Ive thought of entering todays ventop Stage etape event, joining on Zwift but leaving the ATV switched on and then coming back to it at a time that suits. The Llama shared a hack to allow you to exit the event and then just navigate the world to go where you fancy. My only problem is i might not get a chance today and tomorrow I’d planned an outdoors ride, Monday is the Team IRL race. Looks like I’ll be waiting for it to be released as a guest world.
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Spartak
Powered by M&M's
- Location
- Bristolian
Just ridden it... 
Ride report later, off to lie down in a dark room 😄
Ride report later, off to lie down in a dark room 😄
steverob
Guru
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
I've heard that they will appear on the August calendar, although possibly not from the 1st (think I saw the 10th listed as a start date, but can't find that info anywhere).
And yes, you can just pick any of the French stages, let the event auto-join you and then start at your own leisure. Then once you do start riding, you are free to end the event and U-turn / take different turn offs as you like.
It's exactly what I did last week; joined a scheduled R.G.V. ride, but allowed most of the pack to race off at the start so I wasn't going round in just one big blob of riders; did just one of the two laps you were meant to, before quitting the event. Then turned around and went up as far as the turn-off for Ventoux, then descended the Petit KOM so I could claim that I'd been on all of the French roads apart from the main climb itself.
Brendan Parker
Veteran
- Location
- essex, england
yer I think they said in Zwiftcast 9/10th August
Spartak
Powered by M&M's
- Location
- Bristolian
Just ridden it...
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Ride report later, off to lie down in a dark room 😄
Well that was tough, after watching GP Lama ride the last 5kms on his YouTube feed I was a little apprehensive. The usual chaos at the start and I was way down the field in 2800th ! ( I managed to finish in 2220th roughly ).
The climbing was relentless and I was oddly relieved when the gradient dipped to 7 or 8%. Some nice graphics as my photos show on my previous post.
I did consider stopping at Chalet Reynard but I carried on & I was glad I did to complete the course.
Here is the link to my Strava if anyone is interested...
Check out my activity on Strava: https://strava.app.link/BLrHnVpCd8
Current fastest time on Strava is 52:41
I really don't get why Strava have changed their model so none paying users can only see the 'top 10' times when these are clearly pointless. Doesn't really give any value to the segments when they are so poorly managed.Great ride Ian - well done for gritting teeth and hanging in there. It's a target to aim for now
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
pretty obvious isn’t it. They want people to pay for it.
I do have my own gripe though to be fair... removing the club leaderboards on the phone app even for paying subscribers is annoying
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<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
5000 ft climbing. Always looks brutal when it’s written on paper. To be fair it didn’t sound like it was much better in reality! Well done Ian 👍👍
If the tables were valid then yes, I can see the value of paying, but they're not (at least not the virtual segments) - so what you're paying for is a poor product. Not really a user of Strava, I only glance at it to see my average speed and if I've done any PBs ..... but, if Strava removed the free users completely I wouldn't be bothered
Club leaderboards (hopefully) are better as you/we know and trust the times more. Didn't realise they had removed this for paying users from the mobile app! I don't see them anymore but then it just means I don't feel as inadequate
Spartak
Powered by M&M's
- Location
- Bristolian
Just noticed that there is a 14:58 France ride - I'm thinking of joining this but quitting the ride and heading to the little lump Need to remember to set the trainer to 100%. Not ridden in France yet so I'll need to look at the maps so I head the right way 
Excuses in early .... legs tired from the SF 4DP yesterday, and the MAP ramp test Thursday
Edit: even though the ride is on ZP it looks like it's the official TdF ride and we can't join it
There is a ride at 17:00 but this is way too late to be climbing the mountain. Oh well, it will still be there next week 
Need to remember to set the trainer to 100%. Not ridden in France yet so I'll need to look at the maps so I head the right way Excuses in early .... legs tired from the SF 4DP yesterday, and the MAP ramp test Thursday
Edit: even though the ride is on ZP it looks like it's the official TdF ride and we can't join it
There is a ride at 17:00 but this is way too late to be climbing the mountain. Oh well, it will still be there next week
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<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
If the tables were valid then yes, I can see the value of paying, but they're not (at least not the virtual segments) - so what you're paying for is a poor product. Not really a user of Strava, I only glance at it to see my average speed and if I've done any PBs ..... but, if Strava removed the free users completely I wouldn't be bothered
Club leaderboards (hopefully) are better as you/we know and trust the times more. Didn't realise they had removed this for paying users from the mobile app! I don't see them anymore but then it just means I don't feel as inadequate
I’m not saying whether it’s worth paying or not.
I’m just saying that they’ve removed stuff from the free version to encourage people to pay the sub, As you said you couldn’t understand why they’ve done it.
The value side of it is probably a lot more subjective. For me personally I started paying pretty early on. I figured I was supporting a young company whose product I was using daily as much as anything. I’m glad they’ve generally kept advertising to a minimum too and I figure people paying encourages that model. I think Strava generally is excellent. Maybe we all sort of take it for granted a bit. But it’s completely changed cycling in some ways. And zwift leans on it heavily.
BurningLegs
Guru
I’ve not renewed my Strava premium and don’t miss it.
The thing I went premium for a few years ago was the safety beacon feature to share lI’ve location with my wife on solo rides. Then I noticed that RWGPS have that feature and turn by turn navigation so I now pay for RgPS premium for about £40 a year and gone free version of Strava. Wouldn’t miss Strava if I got rid to be honest.
The thing I went premium for a few years ago was the safety beacon feature to share lI’ve location with my wife on solo rides. Then I noticed that RWGPS have that feature and turn by turn navigation so I now pay for RgPS premium for about £40 a year and gone free version of Strava. Wouldn’t miss Strava if I got rid to be honest.
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
Thats interesting. I’m in the reverse position. I use the free version of ridewithgps. It’s great for mapping routes isn’t it. Although lee and randy have another app that I really should try as it sounds like the road planner is even better. Using the free version it’s a little awkward to set up routes using turn by turn and sharing with with friends, but there is a work around. Don’t zp demand you have a Strava account to verify your results? I have a feeling using zwift you would miss it if you didn’t have it.
edit: just occurred to me that you can share live location on WhatsApp. And you can set up turn by turn for free on ridewithgps. So technically you could save another 40 quid there.
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Alongo
Guru
Just ridden the Ven Top stage at noon. I had a plan , it went quite well , but ooh was it tough .
Plan : Ride first couple of km at just under threshold, that's a pretty low gradient so benefit from drafting. After that settle into a pace between 250-270 watts depending on flow ,group ,gradient etc . Aim to keep overall average at 250 W. Time target was under 1:30 , with 1:25 being overachieving target .
Well , I managed to tick the plan boxes pretty well .
1:26:42 on ZP .
Pleased with that result but at 10km it felt wasn't much fun .
@BurningLegs and @berty bassett , reckon you'll go sub 1:15 .
Wont be doing it again in a hurry .
Plan : Ride first couple of km at just under threshold, that's a pretty low gradient so benefit from drafting. After that settle into a pace between 250-270 watts depending on flow ,group ,gradient etc . Aim to keep overall average at 250 W. Time target was under 1:30 , with 1:25 being overachieving target .
Well , I managed to tick the plan boxes pretty well .
1:26:42 on ZP .
Pleased with that result but at 10km it felt wasn't much fun .
@BurningLegs and @berty bassett , reckon you'll go sub 1:15 .
Wont be doing it again in a hurry .
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