Zwift Chat

[Whorty]

Now can we please get back to talking about the race?!! I for one haven’t heard enough stories about how much it hurt watching the A team come flying though. Who wants to go first?

When you came past us my thought was .... oh dear, @bridgy is falling back, that's going to be a lonely ride in. Looks like he got back on though

 

[Whorty]

Martin is right.

You were very impressive last night. I thought you might struggle up the last KoM but anything but. You two had to wait while I struggled over it!

Great B debut!

Team C noticed this too

 

[Del C]

I wasn't joking when I said pre race that Michael is a massive engine and I sit on his wheel Been racing with him now for a few months in the DBR leagues and he puts out monster rides every week. What was 'funny' (well, not funny, but a kick up my @rse) was seeing you, Michael and Del chasing us down last night - I've raced with all of you over the years but you've all moved on so much and quite literally leaving me behind

Yeah but things aren't easy for you with Rachel's health and that has to come first.

I took early retirement, I think Martin's on his way there if I remember correctly and Michael? Well he's just one of those younger chaps that we used to be!

I can sense and understand your frustration, but actually being at or near the podium in C each race has a lot to say for it. Considering your commitments to Rachel and the lack of support you've had during Covid-19, you're performing really well. Your DBR position was good and its great to be in contention each week. I can assure you the feeling I had riding up front in C with you, Brendan, Michael and Chris is a bit more uplifting than working out how far I can get round the course each week before the B group peloton spits me out the back!

I'm happy to ride in B because having played sport for years it feeds my competitive urge. So I set it as a target and was pleased to reach it and since I've been there I've moved on a bit more. I'm still lower B, I'm never going to be near the podium, but I've had a couple of rides lately with 3.7w/kg averages so I'm not far off mid B. I'm very happy with that in my 60s!

But to do that, I've been racing on Monday with CC, organising and riding in my road club's virtual TT on Wednesday, WTRL TTT on Thursday and WTRL ITT on Saturday. I've got the time to do that, but unfortunately that's probably out of the question for you.

And I do get the wish that you were still smashing it with those of us who've moved up. Although I was a bit fatigued last night, I had the reverse of your feeling. I'm looking at the gap to you, Brendan and Chris and I can see us eating into it. And I'm watching the gap to A as we try and hold them off for as long as possible. And yes the feeling that I'm doing that with Martin and Steen who were always a bit ahead of me, and Michael who was really impressive last night was a big part of that.

But don't get down on yourself. You're doing well. Enjoy it!

 

[bridgy]

When you came past us my thought was .... oh dear, @bridgy is falling back, that's going to be a lonely ride in. Looks like he got back on though

Yeah I remember that Carl! The rest of my team suddenly sprinted away from ME just as we caught you! I wasn't on discord so it may have been a plan to avoid sticky draft as we went past you guys I don't know! But yeah I did manage to sort myself out and catch back up

 

[Del C]

Anyhow.

Who's going up for @IrishAl 's Without Borders Race on Monday at 19:00.

Me, @IrishAl and @bridgy in the B race. I 'll be waving them off as they dump me out of the pen!

@mjd1988 and @Ketty in the C race.

 

[steverob]

Well I've finally had a chance to properly look at my stats from yesterday and it makes for some interesting reading (depends on your definition of interesting I suppose!). Now if I compare this race to the first TTT, it's fair that I only do it for the first two thirds of the ride, as last time I got dropped early on the final climb and then coasted to the end from there (spending most of my time switching camera angles so I could see my team-mates almost win).

So of those first 13.5 miles, I averaged 4 watts higher than last time, but the additional draft meant that I was 42 seconds up. However the gains were not evenly distributed - we gained large chunks in the underwater tunnel at the start and then on the mini-climb after the Watopia banner up to the Esses - but much of the rest of the course we were dead even or only just slightly ahead of our previous effort. I remember that I had to sit in on the slight downhill through the hairpins to try and save energy for the forward KOM and sure enough, that was the only section where we actually lost time (albeit just 2-3 seconds).

The chase back on to catch the group following the final KOM was probably what did for me, but I didn't actually feel it in my legs until we reached the Esses - that's when I really struggled to hold the group and my power was fluctuating all over the shop as I tried to react. I had that same feeling on Monday night as well; it seems if I'm putting out a constant high-level effort, about 40 minutes is all I can manage - the rest of the ride I just have to hang on. Need to work on my stamina clearly!

 

[<Tommy>]

Yeah I remember that Carl! The rest of my team suddenly sprinted away from ME just as we caught you! I wasn't on discord so it may have been a plan to avoid sticky draft as we went past you guys I don't know! But yeah I did manage to sort myself out and catch back up

I think what you mean is you slowed to give them a on the way through

 

[BurningLegs]

Anyhow.

Who's going up for @IrishAl 's Without Borders Race on Monday at 19:00.

Me, @IrishAl and @bridgy in the B race. I 'll be waving them off as they dump me out of the pen!

@mjd1988 and @Ketty in the C race.

I’ve entered in B. I’m going to be spat out I think - pretty flat course!

 

[Whorty]

Anyhow.

Who's going up for @IrishAl 's Without Borders Race on Monday at 19:00.

Me, @IrishAl and @bridgy in the B race. I 'll be waving them off as they dump me out of the pen!

@mjd1988 and @Ketty in the C race.

Hoping to be there but not 100% sure yet. If I am I'll sign up to B if only to give myself a test

What team do we ride under?

 

[Whorty]

I think what you mean is you slowed to give them a on the way through

He actually slowed down on the way past to say ... "Tommy's not doing his share of pulling tonight, he's slowing us down.... want to join us in A to strengthen the team?"

 

[Del C]

Hoping to be there but not 100% sure yet. If I am I'll sign up to B if only to give myself a test

What team do we ride under?

Well I was planning to ride as Cyclechat rather than WTRL as long as we had enough entered.

 

[Del C]

I’ve entered in B. I’m going to be spat out I think - pretty flat course!

I haven't checked Gotham Grind, but most of the New York courses are horrible, rolling things and its hard to get a rhythm.

 

[bobinski]

Anyhow.

Who's going up for @IrishAl 's Without Borders Race on Monday at 19:00.

Me, @IrishAl and @bridgy in the B race. I 'll be waving them off as they dump me out of the pen!

@mjd1988 and @Ketty in the C race.

I’ll join.

 

[peterob]

Anyhow.

Who's going up for @IrishAl 's Without Borders Race on Monday at 19:00.

Me, @IrishAl and @bridgy in the B race. I 'll be waving them off as they dump me out of the pen!

@mjd1988 and @Ketty in the C race.

I’ll probably join too in B on Monday as long as it’s not too hot 👍

 

[Brendan Parker]

my 3R league race on tuesday was gotham grind, its not so flat very rolling, @mjd1988 you should start this league in B i would say

i av 3.4 (95% so 3.2) for 4 laps of this course so would say you would be more than that so this will prob be the race that bumps you up, so no point wasting a race in the league.