They can get really bad. I had two mosquito bites swell up by whole hand and foot. At the bite site there was an inch diameter hemisphere of dark red fluid stick out. Red lines starting travelling up my arm, which eventually almost reached my armpit. Went to hospital and they put me straight on lots of antibiotic injections. I stayed in and it took over a week until I went home.

In the end they found no infection so it was most likely an allergic reaction BUT the doctor said he would still treat with antibiotics if I came in the same again even if he knew I was allergic.

Infection can lead to Sepsis then Death quite quickly. Allergic reaction either leads to anaphylactic shock or you will very likely be fine. Given treatment for allergic reaction turns down your immune system, the safe option is to treat as infection. If you see red lines coming out the site got to hospital ASAP.

Missed my target but down 4 kg so happy with that. Seem to have plateaued last few weeks so will need to change something. Other than eat less cake any suggestions?

Would also be interested. Been missing Robos race series and the time trial this winter

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’m a no this week. Off actual riding in the real world on dirt trails. Can’t wait

I enjoyed that a lot. Form seems to be returning so could stick in our group of 3 up the hill. Think I manage the consistent efforts much better and given I was never going to hang on to the front runners all the way up the hill I didn’t kill myself trying (like usual).

Took several goes to convince Zwift to do the aero tuck downhill. Power and cadence showing zero on the screen but my man is just sat up chilling while Robbo shot off. Just about managed to peddle back on at which point we were flying!

Great battle with @Robbo1234biking, I think another 20 metres and you would have had me.

And now for the bad news, FTP back up where it was before Christmas at 309W. So that’s the last you will see of me at the top of the handicap leaderboard!

@reluctantjumper I really recommend thr team time trial for learning how to draft. Adding extra probably doesn’t fit with your training program but it really helped me. Nothing like Phil’s encouragement to teach you how hard you can push yourself.

With big groups I find the moment you start sliding back you have to do something serious. But once settled in near the back you can gently ease off without dropping out the draft.

Looking at my race I started at 400w but by 15s in was down to 275 and then by 30s was down to 200 ish. But a minute in I lost concentration and eased off too much and needed a big kick up over 350w to avoid losing touch. Popping out the front then sliding back makes it really hard to hold even power. Getting it just right makes a massive difference. In the group on the flat bits I was averaging 230w so really not that different to you.

I definitely overdid it last winter and didn’t rest enough. Just couldn’t raise my power when there was a surge and so kept loosing the draft.

Just focusing on the Tuesday race and TTT is working for me this year as I find them much more fun than training plans. Good luck figuring it out

86 kg and 292 W. Thanks @Robbo1234biking

Thanks for the organisation @savoyad Where are the results? Can’t seem to find anything useful on the WTRL website.

What’s this warm up thing? I assume you mean the mad sprint to the garage trying not to drop the laptop 1 minute before the start.

Thanks for the pace setting @phil56. Proper threshold session for me up that hill.

I’m in if kiddy bed time goes well

Yes please. Will send FTP a little closer, seems very down last series so hoping it bounces back before the start of this one

Entered the pen to see everyone pulling away… oops. Mad sprint off the line to catch up and by then the front group(s) had already gone. Quite pleased to see @Robbo1234biking drop back as well as our group hoover up the smaller groups including @Paul-S.

Hanging on was about all I could manage. Nothing left at the end as others just pulled away up the last 2 hills.

Christmas, Covid and a new baby might require an FTP reset! Good racing, I think I enjoyed it. That feeling you get in your stomach that just wants to come out – that’s what fun feels like right?

Thanks guys, pretty mild symptoms on the scale. But definitely only good for lying in a heap on the sofa this evening. Hope things keep improving quickly Phil.

Have a good one

Turns out my struggles in the second race on Tuesday were due to Covid. So I’m probably out for a couple of weeks

Sram know how to make things confusing. After digging through the spatre parts manual I think I have it figured out.

Mine just arrived, model FS-LYRK-ULT-C2 which is the 2020 model with the older air spring.

The FS-LYRK-ULT-C3 is the 2021 model with the C1 air spring.

I’m in, anyone else?

