You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
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.
That's never happened yet - and I'm holding much more than 300w! I've finished with an average of over 320w every race, but that's not enough to hold off a group when they chase me down - and they always do!
This week I tried everything to get a gap, but as soon as I open a few meters the usual suspects are all over me. I finished with an average of 320w, won the KoM jersey (which is ridiculous for someone of my weight) and ended up in the bunch sprint for 2nd place with a group who I then had to concede between 3 and 5 minutes to in the handicap!
I've tried everything else - a longer race in the hope that the buggers can't hang on for an hour is my only hope!!
LOL tough one matey... If you don't have the answers then neither do i....
Back them up at 250w, then 500w, for 1 mins, then down to 250, back to 500w, back to 250, back to 500....
That’s never happened yet
Indeed. Gapping the folks behind doesn't need a quick kick up a short hill, it's just not big enough and the reward for chasing us down means it's a sensible decision to sprint after and then take a rest if the gap isn't huge.
To drop you in a group on Paris weeksy I reckon I'd need to be at 600 plus for a good minute then to be able to hold 330 for the rest of the race. A group is about 15% faster than a rider at the same output so holding a lead needs 20% more watts really.
Think of it this way, what's your output for the first minute or so of crit city? To gap you I need to make 40% more for about 10 seconds so you loose my draft, then hold 20% more for the rest of that minute, followed by 20% more for the rest of the race, so if your average is 260, with a 1 minute high of 400, and 10 second of 500 that means 10 seconds at 700w, 1 minute at 560, and rest of race at 312. Coincidentally just about spot on for my best ever figures on zp
But its not just your numbers to beat, I need to make 40%more than everyone in your bunch so you can't all just tailgate in sequence, early in the race "your group" though is you, savoyad, kirky, zilog, TP, Phil etc. You don't need to follow me, you need to follow zilog. Zilog follows Adam, follows TP follows Phil and somehow I need to gap Phil and make it stick or hope Phil and TP also go hard and come with me because if either of them thinks the best plan is 360w for 5 minutes instead of 600 for 1, you're all back with (now broken) me.
Don't get me wrong, it's been a fun series so far and I wouldn't change the formula but it ain't as easy as a little kick here and there.
Yet in a 1 lap cat C race the winning group (of 7) was able to put 45s into the 2nd group (also of 7). That split was driven entirely by a push at the start of the rise and was caused because it was sustained all the way to the descent, I was caught just behind the split pushing (getting on) 4wkg and still couldn't hold eventually I was tailed off at the sprint banner.
Over the course of a couple of laps in Paris a surging approach probably can thin a group down pretty heavily especially if a few of the strong riders worked together.
In a cat C race, (ignoring the fact that there will be at least 1 cat a and 2 cat b in that lead group because this is zwift) the fast group is big enough to gain from that group size, the bigger the group, the faster it travels for a given effort. In our number there are a, *lot* of riders in the middle and not so many at either end (Ohhhhh Bell curves) so when the quick folks go they have to work harder to stay away.
In your case...
A 4w/kg chase means the front of the group you were following was doing a touch over that, even if the draft was only 1 person deep the back was at 2.6w/kg in draft.
That's fine where everyone is at broadly similar outputs, you can't make the 4.2w/kg effort to bridge that and, once they're clear, so long as they have similar numbers of bodies, they only need to hold the same effort as you to stay away, any effort above translates to time on the road. That's fine in a roughly single ability group, but chances are in our races there will be at least 1 a in that second group who can make the power to bridge and they just tow the rest of you back on.
(I'd lay good odds there were some in that front group with much lower average w and w/kg than plenty in the chase group too)
Admittedly they're deliberately riding as a team but that's 3 laps of astoria 8 line which is lumpy but not hilly, there's over 100W between the first rider over the line and the most powerful, for a difference of 1 second.
That's the same team on greatest London flat.
Holding the right wheel makes much more of a difference than just power and in our series there's a whole spread to hold.
The power to get away from the lead group on the flat is beyond all but 2 or 3 of the guys who race.
I wasn't paying attention on Tuesday and let a gap form between me and the pack. I was only 4 seconds behind but was having to pump out well over 5w/kg for over 2 min to bridge the gap.
