[Closed] STW Zwift Autumn Race Series 1

Great choice again Robbo! I love these races they really force me to push harder than normal zwift races.

Absolutely, Once I'd caught Matt I could have rolled in but I knew that I had 30s handicap to Ivan and I was bouncing between 29-30s behind so had to go all in on the last couple of Km to keep it under 30s.

How are we doing on donations at the moment BTW?

Good effort everyone! I struggled round that, think I've got the lurgy that's been going round. I'm just going for the participation medal, hopefully I'll be more competitive in the second series.

Was it just me that thought Crazy Harry's winning move, attacking on the final steep climb, was pretty much identical to Alaphilippe's winning effort on Sunday!

And like on Sunday I though he ain't holding on till the finish! Strong effort to keep away from the pack I must say.

I was pleased that I didn't see the lead group at the half way loop, I knew I was doing ok (for me) at that point.

Great group at the front. Thought it was on for a split at the half way climb, but I’m guessing Harrogate allows the heavier riders (like me) to regroup quickly on the descents. Interesting sprint finish..S.avoyad came out of nowhere to pip me for 2nd (well, photo finish at least 😜) Oh,and that penultimate climb is an absolute bastard.
Cheers again Robbo.
Paino

After losing the back of the fast group when the pace really picked up A. Atkinson and I did about a lap of through and off before being caught by C.Hudson & Pewsey.

I think Hudson lost the pace on one of the climbs then Pewsey kept rolling off the front on the climbs making Atkinson and myself close back up.

Eventually it was just me getting distanced by Peswsy on the slight climbs then working to pull it back. Knowing I was likely to get dropped at some point I decided to go all in on the wall - a dubious decision for a 100kg "rouleur". Anyway, 6w/kg+ and a feather power-up at the base got me clear and then it was TT home.

There was someone (Edit - Osborne I think?) 12 seconds or so ahead but I couldn't close the gap and was concerned that Pewsey, Hudson and Atkinson were closing again.

No idea of the final results but I definitely felt better than last week when I didn't even finish!

That was tough. Stupidly forgot about the race and ate my dinner half an hour before. Regretted it seriously when stomach started complaining after 5k. Probably didn’t affect my race other than discomfort. Dropped by lead group after about 5k. Formed a group of 4 (with ndej, rolo and zilog). Rolo dropped us and zilog fell a wee bit behind a few k from finish - it ended in some tactical games and a final sprint with ndeh - ndeh definitely played the game better but I just held him off in the end with a hard sprint. I found it pretty tough, and think I’m still a bit under the weather.

OK so another great race tonight – damn that was a really tough course! Why did some idiot put that on the schedule?!

So the fastest 3 on the road tonight were:
1. Crazyharry
2. Savoyad & eat_more_cheese
3. Mossimus

A Category
1. Crazyharry
2. Phil56
3. Tpbiker

B Category
1. Eat_more_cheese & savoyad
2. Mossimus
3. W00dster

C Category
1. Kirky72
2. Robbo1234biking
3. Oop north

With the handicap applied the winners tonight were:
1. Savoyad
2. W00dster
3. J-R

Which leaves the top of the table as follows:
1. Kirky72 (222 points)
2. W00dster (208 points)
3. Tpbiker (187 points)

There are still 6 riders who could possibly win the championship going into the last round.

Full results here (results are provisional in case I have made a cock up!)

Wow that was a hectic start. Found myself much further forward than the quality of my legs deserved.

Was in a small group of 5 with oopnorth and got dropped on that first timed climb.

Got over taken.

Joined a small group. Got dropped.

Got over taken.

Joined a group of two others (Atkinson and H I think). Clung on. Got dropped.

Then did a solo sprint finish just because.

Had to go stand outside for a bit after.

That's a really tough course. That climb about 22k in.... Oh my days

Steve Scott

You were doing well Steve, sorry about the first climb but I wanted to test everyone! 😉

I enjoyed that one - dissapointed that oopnorth got away on that climb! The 3 of us in that group held on pretty well after that I think - lots of little attacks on every climb it felt like. I saved my feather for the last climb hoping to get a gap on straightliner - I got the gap but the hill went on for ages and I lost the gap again as I crawled over the peak. Managed to catch on the downhill but nothing left in the legs for the sprint!