Enough detail to cure any insomnia https://www.electricteeth.com/uk/best-electric-toothbrush/

TLDR: Oral-B Pro 2500

Happy new year! Yes please. Given mini-me #2 is due to arrive around week 2 I’m pretty sure I wont make them all or will fall asleep part way through the ones I do.. but lets pretend for now that my life isn’t about to be turned upside down once again :-)

I’m in for a full 8 then

Think I need a new hilly race strategy. On the flats it works to push push push off the start to hang onto the front group as the tow is really worth it.

Overdid it trying to hang on up Titans, failed (I know just how you felt @J-R ), kept going to try and catch Phil. We didn’t really manage to get going together so I arrived at the bottom of the epic KOM tired, on my own and with @robbo1234biking in a group only 15 s back. Is that the sound of a tiny violin I hear?

Managed to sort myself out for the last section to end up only 4 s back on @robbo1234biking and Phil. Great comeback after last weeks final hill @robbo1234biking and thanks again for another great series. And to everyone else, you all help make the suffering seem fun!

Yes please Robbo. It’s the events organised on thisbforum that keep me signed up to zwift. Thanks to all who organise and make them happen

So full of cold, unlikely to make it and if I do it will be sightseeing at the back

Sure ruined my legs @savoyad. In my head I was making a glorious break and bridging across to you after the undersea tunnels. Should have looked over my virtual shoulder as the whole group seemed to be right behind me!

Does it ever get any easier?

Last 2.5 km solo was a study of self punishment. That will teach me for getting confused and sprinting on the lead in…

@robbo1234biking FTP increase to 312 W and seeing as I have an update weight down 1 to 86 kg. Thanks as ever.

Yes please, nothing else makes me suffer quite like these races.

Thanks @robbo1234biking, yet another fantastic series.

As for today, good to know I can blame @paino for everything! After last week worked out pretty well for me I thought I would try the same again. Plan:
1) Give it everything up the first climb
2) hang on while someone else pulls out a big time gap
3) try to hold it together up the final climb

Step 1 went well, we got a gap and then no-one stepped up to tow me along. Did you not read the plan?

Good effort @paino on the volcano – I’m off to give myself a good talking to after my feeble sprint for the line.

Sorry I didn’t make it to the start line

Does this mean I should like hills now?

@kirky72 those surges were brutal.

I just went for it up the hill the first lap and then hung on as long as I could. Just as the wheels were falling off @kirky72 and @scaled spotted @paino near the top of the gravel climb and suddenly I was 25 seconds back. Thanks @tomnavman for the tow to the line, sorry for wheel sucking my left calf was twinging on the verge of cramp and I was just hoping I was going to make it to the line.

@robbo1234biking FTP increase to 300W

I’m in for this week

Went conservative on the flat then pushed up the hill. Not sure what’s going on but felt much easier than last week.

@robbo1234biking Thanks for organising. New FTP of 287 according to zwift

In the frame details:
Dropper Compatible Stealth Routing

Will see if I can negotiate the evening off kiddie bedtime

I’m back, lets see what 3 weeks of doing nothing has done for my fitness. I imagine nothing but massive gains.

Sadly away with work so can’t join the fun. Will just have to eat takeaway till I feel sick to get that Thursday night feeling.

Good luck all

Either my turbo likes the warmer weather or the pace was a bit slower this week. Managed to rest in the pack and put some pulls in on the front. Just as painful at the end! I have no idea how you lot can all speak at after the finish

Take part in science:
Volunteers wanted

And this is what as solid Z4 training session (or desperately trying not to get dropped) looks like. 40 minutes just below FTP and those spikes aren’t pulls on the front but passes and sprints to stay on the back!

Zwift felt quite laggy for me last night, I would be sat near the back then the pack would swerve and reshuffle and suddenly I would be getting the 5m warning with no notice.

Last week I was convinced it would be easier on the flat with more drafting, this week I kept dreaming of a downhill. Looking forward to next week already – what is wrong with me…

Signed up, only just realised I wasn’t entered

Smashing effort @DrP

Twice up was enough to convince me I won’t ever be trying that!