I could probably get away from most of the group on the climbs, but it's absolutely pointless as unless the finish is right at the top of the hill I'd just get swallowed up on the run to the finish.
Next week's race will be a mass finish I suspect, with most of the b's and some of the c's making it home in the main bunch. As someone who is currently 3rd in the handicap standings i fully realise this aint good for me as there is no way im going to be able to put any kind if distance between myself and the guys with smaller handicaps in the standings just behind me.
But then I can't really conplain about that as I'm only in 3rd because the likes of Phil and the other A's who have larger handicaps than me can't shake me off their wheel either.
I've rarely seen the single effort break work in a race, just like real life, the effort pretty much needs to be superhuman and the rider significantly stronger/more motivated than anyone else on the road. you need to make a massive effort to get a gap big enough that your aren't just a tasty carrot to chase for the rest of the riders and then you need to hold a constant power higher than the person on the front of the group (who is basically just doing intervals as they rotate through).
The more reliable way is a series of efforts that tires the people prepared/capable of making the gaps back one by one until they start looking at each other, this is much easier if you've got a good mix of abilities in the group as you've often got a good proportion just hanging on, so if they few capable start looking at those just hanging on to do a turn, then they are doomed, as that's more time for the gap to open.
Most of the time, the break doesn't work as you expect, you don't get a solo break you get a few people who come with you, but there's split further back in the group due to inattention or the group being strung out enough that there's a little gap that a weaker rider can't bridge. So you then have to start again, but with a smaller group.
It's a really bad idea to just hang in the group doing your 'fair' share of the work especially if you don't have a great sprint, you just end up finishing in a big group and taking your chances in the sprint. You have to work, put the rest of the group under pressure and make sure everyone has to work to stay on and gets tired, that way if someone goes off the front, there's a good chance the group will split. Groups where everyone does their 'fair' share are the death of a good time, stand a good chance of being caught by groups behind, and end in the lottery of a mass sprint, which means most people end up with a worse place than they could have got otherwise. Of course if you are hanging on for grim death then you can only hang on, the good news if you can hang on till the end is that you end up with a better place than you should have expected, but it's stupid for people who are capable of more to not work harder, Hanging on for the sprint is a tactic for the desperate or those lucky few who really do have a good sprint (there are less of those than you think)
As I am busy this weekend the handicaps are live for the last event. There are a lot more groups this time and this course is very dependent on how much power you can put down rather than how much you weigh. If you do want to update your FTP this week then let me know but because the gaps are quite large unless it is a significant bump it prob wont make a different overall.
If you can get in the group in front and hang in there then that will be a bonus. The sprint finish will also matter as it will likely determine the points that go to that group! Everything to play for in this final race.
If you do want to update your FTP this week then let me know but because the gaps are quite large unless it is a significant bump it prob wont make a different overall.
Mine has been updated to 32.
Can I have a new handicap please 😉
I’ve rarely seen the single effort break work in a race, just like real life
You didn't see Crazy Harry's majestic alaphilippe like winning move on tuesday then! It was the absolute perfect break, smashed the climb then hung on for grim death for the final flat 5km run in. And just like real life i got the impression no one in the chasing group was prepared to bury themselves to bring him back for fear of missing out in the sprint (Or maybe that was just me!)
That said, there is no way I could pull off such a move, I just don't have the outright power to keep away.
If you can get in the group in front and hang in there then that will be a bonus.
Only Kirky, DrP, etc to stick with then...yeah like that will happen hahaha!
Next week’s race will be a mass finish I suspect, with most of the b’s and some of the c’s making it home in the main bunch.
Did the Volcano one have any Cs in at the pointy end ? I can see the Bs in there potentially in Paris, but i think the Cs will struggle.
Did the Volcano one have any Cs in at the pointy end ?
First two C came over with me about 2 minutes down I think.
That said, they dropped the group at the same time I did, I don't doubt for a second they'd have held that front group had they been holding onto one of the B in the group and not caught my wheel as I fell through the group.
