Zwift Chat

[Joffey]

Do you fancy joining the Irish league race tonight Dean in C cat? I'm the only one from CC signed up yet and could do with some company

Generally there are a lot more riders signed up now, all with similar abilities. On the 2 KoMs there are about 8-10 of us with very similar times. Could be a close race tonight and may still be a decent sized group together over the top of the second KoM.

Only 4 in D - I'm guessing with the rain today we might get a few more signups as the day progresses.

 

[Whorty]

Only 4 in D - I'm guessing with the rain today we might get a few more signups as the day progresses.

Pretty bad down here in the West Country too. There are quite a few events around the same time tonight but this is the hardest I think so will attract the racers out there Could split the points up.

 

[IrishAl]

Now I'm looking at ZP and it says there is a sprint 2.5km from the start... @IrishAl is this a points scoring one??

The “Watopia Sprint” is the one that the finish line is at the Italian villas/bridge before the short Kicker and the esses. Map below.

This is usually a fast and frenetic one as the field can often get split on the false flat and then the pace ramps up as the field chases to close gaps. Tactically it’s tough to call...my temptation is to go full gas and force a break on the false flat but experience has been that it almost always comes back together into the sprint. Tonight I think I will stay towards the front on the false flat and surf the wheels into the sprint. @mjd1988 and @Spartak on my wheel and we can try and maximise our points. We need to be careful though as if we go too far into the red then there is a danger we get dropped on the short climb after the bridge and before the esses. There is no time to recover on the esses.

Edit: I also see Steen @Brusgaard is also signed up. We have the numbers tonight. Let’s just hope none of the lightweight juniors sign up. 😄

S4: Watopia Sprint, double points Volcano KOM and double points Finish

 

[Spartak]

The “Watopia Sprint” is the one that the finish line is at the Italian villas/bridge before the short Kicker and the esses. Map below.

This is usually a fast and frenetic one as the field can often get split on the false flat and then the pace ramps up as the field chases to close gaps. Tactically it’s tough to call...my temptation is to go full gas and force a break on the false flat but experience has been that it almost always comes back together into the sprint. Tonight I think I will stay towards the front on the false flat and surf the wheels into the sprint. @mjd1988 and @Spartak on my wheel and we can try and maximise our points. We need to be careful though as if we go too far into the red then there is a danger we get dropped on the short climb after the bridge and before the esses. There is no time to recover on the esses.

Edit: I also see Steen @Brusgaard is also signed up. We have the numbers tonight. Let’s just hope none of the lightweight juniors sign up. 😄

S4: Watopia Sprint, double points Volcano KOM and double points Finish

View attachment 538290
View attachment 538291

I'll try my best to hang on until the sprint but I'm not promising anything... Its at 16kms so I'll have to be in TT mode until then...

Here's hoping that none of the lightweight juniors sign up from an overweight vet !

I can second @Whorty weather forecast, its wet & windy here in Bristol too... ☔

 

[Brusgaard]

I also see Steen @Brusgaard is also signed up. We have the numbers tonight. Let’s just hope none of the lightweight juniors sign up. 😄

S4: Watopia Sprint, double points Volcano KOM and double points Finish

3 riders for Team CycleChat in B and 4 for Team IRL (and probably more later in the day). The way I see it, we are outnumbered. But hey, two weeks ago we were only 2 in B, so it is a 50% increase...

 

[CXRAndy]

I’ve nothing but tales of woe from my ride yesterday. Two rear wheel punctures and on fighting with the really tight rim/tyre combo For the second one I found the replacement tube also faulty 😭 - needless to say I wasn’t a happy happy but the only saving grace was that I was 5 minutes drive from the house. Despite the look in the pic below the rear derailleur was carefully placed on the pavement 😇. The annoying thing is that this is now a recurring problem for this wheel and it seems to be puncturing tubes at the same place on the inner side of the tube which I put down to worn out rim tape before and had replaced so I’ll need to investigate more thoroughly this evening View attachment 538268

Tubeless

 

[mjd1988]

3 riders for Team CycleChat in B and 4 for Team IRL (and probably more later in the day). The way I see it, we are outnumbered. But hey, two weeks ago we were only 2 in B, so it is a 50% increase...

I'm down as team IRL but am actually CC so it's 4:3 in our favour really 👍

 

[Brusgaard]

I'm down as team IRL but am actually CC so it's 4:3 in our favour really 👍

Are you sure about that? In last week’s results you are listed as IRL (and Brendan as BRT in 2 other races), so I’m pretty sure your points went to those teams.

 

[mjd1988]

Are you sure about that? In last week’s results you are listed as IRL (and Brendan as BRT in 2 other races), so I’m pretty sure your points went to those teams.

Is there an actual official team competition though? I mean more that I'm riding in support of cyclechatters in the race. Riding as team IRL to support the series itself, I don't think team IRL actually use tactics, it's more everyman for himself as far as I know

 

[Brendan Parker]

As only just a B I’m using these races as training sessions for me, trying to stay with second group for as long as I can. I will of course do what I can to help you guys 👍🏼

 

[Whorty]

No sandbaggers in ZP for C race yet, but you B guys do have an A rider now .... stick him on the front and let him pull you along

 

[Whorty]

Tubeless

On a new bike?

 

[Brusgaard]

Is there an actual official team competition though? I mean more that I'm riding in support of cyclechatters in the race. Riding as team IRL to support the series itself, I don't think team IRL actually use tactics, it's more everyman for himself as far as I know

As long as there is a "Team Standings" for the league, I think it is as official as it gets, and exactly the same as the other leagues we have done. However, unlike the more established series only about max 10-15 riders get points in these IRL races. That means that if you are behind the front group before the first prime, there is (literally) no point(s) in racing for the remainder of the race. I'm not gonna kill myself to chase/breakaway when in 10+ position as it is a waste of energy. Of course them other serious series also requires HRM and usually disable powerups for a fair race.

How do you support the series itself "more" by riding for team IRL rather than some other team? Those using ZwiftPower (live) will see you as an IRL rider and possibly not chase you if on that same team. Others from IRL will maybe question why you may be chasing down a IRL rider maybe in a solo breakaway, not knowing you might be pursuing CC interests. It all gets a bit muddy, when not showing your right colours…

 

[CXRAndy]

On a new bike?

Remember IOW,. I had 3 pin hole punctures and no deflation with tubeless. I would of been stuffed if I had to repair 3 with limited time available

 

[BurningLegs]

I've only ever had one double puncture - that was on a mountain bike. I was riding with one other person and a hedge had been freshly cut just by the trail. We picked up three punctures between us on a short stretch of about 20M, and only had two tubes between us. It was a bit of a miserable walk back to the car!

I always carry some of those stick on puncture repair kits now, just in case.