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This may be too soon for some of you to forget the pain from last night but I am busy over the next few days and want to get the thread active!
If you want to take part then post up on this thread or message me. I will take the FTP and weight from the recent race series if you are entering again but if you havent raced before I will need your FTP and weight for the handicap race.
Each Race series is made up of the 4 traditional categories but with a bit of a twist to give everyone a chance to compete.
1. The main handicap race – as per previous events a handicap will be applied to your finish time based on your weight and FTP and the entire group is sorted by race time plus handicap and points distributed accordingly. This is based on the best of 5 races points from the 6 races (all sprint points count towards this total).
2. The sprint jersey – Sprint points are awarded for the Top 5 finishers on a sprint section (10,6,4,2,1 points) or the fastest lap time on circuit race. The points are awarded on each sprint section on a race but only for the fastest time across that section during the whole race (i.e you may get a couple of chances to get a good time).
3. The KOM jersey - Points are awarded for the Top 5 finishers on a KOM section (10,6,4,2,1 points).
3. The GC race – This is based on the shortest time to complete all 6 stages and is sorted by traditional Zwift cat. The zwift cat is determined on the weight and FTP that you supply me so may not match your ZP cat as that takes historical data into account.
OK so here are the courses for the Xmas Series of the STW Racing League. This should be the hardest set of courses for a race series so far!
No restrictions on bikes on this series so choose what suits you or the course.
There will be a Green points Jersey and a KOM points Jersey in addition to the handicap and GC races;
Note: If you want to be included in the Green Jersey or KOM points race scoring you need to be registered on Zwift Power as this is where I will pull the data from. You are still welcome to take part on the rest of the series if you dont register on Zwift Power.
Total distance: 166.2km
Total Elevation: 1832m
Race 1 - 2nd November 19:30
paris Lutece Express - 4 laps (29.9km, approx 152m of elevation)
1 set of sprint points awarded for the Sprint section and 1 set awarded for the fastest lap
Race 2a - 9th November 19:30 - Part 1 of the double header
Yorkshire Duchy Estate 3 laps (10.7km, approx 140m of elevation)
1 set of sprint points awarded for sprint section and 1 set awarded for the fastest lap
Race 2b - 9th November 20:00 Part 2 of the double header event
Watopia Flat Route - 1 Lap (10.8km, approx 54m of elevation)
1 set of sprint points awarded for the sprint section
Race 3 - 16th November 19:30
Yumezi - Two Village Loop (25.6km, approx 176m of elevation)
2 sets of sprint points awarded for each sprint segment
Race 4 - 23rd November 19:30
Watopia Magnificent 8 Custom Distance (35km, approx 150m elevation)
A fairly flat course that is pretty fast. KOM and Green jersey points available.
1 set of KOM points
1 set of sprint points
Race 5 - 30th November 19:30
(Nearly) Everything Bagel Custom Distance (26.3km, approx 490m of elevation)
This ends just after the second time up the KOM
2 sets of KOM points
2 set of sprint points
Race 6 - 7th December
Watopia - Climbers Gambit (27.9km, approx 670m of elevation)
The queen stage with the longest climb in this series. 2 KOM sections and a sprint section
2 sets of KOM points
1 set of sprint points
I'm in, Robbo, of course!
I'm in!
Hi Robbo
Weight 85kg
FTP last ramp test was 285, XERT says 299 today (I dont mind using the higher one)
I'm on Zwift power but you'll know that from TTT
Cheers
S
I’m in Robbo
I'm in please 👍
Yes please. Should make more of the later races than the early ones.
I'll join in when I can 😃.
Oh yes.
Me too please.
Me too please Robbo
Yes please - hopefully make the whole series this time!
Back in for this series Rob. Do you need my FTP etc again?
I’m in, hoping to make most/all of the races this series.
I'm in Rob.
FTP 234w
Weight 73kg
Was determined I'd be 70kg by now, but cannot shift any weight (although to be fair I haven't really tried 🤣 )
No need for ftp and weight if you entered the last series and the values haven’t changed. 😀
I'm in with bells on.
This'll be my last full series in the UK! I'll be on Pacific time for the winter series...so, lunch break?
Yep, I’m in.
Yes please, thanks Robbo!
That looks decidedly lumpy...
I'm in.
Oh yeah. And don't forget folks....vote Robbo!
In
Hopefully make the full series this time
Paul
Count me in, cheers!