(had I realised they were C riders doing well rather than As who could help me pull back on without ruining myself I might have put my head down and pulled the three of us back on and hoped to recuperate a bit in the group instead of hoping to pace back on between 3 of us. By the time I twigged it wasn't going to be a shared effort [no offence to kirky or Andy!] I was way too far back to bridge and hold it)
On the bad news, good news front, the predicament I had of me racing or taking my eldest to her dance lesson as been solved by her now needing to quarantine for 14 days as one of her school mates as been tested COVID positive. So all clear to race unless there’s a sting in the tale.
Oops same handicap for the first time as Savoyad, woody and DrP blimey, and giving 2mins to Andeh who’s always very close behind. Going to be a toughie and more important than ever to stick with the markers. Are the groupings for this one based around falling into a bracket watts wise and not so much effect of weight?
I’ve not ridden Paris very often but I think there’s two opportunities for the big hitters to try and shake the tail off. If this happens in the first 2 or 3 laps then the winners going be an A and create enough time to over come the handicap.
@mahowlett You make some good points but they really don't work the same in a handicap race
It’s a really bad idea to just hang in the group doing your ‘fair’ share of the work especially if you don’t have a great sprint, you just end up finishing in a big group
....and then get to take 3/4/5 mins off your time and overtake everyone in the results table!
You didn’t see Crazy Harry’s majestic alaphilippe like winning move on tuesday then! It was the absolute perfect break, smashed the climb then hung on for grim death for the final flat 5km run in.
All of which meant he made a dent of 16 seconds into the 3/4/5 minute handicap, everyone apart from me in the group he dropped still finished well ahead of him as he dropped to 22nd!
Yeah but with panache though!
Yeah but with panache though!
That is true! Despite the result it was impressive
All of which meant he made a dent of 16 seconds into the 3/4/5 minute handicap, everyone apart from me in the group he dropped still finished well ahead of him as he dropped to 22nd!
Well yeah, but that's the handicap system for you isn't it. Which is why I think next series we should mix it up a bit with a tt and an alpine finish. Any routes that reward drafting will always benefit those with the higher handicaps.
Next week I'll put my morgage on the handicap winner not being an A, the route won't allow it.
Savoy has it
I'm not sure how the handicap is calculated.
Should we all race on the the same model of bike? Would that make a difference? Or make the handicap system work better?
I think I'm slightly confused.
I can't see anyone but kirky for the title to be honest though I think andeh may be on for the stage, he's pretty tenacious holding on and has a bit of a kick for the line still.
If he holds the right wheels I think he's in with a good chance of being in the first group over the line and he can lose 2 minutes to savoyad. He only lost a touch more than that to Southside Johnny who was first over the line on the volcano.
I’m not sure how the handicap is calculated
It's an early version of an A level results prediction algorithm.
I calculate the estimated time for each person to complete the course based on their ftp and weight. I then take that time from the time the slowest person will complete the course to get the handicap. This handicap then gets added to your finishing time to give the overall time. I round the time as it spits out second gaps so I round up. So you are more interested in what your handicap is to people you have finished close to rather than other people.
Bold prediction @weeksy !
I scored 0 points in rgv week. And to win this week I'd actually have to beat riders who previously I've "only" needed to follow. I'll try and prove you right though.
Fwiw, I think a winner after handicap from amongst the strongest riders is more likely than @dangeourbrain and @phil56 do. The RGV race and the Road to Ruins both had gaps which could have got big enough with a little more time...
Or I use a random number generator 😀
Ta for the reminder Robbo. I have just re read the first few pages of this topic to try and familiarise myself with everyone's FTPs and weights. 👍
If I can hold the front group this week I'll be happy Adam.
I've fallen off the front in every race I've finished so far and zwift booted me on road to ruins.
My form isn't exactly stellar in Robbo's series. I need to do more riding and less pies me thinks.
, I think a winner after handicap from amongst the strongest riders is more likely than @dangeourbrain and @phil56 do
If it didn't happen at innsbruke or Yorkshire it ain't happening in Paris. No chance.
Basically if you are strong enough to break away from a group on a flat course you'll have far to big a handicap to win after it's applied. The winner will be the 'weakest' rider that can hold on to the front group I reckon. And given there are no hills that'll mean a B or C.
