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Can you be spinning on the turbo before the timer hits zero in a meet up, like you can in the pens before a race?
You can yeah but meetup starts seem more glitchy IME. Dont think Ive ever tried a proper hard effort off the line in a meetup, though, so we'll see tomorrow.
Can you be spinning on the turbo before the timer hits zero in a meet up, like you can in the pens before a race?
Yes, definitely. So for anyone who's not too familiar with Zwift racing: About 5 secs from 0 on the countdown clock, start pedaling like a madman to get the watts up as high as possible. Otherwise, when it hits 0 you'll be sitting there when everyone else has gone from Zero to 30mph in 0.5secs 🙂
imdubleyou
Full Member
As one of the few cat D riders in the group I don’t have much to offer on the sharp end of racing.Just going from the beginning would probably help me not get carried away trying to stick with a cat B group when in all likely hood I’m going to get spat out of the C group at some point…
Pretty much saves me typing that. Lol
There are only 3 in Cat D? I'm one of them and not actually racing at the moment anyway.... Though was thinking of trying to keep up with the other D's for at least a while and see how hip feels. Dunno yet, possibly a bit too soon as Its aching today from a nice country walk. Dont want to set myself back.... But Zwift. Difficult not to give it a bit of welly!
Either way, I'll be on tomorrow and I'm good to go with whatever start robbo and everyone else wants to do regarding the start.👍
One alternative that seems more fair is a self imposed start delay, based on a figure from Robbos spreadsheet, rather than a later imposed time penalty.
This is how the TTT works, and it's pretty easy to follow. It does require everybody to be a little bit clued up by looking at the spreadsheet though, and starting on their time delay. Slower riders go first, faster later.
It does require everyone to sit on the start line until their timed delay, either small groups or individual delays, but we are all trustworthy guys/gals right ?, it should mean that we all come together at or near the end, with the faster guys chasing and the slower up front.
I've done this in another meetup with two teams, rather than individual riders, but it was more fun being chased than being dropped, and no one can complain about missing the call to go. Just another 2c !.
One alternative that seems more fair is a self imposed start delay, based on a figure from Robbos spreadsheet, rather than a later imposed time penalty.
This is how the TTT works, and it’s pretty easy to follow. It does require everybody to be a little bit clued up by looking at the spreadsheet though, and starting on their time delay. Slower riders go first, faster later.
It does require everyone to sit on the start line until their timed delay, either small groups or individual delays, but we are all trustworthy guys/gals right ?, it should mean that we all come together at or near the end, with the faster guys chasing and the slower up front.
I’ve done this in another meetup with two teams, rather than individual riders, but it was more fun being chased than being dropped, and no one can complain about missing the call to go. Just another 2c !
Absolutely, but is FAR harder to organise and then potnetially to do the results to. I can imagine they then become a nightmare for Robbo.
That is basically the hare amd hounds event we did, isn't it!
I reckon stick with the simple "go from zero" approach and see how it pans out....
DrP
(New Bluetooth power meter still not here yet... eek...)
Wtrl have to validate every team does not go till their time. That would be an administrative headache and require an account sat on the line recording. Also would result in very little draft for most people.
This seems to be getting very serious and technical for something that is meant to be a fun event and ultimately a laugh to get us all together.
Let's leave the harder bits to the official zwift races, the way we have been doing it has given us a fun series the last time and perhaps a zero and go start may be better, or may be worse, but we should try it to help Robbo. I'm against giving him a worse nightmare of times starts.
Just my opinion but happy to go with the majority.
(New Bluetooth power meter still not here yet… eek…)
1400w for an hour it is then DrP
I'm happy to go with either: a). from the start of the timer or b). as you've done it so far with Robbo calling it. As Oopnorth says, I just want to race someone's avatar and give it a bit of a nudge without tying Robbo up in admin work! It's his call but all I will add is I think a decision needs to be made say by lunchtime as not everyone can check in on the thread all afternoon. Looking forward to it.
as potentially my last few hours as series leader.... i'm happy to go with either option. Its all a bit of fun. lets keep it that way without bogging down with too many rules etc.
