Zwift Chat

[mjd1988]

And the fact that it's three laps of the dirt, while you only have to do that uphill tarmac section once.

Now the key thing is, will everyone else in the pen turn up on road bikes by default, then see all of us on MTB's and follow suit; or will they plow on regardless, take an early lead, but then get overhauled once we hit the dirt? Or should we disguise our intentions by all turning up on road bikes, but switching to MTB's in the pen when the counter gets to 1 minute to go!

Yeah I think everyone on a Tron until maybe 1-2 mins to go then switch before the start (unless everyone is already on an mtb!)

Then a few minutes of extra terrible pain at the start if we try to stay with road bikes but it'll pay off in the long run. I couldnt really be bothered with switching bikes etc.

Alternatively I could start on a road bike and tow you guys to the dirt in mtbs if you want then off you go, I'm not really fussed where I finish. I'll be drinking champagne like it's the end of the tour de france and roll in last 🥳

 

[steverob]

I'm tempted to start on road bike, take this all the way down the dirt section too and on the boards section, and switch to mountain bike when road goes up (and hence my avatar stops faster). I recon I can switch bikes in about 20-25 seconds. Question is, will I gain that time on the down to still be ahead, or will the MTBs be fast enough on the tarmac then downhill dirt to keep me closer than 25 seconds?

On downhill dirt the road bike and MTB are not that different - it's the up that really kills the road bike.

Ooooh, lots to think about

I think that tactic will work, but only if a lot of others also start on road bikes and are willing to absolutely commit to full power on the downhill dirt section. The extra draft that group will get for that first section might well be enough to keep you ahead even after a bike change. But if it's just you and one or two others soloing on road bikes, then I think you'd be overhauled by an MTB pack before you've even reached the Alpe turn off.

 

[Joffey]

Yeah, they seem to be essentially redundant. Nowhere near as good as the mountain bikes on dirt (which seems wrong - they should be fairly close), but soundly beaten by the road bikes on tarmac. So they'd only come into play on a course that was maybe 50/50 dirt and road where it'd be an option to use them if you didn't want to change bikes, but there aren't any of those (Road to Ruins is the nearest and that's maybe 20% dirt max)

As for the actual Jungle Loop - I've done a map below to show how much dirt there actually is:
View attachment 526993
Note that I've marked down the suspension bridge as road as well - although it's wooden slats, Zwift treats it as having almost the same rolling resistance as tarmac, so road bikes do better on it. Even then, it doesn't make that much difference to the amount of terrain the mountain bike has the advantage on.

Do we go clockwise or anti-clockwise round the loop?

 

[Joffey]

Yeah I think everyone on a Tron until maybe 1-2 mins to go then switch before the start (unless everyone is already on an mtb!)

Then a few minutes of extra terrible pain at the start if we try to stay with road bikes but it'll pay off in the long run. I couldnt really be bothered with switching bikes etc.

Alternatively I could start on a road bike and tow you guys to the dirt in mtbs if you want then off you go, I'm not really fussed where I finish. I'll be drinking champagne like it's the end of the tour de france and roll in last 🥳

I can't come 1st and only have to finish to secure 2nd so I'm on a champagne lap on Monday night too. I really like those Cervelo Aspero frames - I might buy that from the Drop Shop and cruise around on that with my Zipp 808s on looking cool AF

 

[steverob]

Do we go clockwise or anti-clockwise round the loop?

Anti.

 

[steverob]

I can't come 1st and only have to finish to secure 2nd so I'm on a champagne lap on Monday night too. I really like those Cervelo Aspero frames - I might buy that from the Drop Shop and cruise around on that with my Zipp 808s on looking cool AF

Well, if I finish first AND get all the sprint points en route, and you get no sprint points at all and finish below 35th (considering the most D riders we've had finish on ZwiftPower so far this series is 12!) then strictly speaking I could still overhaul you...

 

[mjd1988]

@Whorty so you are 8 points behind 2nd and 11 points ahead of 4th.

You average 7 points more per race than 2nd...so it's going to be close. Realistically we should maybe have a plan specifically for those two guys. Maybe depends what bikes they have as well- if they are on mtbs we could all set out on road bikes and just hammer it until the dirt and try and get some sort of gap going. High risk though. Realistically if you are on the same bikes as those guys I think you'll beat them anyway. It's an interesting one. I'm happy to do whatever. @Freelanderuk you are in a good position on GC as well

 

[Joffey]

Well, if I finish first AND get all the sprint points en route, and you get no sprint points at all and finish below 35th (considering the most D riders we've had finish on ZwiftPower so far this series is 12!) then strictly speaking I could still overhaul you...

Yes, this is the risk! I was counting on another low turnout... But if I had to surrender 2nd place it would be no hardship to do so to you

 

[IrishAl]

Yeah, they seem to be essentially redundant. Nowhere near as good as the mountain bikes on dirt (which seems wrong - they should be fairly close), but soundly beaten by the road bikes on tarmac. So they'd only come into play on a course that was maybe 50/50 dirt and road where it'd be an option to use them if you didn't want to change bikes, but there aren't any of those (Road to Ruins is the nearest and that's maybe 20% dirt max)

As for the actual Jungle Loop - I've done a map below to show how much dirt there actually is:
View attachment 526993
Note that I've marked down the suspension bridge as road as well - although it's wooden slats, Zwift treats it as having almost the same rolling resistance as tarmac, so road bikes do better on it. Even then, it doesn't make that much difference to the amount of terrain the mountain bike has the advantage on.

