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Someone went hard with a km to go, Scaredy jumped on but I’m guessing missed the memo about the blue banner as when I came pootling past he’d stopped between the finish arch and the blue banner 😅
<ahem> - I'd actually seen the memo but not seen our blue banner before. The "permanent" arch was orange with some blue so I assumed that was it. 🤡
Did a lot better than I was exepecting - climb up to the bridge wasn't far off my best ever (also a race) but I was a goner after that; threw a bit of a whitey at the beginning of the climb out so I was glad to be able to grab the bunch as you all came past near the top. If you'd all kept pushing I was dead meat
Seriously Robbo...take a bow! You have created a great event which is really engaging...massive kudos to you!!
I'm sure these events will run and run 👏👏
Haha, I did exactly the same thing the other week in Innsbruck, Scaredy!
Cheers Robbo great fun and bloody hard at the same
Thanks for your time and effort it’s appreciated, I know what it’s like to try organise things used to be fixture secretary for a cricket club.
You may all know each other but a lot of zwift usernames don't match stw ones
I know it doesn't matter but I sort of wish I knew (esp Robbo - I assumed he was S Robinson, who destroyed me up out of the gravel but seems not as that rider didn't change bikes)
Never occurred to me not to use my stw name on zwift, but that was because I started pretty much just when weeksy's meetup(s?) happened
Echo what others have said - thanks Robbo. Jiggling my work plans to try to swing it for next week too
its interesting and slightly flattering that the likes of Savoyad are keeping an eye on my position and handicap differnce.
I was doing exactly the same and slightly complicated by the odd time differential eg when I was in front of you it was still showing I was 3 or 4 seconds behind.
my aim was to stick to yourself amongst one or two others and ideally a minute and half in front of andeh since my handicap has been reduced ( I use to be oaky finalising a minute to two ki.utes behind.
I seem to be putting out the most watts in that little group with Southside Johnny, woodshed, savored (I think tham 6 others finished ahead of me) so I must be the fatty amongst those. if I could get back towards 11 stone, which i was a while back, it might make it a bit easier for me. along with having to keep pushing my highest watts each race my average HR seems a bit higher than most folks.
hats off to Nixie he acheived an amazing time again and it must have been solo. bloody animal.
Well done on the point, Crust!
Sounds like you're going in the right direction.
I'll be back next race. Looking forward to it. 👍
I could have stolen those 15 secs from kirky if I’d held phil’s wheel – even for a bit – when he did go. But when that finally happened, I was fading (to be honest, I was really on the ropes) after my own failed attack.
@savoyad Don't be too hard on your self, you've come on a long way over the summer - a lot of folks have - that you only finished 30 seconds down on TP is going some (and the results only have Phil 8 seconds ahead of you over the line so I'm not sure you'd have made 15 of that's right)
Really enjoying the series and getting a feel for who I need to watch too though that's more of a learning curve than I'd hoped!
It would have been nice to make an official finish this week but ce la vie.
There were some really good times up there all. Making that dent back after the power outrage (that was supposed to be outage but auto correct wrote it better so I'll leave it) it's a hell of a job Phil.
THanks for the kind comments all and glad you are having fun.
That was the aim. Not much chat from me last night as I was trying really hard. Turns out I got a 50min power PR, which beat my previous best in one of the TTT so things are progressing well for me as well.
This is next weeks route.
https://zwiftinsider.com/route/royal-pump-room-8/
The climbs aren't as bad as they look on the chart shown btw. Nothing worse than this weeks race! We did this as a TTT course a few weeks back (well 2 laps of Yorkshire - this is 1 lap in one direction and 1 lap in the reverse direction) and it took about 48 minutes I think. Should create some good racing hopefully.
The course seems to double back up the tougher climb very quickly leaving chance only for a short period of recovery. Going to be tough but as Robby says make for a good race.
Oh man, where's Richmond flat roads 🙁
I've raced that course once in a very small field. It's hard. The climbs are short but steep.
