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View attachment 431706 Lars,
I stopped riding after finish and took a few photos before exiting. Strava shows above.
More importantly for me ego, for my age group I am 20th fastest all time for one lap and 15th for 2 laps
That is very impressive Bob
Ok, so now I've actually got five minutes where I can think straight I can comment a bit more on yesterday's race.
The moment I started and the B group kicked up to 5+ w/kg I knew it was going to be a hard race as my legs were already protesting, then after about 10 seconds I realised I hadn't turned the fan on (not raced since Feb!) so I had to stop for a second to turn that on, fortunately I was close to the front of the group so didn't lose too many places.
I was holding the pack relatively well until the pace slackened off after about 2 minutes, staying a few back but nothing too major, however I just didn't have any legs for the Kleiner Hugel, and capped out at about 400W so couldn't keep up with those pushing 5+ w/kg up the hill. I dropped back from 13th to 93rd by the top of the hill so I tried to catch people on the descent but they were too far ahead and I couldn't catch.
Settled in to a small group of riders and rode with them to the end, more or less fitting the same pattern, losing a bit of time on the hills and catching back up on the downhills and flats, keeping every so slightly ahead of @LBHIFI who I think was in the group immediately behind mine.
Rolled through to the end with very little left to give, and I really struggled not to throw in the towel on the last ascent of the hugel. Some good lessons learnt from that, and I'm really glad I did it, although I'd have probably enjoyed it more if I'd joined the C cat!!!
The moment I started and the B group kicked up to 5+ w/kg I knew it was going to be a hard race as my legs were already protesting, then after about 10 seconds I realised I hadn't turned the fan on (not raced since Feb!) so I had to stop for a second to turn that on, fortunately I was close to the front of the group so didn't lose too many places.
I was holding the pack relatively well until the pace slackened off after about 2 minutes, staying a few back but nothing too major, however I just didn't have any legs for the Kleiner Hugel, and capped out at about 400W so couldn't keep up with those pushing 5+ w/kg up the hill. I dropped back from 13th to 93rd by the top of the hill so I tried to catch people on the descent but they were too far ahead and I couldn't catch.
Settled in to a small group of riders and rode with them to the end, more or less fitting the same pattern, losing a bit of time on the hills and catching back up on the downhills and flats, keeping every so slightly ahead of @LBHIFI who I think was in the group immediately behind mine.
Rolled through to the end with very little left to give, and I really struggled not to throw in the towel on the last ascent of the hugel. Some good lessons learnt from that, and I'm really glad I did it, although I'd have probably enjoyed it more if I'd joined the C cat!!!
From memory Simon, you're big rider like me? The Kleiner hill is just a tad too long to keep the huge power to match the lighter riders. Its will be a 1minute dead hill for me in top form, which still isnt fast enough. If the lighter riders get away with quick pack they will be extremely difficult to catch
theboxers
TheBoxers on Cycle Sim sw
- Location
- OTC (on the couch)
Do you have a link for that?
This is the type of thing Boxers https://www.amazon.co.uk/CSL-repeater-extension-amplification-amplifier/dp/B00MPMFKSI
I might look into these aswell, this my second outing with re- positioned Ant+ dongle with other tweaks
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Yep I'm 6'5" and 92(ish)kg. That hill is definitely at the wrong end of the steepness/length range for me, I'm good on fast bursts like some of the ramps on the London/Watopia courses, and I can settle into a comfortable pace on the steeper climbs, but that one is just short enough for the smaller riders to really get a good pace up and too long for me to be able to sustain the same W/Kg.
Hopefully losing some weight will make it easier!
Perky77
Senior Member
- Location
- Hertfordshire
Afternoon all
I’ve kept my head down to complete the Academy, which I did and graduated last night. Should I be worried that I really enjoyed the pain of session 10??
Now I need a new goal as I really enjoyed doing the academy. I found it as good as TR.
I’m definitely up for races but the earliest I could get on is 8pm
I’ve kept my head down to complete the Academy, which I did and graduated last night. Should I be worried that I really enjoyed the pain of session 10??
Now I need a new goal as I really enjoyed doing the academy. I found it as good as TR.
I’m definitely up for races but the earliest I could get on is 8pm
You might find a pack doesn't help. It'll be good to get you some momentum into the climb but you don't want many riders on the actual climb slowing you down. Not sure if others have noticed, but sometimes you get sucked into a draft you don't want to get into - I get this when in a fast group catching slower riders in races - sometime I get caught in the slow riders draft and the pack shoots past, leaving me behind. I've learnt as I get to a slower rider I have to increase power to get past them and not slow me down. Same for this hill. A few times I've been going up at say 12kph, then reach a slower rider and latch on to their wheel slowing me to (say) 10kph. I then slowly edge past them but have lost all momentum. Clearly a little bug in Zwift but now I know it's there it's one i can try to compensate for.Probably right Carl,just get into sub 1 minute, with a pack, I did it solo. It's just 15 secs too long. I'm in the top 3% for 200lb + riders. I began to die with about 15-20 sec from the top, not surprising really, seen as I have done very little HIT
This is why, if, I'm in a group hitting that climb I make a run from the back just as the road starts to pick up. Then I'm hitting the front of the group by the time the road gets to 8%. Then, the only people in front of me will be those stronger who are coming past me, rather than those I'm catching and slowing me down.
Looking forward to your sub 60 seconds sprint up the hill
Damn. I rarely see anything above 160.I hit a new top HR 191with my attempt today
I think my max has been 181 .... 191 and I'd be calling the ambulance, or the undertakerI hit a new top HR 191
160 is my max
I wonder if it has something to do with Physiology, I'm much better and steady state long distance riding, less so at high intensity intervals, it feels like my legs give out before I run out of breath.
Edit: I mean more along the lines of how much it has to do with Physiology and how much training can have an effect on how easily you can reach max HR.