I suspect there will be enough riders to draft and leapfrog at the start if you are a stronger rider a little further down the start line (if we go from zero).
fingers firmly crossed I am not last on the road! 😀
WE ARE STARTING THE RACE FROM ZERO TONIGHT. I WILL REMIND ALL ON THE CHAT BEFORE THE RACE
Cheers Robbo. Couldn't be clearer.
FWIW I should have a stream running again;
Cheers Robbo. Couldn’t be clearer.
haha it wasn't directed at you - just wanted it to stand out in the sea of posts! I think the race will go quick tonight - the first climb will hurt but then you have the descent over to the aquaduct and then you are on your way back!
@robbo1234biking I know;) So I browsed Zwift Insider and I mistakenly thought we started with a nice descent. How wrong I was! Going to be a bit of a grunt at the end:)
WE ARE STARTING THE RACE FROM ZERO TONIGHT. I WILL REMIND ALL ON THE CHAT BEFORE THE RACE
Zero as in KM zero, ie the end of the neutralised zone?
Just kidding. 😉
It's a bit unusual for me, I usually finish as zero.
So if I get to the meet up at 1730, does this mean I start at the front.... 😉
@slowpuncheur said:
So I browsed Zwift Insider and I mistakenly thought we started with a nice descent
This zwiftinsider?
We begin with a significant lead-in climb
The start will always be a bodge, until zwift sorts it out (maybe our grandchildren will start their meetup zwift races in the start pens?). The best bodges - the only two really in contention - are those that result in a grouped race as close to the start as possible, surely?
So if I get to the meet up at 1730, does this mean I start at the front….
Nope - cos Zwift loves to hate people - just be happy in the fact that wherever you end up DrP and Dangeourbrain will be in a worse situation as Zwift hates them more!
For me, where i jump in on the pen won't matter much, not on this route anyhow. I'll be more struggling to get up the climb, so being 1s or 3s ahead or behind some will be of little significance.
I've gone CRAZY for tonight and am testing 'mirroring' using Android and Amazon firestick.
That's a sodding HUGE screen, so i can't blame missing something due to being on a small screen 🙂
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50586680842_01e6be070d_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50586680842_01e6be070d_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2k5aXNs ]2020-11-10_11-49-04[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Is it held up in a vice?
Do you have to reach round the screen to hold the handlebars?
LOL nah, it's sitting on the workbench just behind the vice, when it was in front it was a bit too close to the bike.
Do you have to reach round the screen to hold the handlebars
LOL that's my boys bike not mine.
Do you have to reach round the screen to hold the handlebars
Yeah but it really makes you feel in the game and it's much cheaper than a vr setup.
Don't whether to use my trek emonda or canyon aeroad.... Sounds like it'll won or lost on the climbs in this race. What are people's thoughts re bike choice for this course?
Don’t whether to use my trek emonda or canyon aeroad…. Sounds like it’ll won or lost on the climbs in this race. What are people’s thoughts re bike choice for this course?
Good Qn... i have no idea what bike or wheels... i don't think i own any climby bikes, but i do have 2mill in credit i can spend.
is this actually a climby route though? ZI reckons any course that includes downhills or significant flat then an aero bike is faster overall! I will be going with the Tron as per usual (don't think you've unlocked that though?) as I think ZI reckons that's the fastest for rolling routes regardless, and only 3s or something slower per hour than the most aero frame/wheel combo (which I'm not high enough level for) and is probably slower up hills anyway!
Unless he's wanting the tow I'm not keeping up with nixie on the climb nor the flat, he's the electric rabbit really.
Any time I put into Phil on the climb he'll pull back on the flat unless I can squeeze some serious gains out of my bike. It comes down to whether I think I can stay clear of him or if I'm better trying to hold his wheel and chase down Nixie with him.