OK, I've looked properly. I take what you guys are saying seriously (I've not been in the position where I need to take responsibility to put serious time into anyone else at any point, so who am I to disagree!) but I'm reasonably sure that barring mechanical misfortune an A rider will win the final round. This is going to be a really tight battle for the overall as well.
andeh may be on for the stage, he’s pretty tenacious holding on and has a bit of a kick for the line still.
Phew, I'm shattered just thinking about it. I figured that I'm 30w or so shy of the sweet spot for properly capitalising on the handicap system. I've never been able to keep up with the first group, always getting dropped on a climb and falling off. Like a few have said, you need to be the weakest rider in the fastest group to win big.
I'm pretty light so will probably have a hard time on Tuesday night.
I've been watching a few of the NorCal Cycling crit vids lately. The main tactic there seems to be a couple of strong riders making attacks/getting wound in, counter attacking to try and tire the group out/force a split. Think the As will need to work together to shake a few tenacious clegnuts like me.
I may use the road bike for the finale,the Dawes Kickback is creaking badly (although it is purple which is probably worth a few watts).
Finally my Wattbike has arrived. I havent burried myself on an indoor session for about 12 months. I guess next tuesday will see an end to that!
Nice one mate. Welcome in
I’ve been pondering if a stiff frame bears any benefit over one less so for trainer use. when I started off on the turbo I automatically thought to stick my least used bike on their, a 6 year old boardman Cx. Sometimes the shitty rival gearing as been an inderhence as I run and have always run Shimano on every other bike and I sometimes shift up when I should be shifting down. However is the frame itself going to be slightly less efficient than something with decent power transfer such as my TCR?
I’m not going to switch the bike anytime soon but food for thought and all that.
I often debate bikes... I race on a 29er HT with a 40T chainring and a Vittoria turbo tyre. I have raced on a dedicated race bike and i'm about 5w faster overall.
raced on a dedicated race bike and i’m about 5w faster overall.
5w faster on the Race bike or the 29er HT?
On the race bike. I'm kinda curious as to why, but not enough yet that i'll go out and spend £500-1000 on on. I can steal the race bike any time as the guy lives in Canada, he may even browse on here, don't tell him 🙂
But 5w, well it's not enough for me to get from C to B for example, so i haven't bothered. It's also fractionally too big for me, which is another reason i don't borrow it.
Looking forward to this race... may be my last if they carry on on Tuesdays, as the wrist is getting better and I'll likely be out in the real world..
Any chance we can mix the day up? Wednesdays work well.....!!!
Interesting talk above about tactics...
I'm hoping that I'm feeling MUCH better for this race, and if I'm well rested I reckon I could PROBABLY hold onto the front pack at circa 260-280 watts, with surges as needed of 400 ish watts..pretty similar to the Volcano circuit...
But - we'll see on the day!
Here's a simple question - I'm using a smart turbo to alter the resistance etc, but the POWER is being read from my crank power meter...
So technically, it wouldn't matter WHAT tyre I had on, or if my chain was rusty as heck, would it? because I'd still create the same power at the crank - just that the wheel speed (which, with my set up means NOTHING) would be less...
Not that I'm going to change anything; just wondering!!
DrP
Is it possible for me to jump in on the last race this Tuesday?
FTP 226w
62kg
G iggsmaster
@giggsmaster - no problem. I have added you on Zwift. You need to follow me to allow me to invite you. Cheers
Here’s a simple question – I’m using a smart turbo to alter the resistance etc, but the POWER is being read from my crank power meter…
So technically, it wouldn’t matter WHAT tyre I had on, or if my chain was rusty as heck, would it? because I’d still create the same power at the crank – just that the wheel speed (which, with my set up means NOTHING) would be less…
Not that I’m going to change anything; just wondering!!
Try with your chain off and see what happens. Tuesday should be a good day for testing...
Cheers for that robbo, all done. Looking forward to hopefully not hanging off the back, like my Cat B races of late!
Going to have a practice race around Champs Elyses tomorrow morning (9.05 head race) to aquanit myself to the course if anyone else fancies it.
