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Does Brians house have gnomes?
It bloody well does not.
Though pleasingly it seems it does have less hedge and more mini digger than when I left this morning.
Really not a fan of the pump room but I’m having a go for my first ride (virtual or otherwise) in what seems like ages.
Really need to redo the grips on my Zwift bike - they stink…
That was good fun. Did the 6pm running.
How's membership on this? Can I join up?
Oof... Why do I always race these!
42min, average 278watts!
Was 80th our of 1680 which was cool!
Knackered now!
DrP
Was 80th our of 1680 which was cool!
Nice!
I hit my target (between the C and D beacons ) 🙂
b33k34
Full Member
How’s membership on this? Can I join up?
Follow this link, then shout up on here with your zwift user name and we'll approve you.
https://www.zwift.com/clubs/fcbd9c17-1ff8-4477-8104-3408856e0084/home
Good effort folks, I'm going to ride it tomorrow all going to plan
Bloody hell, that was hard. I went off too fast then slowly slipped backwards. Being ill for most of December hasn't helped my fitness. FTP was 240w, now down at around 205w.
JimW came past me.
It's tough course for sure!!! Nowhere to rest and recover.
I really enjoyed last nights effort, but I really need to try and chill on some of these 😀 I got a 243w average.
Well done everyone, next up is Richmond!!!
Urgh. Just done my first race in ages. Went from a Kickr V1 to a V5 in the meantime and have gone from a FTP of around 300 (or so I thought) to struggling to average 205w for 50 minutes in the race - reckon my FTP will be around 230.
Either the new Kickr is underestimating, or I've lost a lot of power (likely, I've been messing in the woods mountain biking for a couple of months), or the old V1 was massively over-estimating. Suspect it's a combination of 2 and 3.
Bollocks.
john_l
Full MemberThat was good fun. Did the 6pm running
you’ve should waved, I was one of the 2,668 other guys (assuming it was the longer ride)
I've signed up for the sat 9am A-ride in Richmond...
I see Robbo had signed up for this too..!
Anyone else up for it? A bit longer this time...3 laps, so 40 ish km!
DrP
I'm away this weekend so no Saturday or Sunday for me.
That said after this evening my legs are likely to be unhappy with me tomorrow when I tell them to pedal to work, not sure we'll be on speaking terms by Saturday 😂
My wife is judging a STEM Lego competition on Sat & Sun all day so although I want to get the Richmond route ticked off I have no idea when I will fit it in.
I have to say @stumpy01 I've seen plenty of excuses on here for not riding before but that is most excellent! For my own part, daughter wants me to accompany her on a run on Saturday morning so Stage 2 is Sunday mornings little treat I think. Sunday PM is national Cyclocross Championships. Bobble hat at the ready!
slowpuncheur
I have to say @stumpy01 I’ve seen plenty of excuses on here for not riding before but that is most excellent!
She came home from work a few days back with her official 'JUDGE' t-shirt and it's possibly the proudest I've seen her, since giving birth 🙂
My daughter just said 'oh, mummmmmm' in that 'you're such a loser' tone and rolled her eyes.
It's 8:30-4:30 on Sat & Sun, so the TdZ route 2 will have to be done in the evening.
slowpuncheur
Sunday PM is national Cyclocross Championships. Bobble hat at the ready!
Do they not make you wear a helmet?
Maybe a snorkel if it keeps raining. My only participation will be visiting the beer and chips tents.
Did the TDZ ride 2 this am...
Didn't realise it was 48km!
A few kicker climbs in the first half, then recovery...3 laps worth!
Was around the 100 mark and list the blob on the cobble descent! Came about 140th in the end... Was proper ****ed!
About 1hr 10 for the ride....
DrP
Was around the 100 mark and list the blob on the cobble descent! Came about 140th in the end… Was proper ****!
Was that the "Waaaaa!"? ;O)
I pootled round in a nice group near the back. Much more civilized.
Just ticked off round 2 standard ride. (2pm edition)
Sat around 470th out of 1000 until the last km and ended up somewhere around 380th
Back on Zwift after 8 weeks of no riding, I was trying to aim for 4w/kg but was seeing no/backwards progress, with not enough TSS I think - 22nd of Nov I did 260w on the ramp test, down from a peak of 279w on the 15th Sept - was getting a bit dejected so took a break while I built my rocker plate.
