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Sadly got the the verification videos for both to prove it for tonight’s TTT as well.
In your bibs? Where [s] can I [/s] could a friend get a copy?
No bibs, some old cycling shorts and top I use for indoor. Weight is on Zwift transparency FB group. Height linked from my ZP profile. Neither are that interesting, nearly 40yo man who hates being on camera mumbling (:yawn).
even in the group, I’m having to kick out 4w/kg,
I found your video very educational @DrP - and I was impressed with the amount of time you spent on the front of our group.
Kirky…. your finish was fantastic! The right effort and the right time!
Yes, @kirky72 did a beautifully timed sprint - I followed as he passed me but there was no way I was going to get anyway near.
I find my main problem in the blob is being too uneven with the power and drifting onto the front or off the back. - I was impressed to watch on his video how much smoother @nixie is on the flat.
I think one factor in the draft is available power. @nixie can roam the group, sit back a little in the first few km (like he does; watch the stream) because if a gap does open he knows full well he can bridge it. So he can ride closer to or even right at the minimum power needed to sit where he wants to sit. For those of us with less of a reserve to sort out a mess, the risk is too high so we end up riding edgier, wasting energy but as a trade off with gambling.
That's a good point @savoyad, it also means I don't need to push it quite so much at the start as I can cruise the strung out line to get to the front. I've not seen him for a while but I used to do a lot of events with a rider called Johnny Rocket. He always seemed to have a massively lower power output than the pack and could always be found just hanging onto the group (until the sprint!). For me hanging at the back is so I can use the draft to gain speed for attacks and then jump off the front without having to go too far into the red (attacking from the front is a killer as you are forced to go big to get your speed up).
Eventually found the link @DrP, thanks! Better seeing it from our groups point of view as opposed to just watching Nixie riding solo (no offence Nixie!). That second climb felt brutal without a feather-was just clinging on hoping everyone else’s feathers would just run out! One thing I notice is that the esses really are my enemy. Just can’t seem to get the power right through them. End up really having to gun it to keep up-should thank you DrP for dragging me back up to the group after the second sprint!
@paino 😀 no offence, it doesn't make the most interesting viewing after the initiating attack. I've tried playing with camera views but that can only do so much.
In the esses I tend to spin up at the bottom while resistance is lower. Then by the time the gradient hits and my cadence has slowed back down (through the increased resistance) I'm onto/over the top.
@nixie nobody else really believes it 😃 but AIUI lightweights [I]do[/I] have an advantage on the flat. It's one of the factors in calculating your CdA, so lighter riders can hold the draft for less watts, plus you will accelerate faster and for less effort when you make an attack!Too heavy to climb really fast and not heavy enough for the flats
(someone else mentioned previously about using up a feather as it's not useful on the flat/for the final sprint... I don't think this is true, it's better than nothing cos of the acceleration boost due to lower CdA)
For those of us with less of a reserve to sort out a mess, the risk is too high so we end up riding edgier, wasting energy but as a trade off with gambling.
This. Exactly!
I'd rather sit near the front, panting away at 300 watts (too much, but I know i can hold that for some time) than cruise at, say, 240, but with the risk I'll need to smash out 400+ watts if I fall out the back...
I brick it if i feel myself drifting backwards, so up the power..hence why I spend probably 'too much' time at the front for my own good....!!
I guess if I got better at this aspect of zwift, I could still cruise with the fast group will less wattage being spent..
DrP
Some of it is pack size and also knowing common attack points. In a larger pack you can drift back knowing that you don't need to increase power much to stabilise your position. Knowing the common attack locations (or at least guessing from course profile) means you can move toward the front to cover those off.
@DrP instead of a big increase when going back try a smaller increase and give it 5-10s or so for your speed to pick up. That should stop you bouncing straight back to the front.
instead of a big increase when going back try a smaller increase and give it 5-10s or so for your speed to pick up. That should stop you bouncing straight back to the front.
I guess this is my mistake/fear.. I feel like as SOON as I'm moving back, I SHOULD bang out the watts to stop it.. I guess I just need to do this more gradually, and leave it 5-10 seconds...
