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handicaps aren’t helping me out – seem to be consistently finishing with people who have a minute on me.
I'm not sure how the handicaps are calculated. Before the races started I almost knew that I would feature highly in the adjusted results.
(Intervals.icu gave me a little raise - seems they have a different/additional algorithm that works in shorter efforts. Presumably even less accurate than a 20min one without proper effort before it)
Love the double racing, I always seem to do better in the 2nd.
@reluctantjumper it did seem a tad lonely when you lost the wheel on that lap. I was thinking, do I slow just a touch so I get some help for the next few laps. Then I thought, hell no, I need to put some time in to you…… 😂
Held on to the wheels of the pack in the 2nd race, feeling good, only to be dropped 60secs later!
At least I got a FTP increase from all that effort.
@robbo1234biking sorry to be a pain again, FTP increase this time, 180—->183 now.
In both races I benefited from the absence of big climbs to hold onto the front group for a long time until a couple of the fast guys pulled a bit ahead. In the first race I had a lucky power up that let me gain a second on the rest of the group in the sprint for a totally unexpected 4th place. In the second race I nothing left for the sprint and just finished as one of the group in 6th.
Surprisingly I quite liked the double header format, nice choice of courses Robbo.
Well following scaredypants post I just went down the rabbit hole of intervals.icu. Not sure I understand any of it but it tells me my eFTP has gone up to 233 for the next race.
Yay, 5 points, well worth an average of 305w. I'm quite chuffed
All I need to do is drop 25kg and I'll be like a rocket.
First race I lost the front group the 3rd we crested the hill. A well timed power up from slowpuncheur as we went over the top caught me out and before I knew it the gap had opened up. I ended up losing 45 seconds plus to the group in front if me in one lap so things went of quick from there.
2nd race I was able to stay with the front group until the sprint. I didnt contest the sprint as I knew the mini-hill was coming up after the sprint which would be a weak point and i was still in a group vying for 3rd place overall. I decided to go long range and the plan nearly worked...except it didnt and I got passed on the line by pretty much everyone! Maybe 50m later next time!
I got a all time 10 min power best though so couldnt have put much more in (by 10w!)
Next week is Yumezi for two laps of the two village loop. Its fairly flat but with a gentle rise and there are two lots of sprint points available.
Goid fun that, I also enjoyed the format of two shorter races very much @J-R
First race I managed to stay in the C and D blob for about the first half which worked really well, and in the second race another tail end group formed and worked really well for a while, slowly thinned until me and 'z.ilog' cruised right into the village for a sprint where I was soundly beaten, chapeau.
Hovering in the bottom third still but feeling at least like I'm in them mix with others so a good result!
After an almost solo effort last week, I was determined to stay with a group in race 1. Just about managed it with a lot of effort and got a good power up for the finish sprint. Legs were jelly afterwards! Race 2 managed to stay in a blob until my chain came off so rolled in on my on.
Ftp up to 231w. Some workout!
It's Sunday evening, the Strictly results show is on...seems the perfect time to sort the handicaps for this week so here you go!
Yumezi this week with the Two Village Loop
https://zwiftinsider.com/route/two-village-loop/
Cheers Robbo. Thanks for the course link.
Low rpm approach for me this week 👍
Did a recce today, now all that's left is to decide on which bike is best for the course.
P.
Have to work so will miss it. My handicap is increasing so hopefully back with a bang next week.
Working tomorrow and full of a cold. Tried a session today and felt worse. Very slim chance I’ll be taking part.
Hi everyone - decided to set up the turbo and get signed up again. No matter how hard I pedal it shows speed 0km/h, power 0W. (It felt like that occasionally last year trying to hold onto the group).
It seems there's a well know Kickr Core issue where static electricity fuses something critical. Nightmare - it's beer and TV on Tuesday then. (Or hopefully a real-world ride).
Hopefully join you all again soon.
how many laps of the course this week?
Its 2 laps this week.
2 laps. Plenty of dirt to make it nice and hard as well 😮
lovely jubbly!
2 laps. Plenty of dirt to make it nice and hard as well
Does this go up that nasty climb from last series?
No. But it isn't flat.
