Zwift Chat

[Whorty]

Did a workout on Zwift today, the "Lama's LAMA LAMA LAMA" ..... flippin heck, that was hard!! Lots of high end work, destroyed my legs @Del C,or anyone else looking to improve top end power could have a look at this and see if it's of interest

 

[Freelanderuk]

Bugger. My window of opportunity is rapidly closing and probably won't get another chance to ride until sunday
Edit....seems to be loading

You may get logged on now to Zwift

 

[mjd1988]

Logged in and and I joined a group ride in the middle. In the rush to jump on and start peddaling as well as turn on fan i knocked over 2 litres of water and had to scramble to shift electrical stuff.

I blame zwift (nothing to do with me being clumsy)

 

[Whorty]

Not exactly. They do highlight one other (to me at least) interesting thing. If two riders are of different weight but putting out the same w/kg. The heavier rider is going faster. That was new information to me.
Of course in real terms the lighter rider is putting out less watts to achieve that W/kg. But if for example myself and lee are going up the alp and I can see we are both putting out 4/kg. Then I know I am slightly edging him. Whether I can sustain that for the entire alp is another issue!

I also took from this the 'possibility' to cheat on Zwift (bare with me here ....... )

Let's assume, hypothetically, that there is a rider who is 74kg and is currently C cat pushing out ave 235 watts in races (3.18 w/kg) and an FTP of 245. Now let's assume this hypothetical rider is working to get stronger and improve his power. He (or she ) knows that a small power increase will push them into B class where they will end up at the back of every race, rather than where they are currently towards the front of C races.

With this information, what this rider could do now is, every time they have a power increase, they could raise (dope) their weight on Zwift. This would not only help the rider stay within C limits, but it would also make him (or her) a faster rider in Zwift C class races.

This cheat would only work for those riders at the top of D, C or B cats, to keep them in the lower cat and be more competitive in that cat.

Interesting, yes?

 

[Del C]

Not exactly. They do highlight one other (to me at least) interesting thing. If two riders are of different weight but putting out the same w/kg. The heavier rider is going faster. That was new information to me.
Of course in real terms the lighter rider is putting out less watts to achieve that W/kg. But if for example myself and lee are going up the alp and I can see we are both putting out 4/kg. Then I know I am slightly edging him. Whether I can sustain that for the entire alp is another issue!

But the report then points out that Lee's chance of maintaining that power level is much greater than yours because of his lighter weight

 

[Del C]

I also took from this the 'possibility' to cheat on Zwift (bare with me here ....... )

Let's assume, hypothetically, that there is a rider who is 74kg and is currently C cat pushing out ave 235 watts in races (3.18 w/kg) and an FTP of 245. Now let's assume this hypothetical rider is working to get stronger and improve his power. He (or she ) knows that a small power increase will push them into B class where they will end up at the back of every race, rather than where they are currently towards the front of C races.

With this information, what this rider could do now is, every time they have a power increase, they could raise (dope) their weight on Zwift. This would not only help the rider stay within C limits, but it would also make him (or her) a faster rider in Zwift C class races.

This cheat would only work for those riders at the top of D, C or B cats, to keep them in the lower cat and be more competitive in that cat.

Interesting, yes?

Damn!

I wish I'd read your hypothetical case notes before last Tuesday's race!

It's almost as if you know somebody who might benefit from such an approach!

 

[Whorty]

Damn!

I wish I'd read your hypothetical case notes before last Tuesday's race!

It's almost as if you know somebody who might benefit from such an approach!

On a completely separate, and unrelated note .... I've started working on my power in workouts (now I don't need to work on distance for the ToC), and I'm bulking up on Mars bars ... hope I don't put any weight on

 

[Freelanderuk]

On a completely separate, and unrelated note .... I've started working on my power in workouts (now I don't need to work on distance for the ToC), and I'm bulking up on Mars bars ... hope I don't put any weight on

I am sure you will let us all know when you do😂😂

 

[Brendan Parker]

Logged in and and I joined a group ride in the middle. In the rush to jump on and start peddaling as well as turn on fan i knocked over 2 litres of water and had to scramble to shift electrical stuff.

I blame zwift (nothing to do with me being clumsy)

Well I done TOW stage 3 today. All was going well up the Alpe in my best time and stopped after the Alpe banner thought I was done Didn’t do the loop at the top so didn’t complete the stage. Got to do again now.

 

[mjd1988]

I also took from this the 'possibility' to cheat on Zwift (bare with me here ....... )

Let's assume, hypothetically, that there is a rider who is 74kg and is currently C cat pushing out ave 235 watts in races (3.18 w/kg) and an FTP of 245. Now let's assume this hypothetical rider is working to get stronger and improve his power. He (or she ) knows that a small power increase will push them into B class where they will end up at the back of every race, rather than where they are currently towards the front of C races.

With this information, what this rider could do now is, every time they have a power increase, they could raise (dope) their weight on Zwift. This would not only help the rider stay within C limits, but it would also make him (or her) a faster rider in Zwift C class races.

This cheat would only work for those riders at the top of D, C or B cats, to keep them in the lower cat and be more competitive in that cat.

Interesting, yes?

There is a suspiciously high number of 90-100kg riders at the front of c races. Not that they are necessarily cheating...but interesting that adding weight might actually be doping in itself

 

[Whorty]

There is a suspiciously high number of 90-100kg riders at the front of c races. Not that they are necessarily cheating...but interesting that adding weight might actually be doping in itself

Exactly .... very interesting. I would type more, but I have chocolate on my fingers from my 3rd mars bar

 

[<Tommy>]

But the report then points out that Lee's chance of maintaining that power level is much greater than yours because of his lighter weight

Yes it does but that’s a separate point. We already know that it takes light riders less effort to go uphill.

The point that I found interesting was that when two riders going uphill with different weights but with the same w/kg, the heavier rider will be going faster.

As a side point saying light riders have an advantage over heavy riders is a little simplistic. It’s like saying powerful riders have an advantage over less powerful riders. Neither statement can be used in isolation from the other to determine who is going to be quickest.

 

[mjd1988]

Just to expand on that; taking Carl's weight in the last race (his current weight, before he finishes the Mars bars)- how many riders in the top 18 were under 74kg

2/18. On a hilly course. Mind you they both finished near the top so that kind of ruins my conspiracy theory. Still, takes the mind off viruses!

 

[Freelanderuk]

How many people here are using protein shake , I have one after every ride or weight training session, I was using Optimum Nutrition 100% gold whey but it was getting a little pricey so have swapped to Bulk powders 100% pure whey 90 a little cheaper for and now in 2.5kg package

 

[<Tommy>]

I also took from this the 'possibility' to cheat on Zwift (bare with me here ....... )

Let's assume, hypothetically, that there is a rider who is 74kg and is currently C cat pushing out ave 235 watts in races (3.18 w/kg) and an FTP of 245. Now let's assume this hypothetical rider is working to get stronger and improve his power. He (or she ) knows that a small power increase will push them into B class where they will end up at the back of every race, rather than where they are currently towards the front of C races.

With this information, what this rider could do now is, every time they have a power increase, they could raise (dope) their weight on Zwift. This would not only help the rider stay within C limits, but it would also make him (or her) a faster rider in Zwift C class races.

This cheat would only work for those riders at the top of D, C or B cats, to keep them in the lower cat and be more competitive in that cat.

Interesting, yes?

I don’t think adding weight to stay in a particular race category is a new phenomenon to be fair. But if you can combine it with a way of justifiably eating more chocolate then I don’t see a negative!