On to Paris next week for champagne and sprints!

There was someone 12 seconds or so ahead but I couldn’t close the gap and was concerned that Pewsey, Hudson and Atkinson were closing again.

I think that was me. Was working hard to keep a gap behind, everytime I saw it drop I stood up and pushed hard.

5 points. Worst result so far, but suspect that’s only because I missed the Innsbruck climby one. Never mind, it’s the taking part that counts!! Thanks again Robbo. Great race. Looking forward to when we do another properly flat one!

jamesoz
Full Member
There was someone 12 seconds or so ahead but I couldn’t close the gap and was concerned that Pewsey, Hudson and Atkinson were closing again.

I think that was me. Was working hard to keep a gap behind, everytime I saw it drop I stood up and pushed hard.

It was, I've just seen it on my strava image - you were definitely so close but so far!

Another cracking ride (well, evil as well) with some strong performances. Ended up with Robbo and OopNorth until OopNorth decided to put out too much power and break his bike. That left Robbo and I to roll through to the finish, although he tried some cheeky sandbagging just after the top of the nasty hill posting a “that was unpleasant” message and then laying down the power! 😉

Thanks again everyone, it does make Tuesday night quite fun.

I was watching the gap behind me with Jamesoz and Ivan, was doing all I could to maintain it at all times, I thought you were going to get me after the chain drop but luckily I managed to pull away again and it was mostly downhill which helped.

Another 21 points, same as last week. Sitting in 24th which is great for me considering I missed race 3. One for the sprinters next week...not my thing but I'm looking forward to it.

Joined a group of two others (Atkinson and H I think). Clung on. Got dropped.

Yeah, gave it a dig to bridge across to Matt on that last rise, seeing as I'd not been able to drop you on the steep one before I assumed I'd just be dragging the both of you with me was quite chuffed I'd finally put a gap on you two. Big kick but waaay too late.

Looking forward ish to Paris but I find it really hard to race well on.

Formed a group of 4 (with ndej, rolo and zilog). Rolo dropped us and zilog fell a wee bit behind a few k from finish

Couldn't decide what to do. Cling onto a quick group for as long as possible or save the legs and try and jump onto the next.

I thought you were going to go oopnorth on that climb.

I have to say, it was quite nice for a while following Robbos beacon. Can see it for about 2 miles

Wow. I don't really win things.

That was very, very hard. I didn't belong in the front group and it was painful to stay there. I know the course pretty well and I tried to make that work for me. The rest of the group seemed to settle down once we got onto the reverse lap, which gave me a chance. I tried to surge onto every hill and hope I could latch on as they came back past me. It generally worked, although I was basically dropped twice - but each time @tpbiker was also distanced and as he clawed his way back on I managed to go with him. Thanks for those rescues. I would have gone backwards fast if dropped. I could see in the sidebar that @kirky72 was working well with @DrP so I really had no choice but to hang on to maintain my handicap advantage over him.

I love that course (forwards especially, but the race is normally established by the reverse lap which settles it down) and I do tend to get my best performances on it. Paris is not really my scene!

Bloody PC crashed as I tried to join event - by the time it had sorted itself out the race had started....

sounds like it was a real toughie so probably best I didn't ride it as I have a feeling I would have blown up spectacularly

hope to be back next week

Proper killer this week.
Bit of deja vu, tried to hang with the big boys but got spat out near the top of that first, long climb. Ended up in a wee group of 4 until Rolo flicked on the afterburner and disappeared. The 3 of us worked well but I was conscious of not wanting to cruise too much, which is tempting. Tried to dig in up the climbs and do little surges now and then to egg us on, but I was so close to my legs packing in on a couple of occasions. In the end it was Oblongbob and me playing mind games until about 200m, then going all in. Oblong took it with a beast of a sprint!