So full of cold, unlikely to make it and if I do it will be sightseeing at the back
Covid booster for me this evening so it will be interesting to see if that affects FTP tomorrow, or worse.
After ~4 weeks of this cold that's doing the rounds, I'm finally feeling somewhat better. However November's been a very poor month so far in terms of exercise, so definitely won't be back to normal yet. For those coming down with colds, I hope they pass quickly.
I did a very gentle pre-ride of the course yesterday evening and can see there being several places where the groups will blow apart. Could be a challenging two laps this evening!
Yeh there are some gravel sections interspersed on the course as well as some small gradients - I have done a 1 lap sprint race of this course but not 2 laps.
Should be a good race I hope.
Dont forget to look out for riders who you think deserve 'Rider's Rider of the Series'. I need to start the voting after next weeks race and I am looking for 3 or 4 racers who have really set the race apart so any nominations shout up on here or send me a message!
I’m out for this series, picked up a bit of an injury . Might see if I can watch on my phone, if I’m not too full of drugs . You guys suffering might cheer me up.
Like a lot of others I'm full of the cold and had no sleep for two nights with a sick 3 year old.
Back on track next week 🤞
While you are all excited about race day...
Please consider joining (or re-joining) the STW Zwift Team Time Trial. It's a fun opportunity to ride - more cooperatively - with a lot of the same riders who race this series.
Everyone is welcome. The event rules require mixed-category teams, and our philosophy is usually to get everyone to the finish together.
We ride Thursday evenings, 7.40pm. We'd like to work up to two teams, like last winter, one faster than the other, so there really should be a suitable spot for everyone.
More info, and people who tend to answer questions very quickly, here: https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/zwift-team-time-trial-thursday-evenings/page/7/
I was all excited about being back racing tonight as the new family toy has arrived... [img] 
[/img]
Then remembered that i'm giving blood at 2:30 this afternoon so racing is probably a terrible idea 🙁
The Neobike is awesome though 😀
Don't join the TTT if I were you. It's made me faster and better at drafting over the last few race series. More Cat B riders getting better at racing is a bad idea 😉
Don't know if I'll make it home in time for tonight. Got a busy day and doubt I'll finish before 6 which doesn't really leave enough time to get home and set up ready for the start. Will try to make it but can't guarantee it. Having a truck with a really heavy clutch pedal isn't helping matters!
Then remembered that i’m giving blood at 2:30 this afternoon so racing is probably a terrible idea
@scaled how long does blood donation affect your Power output?
I find after recovering from the initial loss of blood volume within a day, my FTP is still down for several weeks - I guess it is a form of reverse EPO.
@J-R no idea mate, I'm going to take it easy for a couple of days then see how I get on. Last time I donated I managed to cycle home from Stockport to Sale easy enough but was ready for a kip when I got home 😀
So... IT issues appear to be solved after a quick Zwift patch (at leat my Mac could get into Zwift today)
planning to be on the start line, not sure I'm race-ready 🙂
I won't be on the start line tonight, feeling rotten with a cold. Hopefully well enough for club ride tomorrow, or Zwift TTT on Thurs
Definitely won't be back in time tonight, annoyed as I really like the workout.
That means someone else will have to battle for the honour of being last over the line 🤣
All the talk of dusty trails has made me choose my MTB for tonight's race!
I'll still be wearing Lycra so I won't be completely unaerodynamic. 🤔
Sorry... Walked in the door at 19.40, no chance of making it on the start line!
FTP increase for me. From 244w 🤔 which I didn't know about to 247w.
My handicaps need retrospectively recalculating for the previous race and this one. Make it so! if it's possible Robbo?
Another one over, it felt harder than usual, but I bet I'll be saying that next week as well.
The recce I did helped a lot in knowing where and how bad the hills were, so I was as ready as I could be. I managed to get into the front group off the line, and managed to check out Rival/Arch Nemisis @msjhes2 to see if he had made it as well, as the game plan was simply to mark him for 2 laps, but he must have had some computer issue as he was stationary.
Whoever was on the MTB went flying past on the gravel as if we were all freewheeling, what happened to him?
