Zwift Chat

[<Tommy>]

Still struggling with injury unfortunately. Had a 20 mile ride this week and things seemed ok but had a few twinges in the days after so taking it easy for the rest of the week.

Seems like it's taking forever to get better but that's groins and tendons for you it seems!

Hope all is well with you mate?

Sorry to hear that mate. Some injuries are weird aren’t they? I dislocated my shoulder when I boxed. 24 years ago at least (!). And that still gives me problems now from time to time. I just never know when it’s going to flare up. And then you can have other injuries that seem much more severe on the surface, but have a much more straight forward recovery. Bit boring after a while isn’t it…

 

[BurningLegs]

So if its a Brit that wins, are we assuming there's no way anyone could not already know and it's OK to post spoilers?

The rule is it’s okay to post after the highlights shows have aired 🙂

What a pair of stages we’ve been treated to these last two days hey. Absolutely cracking rides from about ten different riders, all with a great story. Cracking stuff.

 

[steverob]

Yes, definitely no spoilers before 8pm please (when I am commuting, that's when I get home and the ITV4 highlights, recorded on the DVR are the first thing that goes on as soon as I'm in the door). Having said that I still have been spoiled on at least half the stages this year so far, normally from a source that I wasn't expecting - a person on Twitter I didn't know even followed cycling, me accidentally scrolling down too far (e.g. to the sports section) on a newspaper's website, etc.

And yet with a day off work today, I went out on a big bike ride and got back at 2:30pm, made a choice NOT to watch the conclusion of the stage live (was very tempted) but held off until the highlights and watched them at 7pm once my wife was home and had NO idea about what went down on Alpe D'Huez - and was super glad that I saw it without knowing the result.

 

[bobinski]

Apparently Pidcock hit 105kph down the Galibier!

 

[Peter Salt]

Apparently Pidcock hit 105kph down the Galibier!

Let's see when (if) he uploads the ride. Most they shown during the coverage was indeed 105, but at that stage the motorbike was accelerating to catch him. What impressed me the most was not the 90s on the straights but the 60s through some of the corners. And that overtake on the Arkea rider!

 

[Joffey]

Sorry to hear that mate. Some injuries are weird aren’t they? I dislocated my shoulder when I boxed. 24 years ago at least (!). And that still gives me problems now from time to time. I just never know when it’s going to flare up. And then you can have other injuries that seem much more severe on the surface, but have a much more straight forward recovery. Bit boring after a while isn’t it…

Very!! Off to Majorca tomorrow so hopefully that will take my mind of it for a bit (unless I see loads of cyclists )

 

[Joffey]

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

The old ones are the best

 

[alex_cycles]

Absolute awesome, to win on the Alp in your first tour

Did he get the Meilenstein wheels though or a poxy pair of gloves? 😝

 

[Peter Salt]

@alex_cycles, how did the CX event go? Looking to finish up my bike and give it a test ride today

 

[alex_cycles]

@alex_cycles, how did the CX event go? Looking to finish up my bike and give it a test ride today

Bizarrely, at the end I was so toasted I wasn't sure if I'd enjoyed it or not. But I'm going back next week for a second opinion.

I really enjoyed the technical sections and the hurdles. It was billed as 35 minutes but, not knowing that this is a 'guesstimate' I probably went too hard too soon (stop sniggering at the back). I was racing for 40 minutes and when I crossed the line after 7 laps and asked "how many to go?" they told me "Two more" I shouted "BOLLOCKS!" Thankfully the leaders overtook me halfway round that lap so I got the chequered flag after 8 - and what a beautiful sight it was.

So yes I think I DID enjoy it, but I was 40 minutes at average 183 BPM (with 184 being VO2max zone 5). I really couldn't have given it any more and next time will hold back slightly on the first couple of laps. I was toast after 5 laps. As you can see from the heart trace, I had no choice but to ease off for the last three.

I also "GoPro"ed the whole thing, but have yet to stitch the files together for YT upload.