So good. Thanks again Robbo.

So, we doing primes and stuff next week then?

Interesting again that my marker, savoyad is also keeping an eye on my placing. I tried to hand with the group but after that bloody crazy start I just couldn’t keep it up, a gap opened and having put massive efforts in to close a gap already and the almighty effort up the first long hill. I just couldn’t hang on and after being pissed to see Savoyad riding off into the sunset I was mightily relieved to grab the wheel of DrP and overjoyed that he stuck with me for the duration.

Amazing effort by savoyad to win overall.

I felt like I could capitulate at any point but seeing Andeh and a few others just about within the handicap differential
I pushed to try and open a small gap. I dropped my chain twice but thankfully managed to pedal it back on.

Trolo was chasing us hard and must have put in a monumental effort to close ground and nearly catch drp and myself. We managed to just cross the line a bit before him, he didn’t come on the proximity warning eg so many metres behind however The weird timing Thing had him placed before us in the final standings.

Again I felt like dying through out and that those around me and mainly drP are just coasting along nonchantly whilst I’m busting a lung to keep up with them. So it was a little comforting when I had a quick watch of Drp stream and he seemed to be just as ****ed as I was.

Brilliant racing yet again and some fantastic efforts.

Still sweating my balls off now.

Yup.
****ed!

Hr at 183 was killing me for a bit!
Once the tail end of this cold goes ill be fine again...

That final sprint on the twitch stream was cool to watch!
400w for a handful of seconds... then tank completely empty 50m from the line!

It's annoying the stream is so laggy...I wonder if I need a better laptop to handle zwift and streaming?

DrP

I went into the race hoping I could get ahead of Kirky after he’d done so well in previous races, and hang onto the faster guys long enough to make up for the difference in our handicaps. After luckily staying the front end of the split my relief turned to pain as I struggled to keep up with the group, constantly wondering if I’d have to drop off and join Kirky and Dr P, especially as I was sure the cat As in the group were about to sprint up the next climb and leave us Bs behind.

So I was pleased to finish the final climb and know I could survive in the blob for the final downhill. I gave the sprint my best shot, but the rest of the blob were better and I came a well deserved last.

It was interesting to race Harrogate having ridden it IRL last month, and although it’s not my sort of course I’m looking forward to a virtual Paris next week.

Thanks again Robbo

Some great race reports there.

Tech problems(@neilarn2 id have made the whole road aware of my losing connection during the race, gutted for you!) chain problems and the actual race itself!

Great stuff and sorry to have missed it. Well, sort of, if you know what I mean?.Lol

cheers poop to busy trying to sort and  cursing roll on Paris

just to echo the others, great race... but bloody hard! Those climbs... 🙁

@IvanDobski once you disappeared on that climb I knew I couldn't catch, so did my best to stay ahead of the couple of guys that were closing in on me.

finished 13th so got a bunch of points, very happy with that! just gutted I managed to miss 3 races so far.

looking forward to next week.

I'm still getting better and very much looking forward to Paris. I'm not seeing an amazing result for me based upon how the Volcano went, but i think i'll be in with a bunch and in a melting pot 🙂

Sounds like another great race. Gutted I didn't make it.

@tpbiker - your description of my attack on the climb was much more majestic than the grunting, sweaty mess of the reality. I had always planned to attack on that last horrible climb but nearly backfired badly because three key oversights.
1. That climb goes on much longer than I remember. Even after the really horrible 12-14% bit is over there is another horrible 8% drag to the top that seems to go on for ever.
2. It wasn't nearly as close to the end as I hoped, and only when I reached the top did I realise that I had now signed myself up for 5.0km 'sprint' if I was going to stay ahead of the pack.
3. It wasn't the last bloomin' climb. There was another one with about 3km to go that nearly finished me off.

I could see you guys gradually eating away at the lead and it was only in the km or so I finally figured that I may have just about done enough. Finish line could not come soon enough!

Anyway, enjoyed the racing. That was super tough - think the toughest one yet for me.