Harry is a bit of a nuisance*. I can imagine he'll be with me much of the way then try and takeoff on the final climb, if I'm going to put any time into him I need to do it on the flat.
Cbott I've no idea.
If I don't go over the first climb with Phil and Harry it's very much about trying not to loose too much on the flat.
So it's a toss up really. Aero Road with 808s is my best bet for sticking with Phil and Harry if we go over together but the shiv s works with enves gives me the best chance of holding onto any lead I got on the climb without too drastic a weight penalty.
No draft means I'm penalising my self in a three man group but if I go over solo it's the only chance I've got of putting 45 seconds into Paino and tlr or nearly 2 minutes into TP and Gary.
*in a complimentary way.
[I'm on the aero Road at the moment]
Just checked the turbo bike and the back tyre seems to be wearing a hole in the mat, where the feet are sinking slightly into the carpet.
I've added some chipboard under the trainer which should lessen my effort a bit, with the added bonus I'll be going slightly downhill.
Just checked the turbo bike and the back tyre seems to be wearing a hole in the mat, where the feet are sinking slightly into the carpet.
I’ve added some chipboard under the trainer which should lessen my effort a bit, with the added bonus I’ll be going slightly downhill
Something always to keep an eye on, it's really easy to have a wheel dragging depending on the mat type.
just be happy in the fact that wherever you end up DrP and Dangeourbrain will be in a worse situation as Zwift hates them more!
My nemesis is the ANT+ system!!
I'm still awaiting my 4iii powermeter crank to arrive at home any minute...IF it's not on the doormat when I get home, I'll TRY and race, but it's getting so unreliable now i may just quit and ride IRL.....
DrP
@jamesoz the app is showing you as declining the invite. Not sure if that is a zwift error or not but let me know if I need to resend the invite!
DrP, the 4iiii is a doddle to set up. Just make sure you do so, and calibrate before you turn Zwift on as it gets confused easily with 2 apps competing for data.
This zwiftinsider?
Yeah. That's in the text though. I just looked at the pretty picture:) I'm concerned by how seriously some are taking this. It'll be cotton wool and olbas oil up the nose next...
@jamesoz the app is showing you as declining the invite. Not sure if that is a zwift error or not but let me know if I need to resend the invite
That's strange. If you could resend that would be great cheers.
I’m still awaiting my 4iii powermeter crank to arrive at home any minute…IF it’s not on the doormat when I get home, I’ll TRY and race, but it’s getting so unreliable now i may just quit and ride IRL…..
<Looks at DrP's handicap, looks at course profile >
Post people are on strike DrP. Give up now and and plan your real ride (tm) to save yourself the disappointment and hassle when you get home.
I’m concerned by how seriously some are taking this
S'all talk though init, really everyone will just turn up, pedal like the clappers and try not to be sick for 45min to an hour.
RE the 4iii...
I was looking at the quick start guide online..
I was jsut going to swap crank/pedals... pair with Garmin (ANT+) and zwift (BT)..ride for a bit, then drop the left crank and 'calibrate/zero' the device...
I HOPE it's all configured from teh factory/previous user..
DrP
Yep. 5 min job maximum. But I have had a few connection issues with the 4iiii on the app (when I calibrate the crank) but only when Zwift is also running (through ANT+). If you have bother just close Zwift , calibrate and get back on Zwift. Probably will need a software update but again, 5 mins..
dangeourbrain...
Chuckles!!!
If I can hold my own up the hill, then grab a tail on the flats with some energy held back, for another killer climb effort at the end, I SHOULD be on target to throw up JUST after the finish line.. 😉
DrP
EDIT...also: "An update will only be provided when we attempt to deliver your item" FFS
@dangeourbrain on the last series form yes your probably right. This series so far though I don't think I'm at the same level. Will have to see how the first climb goes however based on my most recent 3 zwift sessions I'm not convinced I can escape, stay away and put in efforts for sprint points (which I think I need). Problem is if I sit and take the first climb easy to go for sprints and the second climb there is a really risk of crazyharry showing me a clean pair of heels on climb 2. Last week I was finding it hard to keep up on the steep climb and the 1hr sweetspot session I did on Saturday was really hard with not great output (not to mention the TTT where I died horribly).