I'm in too thanks Robbo. FTP has crept up from 218 to 225.
Please count me in again Robbo, I know again that I will miss two or three races but I’ll enjoy the ones I can make.
Over the 4 races in the last series I don’t think I’ve come close to the ftp stated and not troubled it since feb or March so may recheck it or leave it and let the first race around Paris decide. That looks like it could be a near optimal effort to try and break from the pack and then stay with the fast lads.
The last two races look viscous and I might volunteer to work in order to avoid everything Bagel.
Thanks again for organising.
Pa anybody at home next week for the half term holiday and fancy a crit or longer plod in a morning let me know it would be nice to have some company. Having done everything in Zwift I’m finding it hard to have the motivation to jump on there at the moment.
Kirky - I have set myself the goal of completing the Rebel Routes over the winter. YOu dont get an official route badge or anything (although they are on Strava).
https://zwiftinsider.com/rebel-routes/
Sign me up please
count me in.
The races are certainly a change from the norm, i look forward to the challenge!
@robbo if you decide to do any on a Saturday or Sunday morning please give us a shout, a tow around will make it more interesting and a touch easier for us. The perimeter loop looks like fun (sick sort).
It about time Zwift dropped something a bit meatier to keep the appeal. I was hoping for a Flanders set of maps based around the last worlds.
The pain i'm feeling is that of a broken turbo 🙁
I'll be in once my new instrument of pain arrives. Somehow the wife and I have agreed on a neo bike 😀
I am in, the last two look great.
Yes please, looking forward to race 6 the most (literally and metaphorically)
Count me in again please, Cheers.
I'm in.
In please Robbo
Can I also just say - if anyone reading this is 'Zwift STW Racing Curious' but not sure if they are up to it, please do sign up and give it a go. I was pretty apprehensive the first time round (Winter 2020 was it?) but I've really enjoyed it and become a regular, despite being clearly nowwhere near as fit as the fast boys up there.
The way Robbo does his magic maths to work out the handicaps really well and means that even I can have a good race every so often (even got a Podium in September!).
Its good fun, theres no pressure, and if your terminal procrastinator like me then making the commitment to others is the nudge you need to get some training and efforts through the darkest months.
Sometimes we've even had a simultaneous youtube live stream up of someone wearing only bib shorts and gurning in their kitchen, so whats not to like.
Well said @snotrag. No-one finishes a series less fit than when they started, that's for sure. I'm going to have withdrawal symptoms this Tuesday:)
In please, as is Haloric Jnr.
Yes please, FTP is 260w, weight is the same as before. Thanks
Thanks all for signing up - Ill get the race links out over the weekend.
I missed the last series because of back issues but that seems to have settled now so could you include me too please. I'll go with the same FTP and weight unless I manage a ramp test in the meantime. 245 and 73kg. Cheers.
I'm in as well please Robbo - won't make them all but looking forward to it.
I'm up for this please, was planning to start structured training again in November, so this will be a good kickstarter... Need to check my FTP and weight though, not ridden indoors for at least 6 months.
Been awhile but I'd like to participate in this please Robbo. Think my FTP will be around 240 (guess I should check) and I'm 81kg Nick (STW) on Zwift.
Pop my name down... I'll aim to partake this time!!
New (lower) FTP of 277
Weight 71kg
Cheers!
DrP
Yes please robbo everything the same as last time
Yes please, nothing else makes me suffer quite like these races.
I'll give it a go please, pretty new to zwift. Ftp 213w 83kg
Paul Thomas on zwift
Looks like I'll miss the first race 😭. Hopefully I'll win a few of the races later in the series 😜
I'm in. New figures too, weight is now 83kg and FTP has jumped a whole 4w to 201! Still be at the back but it's progress.
Right everyone should have the event links now. If I have missed you let me know.
Not long until the first race on Tuesday!
Me too please. Not sure how many I’ll make with one thing and another, but should be able to make some. Cheers
If you don't mind popping the invites over to me when they're up Robbo would be good but don't worry about any handicaps or the like.
I'd like to join in if I can but can't see work easing off and my evenings being any freer this time round than last.
Just started a keto diet on tuesday, currently struggling to hit 280 watts let alone maintain it for the length of a race. Knackered after 40mins of bimbling.
Hoping I break through the lethargic stage by Tuesday if not I might just but poodle along at the back.
