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Another fun evening in the WTRL. Well done to all riders, as usual that was hard.
A better start for me this time. I realised my old plan of 370W ish out the start gate was not good enough, so I hit around 400W for the first 45 seconds and then dropped to 300W / 280W for the next 5 minutes. This kept me in the front group but I was still only 80/90th. We were travelling at around 30 mph so it was very hard to move up rom there.
As we got close to the first sprint I heard DS Tommy tell us to get further up the pack. I tried but I was pretty much on my limit and didn't make much progress. Al had been near me quite a lot of the way but he had the power to push up.
I was still in the lead pack at the first sprint but as expected it got really lined out. I was in 82nd (just checked the video) and had averaged 3.9 w/kg for the first nearly 16 minutes. The pack was splintering and I heard Tommy shout to get in the pack ahead of me. I chased across and joined the next riders but they had also splintered off - so we were a group of 5/6 riders in 80-85th places.
We settled into a much more sustainable pace which was quicker than the groups behind, but not enough to catch the groups in front other than the odd straggler.
Most of the rest of the race was pretty unremarkable other than Andy disappearing and then suddenly appearing in my pack midway up the Petit KOM.
We got to the finish contesting 73rd and I started my sprint a bit too early. 3 riders passed me but I beat the Noobs guy....... or did I??
He is the guy in Green. However, ZP has him beating me. I want a Steward's Enquiry
On to the TTT.
A better start for me this time. I realised my old plan of 370W ish out the start gate was not good enough, so I hit around 400W for the first 45 seconds and then dropped to 300W / 280W for the next 5 minutes. This kept me in the front group but I was still only 80/90th. We were travelling at around 30 mph so it was very hard to move up rom there.
As we got close to the first sprint I heard DS Tommy tell us to get further up the pack. I tried but I was pretty much on my limit and didn't make much progress. Al had been near me quite a lot of the way but he had the power to push up.
I was still in the lead pack at the first sprint but as expected it got really lined out. I was in 82nd (just checked the video) and had averaged 3.9 w/kg for the first nearly 16 minutes. The pack was splintering and I heard Tommy shout to get in the pack ahead of me. I chased across and joined the next riders but they had also splintered off - so we were a group of 5/6 riders in 80-85th places.
We settled into a much more sustainable pace which was quicker than the groups behind, but not enough to catch the groups in front other than the odd straggler.
Most of the rest of the race was pretty unremarkable other than Andy disappearing and then suddenly appearing in my pack midway up the Petit KOM.
We got to the finish contesting 73rd and I started my sprint a bit too early. 3 riders passed me but I beat the Noobs guy....... or did I??
He is the guy in Green. However, ZP has him beating me. I want a Steward's Enquiry
On to the TTT.
straas
Matt
- Location
- Manchester
Wow - the races look like another level.
I've just done the first 3 days of the FTP booster and 400w for a minute is a challenge when you know you've got a few mins of 135w spinning after! Nevermind at the start of the race.
I've just done the first 3 days of the FTP booster and 400w for a minute is a challenge when you know you've got a few mins of 135w spinning after! Nevermind at the start of the race.
ha ha ... I'm C cat racer, 400 watts for 10 seconds would be nice at any time
I'm happy when I hit 300 watts 
straas
Matt
- Location
- Manchester
I think my current FTP would put me right at the bottom of B, so I imagine I'll finish bottom of the pack every time!
BurningLegs
Guru
In my experience it's easier in a race @straas - the motivation of a line to sprint for, a group to catch, or a group to stay away from is far better for those with a competitive streak than a number on a screen 
For what it's worth (not much, I know) - I tend to use structured training sessions for the steady state stuff (mostly sweet spot) and then race for those high intensity intervals. I just can't complete VO2 max intervals in a training session, but when I've got to get onto the back of a pack I can make it happen.
I'd highly recommend getting on Zwiftpower and trying out some races
You won't necessarily finish at the bottom by the way - there is a big league going on at the moment called ZRL and there are so many competitors that they've split B into three categories. So you would in theory be racing with other "low Bs" while the middle and top of B are in another league. It's not a perfect system but I would say it generally works quite well. There are two teams from here in the ZRL, one in the third tier of B and the other in the second tier of B (and likely to be promoted to top tier for the next season).
For what it's worth (not much, I know) - I tend to use structured training sessions for the steady state stuff (mostly sweet spot) and then race for those high intensity intervals. I just can't complete VO2 max intervals in a training session, but when I've got to get onto the back of a pack I can make it happen.
I'd highly recommend getting on Zwiftpower and trying out some races
You won't necessarily finish at the bottom by the way - there is a big league going on at the moment called ZRL and there are so many competitors that they've split B into three categories. So you would in theory be racing with other "low Bs" while the middle and top of B are in another league. It's not a perfect system but I would say it generally works quite well. There are two teams from here in the ZRL, one in the third tier of B and the other in the second tier of B (and likely to be promoted to top tier for the next season).
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
Don’t forget zwift catergories are set on W/KG not FTP. How much do you weigh?
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
Nothing completely conclusive Andy. They think I’ve pulled something behind my knee rather than buggering up the actual knee. I’ve just to keep telling myself to take it slow for a few weeks I think and hopefully it gradually comes good again. Think it falls into the ‘could of been worse’ catergory!
I find this works well for me too.In my experience it's easier in a race @straas - the motivation of a line to sprint for, a group to catch, or a group to stay away from is far better for those with a competitive streak than a number on a screen
For what it's worth (not much, I know) - I tend to use structured training sessions for the steady state stuff (mostly sweet spot) and then race for those high intensity intervals. I just can't complete VO2 max intervals in a training session, but when I've got to get onto the back of a pack I can make it happen.
