I spotted you fly by at 9.2 miles at which point I stopped. Wasn't feeling to good. I know what you mean about them not feeling like a race, it's odd!
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I spotted you fly by at 9.2 miles at which point I stopped. Wasn't feeling to good. I know what you mean about them not feeling like a race, it's odd!
TTT numbers rapidly falling in Team IRL. We had 14 teams last night compared to over 20 full teams a Month ago. The summer and easing of restricitons in covid lockdown are definately taking their toll on Zwift numbers here. My team finished 7th in Frappe- I say my team and not I because I was dropped again with about 10km to go - pesky A riders in the team were hammering on the front. I usually judge my performance by my ability to stay with the team to the finish with I’d say I do on 50% of occasions. I’m questioning if I should step down a peg as I’m not enjoying being Comfortable for 15mins then run ragged for the remained and more frequently being dropped.
I'm sort of in your position but sticking with it.
I'm riding in a Frappe team with all B riders, a couple of whom are borderline A riders. I'm one of the 2 weakest riders in our team, and actually the weakest by stats. So, each week I'm having to really dig in from the start.
I think I've been riding for about 7 weeks and I've made it to the end with the team once! But last night I got dropped 2.5kms from the end and I was the second guy dropped - the first one went shortly after the start of the 2nd lap.
After about 3 weeks I spoke to the team captain and asked if he wanted to drop me to a lower ranked team as I'd been dropped just after half way each time, twice down to my own sticky draft mistakes and every race I'd had to chase back on after terrible starts. He immediately said no, that I was doing well and that it took a few weeks to learn the pitfalls I'd hit.
Since then, I've been getting further and further towards reaching the end of the course with the team. I've completed it once and the last 3 races I feel like I've contributed and that the 4 strongest riders have gone on when the time is right.
I've had 3 FTP increases in 7 weeks, sorted out my crap starts (a timing issue really) and I've not had a sticky draft problem since I spoke with the team captain.
I guess for me the TTT experience has been hard, but fun and has definitely pulled me up from being a very low B cat to somewhere approaching mid B. So, overall a real positive for me. Incidentally, the ITT races on Saturday have also helped me sustain power for longer.
Maybe for you its a different thing. You're much more used to being at the pointy end of things, so the disappointment of not hanging with the guys to the end is at the other end of the scale from me. Tough one to call, but I can guess your frustration.
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For H&H races I always upgrade myself to the next cat ... I can easily sit in the cat C group and have an easy ride, but I prefer to push myself and ride with the B guys knowing that they aren't actively trying to drop me. they still push hard, harder than I can hold for a race, so gives me a much better work out. Maybe next time you do a H&H try joining the C's and see if this helps
My legs just weren't with it at all yesterday - so about halfway through I bailed out as I thought I'd do more harm than good pushing on.
Whilst I haven't been doing formal training, I've been chasing Strava KOMs outside and pushing my 5 min power max - so I'm probably overdoing bouts of high intensity for an old geezer. Day off today and see how I feel.
I like H & H but not really with the very high numbers that there were yesterday. Looks like you guys did well
We're struggling for numbers in the TTT too - our previously 8 man team was down to 4 last night. I'm in a similar position to you and @Del C in that I'm hanging on for dear life most of the time - the other riders are two A's and an A+ so I'm definitely the weakest link! It was tough last night but the flat course did mean I could hang on to the end - we managed 49:29. I am starting to question how much Ilike these TTT's but there's no denying its a good workout!
bobinski
Legendary Member
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Not an easy choice. I really don’t enjoy the flat courses and having to stay with bigger stronger guys.We again had problem with teams digging back in after we passed. One was Irish but not one yours.
Good points Bridgy and Del. My TTT experience for sure has been mixed - i don’t actually usually make it to the end with the teams - I work off the premise that if you’ve Made it to the end with 6 or 7 other s then you’ve gone too easy so If i see that playing out I’ll always bury myself with a couple of Kms out and then enjoy the roll in to the line.
I think I’m more frustrated than anything - I do enjoy the team element and discord chat. The captain is very good in that the riders that do get dropped are made feel their efforts are appreciated.
That can be frustrating, I usually stay polite but some riders don’t back off. Usually it’s a beginner thing or lack of English language. One pair of riders flying 🇬🇧 wouldn’t back off a couple of weeks ago until I threatened to name and shame their team.
Yeah that does make a difference.
Last night as we turned back into the desert for the last time and hit that little rise over the bridge I got slightly gapped and I knew I was gone. There were 7 of us left so it was easy to say go. Only 2.5km left and I'd done my job, so no need to try and hang on to the line.
I shouted to go on Discord and immediately got a thank you from our captain and a well done which made things a lot better! And at the end he said he was going to assume it was the same team for next week, which was more good stuff to hear!
Actually, my team captain is from Northern Ireland as are the majority of my team. Steve Milliken who is one of the 2 guys that run WTRL brought me into the team and was in my team until 2 weeks ago. He's also from Northern Ireland.
I think I said a couple of weeks ago that Ireland in general must be rivalling Denmark for the number of people involved in Zwift racing!
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Spartak
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Just rode the Fast Friday Tempus Fugit TT, had a short warm up in Richmond then went flat out - lost bluetooth connection with my HRM but managed to increase my FTP & smashed my PB for the course, my first race as a cat C and already Zwiftpower have me at 'almost B'... 
Blimey!Just rode the Fast Friday Tempus Fugit TT, had a short warm up in Richmond then went flat out - lost bluetooth connection with my HRM but managed to increase my FTP & smashed my PB for the course, my first race as a cat C and already Zwiftpower have me at 'almost B'...
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You just came in 10 seconds ahead of me!
Chapeau!!
Spartak
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