I had great fun on that one last night - on most of the previous races I have ended up in no-mans land by around the halfway point and it's just turned into a battle of wills not to back off the pace, as I tire.
Yesterday though, there was a small bunch of us at the start who I got relatively quickly kicked out the back of, although I managed to keep the gap to them relatively small with the hope that I might be possible to close later on in the race.
I guess that little group also split & over the course of the race I kept pushing to haul people in - I think I overtook 3 (maybe 4) people in the second half of the race & then had to keep pushing to maintain/open up the gap.

I found the course hard, but the constant gradient changes seemed to suit me & I was really revelling in it towards the end. Pleased the last stretch to the finish was downhill!!
Strava reckons I got 27 PR's last night, so must have been pushing pretty hard.

Finally getting my Wattbike delivered tomorrow after a 17 week wait so I should be able to make the last round of this series!

@nixie

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Sounds like another great race. Gutted I didn’t make it.</span>

I'm not 😉.

Only chance I have of winning one of these things is when you are not there! 🤣🤣

Next week's flatter course might suit me better? I wonder if this might be the case because... my trainer won't have to simulate a high gradient? Therefore I should be riding the same course as everyone else?
When I bought my trainer I looked at the specs compared to other trainers and thought that it was pretty good being able to replicate steep gradients. Now if I'd bought a trainer which could only simulate a max gradient of 10% and then ride a circuit which had a hill of 15% would that mean that I would be riding up that hill at 10% as that's where the trainer tops out?
Just a thought. I enjoy the races, and like all events there are always differences with equipment.

Where is your difficulty slider set to ?

if that's at 50% it's only a 7.5% hill, not a 15%....

So if I change a setting on my trainer it'll make the hills and races easier 🤔

No, basically it changes the way Zwift works... it would make the hills flatten out, but instead of the incline going harder, your man goes slower. So if you're using a damn trainer and it can't do hills at all, it just slows your man based upon the power you're putting out.

There's a sweet spot for some depending on how you ride, some want more slider, some want less... most people leave it at 50% and forget it.

@retrorick said

So if I change a setting on my trainer it’ll make the hills and races easier

No - well, only in the same way that putting a bigger cassette or a smaller chainring on your bike would do. Think of it kind of like a virtual change to your gearing. The hill stays the same, the power requirements to get up it stay the same. (the setting is in zwift, not the trainer)

I think from the menu setting in zwift it is at 50%, un altered from what it was when i first started using zwift. I've turned some of the sound effects down tho 😂

After last night I'm really wanting to get back into racing again but there is not much taking my fancy, especially in the morning's when I ride. I think I now need that extra motivation rather than just freeriding around at a sedate pace 🙂

Think I'm definitely more suited to the races with changes of gradient, but not too long hills, Pump Room 8 and Road to Ruins really suited me for short, sharp efforts. Flat sprints are not my thing, neither are the long slog hills.

Thanks again Robbo for all the work you put in and creating the fun! Can't wait for next Tuesday!

You need to join the TTT oppnorth! We are doing 7.40 starts so you should be able to make it with work.

I'm not sure I have the sustained power for that, I could potentially be a hindrance! I'll think about it, but late home from work already affects family life and I'm not sure if I can justify 2 nights taken up on the bike.

Yesterday's course didn't suit me at all with all those short sharp climbs. Every time the course went upwards I fell out the back. I'm quite good on longer climbs so just had to have confidence that if I kept my power up I'd reel everyone in by the top, which I did..just. I knew that if I was off the back by the time the group went over the crest of a hill it would be game over as I'd not be getting back on

I'm far better suited to consistent efforts..Can next series have a mountain stage up alp duez!?

I’m not sure I have the sustained power for that, I could potentially be a hindrance!

You'd be fine, you've got plenty of ooo[p]mph and the team thing is more important, no one gets left behind. Phil does a grand job as motivational speaker and as a group we do our best to shepherd folks back on if necessary. The onus is on the front folks to keep the group together but working hard, not (solely) on the rear to try keep up with the front.

Also if my thoroughly inconsistent power isn't a hinderence no one's will be.