I definitely am guilty of the 'drop bounce drop bounce' approach!
The other thing I found on tuesday was I needed gear 4.5!! Gear 4 I was spinning at 105rpm... Gear 5 was about 89... I kept flicking up..down...up..down!
DrP
The other thing I found on tuesday was I needed gear 4.5!! Gear 4 I was spinning at 105rpm… Gear 5 was about 89… I kept flicking up..down…up..down!
What bike are using? Is it MTB ratios so big gaps between the gears?
Nah... roadie block. I think it's just the course/speed/group... not had it before!
DrP
Yeah that just happens sometimes. Really annoying when the pack is at just the wrong speed.
Sounded like a big gap but I have had it in the TTT before as well.
Nah… roadie block. I think it’s just the course/speed/group… not had it before!
DrP
Basically we've twigged that we can watch you pedaling live so can see if you're getting irritated or grimacing with pain, at that point we know we're doing something right.
When you resort to a nibble of your sausage we know we've got you.
🙂
The sausage comes out when victory is acheived... 😉
DrP
Ah so you were shaking it like a champagne bottle! All makes sense now but I feel sorry for who ever was holding the camera.
@robbo1234biking A wee update to my numbers if you've time to update the sheet.
Steve ross STW
75kg, 212w.
Many thanks!
All done @svladcjelli. Glad you triggered me as I had forgot to post up the handicaps for the race tomorrow night.
Here they are!
Oh Blimey! Just remembered what course it is!
I think I better make sure my front mech is working OK, as I'm sure I'll be needing both front rings on this course....
I don't want to lose the chain again!
Turn your trainer difficulty down if you cant fix it - will save you having to change to the front little ring hopefully and therefore losing the chain!
Ah yeah, not a bad idea that! I think I have it set to ~75%, so definitely room for manoeuvre.
@robbo1234biking
please could you ping me the links to the series remaining, as I've a mate who'd like to join us too, if that's OK?
thanks
DrP
Also... I'm only 30 seconds down on Nixie now 😀
Bummer!
Looks like I'm out for tomorrow, have to attend a site meeting and will be back late. I'll keep my attendance on the app though, to help the numbers look good.
@DrP - message sent.
The events are now viewable on ZP (but you can only join if you have the link you have been sent). Not everyone is on ZP but the top 5 in sprints last week were...which shows that I made a mistake. I am afraid that @dangeourbrain has lost his single point and this has instead been awarded to @ivandobski! Apologies for this - luckily it wont make a major impact in the standings.
The results totals will reflect this tomorrow evening!
Reminded me I need to sort my gears out... Ta.
It's Richmond right?
Brill, thanks for that Robbo.
yeah, Richmond...a few sharp kickers en route!
DrP
this is very cool! 😀 Love the way you can filter by sprint/KOM so I can see just how badly I’ve done compared to everybody else 🤣The events are now viewable on ZP
Still quite new to this, do you need a power meter or direct drive trainer to appear in the ZP results?
Noticed it says "No ZPower riders"
The events are now viewable on ZP
this is very cool!
'Tis Very cool...
I averaged 4.2w/kg... At least I get gold for 'lightweight tryhard!'
DrP
@funkybaj - you can see your results in the unfiltered tab on zwiftpower. Some series don't allow ZP riders in but it isn't an issue for this series (the same as being on Zwiftpower isn't mandatory for the series!)
Events showing on ZP is interesting for two other points as well. The results now count towards your race cat (waves at 'nearly A' DrP) and we accrue ranking points.
Not wanting to scare anyone but sorting the table for tomorrow's event makes interesting reading.
Not wanting to scare anyone but sorting the table for tomorrow’s event makes interesting reading.
Which column are you sorting by?
Libby hill and UCI lap time.
I think a lot of you have never done a race lap on the UCI layout.
According to best lap time i'm 8th hhahhahahahaha
298w lap !!!
Yeh that will skew the results @weeksy. You racing tomorrow evening?
What are the age gaps for the different categories (Master, Vet) - I think I can work out 50+ and 60+!
