Zwift Chat

[Breedon]

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.

not quite up to racing yet, had a bad week with exhaustion which was bad enough to affect me with work so blood test next week, done a social ride this morning the only day since last tuesday i felt good enough to do anything so getting back to it slowly.

 

[IrishAl]

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

This is a new bugbear of mine - all you can seem to buy these days is the stick on type of puncture repair kit...seemingly gone are the days of the good old rubber compound. I’ve had zero succcess with the stick on type both on MTB tubes and road tubes. If you can recommend a brand please share 🙌

 

[BurningLegs]

This is a new bugbear of mine - all you can seem to buy these days is the stick on type of puncture repair kit...seemingly gone are the days of the good old rubber compound. I’ve had zero succcess with the stick on type both on MTB tubes and road tubes. If you can recommend a brand please share 🙌

I've had success with these:
https://www.tweekscycles.com/uk/park-tool-gp2-super-patch-kit-madqkgp02/

A bugbear of mine is when people discard their punctured tubes by littering on the side of the road. Often by wrapping them around a nearby lamp or fence post. They clearly had a bag with them big enough to carry a tube - what was it that stopped them carrying the punctured one home in the one they carried the replacement in? Argh!!

 

[Whorty]

not quite up to racing yet, had a bad week with exhaustion which was bad enough to affect me with work so blood test next week, done a social ride this morning the only day since last tuesday i felt good enough to do anything so getting back to it slowly.

Sorry to hear that Dean, wondered why you hadn't been around much. Hope you're feeling better soon mate Take it easy.

 

[IrishAl]

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…

@mjd1988 is correct in that there is zero cooperation or teamwork from IRL riders in these races. This makes it even harder to get a breakaway forming because it is every rider for himself which means any escape attempt is chased down by anyone that has the legs chase. That’s invariably brings a large group and the attack is closed down.

The reason for the no teamwork is a hangover from the first series - in the first series we actively encouraged (Bribed) all riders* to join the Team IRL Zwiftpower team. Joining the team was the only way to be eligible for the prizes - both a weekly random draw, and the overall league winner prize. When IRL riders ride in other events you will see more cooperation as we tend to coordinate some races to take part in and there is discussion behind the scenes such as in messager groups - I would admit though that the team aspect of Team IRL has not really taken off yet but more a focus I would say for this winter. (*Riders - I.e. Irish riders or anyone living in Ireland - we even have some Irish Americans who’s Grandmothers brothers aunt was Irish and who still think they are Irish😀)

this series has a prize but it is a random draw prize for a few items from out sponsors although postage is limited to Uk/Ireland as I believe it contains a few beers and the like from one of our sponsors.

as far as team standings goes I don’t think too many people in Team IRL are looking to the team standings - again a hangover of the team cooperation But I think it is good for the likes of CycleCHAT to compete for team honours against the other non-IRL teams.

 

[IrishAl]

I've had success with these:
https://www.tweekscycles.com/uk/park-tool-gp2-super-patch-kit-madqkgp02/

A bugbear of mine is when people discard their punctured tubes by littering on the side of the road. Often by wrapping them around a nearby lamp or fence post. They clearly had a bag with them big enough to carry a tube - what was it that stopped them carrying the punctured one home in the one they carried the replacement in? Argh!!

Totally agree - any form of littering is a real gripe of mine. I’ll always stick my rubbish in My pocket even if it is a sticky gel wrapper. I live on a country lane and the amount of rubbish tossed is unreal. I’ve even started carrying a large litter bag and regularly patrol the nearby road lifting the rubbish. It was noticeable during lockdown how the litter reduced - same as all over I expect. Now the fast food cartons have returned,

 

[Brusgaard]

this series has a prize but it is a random draw prize for a few items from out sponsors although postage is limited to Uk/Ireland as I believe it contains a few beers and the like from one of o

as far as team standings goes I don’t think too many people in Team IRL are looking to the team standings - again a hangover of the team cooperation But I think it is good for the likes of CycleCHAT to compete for team honours against the other non-IRL teams.