Today, did a ramp test after only riding for an easy hour on Sunday on Zwift on a pace partner... 222w! 😱 I'm guessing I'm a good 30w down from just not riding at all since November, then a bit of lost power.
My HR has been up by 10-20 resting and up when riding too, hit a max of 195bpm on this ramp which I've never got before, I've only hit 190 previously.
I'm going to start a TrainerRoad polarized plan, 4x rides a week, lots of Z2 work. 6 weeks base followed by 8 weeks build, hopefully I can get back to 260-280w in this plan as it ends right before a 2 week Scotland trip.
The good news is the the peak power you've lost to inactivity will come back fairly quickly.
The peak power you lose to rocking your rocker plate though, not so much. Otoh, increasing the comfort and core engagement etc should lead to more sustainable power at a slightly lower peak.
The good news is the the peak power you’ve lost to inactivity will come back fairly quickly.
Yeah I'm expecting that to come back fairly quickly once I start riding regularly again.
The peak power you lose to rocking your rocker plate though, not so much. Otoh, increasing the comfort and core engagement etc should lead to more sustainable power at a slightly lower peak.
Ooh, controversial! 😁
Tbh there was no way I'd manage to do a 2hr z2 ride without the rocker plate, I doubt it'll affect my peak power much but we'll see.
I did the TdZ A ride this afternoon. First time up that particular climb and jeez did I struggle! I carried on to the summit though and was happy to see that the gradient actually eases off a bit in that upper stage. Of course, I'll have to do it all again at some point in order to get the Ven-Top badge!
This year's TdZ does seem to have longer (duration) and hillier routes as the main events than in previous years. I'm doing them as we go along and they make a nice change from the mainly zone 2 block of training, but the Reine/VenTop climb is quite a slog. It always seems much harder than AdZ which I think is due to the lack of hairpins and timing points.
It always seems much harder than AdZ which I think is due to the lack of hairpins and timing points.
The scenery is also dull as dish water, all things considered ven top is a very good approximation of sitting on a turbo in the garage with nothing to do but turn your legs.
It's almost as though someone at ZHQ thought zwift wasn't an attractive enough proposition to exercise bicyclists.
Slogged up last night. Still can't do climbing efforts properly in ZWIFT.
I did La Reine 2 weeks ago to get the badge, I swore then I wouldn't be repeating it for a while...it will be the B ride for me tonight
Did the Stage 3 B route last night, thought it was a corker for a fast group ride. The little kickers in the first couple of miles break the groups up.
I was after a short, pre-weights workout today and found Lunar Light. Very clever. I got it after a couple of minutes. Are there any more of those Easter Eggs?
Did La Reine on Monday. Think it's a pretty good approximation of the real thing, ie. fairly dull!
Stage 4 looks fun.
How’d I miss this club? Either way, just joined up, am Avoiding Trees over there.
Am doing the TdZ too, although generally the short ones so I can fit them in to a lunch break.
How’d I miss this club? Either way, just joined up, am Avoiding Trees over there
Crikey, there were a lot of approvals to do! For those not familiar with zwift clubs you need to go into the clubs section of the companion app to see any club events such as, ahem, Sunday hills
I'll l pick up stage 3 tomorrow. Definitely need to crack on with the zwiftercise, been a distaster of a week for eating and not not doing much of anything!
Sigh... Knee and hip hurts.. Can't face ven top so doing champs ellyse in a few minutes!
At least it ticks it off!
DrP
Sigh… Knee and hip hurts..
What have you done? I fell off the wagon quite hard this week but have avoided any sort of injury, though there may be some swelling round the mid section, we'll have to see.
Hi Brian and Co.
I'm keeping an on eye on these rides and hope to be able to join in again soon. I had some fairly significant surgery last November (donated a kidney), but I'm gradually getting back into the swing of most things now and Zwift is one of the last ones on the list!
See you soon,
Blimey Phil!
Hope it went well & you (and the recipient) are on the mend!
Wow Phil... Great of you! We're all a lot less fit than a few years back, so welcome aboard!
Brian... Running.... Was fine, then did a run which killed my L hip 2 weeks ago... Now it's gone to my knee!
DrP
I admire the altruism Phil but there are easier ways to improve your w/kg than chopping bits off you know!
Good to hear you're on the mendacious hope the recipient is doing well.
Running….
And there I thought you were a fairly smart chap.
so doing champs ellyse in a few minutes!