Sorry I didn’t realise it was the jungle circuit. On that basis I’m not sure the risk of messing up the bike change is worth it. I did the change to MTB in a race shortly after passing the jungle pens. The folks on road bikes went by me on the descent and put time into me. I’d say they had around 15s advantage by the bottom. You’ll need to factor in a bike change so that time will be gone.

 

[steverob]

With the weather (and especially my back room) getting hotter and hotter and my lockdown hair getting longer and longer, I have finally bitten the bullet and invested in something that might make my Zwifting a little more comfortable:

Wife says they make me look like a reject from an eighties fitness video, but anything that keeps the sweat off my face and the soaking wet hair out of my eyes is a welcome respite for me! Certainly could have done with one of these on last night, but the postie only just arrived with them this lunchtime.

 

[CXRAndy]

With the weather (and especially my back room) getting hotter and hotter and my lockdown hair getting longer and longer, I have finally bitten the bullet and invested in something that might make my Zwifting a little more comfortable:

View attachment 527019

Wife says they make me look like a reject from an eighties fitness video, but anything that keeps the sweat off my face and the soaking wet hair out of my eyes is a welcome respite for me! Certainly could have done with one of these on last night, but the postie only just arrived with them this lunchtime.

I tried one of those last night. I had a handkerchief ontop, I was dowsing water to keep cool. It did help but it was 36C in our conservatory

 

[Randyberlin]

I tried one of those last night. I had a handkerchief ontop, I was dowsing water to keep cool. It did help but it was 36C in our conservatory

I thought that was a Monty Python stereotype. Did you also roll your pants up?

 

[Norry1]

My race report:

5 Cyclechatters lined up for the start of the 9th DBR Wahoo League race. @Brusgaard @BurningLegs @Alongo @Del C and me. Much of the pre-race chat on Discord was about the heat. I am lucky in that I don’t seem to mind the heat too much – and in the early days on my turbo doing Sufferfest etc without fans I used to love the sensation of the heat and the rolling sweat – made me feel like I was working hard. Anyway, enough of that.

There were 52 starters and almost immediately out of the gate, 10-11 were gapped. Not quite sure how or why but after 45 seconds I found myself in 1st place. The usual happened of course and I was soon near the back of the pack as the washing machine effect kicked in. I had to put some power down to ensure I didn’t get dropped and like a dickhead was back in 1st again after another minute or so. I must learn to surf the pack better.

I remarked on Discord how good the swathe of green shirts looked as the CC posse were in full flow.

After 3.5 miles (near the Italian Village) I had to put in another effort to chase back onto the pack which was thinning out a bit more – I think this is where Del dropped back – and the group was down to about 35. Luckily Nick has shouted that a group of 15 was trying to make a break which ensured I started chasing quickly enough not to lose them.

Straight into the reverse KOM and it got hard! A group of 12-13 pulled away up the steep part and I fought to get back on with a few others. Then there seemed to be a final push at the KOM banner that saw me 3-4 seconds back again and I had to really dig in to stay in the game. This grew to 8-9 seconds down the hill and over the rickety bridge. Amazingly, the group of 5 I was in managed to reel the leaders in. I think many were recovering after the efforts of the KOM. That hurt.

Then there was a relaxation and a relatively low power few miles through the desert – where some of Nick’s comments were making me laugh – he was asking if this was a sub 2.5 run. Then someone asked if there were any more hills and he said “yes, Radio Tower”. I don’t know how he can type when racing – I can’t.

The next assault came on the climb just before Titan’s Grove and one more rider dropped. Then the 2 mile run in to the line. E. Wale went off the front but I think got DQ’d. With a mile to go we powered up from the underwater tunnel and lost one more – then the final sprint came and I had little to give, and what I had started too late so I finished back of that pack of 16 but at least I was in the lead pack.

ZP has me in at 14th with Nick 3 places higher, so not too bad.

Recording is here:
View: https://youtu.be/drtYnPpFbWk

 

[CXRAndy]

I thought that was a Monty Python stereotype. Did you also roll your pants up?

No pants, just a bib

 

[steverob]

Yes, this is the risk! I was counting on another low turnout... But if I had to surrender 2nd place it would be no hardship to do so to you

Well I'll tell you what, if more than 36 people are on the start line and registered in ZP by Monday evening, then it's GAME ON! Otherwise, I'll stay happy with 3rd place!

On a similar note, I might be able to join you on Wednesday evening's DBR ride. If I can, I'll try and position myself between you and whoever is in 2nd in your league, as that'll give you even more of a points gap to extend your advantage. Especially as there's EIGHT Primes on offer on that course - you win most of those and your lead will grow exponentially.