We'll always have Paris weeksy
Sounds like another great race. Couldn't make it this week, but will be back next week. Thanks for putting this all together Robbo.
you mean Paris with the 3% up after the line ? lol
You guys don't get 'flat' 😛
I ain't complaining, it's all fun. 3 points last night, can't grumble there. Good battles all race too 🙂
The climbs are short but steep.
Not sure how it translates on Zwift as I've not ridden the reverse and the forward climb over the bridge doesn't really feature but, the reverse climb up from the bridge irl is bloody awful for that.
The real stinkers on there though are the reverse climb to the roundabout after the kom and the reverse before you descend towards the start line, neither is steep or long but they feel like they go on forever.
Pump Room 8 is harder than 2 laps of world's IMO. The climb after the bridge is really tough towards the back end and the little kicker in the final descent is mean too.
I suspect it'll make for good, if lonely racing.
you mean Paris with the 3% up after the line ? lol
What's 3% between friends?
Paris is a processional anyhow isn't it? we all just plod round, shooting the breeze, the top scorer drinks bubbles and gives interviews. Contest the final sprint and have a jolly good time really?
My Wattbike Atom has been delayed by a few weeks 🙁 I'm looking forward to getting stuck into some of these once I'm up and running!
Don't forget the drag to the arc de triomphe either. That's just enough to be hard. Would it be unsporting to ride a TT bike in Paris?
1 lap is a little misleading for pump Room 8 😄 as it's a monster lap.
It's been great, I don't really know anyone but have felt welcome and enjoyed it loads so far. Thanks for organising Robbo.
Slept like the dead last night.
The starts are always tough, but yesterday was really hard. Think I had to do a 5-600W effort to get onto the back of a group and that was my legs quivering for the rest of the race.
I was in a small group over the first climb, then I saw OopNorth watts drop and thought it was a technical issue only to see come screaming passed on a MTB...shortly followed by Robbo.
My tactics so far have been go pretty hard from the terrifying GO GO GO call, see what group I end up in, try and do my share of work if the legs allow, attack randomly to keep others (and most importantly myself) guessing and then up the watts by about 1% for my "sprint".
To all the double fanners out there..... is it worth it? Sweated buckets last night.
Steve Scott
To all the double fanners out there….. is it worth it? Sweated buckets last night.
Last night wasn't so bad (admitedly with two fans I was cold waiting for the go) on some of the 30+ degree days if I had them I'd have happily had a hundred going, planet and electric bill be damned.
I was still sweating buckets with 2 fans last night due to the effort around the jungle, although I am in the house, it may be okay with one if you are in the garage over autumn / winter.
I always sweat loads anyway even with 3 fans, it was better than before though (actually start to feel pretty ill when it's really hot!)
You may all know each other but a lot of zwift usernames don’t match stw ones
Fair point @robbo1234biking I'm happy to have my Zwift ID on the results/handicap sheet.
Thanks Rob, that was another great race.
Just like @tpbiker said:
These are good workouts for me, I spend most of the time just under ftp, but have to dig deep at intervals, and don’t get any rest even on the descents where it’s easy to get dropped if you let up for a second
It's great to read the comments after the race - when I'm in a group it feels like all the others are happily spinning along at a comfortable pace, whereas in reality they are flat out just about keeping up and @kirky72 can even think that I
tried a cheeky break and they started to open a gap
whereas all I was doing was desperately trying not to get dropped by @Savoyad on yet another painful kick up. Perhaps if I realised at the rest of the group is hurting too . . . but I am already flat out so there is nothing more I can do anyway.
I am looking forward to Harrogate next week, partly because I rode it IRL a few weeks ago so it will good to experience it as a race.
Yeh I have put the ones on there that match or they posted on the forum with the zwift name but without asking express permission I didn't think I could put everyone's name on. If you haven't got your Zwift name on the spreadsheet and are happy for it to go on let me know. Cheers
scooba - I think those are everyones tactics once it has settled down into groups have a look on the course on where you could perhaps break up your group so little ramps or 2-3 min hills where you think you can push above your FTP.
