Zwift Chat

[Norry1]

Well I looked at the TTT course earlier this week, predicted this would test my recent improvement to the full and forecast a miserable bastard report would be with you by Friday.

Well......... no! I’m an extremely happy bastard!! The improvement didn’t come to an end. 3 times up the KoM and I didn’t get dropped. Slightly gapped on the 3rd climb but worked my way back on and by the KoM arch I was back with the group.

The Esses were my other worry, just because the climb after the bridge has caught me out before and often I don’t take enough power into each of the little kicks. But again, no problem. Spun harder and lifted my power after the bridge and drove hard on the little descents and that took me over the bumps.

Less than 2kms to go and then I did fall off the back, but I’d done my work, we had 6 riders left and I’d got caught in some traffic, so I didn’t want the guys to wait and just shouted to them to go. This time it just felt like I’d sat up and made the right decision, whereas in previous weeks it just felt I’d blown up and had no choice in the matter.

We finished 87 out of 225 in Frappe in 41.05. One of our team checked out the teams above us. We’re entirely a B cat team and nearly every team above us has at least 1 A cat rider, so we were all feeling pretty pleased with tonight’s ride. We’ve had the same group together for some time now, and one of the guys said tonight that we can actually feel the team getting stronger.

I sound like some f***ing lovesick teenager, but just feel really full of it tonight. Struggled so much earlier in the year and couldn’t see a way through it, so I know exactly how @Brendan Parker is feeling right now. On here @<Tommy> gave me some private advice, which I tried to follow and my team mates on WTRL have been supportive, even when I suggested I should step down a level.

I’ll reserve proper judgement until I know I can maintain this, but I think its ok to let myself enjoy it for tonight!

Brilliant - it is strange how we invest so much into this sport - but we do, and when things go well it feels great! Well done for hanging in there. Are your power stats improving?

 

[bobinski]

Just hit level 50 on a recovery spin 😀

now what?!? 😀

 

[Norry1]

Just hit level 50 on a recovery spin 😀

now what?!? 😀

It's all over.

Time to take up bowls or summat.

 

[CXRAndy]

@bobinski You could try and beat this record


View: https://youtu.be/h9NMi0Td1XA













First 60 year old to go sub 3hours

 

[Del C]

Brilliant - it is strange how we invest so much into this sport - but we do, and when things go well it feels great! Well done for hanging in there. Are your power stats improving?

It is strange isn’t it? But once you’ve played competitive sport, its hard to let go, no matter how old you get!

Power is moving up again. All my recent rides have been between 3.4 and 3.7w/kg over 20 minutes. That’s good but not astounding.

I think the recent improvement has come about because I’ve improved at the points I was struggling with in the past.

I’ve got a bit better at reading the sudden unexpected kicks that you get on rolling courses like the Esses, the top of Northumberland Avenue and the top of the Legsnapper where you either need to lift your cadence/power before you hit a bump or keeping the power on over the top of a climb and not getting gapped.

I have certainly improved at holding power for a longer period, and its that combination that I think is paying off.

The other thing I’ve worked hard on in the TTT is trying to stay a bit further forward and benefitting from the draft, rather than sitting at the back where I think I was spending more energy than I needed.

Nothing dramatic there, just probably an improvement in racecraft and concentration, but it seems to be paying off.

 

[Del C]

It's all over.

Time to take up bowls or summat.

Make that virtual bowls @bobinski. I’m hearing that new Bwift app is really something.

No need to go outside and get your shoes wet on damp grass when you can bowl in your shed or loft!

 

[BurningLegs]

I'm only level 29 - still wet behind the ears compared to some of the seasoned zwifters here 🙂

 

[JuhaL]

These are my KMs over the past few years ... bit lower this year as the past 2 months I've been mostly climbing so less KM and more ascent

	KMs
2017	4893
2018	6808
2019	8662
2020	7603

Nicely ride, little bit surprised that you are not level 50 yet. You have more mileage than i have on Zwift or are these km:s include outdoor rides as well?.

 

[<Tommy>]

It is strange isn’t it? But once you’ve played competitive sport, its hard to let go, no matter how old you get!

Power is moving up again. All my recent rides have been between 3.4 and 3.7w/kg over 20 minutes. That’s good but not astounding.

I think the recent improvement has come about because I’ve improved at the points I was struggling with in the past.

I’ve got a bit better at reading the sudden unexpected kicks that you get on rolling courses like the Esses, the top of Northumberland Avenue and the top of the Legsnapper where you either need to lift your cadence/power before you hit a bump or keeping the power on over the top of a climb and not getting gapped.

I have certainly improved at holding power for a longer period, and its that combination that I think is paying off.

The other thing I’ve worked hard on in the TTT is trying to stay a bit further forward and benefitting from the draft, rather than sitting at the back where I think I was spending more energy than I needed.

Nothing dramatic there, just probably an improvement in racecraft and concentration, but it seems to be paying off.

Really good to hear Del 👍👍

I think there’s something quite unhealthy about comparing numbers with other people.

It’s probably impossible to avoid in reality... But I always try and put as little emphasis on it as possible. It’s the same thing we tell my daughters so I try practice what I preach (doesn’t always work!). Just focus on the things that you can control and squeeze as much as you can from that. And the rest goes the way it goes!

 

[<Tommy>]

I think I’m level 33 or something close to that. There are events that give you more of the point you need to climb up aren’t there? Maybe it’s the big zwift series’ that do that. I must admit it’s never bothered me since I got the tron, but I wouldn’t mind getting the disc wheels and I think I’m still a fair bit away from them.

 

[bobinski]

@bobinski You could try and beat this record


View: https://youtu.be/h9NMi0Td1XA













First 60 year old to go sub 3hours

😁

At least I have 2 yrs of training to prepare.
Del though, he’s old enough and clearly motivated again 👌😁

 

[Whorty]

Nicely ride, little bit surprised that you are not level 50 yet. You have more mileage than i have on Zwift or are these km:s include outdoor rides as well?.

This includes outside rides, plus in 2017 quite a bit on Bkool and some BRVR over the past 2 years. I'm level 47 on Zwift so not too far off 50 but not been on there in recent months as only riding BRVR currently.

 

[JuhaL]

This includes outside rides, plus in 2017 quite a bit on Bkool and some BRVR over the past 2 years. I'm level 47 on Zwift so not too far off 50 but not been on there in recent months as only riding BRVR currently.

I have noticed that you are done good work on BRVR. Those BVRV sessions what you have done must be improve your vo2max as well and therefor performance.

 

[Norry1]

I've just written a blog piece about coaching and the 60 Challenge which I set myself. It is fairly long so I won't post it on here.

https://norryscyclingstuff.weebly.com/blog

 

[Whorty]

I have noticed that you are done good work on BRVR. Those BVRV sessions what you have done must be improve your vo2max as well and therefor performance.

Not sure what or where I'm improving but what I'm looking to do is ride for 90+ minutes each ride and at certain power numbers (aim is over 1000 calories per ride). Trying to get some endurance in the legs.