So what you are saying is, that I might as well do the DBR races at 6.15 Mondays, as the IRL prizes only go to members of a specific team and hence the “team standing” is pointless as people choose team to be eligible for prizes rather than their usual team...

Some of the Danish races have prizes too, and these are of course given to random riders, regardless of team. I won a £30 voucher last time in a DBR race. 🙂

Edit: I see the Team IRL-only prize winner part was only for the first series, and in this, others inside the UK are eligible as well. So the same as in the Danish/Scandinavian races.

 

[Spartak]

This is a new bugbear of mine - all you can seem to buy these days is the stick on type of puncture repair kit...seemingly gone are the days of the good old rubber compound. I’ve had zero succcess with the stick on type both on MTB tubes and road tubes. If you can recommend a brand please share 🙌

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-smart-puncture-repair-kit

These are okay... 👍

 

[IrishAl]

So what you are saying is, that I might as well do the DBR races at 6.15 Mondays, as the IRL prizes only go to members of a specific team and hence the “team standing” is pointless as people choose team to be eligible for prizes rather than their usual team...

Yes

You can imagine that the cost of postage to USA or even EU can be quite high and we made the decision up to now to not have any club finances. Any sponsorship is be donation of prizes rather than money. For this reason we aren’t in a position to fund postage abroad.

 

[Brusgaard]

Yes

You can imagine that the cost of postage to USA or even EU can be quite high and we made the decision up to now to not have any club finances. Any sponsorship is be donation of prizes rather than money. For this reason we aren’t in a position to fund postage abroad.

Yes I get the postage thing, it was just the Team IRL-only thing that seemed a bit foolish if wanting to attract people/other teams from the UK/Ireland.

Anyhow, as it seems most CycleChatters don’t see these IRL races as team CycleChat races, I‘m gonna do the DBR one instead, and be done at 8.30PM local instead of 9.30PM.

Have a nice race!

 

[kipster]

This is a new bugbear of mine - all you can seem to buy these days is the stick on type of puncture repair kit...seemingly gone are the days of the good old rubber compound. I’ve had zero succcess with the stick on type both on MTB tubes and road tubes. If you can recommend a brand please share 🙌

Another vote for the park tools patches. In my experience they last for about 6-13 months before they peel off (less if you have a wheel on turbo as the heat generated makes them fail sooner).

I sometimes miss the days of grateing a chalk block to stop the glue from repair patches sticking to the inside of the tyre. But that little yellow crayon was great for marking where the picture was, almost as much fun as trying to remove a stubborn cotter pin or regrease loose BB bearings without loosing some....

 

[Norry1]

Another vote for the park tools patches. In my experience they last for about 6-13 months before they peel off (less if you have a wheel on turbo as the heat generated makes them fail sooner).

I sometimes miss the days of grateing a chalk block to stop the glue from repair patches sticking to the inside of the tyre. But that little yellow crayon was great for marking where the picture was, almost as much fun as trying to remove a stubborn cotter pin or regrease loose BB bearings without loosing some....

Not sure we have the same definition of fun

 

[BurningLegs]

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

Zwiftpower is showing a different sprint to this, by the way. I think As will race as per ZP. Not sure about the other cats...

🤷‍♂️

 

[CXRAndy]

. I live on a country lane and the amount of rubbish tossed is unreal. I’ve even started carrying a large litter bag and regularly patrol the nearby road lifting the rubbish.

Our village started a clean up a few times a year either side for 1/2 a mile. The first year we collected 40 blackbins bags full of take away wrappers, cups of coffee, coke bottles etc.

Its only done by a few selfish b@st@rds, but spoils the country side

 

[Randyberlin]

Another vote for the park tools patches. In my experience they last for about 6-13 months before they peel off (less if you have a wheel on turbo as the heat generated makes them fail sooner).

I sometimes miss the days of grateing a chalk block to stop the glue from repair patches sticking to the inside of the tyre. But that little yellow crayon was great for marking where the picture was, almost as much fun as trying to remove a stubborn cotter pin or regrease loose BB bearings without loosing some....

I was going to reply with the rough up Tube and light the glue on fire, But didn’t want to sound like the old man I am... Thanks Kip. Coming from one of you youngsters it makes me feel better.