Which column are you sorting by?
Libby hill and UCI lap time.
How do you subset the times on that segment to just the people in our group?
Whacha mean? you can list us all on the UCI lap?
Me no understando...
DrP
Yeh that will skew the results @weeksy. You racing tomorrow evening?
Maybe... but not at 298w lap average hahahahaha.
Did a ride today and felt OK, not going crazy though... So not sure how good an idea trying tomorrow is yet
How do you subset the times on that segment to just the people in our group?
Goto the event page for tomorrow on ZP ( https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=1257310). Those are the two segments listed to the right of the signups table.
298w lap !!!
Oddly only 1W less than your power up Libby Hill.
Oddly only 1W less than your power up Libby Hill.
That what back this time last year i suspect when 300w was a decent power output for me... What the heck happened to them ! I'd be happy with a 260w lap tomorrow.
Whacha mean? you can list us all on the UCI lap?
Doesn't look like you have ever raced this route so no time listed for you.
What do the two icons next to your name mean Nixie? Dual power recording verified and height and weight verified?
The lightening bolt is just an icon. Some of us BRT riders over use it :D. The V is related to weight verification. Again I don't know how many people bother but it is supposed to signify that your posting weigh in data to the zwift transparency FB group.
So I guess tomorrow's race will be @nixie, CrazyHarry and Phil leading the pack around to Libby Hill, then it'll be bye bye Bs.
Hopefully Nixie's youtube feed will show the battle of the A's on the last lap.
God I hate being reminded of how fit and light (relatively) I was, I'm also too stubborn to admit my current state, do an ftp test and use the pathetic new numbers in the handicap. I'm calling it motivation to be better, but it's probably just a refusal to accept reality 🙂
Felt like I was getting another version of cold yesterday, felt a bit woozy and weak all day, pretty much the same today but decided to attempt a short 6 lap crit just as a test and C cat so I could take it a bit easier.
It seemed to be a bit harder than normal, a frantic pace from the off. Just happy to hang in the bunch as a couple of the front runners got coned, just sitting and trying to keep my average power. Sprinted a bit late and finished 5th but excluded on ZP as now I’ve just edged into B Cat.
As it was such a short event I did a lap of London 8 at a slow to steady pace with the only effort up Box hill resulting in a PB by 28secs.
My breathing was much more laboured throughout and struggled to recover as quickly after efforts.
Depending on I feel tomorrow evening I may decide to opt out tomorrow and recover properly. It will be a shame as I think with this weeks handicaps I could do well, despite the ZP data suggesting I would finish behind guys that I’m giving handicap time too.
Are we doing 2 laps of the full course? Is the finish line at the end of the last part of the climb like usual?
@mahowlett I think in the first series someone suggested that some people were under inflating their ftp to get a more favourable handicap. As I have access to more data I think a lot more people are in your situation and giving themselves a disadvantage by giving a higher ftp and therefor getting a worse handicap! Some might see that as a motivation though 😀
@kirky72 yes 2 full laps so 6 climbs in total and finishes after the last climb on the second lap.
Watch this for some tips 😉
So I guess tomorrow’s race will be nixie, CrazyHarry and Phil leading the pack around to Libby Hill
I was considering taking it easy then giving the sprints a proper full gas attempt. Not a fan of those hills or how you feel when attempting them all out.
I predict the race taking a similiar pattern to last weeks. One large group of abc towed around until the first decent uphill towards the end of the lap, then some splintering. Nixie, Phil to then breakaway on longer climb towards the finish line.
Will be interesting to see if anybody can get away from the chasing group on the second lap.
I dislike the Richmond course entirely. Every time I ride it I'm taken by surprise by the long draggy hill, it seems the cobbles alone account for more climbing than there is descending in the whole lap so I always forget there's more up hill to come.
I think you forget about the downs between the hills as your just trying to breathe at that point.
I think it's more that Phil won't let us ease up on the downs so they don't seem to exist outside of that odd little gradient indicator on the corner.