I actually really enjoy a shorter climb where you can push really hard and start to gap the people you are with. It is really rewarding to watch that gap grow. In my head I look like a pro casually putting down some power, whereas in reality I look like a sweaty short flump! Its all good fun though 🙂
on screen [s] In my head [/s] I look like a pro casually putting down some power, whereas in reality I look like a sweaty short flump! Its all good fun though 🙂
This is also the problem with Internet dating.
Glad it's not just me that thinks everyone else looks chipper whilst my HR is at 185. The avatars need to show a little more effort.
Think I'll sort a second fan, and move into the garage from the kitchen!
Steve Scott/Scooba
from the kitchen!
Dear lord!
Gotta keep that espresso machine handy though I suppose
HR at 185 @scooba, oh to be young enough to hit that again. I was in the high 150s low 160s mostly. But then I do top out at 170.
But then I do top out at 170
Top of the stairs yeah?
race starting on the layout in 3 mins, good for a recce
I felt sooo rough yesterday..
I struggled to get my HR above 170ish.. And struggled to ride above 2.5w/kg for the majority... 3.5 should be my easy cruising pace!!
Legs feel shot today too, and I've never sweated so much as I did last night despite 3 fans going and the kitchen door open for a through draft...
Oh lurgi be gone!!
DrP
Only did half of the course, meh, can't see me performing well on this one.
Starts nicely, but then lots of grinding... Joy !!!
Is next weeks race only one lap of that circuit then?
Lots of lumps.
One lap, but that is both forward and reverse of the loop, so effectively two 😉
I remember that climb from the bridge being a real bastard and practically stopping me dead on my first time up it on the new trainer. Gets on for 20% doesn't it?
Gets on for 20% doesn’t it?
With an s bend and a near stop at the bottom if there's oncoming traffic. Though neither is likely to bother you in zwift the sudden kick does.
@nixie I'm 38! My HR seems to sit at around 175-185 for these races, and up to 195 in a sprint. Poor thing.
Next week's course looks like it will be really hard. Hopefully the lurgy has left us all by then.
Not to be presumptuous ... but is there a plan for a second series?
I'm only a year older. Only time I see those numbers is when the HR monitor glitches 😄. Strange how different people are.
Jeepers, no wonder, you're all youngsters !!!!
Poor Crust and Phil, both in their mid 60s !!!
@nixie I’m 38! My HR seems to sit at around 175-185 for these races, and up to 195 in a sprint. Poor thing.
I'm 55 - highest I've seen in at least the last 5 years is 172 and anything over 155 is me trying bloody hard. My resting rate is quie low though, not sure how the 2 relate. Does any of us have a low RR AND a high max ?
low RR AND a high max ?
My resting is about 48, low enough that the GP always has to dig through notes when I go, max is about 185-190.
resting 45-47, Max 184
Resting HR of low 40's and a max of 197 ish, I'm 46, The only correlation I know of is that fitter peoples max hr decreases with age more slowly than less fit people and low resting hr tends to indicate that you are fitter.
Scooba - yes I am planning a second series running the first week of November for 6 weeks into December. The aim is to incorporate some of the learning from this series.
Currently my thoughts are to have:
- Bonus points for 3 fastest sprint times on courses which have a sprint segment.
- Individual time trial with start time based on the handicap and on tt bikes.
- A new mix of different courses (maybe even something flat for weeksy!)
– (maybe even something flat for weeksy!)
I gather Venn top would suit nicely.
**** me - you young people !
I run from about 48ish to 172ish (at 55yr, as said)
What happens to your power vs HR up near the top end there ? Do you get much more out than you can at 170?
I think of mine as "fairly" progressive vs power up to about 165 but that'd mean I'd have to be smashing out really big numbers (for me) to drive my heart to nearly 200 (obvz it'd also kill me, but, you know)
I used to play footy with a lad who could get way, way over 200 - we were 17-18 at the time. He was really fit, "great engine midfielder" type and we used to have to do HR and recovery during circuit seesions. Used to scare the shit out of the guy running the sessions, possibly for good reason
robbo that's great news.
weeksy has a specific suggestion for a suitable flat course I believe...
