Zwift Chat

[<Tommy>]

In all seriousness I hope you get home soon and safely Andy.

There’s nothing about this whole situation that is much fun...I know it’s natural to make jokes about things to try and forget about the awfulness of them. I probably do that too much for sure. But I just want to take the opportunity to wish everyone, and perhaps the older people close to you, my very best wishes. Hopefully this thing doesn’t live up to the worst expectations.

 

[Del C]

Hmm...I thought the race tomorrow was volcano climb after-party but seems to be pump Room 8 in Yorkshire, which seems quite a bit hillier

Well it was definitely the Volcano KoM after party when I signed up at the weekend!

 

[Freelanderuk]

Well it was definitely the Volcano KoM after party when I signed up at the weekend!

It was the Volcano KoM as I changed my bike and wheels on Zwift ready

 

[Freelanderuk]

Stay safe in this unpleasant time with Covid 19 virus

 

[Whorty]

I have to be careful tonight that I don't go over the C cat limit (@Del C needs to too, as he's right on the cusp) so I think my tactics will be to go out fairly hard, but to sit at the back of the blob - I need to keep my 20 minutes average below 249 watts. If there are splits, and I end up in the second group then fine, but I'm hoping that with the hills tonight I can put in more power there to gain places rather than expend energy on the flats. I'll then work hard up each lump, and then look for riders to hook onto on the descents.

If you go for the sprint Michael I'll look out for you on the road, in case you get dropped. If we do end up together it could be worth us sticking together and trying to pace each other up the lumps.

Del, Chris and Brendan what are you guys planning tonight?

Edit: there are already 6 B cat riders in C race tonight .. so don't go chasing shadows - top 35 is in the points

 

[Freelanderuk]

I have to be careful tonight that I don't go over the C cat limit (@Del C needs to too, as he's right on the cusp) so I think my tactics will be to go out fairly hard, but to sit at the back of the blob - I need to keep my 20 minutes average below 249 watts. If there are splits, and I end up in the second group then fine, but I'm hoping that with the hills tonight I can put in more power there to gain places rather than expend energy on the flats. I'll then work hard up each lump, and then look for riders to hook onto on the descents.

If you go for the sprint Michael I'll look out for you on the road, in case you get dropped. If we do end up together it could be worth us sticking together and trying to pace each other up the lumps.

Del, Chris and Brendan what are you guys planning tonight?

Edit: there are already 6 B cat riders in C race tonight .. so don't go chasing shadows - top 35 is in the points

Usual tactics for me ,balls out from the start 😂 I may start a little slower and build up to just keeping in the top 30 riders 🚴‍♂️, Swapped to the tarmac pro and light weight wheels ,good idea?

 

[Whorty]

Usual tactics for me ,balls out from the start 😂 I may start a little slower and build up to just keeping in the top 30 riders 🚴‍♂️, Swapped to the tarmac pro and light weight wheels ,good idea?

I'm on Venge and 454 wheels, although I'm tempted by Tron bike.

Last week, when I got dropped from the blob on the 2nd sprint, I was in position 44. I finished 17th (I think?). And last week wasn't that hilly. I'm banking on the fact that with 6+ B riders, plus the very strong C riders, some will go off way too fast and blow up on the hills. So I'm looking to start steady, stay towards back of main blob/front of 2nd group, up to the first climb (which is the 1 mile slog from the start banner) - I'll work a little harder there to keep in touch with top 30 ish, then over the top, just sit in to hold my position. At the KoM I'll work hard again to get over in a strong group and rinse and repeat until the end.

On paper we're some of the strongest riders tonight (w/kg over 20 mins) so we should be taking scalps on those hills so long as we've left enough in the tank.

Let's see how my tactics pan out

If anyone sees me on a hill, and wants a wheel, call out. It's better we ride together than solo.

 

[JuhaL]

I have to be careful tonight that I don't go over the C cat limit (@Del C needs to too, as he's right on the cusp) so I think my tactics will be to go out fairly hard, but to sit at the back of the blob - I need to keep my 20 minutes average below 249 watts. If there are splits, and I end up in the second group then fine, but I'm hoping that with the hills tonight I can put in more power there to gain places rather than expend energy on the flats. I'll then work hard up each lump, and then look for riders to hook onto on the descents.

If you go for the sprint Michael I'll look out for you on the road, in case you get dropped. If we do end up together it could be worth us sticking together and trying to pace each other up the lumps.

Del, Chris and Brendan what are you guys planning tonight?

Edit: there are already 6 B cat riders in C race tonight .. so don't go chasing shadows - top 35 is in the points

It's a shame that you need to hold on speed with these races to prevent any mishaps . What if C cat victory needs to exceed C limit, you let the certain victory slip thru your fingers ?.

 

[mjd1988]

I have to be careful tonight that I don't go over the C cat limit (@Del C needs to too, as he's right on the cusp) so I think my tactics will be to go out fairly hard, but to sit at the back of the blob - I need to keep my 20 minutes average below 249 watts. If there are splits, and I end up in the second group then fine, but I'm hoping that with the hills tonight I can put in more power there to gain places rather than expend energy on the flats. I'll then work hard up each lump, and then look for riders to hook onto on the descents.

If you go for the sprint Michael I'll look out for you on the road, in case you get dropped. If we do end up together it could be worth us sticking together and trying to pace each other up the lumps.

Del, Chris and Brendan what are you guys planning tonight?