At least it ticks it off!DrP
I think you zoomed past me. Wasn't a bad ride for me, only had a few rides since my chest pains from November's COVID have subsided. If anything I think I was too cautious and feel way better for getting back on the bike the last couple of weeks
I admire the altruism Phil but there are easier ways to improve your w/kg than chopping bits off you know!
I was going to say the same!! Well done Phil and I hope you are back on board soon.
My TdZ ride last night got postponed because I broke the bike 10 mins before the start.... Luckily nothing too bad and with a bodge I was back on this morning, all went quite well and its going in the right direction in terms of improvements.
Not sure if I'll be inside or outside this Sunday, if there is a planned "Hills" ride with the group.
Surrey this week if you're about Craig, all being well Sunday will be NB[ride]D as well as Sunday hills but I imagine due to the cold weather I'll not manage all Saturday in the garage and it'll still be NB[build]D
Thanks Brian, if I'm not outside then I'll be there.
Thanks to whomever approved my membership. Continued my Tour de Zwift this morning on the Champs-Elysees ride using it as a threshold effort at 2w/kg. Hit the wrong button afterwards though, and got dumped back to France for my cool down and that was what got shared to the club :-(. I'm not a lazy git just doing 2 miles, honest!
Intending to do TdZ Stage 4 B ride on Saturday at 10am as an easy, will sit with the Bernie pace bot. And then the TdZ A ride on Sunday at 10am also with Bernie.
Hit the wrong button afterwards though, and got dumped back to France for my cool down and that was what got shared to the club :-(. I’m not a lazy git just doing 2 miles, honest!
We've all [s] used that excuse [/S] been there
Please tell me its not the alpe for stage 4. lord that was awful.
Hit the bottom a bit hard then rapidly discovered my snotty nose and can't get warm from the last few days is a actually bit of a hindrance when I do cardio.
Still, last time I did that was two years ago for the tdz according to zwift and I took 8 minutes out of that and I'm carrying a few kg more today so maybe its not the snot just plain old hard work that's got me feeling like I've over done it!
So bit of a change of plan for Sunday hills - I'm going to pull the club ride this week as stage 4a of the tdz is Surrey Hills anyway and jump on there Sunday morning instead.
So anyone who fancies joining me I've signed up for the 8am start 4a on Sunday
Tour de Zwift 2023 | Stage 4 | Ride https://www.zwift.com/events/view/3359264
So bit of a change of plan for Sunday hills – I’m going to pull the club ride this week as stage 4a of the tdz is Surrey Hills anyway and jump on there Sunday morning instead.
I was going to suggest the same, seems daft doing it twice!
I'll LITERALLY be riding my REAL bike back home through the surrey hills area on sunday Am..
Might see your avatars at some point I guess...??!
DrP
Just did the B route of Stage 4, pipped in under 45 mins.
How long do we think the A ride would take?
I need to have Jnr at the swimming pool by 0950 so would need to leave home by 0930
If I could do the ride in around an hour/hour & 10m I'd love to join
If anyone is interested I was also planning on riding the B course tomorrow morning probably 9am version
Best bike split recons an average of 1.34, it'll be quicker in a bunch but 1.10 might be a push - I could possibly be convinced to do the 7am instead but I will probably hate you for making me get up before 7 on a Sunday 😉
I don't think I could convince myself to be out in the garage at 7am so you can rest easy!!
I'll do the Saturday edition of the B and then see how plans go for Sunday AM, could join for a bit of the ride if time allows.
I’ve just plodded round in about 1:30 and in the top third of the riders for that session. You may find yourself tight for time. Don’t forget you have Fox Hill first as a lead in before the official “start” of the recognised route/badge, which is means a slow first few km 😉
Well, as long as I get out of bed I'll be jumping on the A ride tomorrow at 7am.
It looks very, erm.....uppy-downy 🤮
Are you nearly there yet?
Just up the next hill and round the corner! 🙂
Plodded round the Stage 4 B ride yesterday in an hour and fifteen. Psyching myself up for the A ride at 7am, another plod so expect a couple of hours at least, which is fine for a steady Sunday morning.
Gonna need the heater in the garage, and unlikely to need the fan today!
Well as I had no known company I treated myself to an extra hour in bed and picking up the a route a bit later this morning
I did the A course yesterday morning for the TdZ4 ride.
Apparently it was the first time I'd done Surrey Hills as I got the route complete banner at the end.
It was a good route but bloody hard!