Another possibility to add to your list is making a custom course by moving the finish line a long way from its usual location. I've seen "big foot hills" used as a 35km course which means a summit finish on top of the volcano, for example.
Resting HR about 42... Max HR I THINK 192. But that’s good going!
I normally get to 186ish most strong rides.
Start to feel it above 178.
Can cruise at 150-170 all day long...
(When well, obvs....)
DrP. 37 and a half.
I like the idea of a summit finish on the volcano - good suggestion savoyad. The volcano seems to wind up as a climb with the spiral and then the ramp at the end.
My resting HR is about 50 and peaks at about 185 on a ramp test. Last weeks race got it up to 190 but I think it was a spurious reading as I didnt do much last week to justify that HR! I am 36 and 363 days!
HR is indeed a funny thing, probably I mistake hr to equal effort, when I see the stats at the end of a race I mistakenly used to think a much lower average hr then mine must mean they haven’t put as much effort in. More likely they didn’t need to do or may have a lower max.
Yesterday’s race had me reaching 184 peak, Averaged 174bpm which is down to the hilly nature and amount of effort I had to put in to keep with the group. only a short sprint finish, If you have a long contested sprint I can hit low 190s, not comfortable there though.
Resting heart rate lowest checked in the morning is 43/44bpm sat around the house for a while normally 48/50.
A few ideas/suggestions to chuck into the ring for the next series.
Downtown dolphin, fast short punchy laps, normally 8 laps.
Richmond full, the climbs towards the back end provide some breakaway opportunities.
Watopia figure 8 nice and varied.
I don't appear to gain much by going over 165-7bpm. Tend to use that when I really need to dig deep and keep the effort up. What it does do is push me into the sickness zone and I need to be sure I'm going to be able to breathe and calm down afterwards. Resting HR is low 40s I think.
Volcano after party is a nice route. Seaside sprint is another nice one, especially if your scoring primes. How about out and back again or the classic mountain 8?
There is a another route which goes out over the sequoias, then jungle, back the other way over the sequoias and finally desert flat. Might be a bit long though.
Sand and seqitious is very good. Nice recovery periods and some hills in the last third to stir up the field.
I know it doesn’t matter but I sort of wish I knew (esp Robbo – I assumed he was S Robinson, who destroyed me up out of the gravel but seems not as that rider didn’t change bikes)
S Robinson is me. Yep I know the name bears no correlation - just a nickname from school that stuck.
BTW - echo everyone elses comments. Kudos to Robbo for organising a great race series. Every one I enter I go it into thinking, "I'll just take this at my own pace, see how it pans out"... and within seconds I am trying to keep up with people scorching off at a crazy pace with my HR bumping off the limiter. Would never work this hard if I was just training on my own.
Regarding heart rate, 47 here but had a low minimum and maximum for years. 45ish-170ish currently. Can't remember what the max the HRM recorded last night, 160 ish?
Not sure the numbers mean that much except the recovery rate.
Did a 5k indoor row the other day at an average of 64bpm. It was a slow one (25ish mins) but it looks on paper like I used an outboard.
In april after I thought I may have had Covid I saw over 200 on a couple rides. Not seen anything that high before or since.
@crazyharry. I was worried for a good while yesterday that you were going to real me back in.
Only issue with the next series is that the ZTRL/Zwift series is running on Tuesdays as well. Don't know how many people might get pulled in to that?
Other thought is whether there is some potential to get a proper race set up in Zwift, maybe lean on the STW linkage. Could do categories but with the same start time, that would give you access to the race only routes as well, all starting in pens so don't have to worry about neutralised starts/different finish lines.
I seem to have a hereditary low heart rate, as my Dad and his brother all have the same. I'm 40, currently floating around resting of 42-45 and maxing out mid 160 maybe might squeeze 170.