Not sure why I'm telegraphing this though........
Not sure why I’m telegraphing this though……..
Rope-a-dope
😀
what PM did you have before?
It's an Avio powersense one.
The PM works perfectly... it's just effing Zwift and it's inability to manage ANT+ that means I needed to upgrade to a bluetooth one...
Might sell the Avio (on R8000 172.5 ultegra crank), or send it back to Avio to swap over onto my XT cranks on the single speed....
DrP
Alas, I’m still Covid-tastic, so will have to give tonight’s frolics a miss 😢. No particularly horrible symptoms so far thankfully, but feeling a bit crap and best to be sensible (for once!).
I'm going to skip tonight's race. Had a 3am start this morning which was 3 hrs earlier than expected and I've another early start tomorrow ☹️. I was looking forward to the start of the race as well. Hopefully back next week.
Hmmmmm..pants.
No new powermeter sat on my doorstep.
Oh well.... will see how the ANT+ gets on. I've uninstalled practically everything you lot suggested..steam just gone now too!!!
See you in a bit..
DrP
Fingers crossed
I'm hoping you psychos who rode Four Horsemen on the weekend are still sore.
Good work, how you keep the goods from falling asleep I have no idea 😳
I haven't ridden since that four horseman...couldn't face riding after that one 🤣🤣🤣
Hopefully the legs are back up to speed...we will soon find out
I haven’t ridden since that four horseman…couldn’t face riding after that one
I believe you're supposed to say you're coming into this tapered after a big block of training, not "owwww, my arse'n'legs !!"
Having to skip tonight due to home stuff... gutted.
Good luck to all and I’ll be on the next one !
Stream link again if anyone wants it.
I haven't got round to my stream on new pc yet..
But... it would be a fun one because there's still fox 20w fork oil residue on my kitchen floor... so I'm on a drift turbo!! Back end all over the place....
Stuck a towel under it for a little bit of grip! Lolz...
DrP
Wifi has dropped out so this might be an ITT..
Great race all. Brilliant timing there Phil, sprint and the climb by the looks of it.
Wow.. that was HARD!
Oof..DrP
Looks like your pm held Ian which is good.
Yeah he got both. Nice work Phil. Crazyharry got second 👍.
Yeah Brian... seemed issue free today... which is good!
I was ruddy gutted I blinked for a second at the top of the climb and lost you front lot.... JUST before the roll down! No way a solo rider can out descend a bunch!
Was solo for a few km heading to bash out 300-250w to keep pace.. was v grateful a trio came up behind and we all rode out the rest together....
I'm cramping up.. but buzzing!
I think the start worked well tbh... DrP
Cheers all! Just can't catch the faster B's on the start despite going for it. Next week it will have to be full on sprinting off the line for me
Pleased with how that went tonight. I thought I'd be over in the front four but could feel myself struggling after the 2nd sprint section, held on to you all until the lower slopes but then I ran flat about half way up the climb, just completely lost my legs.
Really good ride all.
I wish I'd mentioned my weight increase to Robbo now instead of just putting it into zwift. Ah well, school boy error.
I did a great job of towing Robbo to others, then worked with them to catch 2 more... then they dumped me on an incline LOL
Thanks for that fellas 🙂
Great ride that. Start worked well I thought. Absolutely buried myself seriously almost to the point of puking to keep Gary Lager’s wheel up the first climb, just about managed it and pulled ahead of some of the other C’s (Robbo etc), joined a good group and cruised round to the first sprint where Gary took off like a cat with a firework up it’s arse 🤣 Knew he’d do it again for sprint 2 so I thought I’d give it a go... mistake tho as it’s a long sprint so didn’t get anywhere. Bit me on the arse as I then couldn’t keep up with the group on the 2nd climb and a few I’d managed to keep ahead passed me... just kept ahead of Oop North though which was my main goal 😉 although he was gaining! Finish could not come soon enough!!