Can next series have a mountain stage up alp duez!?

I think I'm out / busy / washing my hair that day!

Space on tomorrow nights TTT and it is about as flat as they come (not quite Richmond flat though weeksy!)

Go away Robbo, cos I'm starting to talk myself into possibly doing it!! Sod off!!!

Go away Robbo, cos I’m starting to talk myself into possibly doing it!! Sod off!!!

Just think of it as commuting home

@oopnorth said

I’m not sure I have the sustained power for that, I could potentially be a hindrance!

You absolutely have the power. And you'd be an asset not a hindrance!

It's not an elite event. It's meant for normal people, especially how we approach it. Phil and Brian (who most often play the role) do a really great job of pacing it. Yes it's hard, but honestly, if you or people like you (or @weeksy, who has fallen out of love with it a bit?) find it too much we're doing it wrong. We aim to finish together, we usually manage and the category we race in assumes a mix of C and B cat riders.

If family commitments do permit, give it a try.

Tell me about TTTs:

1 Is it helpful to have addiional riders even if they can't do loads on the front ?
2 Is there a penalty to the group if a rider then drops off ?

(I'm not really fit currently but should be up to putting out a consistent 260-275 or so for at least 30 minutes or do bigger turns for a shorter period and then might well drop off, puking). If it'd help I could be on for that; I need some hardish rides but don't want to bugger it up for anyone (or take a space from a regular)

Oh here comes the supporting cast!!! 😉 Stop ganging up on me! haha!

Let me see, if I can join I will, but I have never used discord etc, I'll need to read up on the TTT rules so I don't mess up the start.

Same questions from me, that Scaredypants raises.

You have shown signs of weakness now and the pack is closing in.

Discord is really easy. You only really need to listen. Phil does most of the encouragement and will tell people when to push for overtakes etc. I think that is because everyone else is on the edge so he still has some cognitive ability to talk!

FTPs around 250-270 you will be fine. Bigger group makes it easier. I think the majority of users are around that level but working together we can go a lot faster. Especially on a flat course where weight isn't as important.

If we have 5 or more riders start then it is the fastest 4 riders to get over the line that the team time is based on so if you need to drop off it isn't a big issue but you are both plenty fast enough to play a good role in the team.

1 Is it helpful to have addiional riders even if they can’t do loads on the front ?
2 Is there a penalty to the group if a rider then drops off ?

So at risk of derailing the thread a bit...

1) absolutely, a bigger bunch means there's less power required to stay on the back so falling back offers a bit more respite without falling off. Given we ride a genuinely mixed ability group you don't need to do any work on the front to make the group quicker, a few more rotating in the middle means who ever is pulling on the front can pull harder for longer without gapping the folks behind. Equally it means if you fancy making the effort to pull hard on the front for (even a very short while) knowing you'll need to rest up a bit after you've more opportunity to do that, as do the others.

2) not really, less in the group means those in the group have to work a bit harder but time is 4th person over, we'd rather have everyone over together mind than folks dropping off but there's no penalty per se.

To relate it back to topic though this is also why as the group starts to thin in Robbo's race it becomes harder to hold it, you're not just getting tired, you actualy need to work harder to stay in a smaller group at the same pace.

Prob best to move the conversation to here:

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/zwift-team-time-trial-thursday/page/7/

But all are welcome to the TTT on Thursday's so anyone who has been racing and wants to join in feel free!

Only the first 4 across the line count, the team can be 8 I think.

It's very good practice for consistent efforts. The rules are simple, do what Phil tells you when he tells you, mostly don't start pedalling until it's our launch time.

Phil is very good at coming back and shepherding, and Discord is very useful for grouping up and also so that you can declare yourself dead / mechanical / I'm popping out, I may be some time etc.

Ultimately, no-one is taking it madly serious, you finish or you don't, its just another type 2 fun variant.

There is another thread for the TTT.

Cheers guys...further discussions can be had on the other thread, sorry for the derailing...

