Zwift Team Time Trial, Thursday

Sorry about tonight. I was doing fine and then hit that tiny hill and I just had nothing all of a sudden. Was struggling to even hit 200w. Will rearrange my week next week to get a rest day on the Wednesday. I watched you all ride for a bit afterwards and guys were doing 250w in the group so I should have easily been able to keep up. Bugger - annoyed with myself now!

Found that extremely tough, worse than last week despite putting out a few watts less on average. Due to the relatively flat nature of the course & Phil’s inability to grasp basic physics (you’re supposed to have a rest on the downs 😉) there was absolutely nowhere to hide or recover. Wanted to quit from about the halfway point until we got to the last km. Genuinely don’t know how I hung on!!

Not convinced that a full team of 8 actually made it any easier! Did feel like we were flying once we got into a rhythm though. Great ride all! 👍😀🚴

Thanks Scaredypants but I got the message too late and ended up staying later at work, thinking I wasn't needed 🙂

Looks like it was a fast one, all your numbers were well high, not sure if I had that in me tonight, some serious w/kg!!

Looks like you had a hanger on at one point...I thought that wasn't allowed??

Looks like you had a hanger on at one point…I thought that wasn’t allowed??

Haha idiot!

Thanks for letting me join in - really enjoyed it

That was pretty much on my limit currently but hoping it'll do me some good - I'm not sure I've ever been fitter than when I was doing a couple of races every week.

If there's loads of interest, presumably we could have 2 groups entered separately - or else everyone could all be on 1 team and phil56 on another all on his own. I reckon that'd be a pretty close race 😁

Thanks all, just about made it through, was getting the first signs of cramp with about 6K to go so happy to get to the end, thought I was going to be forced to limp in.

That ride had best 20mins effort at 284w, best ever at 285w, so I'll take that.

I do often raise an eyebrow when Phil says 'this is downhill', and its dead 0% on my screen, or 'its downhill', therefore more effort.. but he is what makes us go so hard !.

Enjoyed it again, will enjoy it even more when I can walk normally.

Ant.

Aargh, you lot were sat in the final qualifying slot for the platinum league (with two time zones left to race)...
...and then the results computer decided to count @scaredypants (unclassified at the start) as a B after all which boosted you up into frappe.
Great ride though. I watched some of it as a dotrace with stats on zwiftpower live.

Maybe that wasn’t as bad as I thought. I was going a lot harder than I realised and blew myself up. 10 minutes at threshold and 6 minutes at v02 max in the first 26 minutes.

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I felt strong but obviously need to learn to pace myself better.

…and then the results computer decided to count @scaredypants (unclassified at the start) as a B after all which boosted you up into frappe.

😬😬
(Soz)

Nah...looking at that I wouldn't have been able to keep up I'm sure, or at least I would have only been hanging on 😉

Well done guys, great effort!

I don't really know how it all works but on ZP we seem to have won our group ? (F = frappe, presumably)

Mighty tight group too (0.7 seconds for us all)

I'm inclined to agree Ooop. 270+w for 55 mins... NAh, can't do that i'm afraid

Here are everyone's numbers:

Robbo's at the bottom, everyone else finished together.
Remember - that was an exceptionally fast ride (for our team) and a powerful group and the strategy of trying to stick together means you don't be able to keep up with that to keep up.

Not convinced that a full team of 8 actually made it any easier!

We were definitely moving quicker than usual so I'd go so far as to say it did.
I certainly managed to do more bigger pulls on the front than usual without people dropping off and holding up the rear when Phil was pulling was about 230w and needed a lot less filling of gaps suggesting sitting in the group was easier than usual. Normally rear wheel sees me at about 260 but needs a big kick to plug a gap every few minutes.

Even when I screwed up my pulls I only saw double figure gaps once this week, and by and large the gaps stayed similar which is really good.

scaredypants
Full Member
…and then the results computer decided to count @scaredypants (unclassified at the start) as a B after all which boosted you up into frappe.

😬😬
(Soz)

Ohhhhh ZP has me back as a cat B now.

(how do I see what category ZP has put me into ?)

Top of your profile page, 3rd line down

where it says "Zpoints" ? Mine's a blank

Ah, just looked at yours db, where it says "minimum category", mine just says 59 races with no letter

mine just says 59 races with no letter

Ah, that's how it denotes sandbaggers 😉

🤐

Have the changed the rules on ZwiftPower regarding rankings? I’m a C on Zwiftpower now. I’ve only done 13 races, but tend to be about 3.7 to 3.9. I thought that made me a B?
My plan for tonight was to try and be a bridge, so sitting second or third wheel, if someone on front was pulling big numbers, I’d try and sit at 3.7 (about 260 watts), thinking that would make it manageable for the guys behind. Was good fun, I prefer that to a race as I’m much better at just churning out a steady number of watts, its surges that kill me.

