Zwift Chat

[Freelanderuk]

I will be giving it a go again Thursday, shouldn’t be as stressed but don’t know if I can improve.

Car home now 24hrs after breaking down ,but me a new battery on and all systems go, just the complaints department to deal with now

 

[berty bassett]

To be honest it was so far to the banner last night that I started to worry I'd missed it so I started pushing a fair bit before the banner - it has been less than half a kilometre from our start point by the side of the road in the last few races! Also, there's a reason to try and stay with people in a race even before the start of the timed segment which is to ensure you're drafting with the fastest riders you can, but in a TT that's irrelevant so you may as well save your energy until the start banner

didnt feel like sharing that little nugget of information last night then ?

 

[<Tommy>]

To be honest it was so far to the banner last night that I started to worry I'd missed it so I started pushing a fair bit before the banner - it has been less than half a kilometre from our start point by the side of the road in the last few races! Also, there's a reason to try and stay with people in a race even before the start of the timed segment which is to ensure you're drafting with the fastest riders you can, but in a TT that's irrelevant so you may as well save your energy until the start banner

Same here

I knew some of the guys went off a bit early. But then I lost confidence in whether I’d crossed the line or not so picked up the pace. It definitely pays to learn the courses and try and work out where the segments are.

On that note I’d expect guys doing the course for a second time to get much improved times. No pressure of course

 

[bridgy]

didnt feel like sharing that little nugget of information last night then ?

Which bit of information? I didn't know about the distance to the start banner until I was riding - and as I said I was confused by how far it was myself! The rest is just common sense...

 

[<Tommy>]

Which bit of information? I didn't know about the distance to the start banner until I was riding - and as I said I was confused by how far it was myself! The rest is just common sense...

Am I right I’m thinking where we get spawned is a little random?

Basically you need to work out where the segment starts and where we’ve landed.

In a normal race there’s zero profit in trying to get a lead on the people you’re racing against unless you think you can sustain that lead for the entire race against the pack.

 

[bridgy]

Am I right I’m thinking where we get spawned is a little random?

Basically you need to work out where the segment starts and where we’ve landed.

Yeah, as far as I can tell. I don't think there's any way to know where exactly we will get spawned - I don't know if it's the same place for a meetup as for a solo ride on that route, and I also don't know if the location is always exactly the same for every meetup on a particular route. We might be able to work this stuff out a bit better over time.

You should be able to see when the start banner is coming up because there's usually advertising banners by the side of the road leading up to it, so look out for these - having said that there were miles of those on the London course last night!

Still need to watch what other people are doing straight from the start though - if it had been a normal race last night and a couple of your rivals had gone full gas for those 2km from the start and you'd held back because the timed segment hadn't started, the ones who got away may end up drafting together to a much better time than you could manage solo. Tactics...

 

[Del C]

I wondered why you were hanging back so long last night @bridgy. Thought you may be going for a ridiculous negative split

.......I must remember this for future meetups.

I was thinking the same........... until he came steaming past me!

 

[CXRAndy]

I hadn't noticed, that there was 4 to 5 mins before the segment started. Wasted effort at the start

 

[mjd1988]

Yeah, as far as I can tell. I don't think there's any way to know where exactly we will get spawned - I don't know if it's the same place for a meetup as for a solo ride on that route, and I also don't know if the location is always exactly the same for every meetup on a particular route. We might be able to work this stuff out a bit better over time.

You should be able to see when the start banner is coming up because there's usually advertising banners by the side of the road leading up to it, so look out for these - having said that there were miles of those on the London course last night!

Still need to watch what other people are doing straight from the start though - if it had been a normal race last night and a couple of your rivals had gone full gas for those 2km from the start and you'd held back because the timed segment hadn't started, the ones who got away may end up drafting together to a much better time than you could manage solo. Tactics...

I had looked up the course profile on zwiftinsider to have an idea of if there were any nasty climbs in the profile and noticed it was about 3km less than the length of the meet up so I figured it would be either starting way before the banner or finishing way after, so started slow enough but was still a bit surprised how far away it was from the spawn point. As you say it's not a disadvantage in a TT starting behind, probably a small advantage for the faster lot, but in a group start when draft is important it's a totally different kettle of fish.

 

[berty bassett]

The rest is just common sense...

Aha ! That’s where I may have slipped up 😉

 

[Whorty]

So, who is riding Thursday? Lee, fancy another go to extend the time over Tommy?

Can't do Thursday so looking to have a go later. Need to help wife shower etc first so will be some time after 6 I would think. If anyone fancies joining me as a pacer, let me know 👍

 

[Whorty]

I'll be there Bob - not at all sure where I'm going to find any extra watts from on top of what I did yesterday though . I might try going off a bit slower to try and save a bit more for the end, but that could easily go horribly wrong!

Tip for anyone riding tomorrow - assuming we start at the same point on the road as Tuesday, it was just under 2km until we hit the start finish banner where the Strava segment starts (and finishes), which is a bit further than usual, so don't peak too soon!

Thanks for heads up ... I wasn't sure 👍

 

[<Tommy>]

I’ll say one thing I’ve noticed regarding starting tactics. When I was using my MacBook I noticed myself and bridgy would set off around the same time slightly behind most people. I’ve noticed since I’ve been on the apple tv I set off a bit before him. Berty and Lars both still set off before me. Anyone else notice patterns like that?
it’s up to you what you do with that information

The finishes are tricky for me because I’m not that familiar with the courses I’m never completely sure where the banners going to be.

 

[Whorty]

Same here

I knew some of the guys went off a bit early. But then I lost confidence in whether I’d crossed the line or not so picked up the pace. It definitely pays to learn the courses and try and work out where the segments are.

On that note I’d expect guys doing the course for a second time to get much improved times. No pressure of course

 

[Whorty]

These are the times I have found/been given. Let me know if any are wrong or I'm missing any (@Marino.g - I saw you on the road and don't have a time for you).

6 minutes down on my best time for that segment. I guess I must have been in a big group race for that one!

Bridgy 34:46
Adam 37:15
Brendan 37:17
Michael 38:19
Lee 35:04
Andy 38:10
Al 34:30
Chris 38:49
Tommy 34:49
Steen 37:32
Dean 38:46
Del C 37:13
Pete 37:28

@peterob , @bridgy 37:32 for me please 👍

Spooky, but exact same time as @Brusgaard Would have been interesting if I could have made the ride last night! Having us both together may have spured us on to chase others down, or the constant attacks may have destroyed us

Thanks Lee for the support tonight. Always good for the spirit to see a fellow cyclechatter on the road when the legs are hurting and you want to slow down. Gives you that little bit of energy to keep pushing