I've ridden the course several times now, both directions... I'm happy with my knowledge, just the 2 little inclines where i know i'm going to struggle.
I've entered the 9.05 herd race tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up Kirky. Hopefully I'll get out of bed to race it.
which Cat have you entered Retroric?
My two pence worth on what has been a hugely enjoyable race series. In round 1 I tried to race tactically and within myself and although finished a solid 16th ended up with 'nil point' after handicapping. On a side note, the rather random in-race timing discrepancies meant that even though I crossed the line near the front of the group I was in, I lost a couple of seconds in the official timing that dropped me 5 places..
Realised then that the best tactic from here on in was to just go out as fast as possible to try and stick with the lead group, 'enjoy' the frantic starts and the on-the-road racing and just see what happens. Realising that I was never going to be troubling the top of the actual leader board, my focus now was doing the best I can on the road and doing everything I can to stay ahead of @tpbiker and @phil56 in the GC 😉. Not much in it either so all to race for in Paris.
Only went into Round 3 (Volcano Circuit) and Round 5 (Harrogate) with any sort of a plan, and that worked in Harrogate, but failed miserably in Round 3 where I got dropped by the lead group on lap 6 and couldn't make back the time no matter how hard I tried and ended up no man's land. The other 2, with bigger climbs, was a case of just going flat out for as long as possible, which suits me better.
For Paris, I think overall victory will be a cat B/C. No round has been won by a cat A yet, and I certainly cannot see it happening for the first time on a flat course like Paris.
Roll on Tuesday... Can't wait.
I've entered the C race that starts at 9.05. I looked at my avg race power and thought that race would suit me.
Tempted as only 2 were signed up for the social, but that one is too long for me today. I can't race that many laps yet.
The Herd race was difficult for me. I finished around 9 minutes down on the leaders and was lapped! I averaged 208w which I sort of expected.
Am I looking forward to Tuesday's race?...
Thanks for the tip about the 9am Paris race @kirky72. I entered the 9.10 B race and found it very educational. I don’t think that circuit suits me.
Looking forward to Tuesday.
Interesting results! Nice rides there. I find those Herd league events a bit baffling. But I've ridden enough of them to know that they are really tough.
Congrats on the win @kirky72. You aren't staying in C much longer eh? My own move from C to B coincided with me riding these as a C. I'd stay in the front group but never got anywhere near winning one. Were you riding for points? Or was it a side-product of just racing?
Somewhere, @phil56 is figuring out which of the ingredients which contributed to him putting 5m30 between him and @j-r can be recreated in the STW format next week.
I'm not quite sure i can say I enjoyed that but useful to get a feel for the course.
as usual the start was ridiculous, quite a long lead in for this course of around 2 miles, seemed to be done over 300w for a few minutes which then lead to the only climb and uphill sprint. so was grateful to hit the top within reach of the lead group and we then stuck together to the end. Big sprint off and a break away by a guy he finished with 3.9w/kg in the Cs.
The pace was really tough at times but I guess everybody was knackered after the climb so there was a chance to recover shortly after. I think this be an opportunity for the fast lads to form a mini group make a gap on the climb and pull away just after when every other mortal is looking for some respite. our group was around 15/20 after three laps and then lost two or three everytime over the climb finishimg with a group of 8 i think.
finished 8th on the road but I figured there may be some disqualifications as everybody above me had more than 3.3 w/kg upto 3.9w/kg. finished 1st in zwiftpower and 3rd in what I think are prime points.
I've never seen the term prime before, is it exclusive to the hwed series think its a collection of points for sprints koms and finish position. wasn't aware of this and didn't push for any and seemed to always 2 or 3 giys blasting buy on the climbs but maybe they were amongst the DSQD.
I didn't see retrorick think he may have finished mid pack. noticed Phil amongst the stats but the timings etc seemed odd for this race.
6 laps is definitely gruelling. the course also starts to get a bit boring after a few laps as well. if I wasn't in the lead group, and it being my only ride zwift before tuesday, I might have bined it after 4 laps as I felt pretty exhausted (cold as come back again the last few days).