As I have access to more data I think a lot more people are in your situation and giving themselves a disadvantage by giving a higher ftp and therefor getting a worse handicap! Some might see that as a motivation though 😀
I thought I was doing exactly that, then I had a good race up the Alpe and my first win (Zwift Power results) so Zwift upped it again.
I can generate much more sustained power level on a climb so that then upped my FTP.
I may or may not race tomorrow, chest seems better, not ridden since Thursdays disaster. Tempted to join, see how it goes and bail if I start coughing before it gets too bad.
I'm up for tomorrow's Richmond race. Last time I did it was with the stw ttt group. The ups aren't that bad, the steep ones are pretty short. I prefer it to the Harrogate race course that was used in series 1.
Feed for tonight will be here;
Goto the event page for tomorrow on ZP ( https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=1257310). Those are the two segments listed to the right of the signups table.
Thanks for that!
Slowest lap time and slowest hill climb time - winner of both! Surely the only way is up from here LOL!
Thanks for the link Nixie. As good as they are, it's obviously at the pointy end of the race (plus they're giving your secrets away!;)). I thought it might be a good idea for someone to stream a feed to Youtube that moves between groups/riders as the race develops. Any budding directors who aren't racing but might want to watch tonight and have a bit of IT ability?
Think I best do a FTP Test and Weigh-in before the start of the next series, or should I do it before my next race (next week)? Like others have said, I’m not going to hit that FTP and the food consumption goes up at this time of year!
You can update your FTP and weight whenever you want. I have done the handicaps for next week already (im organised this time!) but happy to adjust as required. Bearing in mind next week is heavy on the W/kg calculation rather than pure watts!
In that case I'm heading for the cookie jar 😂
What biscuit for watts?
We should* have it that the handicap based on weight and FTP are made 5 days before the race... then you've a few days to really drop the KG, as we're allowed to correct the weight on Zwift on the day of the race...
Like a boxing weigh in..
DrP
*we shouldn't....!!!
What biscuit for watts?
Wattsits are crisps aren't they?
And I seem to recall you got watts-up from budwieser.
Choc Hobnobs for pure calories I reckon
I feel as though I’ve put on a bit of weight with all this takeaway food I’m eating while working away from home!
Gonna loan a Santander bike this evening for a longish commute back to the hotel.
Gonna loan a Santander bike this evening for a longish commute back to the hotel.
Make sure you do Fox or Box Hill then - you only have to nip into one of the tube stations, down the escalators, ride on the track for 500m and you are there. The maps of London are all wrong - Surrey Hills are only 500m south of the river!
Ha ha.
Yeah, I don’t think the tubes are running to full service, might be dicing with death, but I may give it a go down the track!
Just a quick reminder about sprints. The sprint jersey will be decided tonight as there are no sprint sections next week. So whoever wins tonight gets to wear the green jersey next week (there is a green kit in game so you could actually choose that one for next week!).
There are 2 sprints sections up for grabs tonight and you get 2 attempts at each so a max of 20 points available.
Current sprint totals are:
1. Paino - 42 points
2. Garry Lager - 32 points
3. Nixie - 27 Points
Damn didn't realise Paino took such a big chunk last week!
Yeah, if I were you Nixie I wouldn’t bother going for the sprints tonight. 😉
Probably not worth it. You only need third on both and I can't better it.
Think I might go for the gc win, I’m only 50seconds down on you Nixie 😆. Hope you don’t puncture! Actually I’m slightly concerned tonight as I changed my Internet provider to plusnet yesterday, and the BT mini hub in the garage doesn’t seem to want to link properly. Got some work to do when I get back!
That's easy to cover off, I'll sit on your wheel all evening :P.
^ Broadband based sandbagging;)
Sorry to be a pain but could someone point at the link to sign up for tonights race please. I've scrolled through previous pages and can't seem to find it. I signed up for last weeks ok. Thanks
@undarra you need to get the secret link in your forum inbox from @robbo1234biking - if it's not already there I've summoned him now [edit - I don't have it, but I realise now that lots of other people might be able to message it if they still have it in their inbox...]
Thanks Savoyad. Robbo has just messaged me with the links. Cheers Robbo 🙂