Zwift Chat

[bridgy]

Been using Zwift for a few months but never raced. Tonight I decided to give it a bash and entered the Masters SA race over 60's category. Bloody hell was it hard, went off the start line hard and ended up in a group quite far up to the front but realised I had blown the doors off so slowly dropped down the groups until I was in the last but one group which was mainly over 50's but thought thats no disgrace. With a mile to go I had to let the elastic snap but the group behind were over a minute behind so they would never catch me.
Surprised at quite a poor result 18th out of 21. Even more suprised at the over 60s winners stats 4.4 w/kg avg heart rate 50 max heart rate 138. 2nd guy also 4.4 w/kg but a more believable avg 140 max 168. I manged 2.6w/kg avg got beaten by some over 70's as well half of them seem to be avg over 3.0 w/kg.
Dont know if I'll bother again till I drop a ton of weight, I am right at the bottom of a normal group C as ftp over 2.5 so know I would only come last in one of those.

I think I can work out which rider you are in the zwiftpower results of that race. If I've got the right person, you're a Cat D rider currently, not Cat C (categories are no longer based simply on 20 minute power).

So you'll probably enjoy the racing more if you enter a race categorised by ability rather than age, and you'll definitely do better (there are indeed some incredibly fit and strong riders in the older age categotories).

If you look at the "Get Rolling" race from last night which was exactly the same course as you raced, the winner of Cat D did similar w/kg as you did, and you actually finished in a quicker time - so on that basis you'd have definitely been in the mix for winning that race.

So try some category enforced races, join in Cat D as you're entitled to, and see how you go in those?

 

[HarryTheDog]

Do you do Master's racing outdoors?

Yes mainly CX racing always mid pack over 50's now I am am over 60's I would probably be towards the top half.

Hi Harry. I did that race (60+) 4 weeks ago and it was a toughie. There were a couple of riders with w/kg that are hard to believe at our age but I think most are legit.

I think the top 3 results were questionable especially the guy who came first but I am on Zwift power and looked at the top 3 and they have done tons of races and don't seemed to have been questioned on their super human powers.

I understand if you're at the end of Zwift 'C' it may be a bit disheartening to hang at the back. On the other hand, you may find that motivating

Nope I would rather be a top D in one sense , I was hoping doing age related racing would at least have me "competing". If I can lose a stone and a bit and hit around 3 w/kg I could hang with a group in both C and over 60's instead of hanging off the back but I have been dieting for 3 weeks now and sod all is moving.

 

[Norry1]

Yes mainly CX racing always mid pack over 50's now I am am over 60's I would probably be towards the top half.

I think the top 3 results were questionable especially the guy who came first but I am on Zwift power and looked at the top 3 and they have done tons of races and don't seemed to have been questioned on their super human powers.

Nope I would rather be a top D in one sense , I was hoping doing age related racing would at least have me "competing". If I can lose a stone and a bit and hit around 3 w/kg I could hang with a group in both C and over 60's instead of hanging off the back but I have been dieting for 3 weeks now and sod all is moving.

We have a D Cat Team racing the ZRL Series - give them a shout @Joffey

 

[Joffey]

Hey @HarryTheDog, we have a ZRL racing team in D Cat. I am not sure if you would be over the limits or not but if you post a link to your Zwift Power profile page, or your Zwift profile maybe @steverob could be kind enough to have a look and see if you would qualify?

We race on Tuesdays at 7:30pm every week.

 

[HarryTheDog]

We have a D Cat Team racing the ZRL Series - give them a shout @Joffey

Hey @HarryTheDog, we have a ZRL racing team in D Cat. I am not sure if you would be over the limits or not but if you post a link to your Zwift Power profile page, or your Zwift profile maybe @steverob could be kind enough to have a look and see if you would qualify?

We race on Tuesdays at 7:30pm every week.

I think I can work out which rider you are in the zwiftpower results of that race. If I've got the right person, you're a Cat D rider currently, not Cat C (categories are no longer based simply on 20 minute power).

Well Guys, yes Zwift power had me at a suggested Cat D despite FTP being 2.56 and so did Zwift so I entered a Crit race tonight as Cat D. Got 8th out of 20 but when I went to Zwift Power results it had moved me ( and others) to Cat C 46th out of 52 as it reckoned my FTP had jumped to 2.6 so unfortunately looks like I am stuck as a C, dam and double dam!
as to this

Zwift racing is all about being able to save energy by drafting this takes practice , Yes it's hard to start with just stick at it and it will start to click when to invest energy and when to save it

Completely right the winner of CAT D only did 2.1 W/Kg and was advising us newbies at the start to just to sit on a Cat C's groups tail to save energy. When the gun went off I thought I would be clever and aimed for him as I reckoned he knew what he was talking about and stuck with him in a group at the beginning( all other D's missed the group) but the surges in power ( hilly Scottish course) had me and I ended up dropping back group to group again and ended up in no mans land a few times. Tried to be canny and work with/draft the hell out of similar people ( mainly group C people) but obviously not canny enough, the other group D guy I worked with towards the end also got bumped up to a C. So I will do some more Cat C races but work on race craft. Well I will if my PC ever works again as it lost power at the end and now wont charge at all. I am writing this on my works computer.