The fast guys managed to get a split at the first sprint, I tried to follow and may have made it if I'd been a bit quicker ( at least in my dreams ), so I quickly dropped into the 2nd group on the road.
Here it pretty much stayed the same. Paul Piano and someone else tried to make a break on the 2nd sprint but were hauled back in, I think A.Atkinson may have made a long break looking at the results.
I timed the sprint well, but not well enough with @Straightliner beating me on the line by 0.1, and to add insult to injury I even got an FTP boost from 212 to 219.
Thanks again @robbo1234biking and well done @sayoyad for another win.
P
Well done guys, as Savoyad said after the race, it’s the riders that make it and not the course.
Paino, Savoyad and Southside Johnny well done on your sprint efforts. Couldn’t quite get close enough to those this evening and the power up fairies were taunting me rather than helping.
Whoever was on the MTB went flying past on the gravel as if we were all freewheeling, what happened to him?
I did alright! I was helped along the road sections by N Arnold and ??? (My mind has gone blank) 😭 and encouraged to try and catch up Keith and Declan on the dirt sections.
My handicap needs recalculating before final times are published.
Thanks for everyone for taking part in the series!
The results are provisional in case I have made any mistakes. Please let me know.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oxAKc92qCMD5s-Odc4kCjngmxE15jED9erVq0PKq5CY/edit#gid=1421604983strong >Race 3 - Two Village Loop
Overall Race Winner
1. savoyad
2. karnali
3. slowpuncheur
Overall Race Winner (with handicaps)
1. Paul-S
2. bails
3. mahowlett
Sprint Points (Country Sprint Reverse)
1. Paino
2. Savoyad
3. JR
4. slowpuncheur
5. straightliner
Sprint Points (Village Sprint)
1. savoyad
2. paino
3. straightliner
4. JR
5. Paul
Green Jersey Standings
1. paino
2. straightliner
3. savoyad
Series Top 3 (including sprint/fastest lap points) Best 6 race points counts
1. Paul-S
2. mahowlett
3. J-R
Rick - I think it is best to leave it as is and update from the next race. Dont sweat it!
I opted for the optimum climbing bike since thats where I go backwards - can't say it made much difference.
I hung on to @retrorick each time he steamed through for as long as I could, but I was gassed on the final climb, and Neil Arnold pulled away. Did my best to keep them both honest to the finish.
Did manage yet another massive FTP increase, 257 -> 258 and the much coveted 20th spot, 9th sorting by power alone - get the wins where you can !.
That went ok I think…
Seems to be a slow start, then a split on the first lap which I couldn’t get over to, settled into a group with Paul, paino and a few others.
Had a bash on the first gravel section of the second lap, but couldn’t make it stick on my own.
Nearly got dropped by the group on the climb as I was still recovering but got back on. I think a couple got off the front of the group at that point. Had a bash at the sprint for the line but couldn’t hold off a couple.
Some good points so happy enough 🙂
Ended up on my own for most of that. Got dropped off the front group after the first dirt section and then spent the rest of the race trying to maintain the gap back to d.fee and k.allen. Was absolute max effort, bit gutted I didn't get an FTP increase! 🤣
Lidl pale ale and pringles being snaffled right now
Stone the crows, that was awful. Tried to temper my HR all the way through and failed miserably. Trying to shift this bloody cold, so very nearly didn’t even bother turning up but thought balls to it…try for a sprint then enjoy the view for the remainder. Was never going to hook onto the front group, but had some good company in @straightliner, @jimdubleyou @Paul-S amongst others! The Aero PU meant I had to give the first one a bash which pretty much finished me….then just managed to hold onto Straightliner for the 2nd sprint.
Piano and someone else tried to make a break on the 2nd sprint
I can promise you no break was intended!
After that it just went to ratshit. Couldn’t hold onto the pace up the 2nd gravel section and had to cycle the last 5km as Billy no mates to try and get the HR down. Bleurgh.
So for the record, it looks like a Covid booster the evening before racing doesn't have much effect on your riding.
Quite enjoyed riding round with the front group, until inevitably @karnali and @savoyad rode off the front. After that the power up fairies were pretty good to me and I felt relatively comfortable hanging onto the remaining group including @andeh, @slowpuncheur, @robbo1234biking and @mahowlett.