Are we racing 5 laps yeh, thats still plenty with the long lead in and around 9.45m per lap. My fastest today was 9.37 in the C group.
Savoyad you are right after this morning, over my last races averaging 255watts as just about nudged me over and upgraded me to B at 3.25w/kg.
which is still below what I've used in Robbos race series for the last 3 races which I think is now at 267w. So the STW is consistently drawing bigger efforts than Other zwift races. funnily enough I feel just as ****ed after riding either.
I was shelled from the front group of B’s after a lap and a bit, then ambled along slowly in no man’s land until eventually the next group caught up and I did the final couple of laps with them.
I’d like to think it’s because I didn’t know the course, rather than Phil’s superior W/kg and steady power on the flat. But realistically. . . .
And well done Kirky.
I started ok in the cat c race until the lead in finished and the race started! I then hovered around 30th until a group of 20 flew past me around lap 3. I couldn't keep up with their pace so I decided to try and keep my 50th or thereabouts position for the rest of the race. I was in a small group of around 5 for the majority of the race which helped with the motivation.
I didn't have a decent enough warm up and initially thought about quitting.
I did alter my trainer prior to racing by reducing the 'resistance' to around 20% rather than the 50% it was operating at before and the difference I found was that the short inclined didn't hurt my legs as much with the ramp up in resistance. I think there is a difference to how my legs feel even if there is a slight reduction in speed 🤔
Does anybody know the meaning of this Prime business now being shown In zwift power?
Retrorick, do you mean you have reduced the setting to only 20% total or reduced it from 100 to 80%. I wouldn’t recommend running at only 20% on any course especially a flat one. Are you running single chainring and massive one at that? I’ve been trying to limit the use of the granny ring on any course unless it’s mega hilly, I want to try and grind up in the 6th or 7th cog big ring and only change into the granny if it’s 8% plus for a long section.
If it’s a quick steep ramp I’ll try and grind it out. So I had 80% for pump room and whack it back to 100% for anything like champs, London classic, can just about power up the climb with a few gears spare without stretching the chain and no risk of loosing the chain changing up or down chainrings.
Question about zwift racing.
Some races all cats start together, others it's cat specific. How do you know which is which.
When everyone starts together I find the race is never as good as usually you have no idea what position you are in. Half the time I think I'm in the front group only to work out that a group has broken off front without me even noticing.
both on Zwiftpower and the companion app show either different start times (companion app) or +1 +2 +3 etc on Zwiftpower.
Once you look and see it, you'll wonder how you ever missed it before 🙂
Zwift power also indicates cats together or not even on the same start time. It might be the black suited head icon.
As for primes question yes those are points for intermediate sprints. Can be run either as first over the line or best time per lap. It's not exclusively sprints either. Can be done on climb segments.
I did the race at 20% of the trainer resistance. Only had to change gear when I stood up on the pedals. 50t up front, around 16t at the rear.
Prior to the race I had a short test ride at Harrogate where I set the resistance to 100% and 0%. At 100% I would of been in 1st gear on the hills and at 0% I pedaled easily but was slow in a high gear up the hills. Like you say Kirky changing the resistance to suit the course might make a difference. I need to try my options out.
Bollocks. Middle age strikes again.
Woke up this am with a sore ankle, went to a job in London which required carrying my tools down some scaffolding.
By the time I got home I was struggling to walk. Ankle is properly swollen, getting a shoe on isn't happening at the mo.
No idea what caused it.
No race for me tomorrow and probably not Tuesday.
SO just over 24 hours then... Is it time to play yet ? Are we all ready tactically ? are we fit and healthy ? Or at least healthy ?
Ready but no real tactics...same as the other races, get off as quick as I can, grab a group and hold on. If I feel good like last week then I might push and try split things up, but that may not even happen...
Looking forward to the last one of the series, not my type of course but should be fun!
Essentially speaking, you're one of my main targets to hold along with Robbo and possibly even Savoyad if he's on a day where he's not on fire... Lap1 i'll be going in deep up to the Arc for the first time and seeing where that leaves me... If the group splits, i'll let it split, if it stays together then i'll do my best to hang in.
Ankle is wierdly much better.