On the plus side I’m hoping to be around 76kg by tuesday, would help but not if I can’t muster 60/70 of the usual effort.
Cheers for the links, tortured myself up the Alpe last Tuesday. I kept getting trainer drop outs and at one point it took minutes to reconnect. Any body else had this lately?
I have before but it's been fine for ages (Tacx Flow).
I'll be dischuffed if it happens whilst racing again.
Brilliant, all signed up..
Handicaps are live for tomorrow night! They may change if we get any late entries (not relevant to other people you are racing with but possibly the overall time)
Christ, have we had our time off already!
Edit - @Robbo1234biking access denied, think you've set the sheet to private...?
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oxAKc92qCMD5s-Odc4kCjngmxE15jED9erVq0PKq5CY/edit?usp=sharing
Try this now! Hopefully working
Good luck all. Top job Robbo
Nice gentle one to ease us in then from the looks of it!
Great job Robbo.
So I need to beat @slowpuncheur by a minute 🙁
On the plus side I get a minute 20 on @Phil56 so there is some encouragement 🙂
Lots of pushing and no excuses!
Cheers Roobo,
I'm not sure whether to be pleased that I have a low handicap as it will mean I can do well, or upset as its a sign of my comparative fitness 🙁
P.
Join the club Paul S!
I may reset my FTP before the race and see what it brings up after we are done.
I don’t think I raced on Zwift since April-May time!
So I need to beat @slowpuncheur by a minute
Watch out for that @Stumpy01 fella now he's in Cat B 😛
In theory, tonights course suits me, but not been on Zwift since the last race so could be... interesting*.
*painful.
Damnit, just had a call out to Stonehouse, wouldn't be too bad if my first job wasn't in Brighton. I've then got to get back to Reading. Fingers crossed I make the start.
Recovering from a stinking cold, but far from over it. Will see how it goes this evening but I'm not going to go bonkers if it means slipping back into feeling rough again.
I'll take it as a complement I'm a marked man these days @djflexure 😉 Although I think I'd rather be nursing une petite bière in one of those nearby pavement cafes.
jimdubleyou
Watch out for that @Stumpy01 fella now he’s in Cat B
I don't really understand how that has happened! Zwiftpower still has me as a C.
I must have just scraped my way into Cat B!!
I think this course will be a struggle for me. Not enough lumpy bits to make up for my lack of power!
Music choice will be key for me tonight! Perhaps a Jean Michel Jarre/Edith Piaf/Daft Punk mash-up!?
Or perhaps not.....
a week drinking and eating in the Portugal last week - this is going to hurt!
Also Robbo, I have changed my zwift name to .FREERIDENICK
Good luck tonight people. Have fun. Hopefully see you in a couple of weeks when ZRL is done.
My Flow used to overheat when doing more than about 250w for any decent time, particularly at low gear (low cooling fan speed). Pointing a fan at it helps. I bodged an old PC cooling fan onto the outside but it seemed to massively ober-inflate my power output. I never really found a suitable solution tbh, ended up buying a direct mount trainer.
bollards, selling a bed on Facebook market place, buyer was expected at 18:30, has just messaged to apologise and ask to come at 19:30...
robbo a bit last minute and probably of no importance anyway as i will miss the double header next week so two races down and also will miss week 5.
however can i update my stats to a current weight of 76kg. im sure i wont be able to perform at any kind of aneoribic level at the moment so again and have no chance of acheiving it during keto but can you change my FTP to 294. i havent acheive better than 280 for any race even a crit in the last few months.
Going well so far! Wife gone to A&E as the doctors reckon she's broken a bone in her hand from a netball match a few weeks ago.....turbo dragged in from the garage so I can "babysit" while doing the race. Boiling just doing the warm up! 😂😂😂
Good to see the nerves/excuses coming in thick and fast 🙂
Mine is a flat ipad battery, got it plugged in but hoping to juice it enough before the start as zwift flattens it faster than it charges!
Well, I didn't make it. Traffic on the 417 killed my time .
Have 'Fun' all.
My Flow used to overheat when doing more than about 250w for any decent time, particularly at low gear (low cooling fan speed). Pointing a fan at it helps. I bodged an old PC cooling fan onto the outside but it seemed to massively ober-inflate my power output. I never really found a suitable solution tbh, ended up buying a direct mount trainer.
Cheers maybe some of this overtime can go towards a new one.