I decided to have a go at the final sprint and followed out Robbo who seemed to go quite long and then eased up - stupidly I eased up too, to be quickly passed by Mahowlett and Slowpuncheur before I could get my momentum back again. Nice final sprint guys - and well deserved 3rd and 4th places.
Wrong bike choice left me by myself from the start line. A couple of changes of bike from gravel - road - back to gravel for the last mud and road section.
Thanks to Oggy for dragging me along to the finish. Sorry I timed my lead out way too early for you! Don’t think the gravel tyres helped…… 😂
Boy, that was a hard one tonight. Thanks to robbo and also savoyad on the win.
Thanks @robbo1234biking , I really enjoyed that. Felt a bit sick when I finished though🤭. I’d ridden the route a couple of times at the weekend and made a decision that if somebody made a break from the group I was in on the last hill I’d try to go with them as I knew that when the gravel ended it was mainly a downhill run to the finish. Thanks to @driley for making the break and for doing all the work. I tried to help as much as I could when we hit the road but I was pretty much in the red at the stage.
Cheers Robbo another good course thought I was going to be on my own but retrorick would go speeding by on the dirt sections then I would catch up on the road then haloric joined in just managed to beat retrorick across the line.
update from the next race
Ok Robbo, I think I've only availability for the next 2 races. I just don't want the points I've earned so far too alter the outcome for worthier racers.
I was expecting to be useless today after a real big day on the MTB on Sunday, but went well! Usual plan of going all in for the first few minutes to keep as far forward as possible paid off this time! Had to do a sizeable dig through the first village to get back to the front group, but somehow avoided getting dropped! Possibly the new pack dynamics? Anyway, who knows. I like these routes with shortish climbs where I can have a little stand up and stretch for a bit, seems to level me off a bit.
Got dragged around by Robbo and Mark et al, shitting it every time a sprint was coming up, anticipating getting dropped, but clung on by my finger nails to make it round. Best result in aaaages.
Cheers everyone!
Bejeezus!
That was hard! Stuck with the large blob for....erm, not very long.
Luckily I ended up pairing up with DFee.
We worked well together although I was maxed out and not sure I put in my fair share.
I had an aero power up towards the line and felt quite guilty about using it. I wasn't going to, and then I changed my mind 😆
Legs felt a bit tired today although might have just been the course! It felt like a tough one!
That was "enjoyable", had it cranked up to > 500 watts when the clock hit 0 and got spat out of the start and was in the lead for, oooh, maybe about 3 seconds 🙂
Hung with the front group for a while but got dropped and ended up getting dragged around by Stumpy, thanks Keith.
This week's course was....grippy. the break went earlier than anticipated. I managed to cling onto the coat tails of a few eager sprinters at the first sprint who decided to keep the power down and before long 7 of us formed a group and the gap grew. All was quiet until the start of Lap 2 when @karnali went long. Very long! Naturally, @savoyad was getting restless and shortly joined him. @robbo1234biking and I managed to dig out a few seconds but we regrouped and it ended in a 5-up sprint with Rob and @J-R going early, then me and @mahowlett having a 2-up sprint I managed to nick for 3rd place. A textbook win by @Savoyad again. Well played sir. Another good route choice again @robbo1234biking. Thanks for keeping things interesting and getting the results out so quickly.
@Paul-S it was a flu jab yesterday not computer issues that got me. Been feeling a bit under the weather all day but decided to warm up and give it a go, but two minutes in realised it wasn't the best idea so stopped.
That was an aggressive race! I hit all-time power bests from 2-25 seconds (and still got beat by @paino). The front group rolled along nicely once it was established ( @andeh you seemed at home, even if you say you didn't feel it...) and a useful gap opened to those behind. @karnali made a really dangerous break into lap 2, grinding away at the front and relentlessly getting away. The sprint was my moment to bridge, and I almost didn't make it - he wasn't exactly waiting! I thought @robbo1234biking might also make it across through the square village but he didn't quite make it. We got far enough ahead to stay away, but we couldn't quite put enough time into the others to eat into our handicaps.
