Zwift Chat

[IrishAl]

Another fast start in the Cat B. race saw be dropped pretty early but I did manage to ride around London with a guy called Connolly , we stayed together until half way up the climb, when he dropped me but our work together meant we caught another rider... 👍

Thanks to @mjd1988 who gave me encouragement to attempt to catch him once he was dropped but alas that never happened.

I must say thanks to all CC riders ( who have given me kudos etc through my first full season of racing, Zwiftpowers decision to upgrade me to B hasn't helped my positions ( I'd have been more competitive if I'd stayed in C ) but its pushed me out of my comfort zone !

Unlucky last night Ian, that was a fast start. I was almost caught napping as I was too busy sending a message as the flag dropped. It was tough even just holding onto the back of the group for nearly 2 minutes which seemed longer start sprint than usual.

 

[Whorty]

Sorry @Whorty, I didn't see @mjd1988's earlier post or I would have jumped in C and tried to help on the flat.

As it turns out I spent the last race of the series in D in one of the most enjoyable 'races' so far on Zwift.

I have been chatting with a chap called Phil and another called Frank and tonight us three and JB just rode together like a club ride shooting the breeze on messenger. The other riders joined in a bit and the group went round to the bottom of the climb at a nice easy pace, just like a Sunday cafe ride

And then I mentioned DBR next week. Seems like all 3 are doing it and they want me to race in D. So I'm a bit at a loss as to what to do. I really enjoy riding with these guys so do I just keep racing D until Zwift Power kicks me out or do I say bugger it and just go into C. I don't know. I feel bad racing D. But then again when JB was winning every week it was a challenge and motivation to race against him. I'm probably overthinking it. And I do enjoy racing with those guys.

Anyway. Well done to everyone over the last few weeks racing IRL and cheers @IrishAl for making us aware of it! It's been a good series. Do I get a prize for getting 300 points?

PS - I'd appreciate all your thoughts on this... D or C?

I think you have to race where you feel happiest mate. I could 'race' in B but like Ian would be dropped quite quickly although I'm unlikely to come last, or race C and be competitive. I'm still some way off ZP upgrading me so I think I'll stay as is in leagues but do the odd B race at other times.

 

[IrishAl]

I suppose it is about what you want to get out of it; I think you are much more likely to get better if you move up to C, but you won't know unless you try. That said if you are enjoying being in D no harm in staying in your zpower cat.

That said would it be worth trying an FTP test? Just to see if your cat is right? Because if you are holding back (even accidentally) that's a bit different.

I’d tend to agree with this ☝️ A fresh FTP test could show you what your capable of. Another option is to enter one of the Tempus Fugit time trials and see what the power numbers are like.
It seems like you’re finding it relatively easy to win these cat D team IRL races. have you done any other cat D races with a deeper field where you have had to work for the win? A good target for the autumn could be to upgrade and train to be competitive in C.

 

[Spartak]

Unlucky last night Ian, that was a fast start. I was almost caught napping as I was too busy sending a message as the flag dropped. It was tough even just holding onto the back of the group for nearly 2 minutes which seemed longer start sprint than usual.

Thanks @IrishAl, I'll look forward to the Autumn series ?

@Whorty ...the starts in B are pretty fierce, I was well warmed up last night but just couldn't hang on.

Not sure if my numbers will get me put back to C when my 90 days are up but you never know, it would be a good little team in C if it happened & @Joffey got upgraded... 🤔

 

[IrishAl]

I’m joining the 3R sundown series for the next month or so. The first event is an iTT this evening around the Tempus Fugit course. The organisers It seems have run into issues With a rider number limit of 56 in each category so there are only around a dozen places left in across all groups so sign up fast if you want to join. You have to sign up in D for a place.

https://www.zwift.com/events/view/1039311

 

[Joffey]

I suppose it is about what you want to get out of it; I think you are much more likely to get better if you move up to C, but you won't know unless you try. That said if you are enjoying being in D no harm in staying in your zpower cat.

That said would it be worth trying an FTP test? Just to see if your cat is right? Because if you are holding back (even accidentally) that's a bit different.

That's maybe the best idea, an FTP test. I'm not purposely holding back but there isn't anyone racing hard enough to push me. Last night I had an average HR of 138. I rarely get into the 160 averages racing in D nowadays. There isn't any sandbaggers entering either that would make it harder.

I'll do an FTP and see where I am when I pluck up the courage

 

[Joffey]

I’d tend to agree with this ☝ A fresh FTP test could show you what your capable of. Another option is to enter one of the Tempus Fugit time trials and see what the power numbers are like.
It seems like you’re finding it relatively easy to win these cat D team IRL races. have you done any other cat D races with a deeper field where you have had to work for the win? A good target for the autumn could be to upgrade and train to be competitive in C.