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
Another fun evening in the WTRL. Well done to all riders, as usual that was hard.
A better start for me this time. I realised my old plan of 370W ish out the start gate was not good enough, so I hit around 400W for the first 45 seconds and then dropped to 300W / 280W for the next 5 minutes. This kept me in the front group but I was still only 80/90th. We were travelling at around 30 mph so it was very hard to move up rom there.
As we got close to the first sprint I heard DS Tommy tell us to get further up the pack. I tried but I was pretty much on my limit and didn't make much progress. Al had been near me quite a lot of the way but he had the power to push up.
I was still in the lead pack at the first sprint but as expected it got really lined out. I was in 82nd (just checked the video) and had averaged 3.9 w/kg for the first nearly 16 minutes. The pack was splintering and I heard Tommy shout to get in the pack ahead of me. I chased across and joined the next riders but they had also splintered off - so we were a group of 5/6 riders in 80-85th places.
We settled into a much more sustainable pace which was quicker than the groups behind, but not enough to catch the groups in front other than the odd straggler.
Most of the rest of the race was pretty unremarkable other than Andy disappearing and then suddenly appearing in my pack midway up the Petit KOM.
We got to the finish contesting 73rd and I started my sprint a bit too early. 3 riders passed me but I beat the Noobs guy....... or did I??
View attachment 560040
He is the guy in Green. However, ZP has him beating me. I want a Steward's Enquiry
On to the TTT.
You definitely get a different perspective watching a race (with a cup of tea in your hand 😄). I could see the effort you were putting in just to sustain your position. The margins are so thin. I think that first section from the start to the top of the bridge is probably one of the hardest sections I can think of. Very little time for respite at all
straas
Matt
- Location
- Manchester
currently, a lot! 83kg with estimated 267w so just at 3.2w/kg
Current plan is to complete this 4 week training course then try out a race - I didn't realise it was a 7 day a week course when I started it though! I'm using it as a bit of an incentive to try and stay off the booze for the duration so I feel less guilty about indulging over christmas.
I managed to hover right near the front for the first part of the race and I find if you can get to the front, the effort required to stay there isn't really any more than staying with the group further back. In fact I almost found it easier in a way, as I didn't need to do hard efforts to move myself up past loads of sticky drafts etc.Another fun evening in the WTRL. Well done to all riders, as usual that was hard.
A better start for me this time. I realised my old plan of 370W ish out the start gate was not good enough, so I hit around 400W for the first 45 seconds and then dropped to 300W / 280W for the next 5 minutes. This kept me in the front group but I was still only 80/90th. We were travelling at around 30 mph so it was very hard to move up rom there.
As we got close to the first sprint I heard DS Tommy tell us to get further up the pack. I tried but I was pretty much on my limit and didn't make much progress. Al had been near me quite a lot of the way but he had the power to push up.
I was still in the lead pack at the first sprint but as expected it got really lined out. I was in 82nd (just checked the video) and had averaged 3.9 w/kg for the first nearly 16 minutes. The pack was splintering and I heard Tommy shout to get in the pack ahead of me. I chased across and joined the next riders but they had also splintered off - so we were a group of 5/6 riders in 80-85th places.
We settled into a much more sustainable pace which was quicker than the groups behind, but not enough to catch the groups in front other than the odd straggler.
Most of the rest of the race was pretty unremarkable other than Andy disappearing and then suddenly appearing in my pack midway up the Petit KOM.
We got to the finish contesting 73rd and I started my sprint a bit too early. 3 riders passed me but I beat the Noobs guy....... or did I??
View attachment 560040
He is the guy in Green. However, ZP has him beating me. I want a Steward's Enquiry
On to the TTT.
As is often the case in races it's the key moments of being able to get yourself into position that make the difference - at the start that means enough power for the first minute or two to position yourself right at the front, and then surf the wheels there rather than much further back (which also has the added risk of getting caught out by a split). For me yesterday that meant averaging about 4.5w/kg for the first minute and 4.25w/kg for the first 2 minutes or so - but overall for the first 16 minutes you mentioned, my average was about 3.8w/kg, so similar, or even slightly less than you
steverob
Guru
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
If you're talking about the current WTRL leagues, then you'd probably finish about 2/3rds of the way down the pack, maybe even a little higher than that. While we're all currently racing in the B league, a good deal of our 2nd team are actually C riders and a few of those (myself included) are only recently promoted from D, so we're essentially riding almost two categories above our expected grade. And yet even then we're not always finishing last - there's plenty of riders in other teams doing the same thing, where they've added an extra rider to make up team numbers even though they would not finish anywhere near the points.
So don't be afraid to join us just cause you think you'll be finishing last - you'll certainly be way ahead of people like me. Yesterday I put out what I regard as a fast start for the first minute or so after the gun (and had a place at the very front of the pen) and yet still was outside the top 100 before we'd even reached half a kilometre in! It didn't matter because pretty quickly I joined a group of about 20 riders at the back who were in a similar situation and we rode like that until the hills started, which was quite good really.
Another thing to remember about races is that unlike an FTP test they're dynamic, with drafting, climbs and descents etc. So you may not actually hit your FTP all that often in a race - particularly the longer ones (I know I don't). So you never know, you may well start off as a high C and enjoy a nice period of doing really well in C Cat races.....until your inevitable promotion to B of course