@retrorick's early MTB escape was brill - you were completely out of sight of the bunch, I can't have been the only one wondering if it was an inspired choice...
This series is really helping my sprinting along. I'm looking forward to the first proper hills next week though.
Well having nearly not raced I enjoyed that, once finished. Didn't know the course and having hot in front group I expected it to split at the 1st sprint, not having a sprint I went early to try and catch the split that never happened. 2nd lap I had s grinding dig that I thought would be followed then got to 3-4 secs gap and had to carry on. I thought @savoyad and others may get across at one of the sprints, which he did. From there it was just try and keep away from the others til the finish. With about 1500m to go the inevitable happened and I settled in for 2nd place. I really must work on some kind of sprint, can't remember turning my w/kg red more than once on zwift!! As ever cheers @robbobiking1234
@retrorick’s early MTB escape was brill
It was funny and i still laugh when thinking about it now 😃. I must remember to put it in my memoir and tell the story at the after dinner sporting events when I've retired from bike racing 😉.
I enjoyed that. Just the right mix of high pace on the flat and punchy climbs.
I floated around what i assume is the second group on the road (around 10th-ish place), with Paino, P.aul, M.Bailey, J.Jordan, A.Atkinson. We mostly seemed to stay together, with the odd break away that seemed to get swallowed up again.
I had a decent final climb which gave me a small amount of space, but was caught entering the village (which i was thankful for!).
The final sprint went a bit early, but everyone seemed to have the legs and 5 of us crossed the line within a second.
Solid effort by all! Cheers.
Well done all - sounds like a good race.
Given the unseasonably mild weather, dry trails locally and the fact that 4 other locals were out, I decided to go for an actual MTB ride in real life (remember that!?). I've still got the Wednesday morning achey legs though so with you in spirit.
Back next week.
I was out in real life again...was a lovely eve!
I'm intreagued at the bike choices...
What were most people riding?
DrP
Apart from the brave MTB choice by @retrorick, everyone else seemed to be on their regular road bikes.
@robbo1234biking had previously ridden the course and advised that road bikes looked the best bet.
It was great to see retro’s moment of glory as he disappeared off the front for the first few minutes of dirt.
I think we swamped him as we hit the first sprint.
I dont think any of the Yumezi routes justify anything other than a road bike to be honest. The losses on the road sections are too great to justify the gains and the gravel sections arent long enough to negate a bike change.
It was funny and i still laugh when thinking about it now 😃. I must remember to put it in my memoir and tell the story at the after dinner sporting events when I’ve retired from bike racing 😉.
Well if you also do the rest of the races on an MTB you'll get my vote for ‘Rider’s Rider of the Series’ 🙂
Yep, gravel bike here. And I can safely say everyone left me on the initial road section, not like that wouldn’t have happened anyway!
@robbo1234biking the custom country side tour used in ZRL yesterday definitely favoured gravel. With 2.6 laps and a finish at the top of the gravel climb the road bike was only good for the first sprint. Lap 2 I took 50s out of a gravel bike (30 catch and 20 ahead) on the road only for them to sale past with ease on the first third of the climb.
Looks like I should be able to come play next week.
So here is the link to the handicaps for Tuesday nights race. This weeks race is a little longer and a custom distance so the finish line will be somewhere around the KOM the second time we go over it.
Before Robbo frightens everyone off, the finish should be somewhere towards the start of the the reverse KOM, early in lap 2. So we won't be climbing twice. Near the bridge I think (but no-one knows precisely where the magic blue curtain will ever materialise, so no promises)
Yep been out mtb biking way to much as its dusty in the Surrey Hills! Should be back in the mix Tuesday
Looks like my bike choice will be important for this race 😅
Flat & Fast.....gonna be a world of pain for me!!
Hmm flat. Anything dare a TT bike (are we allowed)?
TT bike crossed my mind also. 🤔
You can choose whatever you like. But with a TT bike people can still draft of your can’t they? It’s just you that doesn’t get a draft advantage
A TT bike, so other riders can draft you at even higher speeds but you can’t draft them?
Seems like there could be a flaw it that approach?