Edit: there are already 6 B cat riders in C race tonight .. so don't go chasing shadows - top 35 is in the points

I'll try for the sprint although I note it is long and uphill so might suit some of you guys more, particularly as we all did well in the sprints last week. It'll be a tricky one to time as it's long and is so close to the start, I think the pace will be killer from the gun.

I'm going lightweight and tarmac pro, just aiming to hang on for the remainder. As only 5/7 are scored I don't expect this to be one of them. If I end up in a group with any of you I will likely be hanging out the back but if you think we can catch group ahead and your legs feel good just give me a shout, I'm happy to domestique and then get dropped and soft pedal to the end (especially if I don't get near to the first sprint!)

Again. This all assumes I don't drink until after the race. It is st Paddy's Day but doesn't feel like it and certainly won't be going to the pub!

 

[Whorty]

It's a shame that you need to hold on speed with these races to prevent any mishaps . What if C cat victory needs to exceed C limit, you let the certain victory slip thru your fingers ?.

Depends. If your best average 3 races exceeds cat C, you keep your victory but get bumped to B next race. If it's waaaaay over C, you will be DQ'd. If you're B going into the race (as at least 6 riders on ZP are, and probably a few others not on ZP) you get DQ'd automatically.

Them's the rules ... if you don't like 'em, don't play

 

[Del C]

I have to be careful tonight that I don't go over the C cat limit (@Del C needs to too, as he's right on the cusp) so I think my tactics will be to go out fairly hard, but to sit at the back of the blob - I need to keep my 20 minutes average below 249 watts. If there are splits, and I end up in the second group then fine, but I'm hoping that with the hills tonight I can put in more power there to gain places rather than expend energy on the flats. I'll then work hard up each lump, and then look for riders to hook onto on the descents.

If you go for the sprint Michael I'll look out for you on the road, in case you get dropped. If we do end up together it could be worth us sticking together and trying to pace each other up the lumps.

Del, Chris and Brendan what are you guys planning tonight?

Edit: there are already 6 B cat riders in C race tonight .. so don't go chasing shadows - top 35 is in the points

Yes I've been thinking about this.

I'm 0.01W/kg away from crossing the B/C barrier again and have been wondering what happens if I did get reclassified to B before the league ends? I haven't checked how close you are Carl, but I assume you're equally near? There must be others apart from us in the same position with other teams?

So, what to do tonight? I think regardless of the above, I'll probably try hard from the start to try and get into the front group. Despite my recent improved form, my starts have still been poor and I've had to work my way back up into the front group. The one time I didn't do this (in the first race) I got completely dumped out the back and despite riding well from there, I finished way down the field.

If I can get into the front group, I'll probably try and hang on. I suspect that in the end I'll get spat out the back on the 17% section near to the end, that is if I've been lucky enough to stay in contention up to then anyway.

 

[Randyberlin]

Yes I've been thinking about this.

I'm 0.01W/kg away from crossing the B/C barrier again and have been wondering what happens if I did get reclassified to B before the league ends? I haven't checked how close you are Carl, but I assume you're equally near? There must be others apart from us in the same position with other teams?

So, what to do tonight? I think regardless of the above, I'll probably try hard from the start to try and get into the front group. Despite my recent improved form, my starts have still been poor and I've had to work my way back up into the front group. The one time I didn't do this (in the first race) I got completely dumped out the back and despite riding well from there, I finished way down the field.

If I can get into the front group, I'll probably try and hang on. I suspect that in the end I'll get spat out the back on the 17% section near to the end, that is if I've been lucky enough to stay in contention up to then anyway.

I'm surprised you two don't see the obvious awnser. Raise the denominator. Again one of the few areas I can help with. Let me know if you need some dessert advice but start with simple steps. Flat white instead black coffee, extra jam and butter in a scone with clotted cream etc..mmmm

 

[<Tommy>]

It's a shame that you need to hold on speed with these races to prevent any mishaps . What if C cat victory needs to exceed C limit, you let the certain victory slip thru your fingers ?.

This would be my only motivation for trying to get to the top category. At least then you don’t have this blurred line between categories. Reducing your effort to stay within the cat limit? Isn’t that a definition of sandbagging? Not that I’m trying to take the moral high ground. I just couldn’t be bothered to try and temper my effort to stay with the parameters.

 

[Del C]

This would be my only motivation for trying to get to the top category. At least then you don’t have this blurred line between categories. Reducing your effort to stay within the cat limit? Isn’t that a definition of sandbagging? Not that I’m trying to take the moral high ground. I just couldn’t be bothered to try and temper my effort to stay with the parameters.

I agree.

I won't be holding back to stop being upgraded to B. If that happens it happens. Of course, it may not. I may be crap tonight for all I know.

My thinking is more like if you enter a team at the start of a league series and your category was clearly C (as mine was) then it would be nice to complete the series of races as part of the same team. That's a basic part of being in a team.

But if the rules say otherwise, and if I get upgraded tonight, then that's it. I won't try to stay inside any limit and I don't think I'm good enough a rider to be able to judge that sort of effort correctly anyway.

 

[Brusgaard]

I won't try to stay inside any limit and I don't think I'm good enough a rider to be able to judge that sort of effort correctly anyway.

Look at the Danish DCU Cup. Some of the guys in D-class was in the top 5 in every single race, and usually within 0.05-0.10 wkg of the max. Having ZwiftPower "Live" on a second screen, they could make sure they stayed within limits...

One of them "winning" D-guys used to race close to me in the Danish BKOOL league, and I'm low B on Zwift. Pathetic!
Back then we were both on BKOOL Pro, but now we both use a NEO2...