The foresty sections were a bit "slidey", and got more powdery with each lap, but I managed to stay upright. Foot down a few times. Most of the other people I talked to said they'd crashed a couple of times, which either means I wasn't trying hard enough (see heart trace) or I handled the bike OK (or I'm a pussy). I'll let you decide which when the video comes out.

[Edit to add.] I completely forgot to mention results. I was 27th overall in my race out of 44 starts (all cats). In my category (men 50-59) I was 7th out of 11.

Practise lap video
View: https://youtu.be/RaCzvV2eYQk


First 12 minutes video
View: https://youtu.be/dq3TK1h9oJU

 

[Norry1]

Let's see when (if) he uploads the ride. Most they shown during the coverage was indeed 105, but at that stage the motorbike was accelerating to catch him. What impressed me the most was not the 90s on the straights but the 60s through some of the corners. And that overtake on the Arkea rider!

Just looked and Strava has max speed of 100.8 kph.

He has a few downhill KOMs as well

 

[Peter Salt]

Bizarrely, at the end I was so toasted I wasn't sure if I'd enjoyed it or not. But I'm going back next week for a second opinion.

I really enjoyed the technical sections and the hurdles. It was billed as 35 minutes but, not knowing that this is a 'guesstimate' I probably went too hard too soon (stop sniggering at the back). I was racing for 40 minutes and when I crossed the line after 7 laps and asked "how many to go?" they told me "Two more" I shouted "BOLLOCKS!" Thankfully the leaders overtook me halfway round that lap so I got the chequered flag after 8 - and what a beautiful sight it was.

So yes I think I DID enjoy it, but I was 40 minutes at average 183 BPM (with 184 being VO2max zone 5). I really couldn't have given it any more and next time will hold back slightly on the first couple of laps. I was toast after 5 laps. As you can see from the heart trace, I had no choice but to ease off for the last three.

View attachment 652852

I also "GoPro"ed the whole thing, but have yet to stitch the files together for YT upload.

The foresty sections were a bit "slidey", and got more powdery with each lap, but I managed to stay upright. Foot down a few times. Most of the other people I talked to said they'd crashed a couple of times, which either means I wasn't trying hard enough (see heart trace) or I handled the bike OK (or I'm a pussy). I'll let you decide which when the video comes out.

[Edit to add.] I completely forgot to mention results. I was 27th overall in my race out of 44 starts (all cats). In my category (men 50-59) I was 7th out of 11.

Practise lap video
View: https://youtu.be/RaCzvV2eYQk


First 12 minutes video
View: https://youtu.be/dq3TK1h9oJU

What sort of gearing did you use? I went out today and really felt like the 50-tooth big ring was too large when combined with an 11-25 cassette.

What do others use?

 

[CXRAndy]

What sort of gearing did you use? I went out today and really felt like the 50-tooth big ring was too large when combined with an 11-25 cassette.

What do others use?

Most CX are 46t front or less. 11-36 should cover most hills. All depends on the course. In Lincolnshire most courses were flat with tiny steep banks to cope with. Sand pits, jump boards.

Just watch the world CX championship to see the variety of events

 

[alex_cycles]

What sort of gearing did you use? I went out today and really felt like the 50-tooth big ring was too large when combined with an 11-25 cassette.

What do others use?

My Diverge has a 48/32 chainset and 11-32 on the back. As I got tired, I may have forgotten to use the front big ring a few times after the forest section (I don't quite remember). Certainly the sharp dusty ramp up required little ring in order to be able to complete it. I didn't use it in the foresty twisty bit every lap. Sometimes muscled through on the big ring depending on how I felt and how closely I was following someone (more likely on the little ring if someone close in front).

Each course will be different, but my average speed was 8.3mph and Max speed 18.6mph, so generally, not much fast gearing required at all really.

 

[bobinski]

Just looked and Strava has max speed of 100.8 kph.

He has a few downhill KOMs as well

View attachment 652861

Only human after all 😀