As a young runner in my late teens BITD,my resting rate was nearer 37 and I maxxed at maybe 200 at the end of a middle distance race. It used to make giving blood a right PITA as it didn't flow fast enough.
resting 45-47, Max 184
Pretty much the same for me as Weeksy, at age 61.
Apparently my dad had a low heart rate but was very unfit - so must be hereditary.
@nixie - God knows I tried :D. Put everything into that climb out the Jungle in the hope that you'd crack, but in the end I think it was me that blew-up. You took 30s out of me between the bridge and the finish.
I considered the series that is being launched but it isn’t particularly inclusive. Only 6 riders per week for the scratch race and the normal ttt still goes ahead on a Thursday anyway for those of us who like to suffer.
I think the strength of this series is being able to chat about it before and after on here as it adds the extra touch to the race as your competitors have a personality and you see them as real people rather than another avatar on the screen which is what normal Zwift races are more like.
I have contacted Zwift about making it more formal but not heard anything and don’t hold my breath.
Completely agree with your comments Robbo, the interaction and banter is what makes me want to come back for more pain!
I wouldn't get that on a normal zwift race.
I seem to find that when I am in a higher state of fitness my HR for shorter intervals goes down, but sustained HR for longer max efforts goes up.
(maybe even something flat for weeksy!)
Don't fall for this, Weeksy was doing fine last night chasing me up the first hill to the jungle, we were hitting well over 300w and I was pushing to try and lose him but he kept on my wheel.
He's fine with hills, just hustling us 😉
your competitors have a personality and you see them as real people rather than another avatar on the screen
Yes, this is what I like too.
Other thought is whether there is some potential to get a proper race set up in Zwift, maybe lean on the STW linkage.
No chance zwift will allow you to set up your own series, I've read they hardly let anyone do it. And even if they did it would be open to tons of randoms. The great thing about robbos series is most of the folk are actual forum members and you recognise them when riding in the groups
As for future series..A summit finish or 2 would be brilliant, mix things up a bit for sure.
As for the tt..As a one off we could may be just all enter one of the organised tt events. Whilst i appreciate others would be racing to, it would be far easier to organise and get the results, as otherwise if just a group ride folks will be waiting about at the start line with the clock ticking but not actually pedalling. I can see alot of scope for cock ups, sensors dropping out, people starting at wrong time etc etc
I'd like a few more forum names, even if just in brackets. Some are obvious but many are not.
@crazyharry thought you were going for it. I was trying to keep steady and not go too hard, until those odd bits where you take a junction and can't see the rest of the field. For those short gaps I was pushing to try and open the gap again 😄. The longer a race gets normally the more consistent I get.
Just to add to the HR discussion, I’m 41, resting usually about 48-52, max yesterday was 192, av 168. Always had a fairly high max. I managed to hit 196 in the run in a mini triathlon a couple of years ago (and felt a bit odd). In the previous race (volcano) my average was 173 - higher than usual, but I was still under weather with cold.
I agree a “race of truth” TT would be great - ideally on a lovely flat course in the desert!
A race of truth would be good. Definitely be good to join an open event for that though so we get proper TT behaviour.
Just spotted I'm 2nd in the general classification! Looking forward to next week's route as my lack of outright power won't be such a disadvantage due to the hills
Conversely, a last round on a pan flat route will possibly be the end of me.
I’d like a few more forum names, even if just in brackets. Some are obvious but many are not.
My Zwift name is Declan Fee, just like my real name, my forum name is just my previous job LAN id, surname plus initial letter of first name, not very imaginative to be honest. Easily identified in races as the only one flying an Irish flag.
And to echo the praise from others, thanks Robbo for organising a great race series. Makes me look forward to the Tuesday evening opportunity to bury myself.
Just to save me scrolling back through this thread. How many races will there be in the series and when will series 2 start?
Does everyone race together from the start to the finish and then the handicap is applied post race?
i'll go with 6
yes.
@r8jimbob88 There are 6 races in the series. Series 2 will start on Tuesday 3rd November.