No swelling at all anymore.
Its almost like when I had torn cartilage in my knee. One minute fine, next minute can't walk.
Maybe it was my body rebelling at the thought of racing a push bike badly on a muddy hillside in the pissing rain?
Looks like I'm in but I'll abandon ship if there's any twinges.
As excited as I was when the virtual TDF & the new zwift courses were announced, I haven't even ridden this before let alone raced it 😂 I get that it's mostly flat but with a long-ish uphill drag... I'll just be trying to hang on to the leaders for as long as poss as usual, then either TT it to the end or grab onto the next fastest group (and repeat!) depending on how things work out!
Try not to cock up the start for everyone! Although a bit more time to get the group together on this route. Then hold on as long as I can. If I am feeling at strong I might try a long range attack on the last lap up the hill to the arc de triomphe!
weeksy
SO just over 24 hours then… Is it time to play yet ? Are we all ready tactically ? are we fit and healthy ? Or at least healthy ?
Did the course change? Looking at the post on page1, it's showing as London Classique but there seems to be a lot of talk about Paris. I take it, I missed something or have forgotten something!? not that it matters a great deal.
I did a run for a work challenge on Friday - 10km which I haven't done since around May time and have barely run all summer. My legs are still sore, although I can go downstairs today without going ooh, eek, aaah on every step 🙂
I did a 50km road ride yesterday - not sure it was the best idea considering my legs were a bit battered from the run, but they don't seem to have been adversely affected upon waking today.
I'm gonna enjoy it whatever happens - tactic will likely just be the same as normal - go as hard as I can. Hopefully I can find a little bunch to chum up too, but I always seem to end up on my own.
@phil56 5 laps plus the lead in of 2 miles I think. Should give a bit more time to stretch your legs. Should be closer to an hour for most to complete.
@stumpy01 following the Tdf I made the executive decision to use Paris instead of London. Think it was mentioned on page 20 or something!
My race tactics will be a decent 45 minute warm up which will be enjoyable. Then I'll head to the main event which won't be as enjoyable as the warm up 😂
I'll try and maintain a respectable speed and not get lapped more than once 🤪
Still spannered thanks to hip, have a great race guys.
Good luck all!
Tactics...Hmm...
Decent warm up with some 10 second 400W efforts in the warm up to get the blood flowing....
Well hydrated through the day...
Then go red faced with 500+ w effort from the off, trying to stick in the lead group HOPING that the legs have got enough in them to hold on for the incline...
Then die.
DrP
Set off at a pace which will get me lapped by the fast group really quickly. Hope that by this time the fast group will have slowed enough for me to hang on. Pass everyone not in the fast group as I hang on to their coat tails and get towed clear then take the sprint
Pretty straightforward really, can't see me not winning.
I need to stick like glue to P Wood and tpbiker or at least there aren’t two many folks finishing in between us after handicaps are applied. which judging by the Volcano race is going to be very hard. If I can’t keep up then I will simply lose the lead in the last race of the season so have to go all out (just for a change lol).
I still think the ramp/sprint could cause some splits and I’m really looking forward to trying to hit 400/600w every lap to keep with lighter And faster guys.
The ramp is a bit of a non event in my book. The sustained effort up the longer drag is worse.
Tactics, hmm still pondering the TT bike and going for it. Maybe just sit in for a bit and try and jump off the front when the pack is smaller.
I would go with the TT if I was you Nixie. I should have tried one lap on the tt and compared it to my best bunch lap time of 9.37 if I can’t keep with the lead group I might fair better soloing on tt, or probably not.
BTW I mean the main climb up to the arc including the sprint, not the short rise after the underpass, I agree that’s nothing at all just a couple of second surge of watts to power up.
Tactics, hmm still pondering the TT bike and going for it.
Why would you do that? You can't get a draft but everyone can still draft you, seems a bit of an optimistic punt on you being able to force a complete split.
He’s just a complete beast and likes pain! For me, I’m hoping flattish course will suit me better than last week - tactics same as usual, try to stay in the front group if I can, and if I’m feeling really, really good I might accidentally find myself popping to the front briefly before slinking back to recover a bit.