Just for info, I've not fallen out of love with it as such, but the problem in my world is that unless a rider like me is 100% on my game, it's a killer. I don't just mean tough but crazy impossible tough. I know you guys will tow someone back but the issue is, being right at FTP from the first few mins just to hold the wheel means even if you tow back, it's still too much to then hold it.
That, added to the fact that my 100% has been 85-90% of the best me, it's just not fair on either of us.

OopN seems to be better than me on the hilly bits so I think he'll do a much better job than me.

Just a quick one for any who wanted to donate but haven't yet. The fund raiser for Cardiac Risk in the Young (which started as a plan to buy a thank you beer or two for Robbo but he asked be donated instead) is currently just under £250.00

A big thanks to Robbo for organising this and everyone who has put their hand in their pocket too, I appreciate at the moment money is tight for a lot of folks so an (extra) huge thank you to you all.

I'll leave the go fund me running untill next Friday to coincide with the end of the season then I'll sort out getting funds over to Cardiac Risk in the Young.

Thanks again all and the pot can be found here

gf.me/u/yxg8gr

Awesome! Well done all!

Chuck in what you can as a thank you to Robbo for such a great event.

I know we agreed we were changing to Paris but how far are we going @Robbo1234biking? It's a harder circuit than London Classique and 40km could be ruinous.

It is 4.1 miles so 5 laps plus the 2 mile lead in would make it 22 miles (35k) which seems appropriate - how many laps do you sip champagne for?

Thanks to all for contributing for the donation. Racing over £300 for charity isn't a bad effort!

great result on the fundraising total - and awesome work by Robbo in getting the series up and running, its been great fun to be a part of this having never raced on Zwift before and I have enjoyed following all the post race banter as well..

looking forward to the final race of this series

It's a flat one isn't it...

Yuk....

DrP

It's surprisingly un-flat for a flat race, not hilly just... not flat.

New FTP this week for me @robbo1234biking, 274 please.

I've done a 4 lap race around Paris before, 5 will be tough!

i see the race splitting early doors, only into mini groups, but sticking with the fast guys up 2-3% when they're putting in 5w/kg, well that's crazy talk. I'm hoping for group 2 or 3 and sitting in.

Just done 2 laps of a 4 lap race round the reverse course, i managed 17 mins at race ish pace, but then decided it was time to ease off and keep the lurgy in check.

Ill have a look at some races over the past week or so and check if 4 or 5 laps is more suitable.

but sticking with the fast guys up 2-3% when they’re putting in 5w/kg, well that’s crazy talk

I did a series with primes on that incline. Was 5w/kg at the bottom, building to 6w/kg before the sprint and sprint at 9-11w/kg. Did not go well for me, especially lap one where the first rider went big at 500m!

@Robbo I just checked on my Zwift power, it was 5 laps so ignore me!! took around 56 minutes so should be fine with the 5 lapper. Got some of my biggest numbers in that one!

and check if 4 or 5 laps is more suitable

It would be great if we could have at least one race long enough to try and make inroads into the handicap as folk start to feel the pace - 5 laps please!!!

It would be great if we could have at least one race long enough to try and make inroads into the handicap as folk start to feel the pace – 50 laps please!!!

FTFY

It would be great if we could have at least one race long enough to try and make inroads into the handicap as folk start to feel the pace – 5 laps please!!!

Ill happily try a longer one, Just not at 280w !

Yep, I’m the same, happy to do a longer race over an hour. Course needs hills of some description though to give the faster guys a chance of wearing us all down. I’m happy cruising at 250/260 watts, it’s the 350 watt accelerations that get to me. Would be a bit of a sickener for Phil and co on a flat ride if he’s doing 300 and just dragging everyone along for an hour.

if he’s doing 300

Well that's only if he's warming up 🙂

Him and the other fast last would likely do us lot on the first time out of the underpass, put 25m into us and then hold 300w, it's game over... How much they'll pull out i don't know, but i think that would gap many.

Would be a bit of a sickener for Phil and co on a flat ride if he’s doing 300 and just dragging everyone along for an hour.

You'll be fine tonight then! You just describer the TTT 🙂