 

[Joffey]

Well Guys, yes Zwift power had me at a suggested Cat D despite FTP being 2.56 and so did Zwift so I entered a Crit race tonight as Cat D. Got 8th out of 20 but when I went to Zwift Power results it had moved me ( and others) to Cat C 46th out of 52 as it reckoned my FTP had jumped to 2.6 so unfortunately looks like I am stuck as a C, dam and double dam!
as to this

Completely right the winner of CAT D only did 2.1 W/Kg and was advising us newbies at the start to just to sit on a Cat C's groups tail to save energy. When the gun went off I thought I would be clever and aimed for him as I reckoned he knew what he was talking about and stuck with him in a group at the beginning( all other D's missed the group) but the surges in power ( hilly Scottish course) had me and I ended up dropping back group to group again and ended up in no mans land a few times. Tried to be canny and work with/draft the hell out of similar people ( mainly group C people) but obviously not canny enough, the other group D guy I worked with towards the end also got bumped up to a C. So I will do some more Cat C races but work on race craft. Well I will if my PC ever works again as it lost power at the end and now wont charge at all. I am writing this on my works computer.

You could always get eating and join us the week after!!!

 

[bridgy]

Well Guys, yes Zwift power had me at a suggested Cat D despite FTP being 2.56 and so did Zwift so I entered a Crit race tonight as Cat D. Got 8th out of 20 but when I went to Zwift Power results it had moved me ( and others) to Cat C 46th out of 52 as it reckoned my FTP had jumped to 2.6 so unfortunately looks like I am stuck as a C, dam and double dam!
as to this

Completely right the winner of CAT D only did 2.1 W/Kg and was advising us newbies at the start to just to sit on a Cat C's groups tail to save energy. When the gun went off I thought I would be clever and aimed for him as I reckoned he knew what he was talking about and stuck with him in a group at the beginning( all other D's missed the group) but the surges in power ( hilly Scottish course) had me and I ended up dropping back group to group again and ended up in no mans land a few times. Tried to be canny and work with/draft the hell out of similar people ( mainly group C people) but obviously not canny enough, the other group D guy I worked with towards the end also got bumped up to a C. So I will do some more Cat C races but work on race craft. Well I will if my PC ever works again as it lost power at the end and now wont charge at all. I am writing this on my works computer.

Congrats on the Cat upgrade!

 

[Peter Salt]

I was planning on doing the final stage of the FRR series today. But then realised it's a 80-90 minute ride around Harrogate Did a quick calculation, and it looks like your boy will win yellow, polka, and green in his category - even if I don't show up

Instead opted for a short, pleasant race around Volcano Flat at 17:05 - it's a R3R event so all categories start together. Join in if you feel like it.

Then planning to go to sleep, wake up at 2am, and drive up to Dales for Yorkshire Three Peaks (hiking, not cycling).

 

[CXRAndy]

Come on in Harry. The D cat guys need an extra member for their squad in the Zwift Racing league.

If you get promoted, don't worry, join in the C category races.

I'm a heavyweight 'Clydesdale' C cat rider.

 

[CXRAndy]

It was rumoured after the Vuelta and his apparent dissatisfaction over the team dynamics. Roglic to leave Jumbo Visma

 

[JuhaL]

It was rumoured after the Vuelta and his apparent dissatisfaction over the team dynamics. Roglic to leave Jumbo Visma

Probably mean that Jumbo-Visma is too good so Roglic needs a team where he can win more races than any other riders in a same team.

 

[CXRAndy]

It is an exceptional strong team with multiple grand tour winners plus individual specialist like Van Alert.

For his chances of winning another grand tour , I think have diminished. He will riding against Jumbo Visma

 

[JuhaL]

There are some rumours that Roglic next team might be Soudal- Quick Step. If it is, can't see very good potential to win grand tour on that team. Okay there is Remco but I think team needs more than 2 strong riders. Alaphilippe can do 1 day races but not much more. Not a good situation to Roglic despite what ever the next team is.

 

[alex_cycles]

There's talk of a Jumbo Visma merger with Quick-step. Jumbo Visma taking major sponsorship from Amazon to replace Jumbo.
Roglič joining Ineos. There may be something in some of it.
Certainly Lefevere has been talking about Jumbo & Quickstep as a possibility.

I can't see myself riding in Amazon Visma kit though

 

[JuhaL]

There's talk of a Jumbo Visma merger with Quick-step. Jumbo Visma taking major sponsorship from Amazon to replace Jumbo.
Roglič joining Ineos. There may be something in some of it.
Certainly Lefevere has been talking about Jumbo & Quickstep as a possibility.

I can't see myself riding in Amazon Visma kit though

... and I can't see myself riding with Lidl Trek kit, it just doesn't sound right Lidl and Trek. It just doesn't.