That, coupled with up and down a ladder to finally take down the Christmas lights from the roof and then an hour of tobogganing with my daughter at a birthday party she was invited to has left me with very achy legs so having a rest day today.
Bloody hell. 2:55. That was definitely Type 2 fun and not a route I’m likely to repeat in a hurry.
Wasn’t last mind, there were two behind me 😀
I thought I liked that route. I was wrong.
I got a PB on leith hill descent but was way down on the climbs - 20 seconds off up fox first time round, 2 minutes slow up the second time. A minute down on Keith.
Still, got the blood going for the day and accounted for some of yesterday's cake with a bit of luck.
I did the Stage 4 C ride on Friday, just to get that task ticked but found myself with some free time today so jumped onto the A ride in order to grab the Surrey Hills route badge. Again, I found myself midway between the Maria and Miguel bots and with no group of riders around. Loads of PRs (up and down), though they aren't routes I've ridden much anyway. Completed the Stage in 2:02 and then freewheeled down/cycled across the other side of the river to ensure I got over 1,000m of ascent.
Oh - I also got my Garmin Year of the Rabbit badge.
Well I'm ready to move on from London now! Did Surrey Hills as a high Z2 session in 1.48 and rolled over Fox Hill to make it up to 2 hours. Wasn't sure whether to get more base miles in today or give it a bit if a nudge. Did the latter. B ride went well. Started in the front group, slid to 66th by the top of Keith Hill but found a good group and rolled in about 60th. Not full on race pace but a nice 'spirited' effort. It's a brutal start having the hill so early on that route.
Ended up doing the B twice. Once on Saturday and again yesterday evening.
1.30 quicker up the hill on the second attempt and about the same quicker over the whole course.
Let's see what R5 has to offer this week!
Let’s see what R5 has to offer this week!
A high intensity 30 minute sprint session around Gotham Grind (C route) for me tomorrow morning.
Easy hour on the B route in Wednesday and then another high intensity session on the C route on Thursday.
I see there are a few of you signed up for the 18.00 tonight.
If I'm home in time I might join one or other of you, though as empty as my legs were this morning I think it'll be a push to make it home for 6 and if I do, likely just the short one for me!
B for me yesterday, whinced when I realised it was going to be hill first followed by the flat portions. Skinny me would rather the other way round but worked out fine in the end. A looked good, but made the mistake of continuing to the top of Ventoux the other day so just couldn't be arsed with that much climbing (and time).
Anyone else very "meh" about NY? Never really enjoyed it
Wow, @phil56 .
I hope everything is going OK (for both of you). Looking forward to seeing you back in zwift when you are ready.
@mashr I'm with you. The whole "skyway" thing feels awful and the KOM is unpleasant as a result.
I've not done the A route so will be on that, probably tomorrow. I guess it's slowly getting me nearer my Tron.
Yeah, the new York map is an odd one, the park is actually pretty good and makes for some nice flat ish short loops. The great glass elevator on the other hand is bloody awful.
Given they put box hill a hundred yards from tower bridge I'm not sure why they didn't have it loop out to the catskills or something.
Heck, Scotland is likely to put the whole of Edinburgh in Glasgow.
Heck, Scotland is likely to put the whole of Edinburgh in Glasgow
Stage 8 is "Rolling Highlands", given that the map is meant to be based around the World Champs course (ie Edinburgh to Glasgow via the Campsies) I'm fully expecting Nessie to make an appearance
TBF Zwift have said that the scenery is "inspired by" Scotland. I'm not expecting any of it to be geographically accurate. It wouldn't surprise me if the reported GPS coordinates are all in the South Pacific.
What I do expect...
Loch Ness monster
Kelpies
Castles
Forth Bridge
Ballieston Crane
Roaming haggis
Any other suggestions?
I’m fully expecting Nessie to make an appearance
I'm fully expecting to see the blarney stone and stormont Castle.
Any other suggestions?
Fish shops. Lots of fish shops. And flat roofed pubs.
I'll be disappointed if the Dunmore Pineapple doesn't make an appearance. Purely to confuse non-Brits 🙂
RE Ride 5....
I've put myself down for A (Everything bagel) tomorrow for 8am... It should be about an hour I guess...
Ideally they'd do a half 8 start, but hey ho!!!
DrP
Half hour starts would be great but for whatever reason they don't. I guess it's so the pace partners aren't double booked or having to finish in 29 minutes, you'd have been upset following the D pacer up ventoux at that!