing the guy ahead of me loses the wheel !!!! suddenly we’re 3s off the back of a group that’s now hitting 5.5w/kg off the front and blew us out !!!!

I think i got 15th B on the road but the group i was in was 1-15 place… I’m not sure i’d have beaten any/many in the race to the line but i’m gutted i wasn’t there to find out the answer as i had it…

only a 10 mins race but 332w average was OK and TBH i had that and more if needed right up until that wheel went !!! ARRRGGGGHHHHH

Well that was interesting. Been on the bike once the other day and did an easy 10km on Zwift – first time since I did a 100km ride back in September so decided to hit a race. Technical issues means I missed the first once I entered so simply because it was relatively short and flat picked the ZHQ Beta Crit City Race and was totally burying it for a return of 1.2W p/kg/132W average and pretty much plum last.

I have work to do I think but I enjoyed it and I am pleased with myself for actually sticking with it to the end regardless of position. I have work to do though I think!!

IvanDobski
Member
A bit hilly for me this one I think, might have been tempted if it was later in the route but I’ll just be a bit of an anchor on that climb

Don’t be fooled by the strange scale of the route profile on Strava, it only has 463 feet of climbing over the 18 mile route, just over 25 feet per mile. It’s a fast course, ~3W/Kg while riding solo is easily sub 50mins, I’d guess close to or maybe even just below 40mins as a TTT.

https://www.strava.com/segments/22180287

https://zwiftinsider.com/watopia/ to see a better view of the route.

I think i got 15th B on the road but the group i was in was 1-15 place… I’m not sure i’d have beaten any/many in the race to the line but i’m gutted i wasn’t there to find out the answer as i had it…

only a 10 mins race but 332w average was OK and TBH i had that and more if needed right up until that wheel went !!! ARRRGGGGHHHHH

Strong effort Weeksy. Wheel off at that pace and it’s over I guess. Did 10 mins raging Watts feel better or worse than a 20 min angry Watts crit?

I did the Alpe for the first time this evening – most excellent, got a helmet for my efforts. Went up at 80% to see how the land lies – reckon 100% must be a sickener. Was wondering about erg mode – I’ve not tried it yet on zwift, would it work well on the Alpe or is it not recommended?

Think you can only use erg mode during workouts (works well though!) If you want to “flatten” the Alpe you can adjust the difficulty slider in settings.

Did 10 mins raging Watts feel better or worse than a 20 min angry Watts crit

Tbh I didn’t really find it too tough, my HR was ok and power was ok too. It was quick, but not insane over that distance, I don’t think I really get going until longer than that so in some ways it was too short.
My 5 mjn power matched my best, but you could argue I should be beating it.
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=779680

I’ll try another on Weds and sit a fraction higher in group if possible for that wheel drop not to happen

Shame they don’t do the kiss 2km pursuit series on Saturday mornings anymore. They were good fun but not popular. Don’t think sat mornings were the best time for them.

TTT Update…

Our start time tomorrow is +3.5 minutes. So in the pen by 18:33 and then just a short pedal-free wait until we set off at 18:36:30. We need to allocate timing and countdown responsibility to someone.

There are six of us on the start sheet at the moment:

dangeourbrain B
phil56 B
weeksy B
tiger6791 C
savoyad C
zilog6128 C

So two places are still available. Sign up by entering category D here: https://www.zwift.com/events/view/793924 and adding (STW) to the end of your rider name in zwiftpower settings (not zwift). If someone who hasn’t ridden with us before signs up I’ll post more detailed info in this thread before the start. Otherwise, see you in the pen…

So my challenge for this week is to turn up and then get to the end without my pc crashing or my turbo locking up. If I manage all three of those things it’ll be my best effort in 4 weeks.

Good squad there. Look forward to it.

Couldn’t do the TTT as Mrs D was working. That said I would have been useless anyway – not nearly fit enough yet. I would have been more hinderance than help.

Did another short Cat D crit instead and finished handily in the bottom 10 again after, for me at least, burying myself in a fat sweaty blob. At the moment I just don’t have the power to stick with the middling Cat D’s to be able to draft etc but am just a bit better than those right at the bottom so just sail around in no-man’s land hovering around 8th from bottom.

Any positives? Added 0.1W to my FTP! But, I stuck it again and am glad I re-subscribed to Zwift. My aim is to do a race every other day and mix that in with some treadmill work and weights circuits and hopefully I will get the power back quite quickly 🙂

Keep it up Dannb 🙂 it’s all good mate.

I’m in the TTT for our club team this week.   I’m a little nervous, as outright power isn’t my thing but constant turning of the big ring is a physiological advantage for me.

On the minus side its 24 degrees in my mancave already….