Thanks folks. Been zwifting for years and got my ftp to the point I was snapping the ankles of B group end of this March. But after a break and back into it only recently. I could barely hang on to C group. This was my first STW zwift ride and thanks to JimW and one other we rode in group. I burned my matches at 0.4m, lost my steam and JimW jumped ahead. Absolutely knackered!
Well...ouch!
Start went ok and I gave it my all up the first hill and didn't do too bad but then ended in no mans land until I got caught by Feed and someone else. We did ok but were always being caught by the bigger group behind who ran us down after the aqueduct.
Then it was just a case of hold the group until the final climb but unfortunately that's where the legs and lungs gave up...I've only got one good hill in me haha
Good ride all...it was a toughie, no where really to catch your breath. Some of you guys are really fast! It's a great series to be part of and I'm happy with the zero and go start.
Yay! Nothing rubbing, no power drop outs (apart from the organic kind) and my Thai green curry stayed in me!
Not going to lie, the new start format didn't do me any favours. I need to bust my balls at best of times to stay with front group for first mile or so, so when Spawned at back my work was always going to be cut out. I basically spent the first 2 min at well over 350 watts, never really made it into the front group, and by half way up first climb I was broken and never recovered. Spent rest of lap being dragged round by r charlie and a couple of others.
Zwift racing is hard enough for the light guys but if we have to make up a gap at the start we have no chance. Appreciate the faster guys were probably glad that I wasnt for once wheelsucking them the whole race, but without drafting I ain't got nothing! You don't see Bernal starting behind the peloton for a reason!!
Anyways, grumble over. Well done to Phil.
I was almost on you on the first hill Zilog! 🤣🤣🤣 But I couldn't quite catch you over the top and off you went.
I didn't think the run in to the climb was as long as it was so instead of going all out I took it relativity steady which was a mistake as I lost a decent amout of time by the base of it.
Got in a decent little group on the flat, picked up Weeksy and then it was a bit cagey to the final climb.
I tried a little dig to split the group out pick off anyone struggling but it didn't really work although it did force a couple of people to use their power-ups to get back on when otherwise they could have used them on the climb - somebody used a feather which I was glad to see!
That blue banner couldn't come fast enough though.
I did think the start was better, other than the big hill!
As TPBiker is one of the guys I race against (similar results), I could see quite early on he was 8 seconds behind, then really quickly 23 seconds behind. Do agree that today’s start was tough and as a 70kg rider do have to agree it’s not ideal, not saying change I’d prefer it changed back as I’d say the experiment is worth another go.
I wasn’t at the back or last out of the blocks, but from 10 seconds down I was up at over 300 watts then loads of guys came past me while I was still sat there. Mad sprint to try and catch the front group who were already forming.
I was a little surprised how big of a group formed at the front from the off, I'd expected 4 or 5 not 9 or 10 in the bunch.
That was fun! There's some fast lads on here. Some seriously impressive power. Start was good. Ended up with oopnorth and robbo in a good group. Tried a few half digs off the front but nothing doing then stupidly went for 2nd sprint to try and force a split. Didn't realise the hill was straight after. Cue me going backwards. Must learn course for next time!!
I had someone come flying past me before my clock hit zero...not sure how that happened. It was definitely a tough start to try and catch the front group. I think we should try it again on a more normal start, something flatter.
I had a dig at one point to test the group but you all came back quickly. When I saw Paul go for the sprint I thought "no chance am i following with the hill coming" but i also thought the group would bring him back without having to sprint.
That was a lot more fun when I can manage to stay on somebody’s wheel for the whole race.
🙂