Zwift, riding and racing.... update thread, info thread, motivational thread.

[formula400]

Sounds reasonable

[Crosshair]

I do like Greater London Flat. I’ve done a lot of laps around it in training so know how my avatar reacts to all the mini gradients.

After going early last week, I held on for the sprint. But like many of the outdoor Crits I’ve done- I sprinted from way too far back.

[weeksy]

The problem with the sprints on Zwift is that if you don't go early then you've already lost. In avatar land people are able to go from way further out that in real racing.

[Crosshair]

Strewth. Got my arse kicked by a huge group of A’s this evening. Averaged 377w for 7 minutes!!!!! Then got dumped

Only four B’s held the lead group until the finale- so it would have been worth doing so at all costs if I could have.

Still pleased with 13/112 starters but shows I have plenty of head room to get better

[weeksy]

Comparing how a B does against fast As is a bit unfair on yourself.

That's like when I've raced B and been stuffed, it's to be expected.

Staying with a bunch of As for 7min is great

[Crosshair]

Yeah I guess it’s like the difference between a Cat4 and an E1,2 crit.
In theory, on a flat course, I should have the watts to hold a 30mph bunch but with closer to 40 A’s for a change, the pace was just a little too fruity on the climb.

That’s my best 7 min power outside of a Ramp test though so not all bad.

[weeksy]

https://zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=2459898

Good race for me and a well ranked win. Was 5th on the road, winner on ZP. I went hard with a van @ 600m out and put myself into 2nd on the road, then eased a little to get draft and went hard for last 200. Not hard enough for road win, but the ZP will do me.

Considering that's day 3 this week of riding I'm pretty pleased I had legs.

2 days rest now

[Crosshair]

Ye ha! Well done- great power too

[tricol]

Just getting into Zwift now after getting my hands on a spare rear wheel to run the training tyre on. Still not very fast or strong, but hopefully help me build fitness now over winter.

[weeksy]

Just getting into Zwift now after getting my hands on a spare rear wheel to run the training tyre on. Still not very fast or strong, but hopefully help me build fitness now over winter.

Keep us posted Col and feel free to ask any questions or even request rides

[weeksy]

https://zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=2514903

Proper proper race today. After a disappointment yesterday of bring dropped on lap 7 I was going to take the rest of the week off. But the boy blew me out to go and buy gt85 so I jumped on the race.

2 laps, mostly flat but with the kick up to the start of the sequoia climb means 4% for a chunk. I was sitting with A/B group after the shake up and going out. But that climb brings massive watts and I ended up in group 3 on the road. Sat in again to recover and eventually we became group 2 as we sucked in the next bunch about half distance in

Banter was flying and the a riders were questioning how their group and my group had 4 C riders in. I explained I was at 99% max HR on 179 at times and we all laughed. On the flats I was sitting at 161-163bpm and that's a hard but reasonable effort for me. It was just the 2/3 inclines I had to worry about.
Back up the long drag in last lap I pinned it early to allow me fall back creep room near the top but again I held the group I wanted, we killed off 3 other C riders and it was just me and a Welsh fella in our group.

Into the last 2km I knew sprints wouldn't be coming but I had decent 30s power so positioned myself and just kept on it.

Result seems to be a 3rd in C. Bit 4/5/6 for example are ranked way higher than me, so once the results are sorted I should get decent ranking points I hope

Either way, I was all in and set PR for the long lap which considering how many times I've ridden the loop, I'm very very happy with.

Rest now.

[Crosshair]

Now that is a course that suits me



W/kg took their series to Neokyo tonight rather than Crit City and the course has zero hills! A few lovely rollers but not even one could be called a climb.
It was a constant battle to stay near the front of the 30mph bunch. 600w sprints followed by a coast to avoid taking the wind on the front, rinse and repeat.

534 people raced! I ended up about 56th but got 5th/125 on ZP in B cat

It gave me a new ftp of 343w too but that’s heavily skewed by the nature of the effort.

Hopefully they will race there again.

[weeksy]

That's big numbers!

I like the course even though I got dropped in the gardens last race. Still not sure how.

Well done though big boy

[Crosshair]

Doh! Stream never started.

Raced 3x Greater London Flat in a mixed EVR race with about 30 B’s.
Managed to hold the A’s the entire race but only just.
Similar to the only two Cat 2/3 races I’ve ever done in real life, there were brutal, all-in attacks at random points!

Anyway, didn’t have the legs for an A type sprint but beat all the other remaining B’s for my first B win since 2017

[Crosshair]

This guy streamed it. He’s still going now

[Crosshair]

Lol! Beat Dr Hutch in tonight’s race

[weeksy]

You do have the ability to hit 600w seemingly without effort, just boom and it's big numbers.

Very impressive

[Crosshair]

I ought to get a webcam set up I suppose. I do stand up for those and try and do it neuromuscularly if that makes sense (Ie it’s like a whole body effort rather than just toasting my leg muscles)

It’s where Zwift racing is it’s own unique discipline I guess- that tactic doesn’t work outside as you get too un-aero. Whereas my avatar stays in a nice tuck regardless

I do need to try and start working on steady state efforts soon but racing is the only thing motivating me at the minute.

[weeksy]

The fact you can do that time and time again is awesome

[Crosshair]

Since I broke my legs, I don’t have the 12-1500w top end any more sadly.
If I raced a C or a true B flat race- I think I could break 1000 at the end but all those 600w efforts to follow moves and not get dropped on the rollers leave me depleted for the finale sadly.
Another 20w on the ftp or a good chunk of weight loss would also help I guess