mjd1988
Guru
That is a whole new level. I think on a one off basis to stay in a league is justifiable (especially as the difference can just be supertucking on a steep downhill for a few seconds) but that is crazy!
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That is a whole new level. I think on a one off basis to stay in a league is justifiable (especially as the difference can just be supertucking on a steep downhill for a few seconds) but that is crazy!
steverob
Guru
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
This is something I'm having to watch for. I'm lowering my denominator at the moment - wife is on a diet and while I'm not joining her, I'm no longer snacking between meals (that would be cruel asking her to watch me pig myself with chocolate!) and that is meaning my weight is starting to drift slowly lower. So much so that a race I did the other day saw me upgraded to C!
Admittedly it was a series where they don't have any flexibility - there's no leeway or 95% - if you're over 2.5 w/kg, you're in C and I was 2.56 while still pushing out my normal watts, so it was an automatic upgrade for the first time ever!
It is claimed that some riders do ride within themselves, cruise around a course, then blast the final few km to get a victory .... don't know how true that is, but as the rules say that ZP cats over-ride everything else, so long as they stay within the cat limits they are (technically) playing by the current rules. This is why there is a push to get the cats as results/points based, so that those winning get promoted etc.
For me, my best 3 races are 3.16, 3,17, 3.17, with an average of 3.17. Always push hard, but with a view to finishing in the race - so I temper my effort to do my best over the distance of the race not just the first 20 minutes. Could I improve my 20 min power? Probably ... but then I'd only last 20 minutes
The races are 45+ minutes so I can only go as hard as I'll last for those 45 minutes. I assume most riders do the same 
You joining the race tonight?
Brusgaard
Über Guru
- Location
- Skive, Denmark
Doesn’t look suspicious at all does it. Anyway, his team cheers him on for winning all them races. It must be because the few A-riders on the team only wins, when nobody else is doing/finishing the races.😊
At least they now have an official Danish BKOOL E-cycling champion. The rest of the BKOOL National Championship podium and the others who competed are B and C-riders on Zwift.
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It takes some kind of dedication to have both Zwift and ZP open whilst racing. I struggle enough to focus on one screen with sweat streaming down my eyes, I certainly couldn't be watching ZP too (and I only have a tiny laptop, so not an option anyway
)I get the feeling some of the C riders are doing this too though, as the same guys are towards the top every race and yet never go above cat limits. But hey ho, each to their own.
I think Zwift would lose a lot of racers if they only had one category ... I say 'they' but it's actually the race organisers who set the categories. They want as many participants as possible but they know if they only had one cat, then it would be mostly A riders, and a few others, who would join. As some on here have already found, it's not nice being dumped in the first 0.5 km with no chance of even seeing the front end of the race.
Zwift and the organisers just need to sort the cats out, or at least stop the sandbagging, and it will be a more even playing field. Maybe more riders staying on over summer due to the virus may push them to put a fix in place faster. Who knows?
mjd1988
Guru
Never really thought about it but that's a really good question.
I do think I would still have a mini "race within a race" with those around me because I always have, and in many ways it would mean that it's a fair race.
That said psychologically it's alot more fun to say "I came 3rd in the c race" instead of "I came 56/111" so they would probably lose a fair few people.
JuhaL
Guru
E-racing can be tricky but i think that these 4 categories are necessarily to keep e-racing at least little bit fair and officially to keep well as possible under control. Donno can this current system be any better what it is now. It's good that even if it takes some time some suspicious results will DQ from the results. Like you said, if you don't like the rules then don't play it.
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
The way the races are generally set up with everyone starting together. Honestly the cat system is very blurred in my opinion. If I’m in a race with 100 people all starting together but in different cats I generally compare my result to everyone. You’re racing against them. Sharing draft etc. I just don’t really pay too much mind to the cats.
I think the best races are the ones where each category starts separately. Otherwise to me it’s just one race. But yes, I do think it would put people off if they were forced to think this way. That’s one if the reasons Strava and zwift are so poplar. Everyone gets to be world champion if they know how to use the filters! 😁
I think the best races are the ones where each category starts separately. Otherwise to me it’s just one race. But yes, I do think it would put people off if they were forced to think this way. That’s one if the reasons Strava and zwift are so poplar. Everyone gets to be world champion if they know how to use the filters! 😁
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
I’ve not raced any of the races so far so it’s be against the odds wouldn’t it! 😄
I might well race another race though. See how I feel in a bit 👍
You said in an earlier post you’d have “to be careful” not to go over the power limit. I suppose that is partly what I was referring to when I said it wouldn’t be something I’d subscribe to. More out of not having the motivation rather than moral judgment. Each to their own. Good luck tonight! 👍👍
mjd1988
Guru
Agree with the separate starts. This feltet race series has been really great in that respect (single cat starts) as we know who we are up against, especially when there are intermediate sprints etc. It also means we know where each other are (along with our green outfits!)
Nothing worse than knowing someone is being towed by a group of bs 4 minutes in front of you and assuming they might get disqualified but not really knowing
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
Totally agree. If you join an event as a team in a certain cat and you’re power improves over the series it seems very harsh if you get bumped. I too am a big advocate of a point rather than w/kg system. In reality I think that probably has a few flaws to. I wonder if it’s even workable. But if like to see it given a go.
You should try the Danish league race if you get the chance @<Tommy>. I've found them really competitive and they have got a lot out of me. On our day we're both towards the pointy end of B cat but I haven't yet managed a top 30 finish (from approx 70 starters). With your ability to climb strongly as well as put out good sustained power on the flats you should do well tonight. I've been able to stay with the front group initially but always get dropped on a climb eventually
That reminds me - I need to sign up for tonight's race.