When I first started racing I would struggle to get in the top 3 but now in D I normally podium. And yes, it is getting a bit easy... but I'm not sure if that is because the fields are so small in D or if I'm racing in the wrong Cat.

I think when time (or weather) allows I'll do an FTP or a TT and give it everything and see what happens. As @Spartak says, we would have a good amount of riders in C with me and him coming in as well as those already there. If we can all get entered into the same races we might be able to start bossing a few.

 

[Whorty]

Thanks @IrishAl, I'll look forward to the Autumn series ?

@Whorty ...the starts in B are pretty fierce, I was well warmed up last night but just couldn't hang on.

Not sure if my numbers will get me put back to C when my 90 days are up but you never know, it would be a good little team in C if it happened & @Joffey got upgraded... 🤔

In contrast last night C was much tamer than normal - maybe in part that we scared off most of the B riders so it was mostly us C guys with only a couple of Bs pulling. Or it could just be that everyone was holding back for the hill at the end I can imagine a fast B start is not nice to try to hang on to

 

[steverob]

I’d tend to agree with this ☝ A fresh FTP test could show you what your capable of. Another option is to enter one of the Tempus Fugit time trials and see what the power numbers are like.
It seems like you’re finding it relatively easy to win these cat D team IRL races. have you done any other cat D races with a deeper field where you have had to work for the win? A good target for the autumn could be to upgrade and train to be competitive in C.

Trouble is, there just aren't many (any?) D races with big fields - or at least not once you strip out all the sandbaggers and not-registered-on-ZP riders. So many events you enter that seem to have 60 people in, but when the final results come in you've finished 2nd out 5. The worst thing for me and @Joffey was discovering the ZP LIVE feed - now we always know exactly who we're really up against!

I would however also recommend doing a TT as a good test - it's what I set my current FTP on, which was 5% higher than anything I've ever done during a race before. I did the Cycling Weekly Club Ten (Wednesday at 18:00) which was on the Tick Tock course, but as that is longer than 10 miles, it stops short of a full lap. As it is one big mixed category, if you can get a late start time (don't sign up until a few hours before maybe) then you'll have plenty of other riders to chase down and can really concentrate on getting a strong constant power output for the full distance. Should only take you about 25 minutes to complete.

 

[Spartak]

When I first started racing I would struggle to get in the top 3 but now in D I normally podium. And yes, it is getting a bit easy... but I'm not sure if that is because the fields are so small in D or if I'm racing in the wrong Cat.

I think when time (or weather) allows I'll do an FTP or a TT and give it everything and see what happens. As @Spartak says, we would have a good amount of riders in C with me and him coming in as well as those already there. If we can all get entered into the same races we might be able to start bossing a few.

There's the British Cycling 10m TT on Thursday lunchtime on Tempus Fugit, it's 16.1kms...

 

[Brendan Parker]

@Joffey the 3R series that starts today is ITT. 😁

 

[Joffey]

Trouble is, there just aren't many (any?) D races with big fields - or at least not once you strip out all the sandbaggers and not-registered-on-ZP riders. So many events you enter that seem to have 60 people in, but when the final results come in you've finished 2nd out 5. The worst thing for me and @Joffey was discovering the ZP LIVE feed - now we always know exactly who we're really up against!

I would however also recommend doing a TT as a good test - it's what I set my current FTP on, which was 5% higher than anything I've ever done during a race before. I did the Cycling Weekly Club Ten (Wednesday at 18:00) which was on the Tick Tock course, but as that is longer than 10 miles, it stops short of a full lap. As it is one big mixed category, if you can get a late start time (don't sign up until a few hours before maybe) then you'll have plenty of other riders to chase down and can really concentrate on getting a strong constant power output for the full distance. Should only take you about 25 minutes to complete.

I like the look of the Wednesday night TTs and it fit's in around my outdoors riding so I think I'll try that and give it the beans.

 

[Joffey]

@Joffey the 3R series that starts today is ITT. 😁

It's a lovely day today... going to ride outside!

 

[bridgy]

I’m joining the 3R sundown series for the next month or so. The first event is an iTT this evening around the Tempus Fugit course. The organisers It seems have run into issues With a rider number limit of 56 in each category so there are only around a dozen places left in across all groups so sign up fast if you want to join. You have to sign up in D for a place.

https://www.zwift.com/events/view/1039311
View attachment 544755

I'm signed up for this @IrishAl . What time are you down to start at? - mine says 19.41.

Having said that, I did read earlier on ZSUN facebook page that it might end up being a standard mass start TT because of the problems with Zwift limiting numbers - not sure yet though

 

[<Tommy>]

Joffey I’d move up if I were you. Ignoring your B cat by the end of the winter target for a moment. I think when you start out racing you see the most progress. Sooner or later you hit your natural place if that makes sense. And if that were the case I’d say just stick with D. But I have a feeling you have a lot more potential to get quicker so you might as well push forward as hard as possible until you find your limit.