I’m a C on Zwiftpower now. I’ve only done 13 races, but tend to be about 3.7 to 3.9. I thought that made me a B?

You're a B on my screen!

Thanks all, really enjoyed that. The team aspect properly makes you push. Now just need to make up for a summer of doing nothing and get those numbers going up.

Had a look at my numbers to the others and I really cocked that up. I didn't put down any consistent power and was spiking my power all over the place which I think did me over. 600W at one point and from what I can tell it wasn't even getting up a hill. Compared to haloric who put out a nice consistent power throughout.

You live and learn - back next week! Looks like 2 laps of sand and sequoias.

Possible to get two teams out next week as well...

tpbiker, twisty, oopnorth, weeksy, ivandobski, peesbee, retrorick

Have all done or shown an interest in the TTT before!

> Compared to haloric who put out a nice consistent power throughout.

The red line is the red line. The engine needs changing before the next race though, the pistons are seized this morning, and the chassis could lose 9kg and still be borderline to make the team.

What are you using for all those numbers Robbo?

intervals.icu

It is free and links to your Strava so you need to use Strava (although you can literally just use that link into intervals).

It is a pretty good analysis tool especially as it is free!

Might have a look see ta

Hopefully I will be TT'ing next week.
Wouldn't mind being in the 2nd team with the comms left open so it'll be easier to understand each others effort. Would that work? Or would there be a problem with having 2 teams user the same stw discord channel?

I guess we could Always split it if needed anyhow, but it's not like there's a lot of talking after the go.

I've put one (for now) entry in for next week.

Thursday 7:40pm, 2x Sand & Sequoias (42km)
Enter category A here : https://www.zwift.com/events/view/1106597

I'll do a separate post in a sec picking up on @robbo1234biking's idea of beating a drum to see if we can tempt enough riders to form two teams.

Let's see if there's enough interest to get a second team going, maybe just once, maybe all winter. Who knows?

I've tagged this post (below) with my best effort at a big online stalker list to summon everyone who might be interested to this thread - if I've missed people, point them this way!

It isn't necessarily administratively simple. I have no idea how the "clubs" who put out multiple teams manage to administer it. @kelvinshuffle, @mrhoppy and others involved with those setups might know. I'll just follow the consensus on here.

Here are some possibilities. I don't want to just impose one. But I don't want to prompt the most boring debate in the history of the forum either. Best to just alight on one soonish and then see how it goes:

Option 1 - enter two teams in the same time slot and category. So just one entry link, and we can allocate between the two here on the forum and then by simply updating name tags on zwiftpower in time for the start

Option 2 - enter two teams in different time slots, and have two entry links. either decide actively here on the forum how to divide riders between the teams (i.e. organise it) or just let people choose freely according to availability (i.e. leave rider distribution to chance).

Option 3 - organise everything initially on the forum, and deal with entry and tags last once things are decided. (I think this option would be a time consuming car crash, fwiw!).

Option 4 (hanging over it all) - there'll soon be a fortnightly TTT on Tuesdays as part of the new Zwift Racing League. Someone will surely crack soon and volunteer to organise STW involvement in that, so things might get more complex re TTTs at least every other week. But it could be a way to ease into two teams.

Anyway, speak up if you want to get involved in a two team setup.

Here (based on people who have ridden previously, have admitted to being interested but not yet taken part, or already ride elsewhere but might be tempted to change loyalty) is that list:

@kelvinshuffle, @garry_lager, @weeksy, @trail_rat, @mooman, @phil56, @ivandobski, @ljarch, @dangeourbrain, @dknwhy, @zilog6128, @tiger6791, @piemonster, @robbo1234biking, @twisty, @eat_more_cheese, @haloric, @mrhoppy, @kirky72, @tpbiker, @retrorick, @yanboss, @scaredypants, @poopscoop, @oopnorth, @nixie, @tomlevell, @prawny, @peesbee

Someone will surely crack soon and volunteer to organise STW involvement in that,

I thought I'd take a look at that this weekend and try coincide it with the end of Robbo's series.

FWIW I think option 1 is the way to go. I'm not sure (personally) that it'll produce the best outcomes but, the consensus seems to be a split along the lines C and early B to bigger B and A.
If it gets more folks to join in I think that's a good thing.

It would be much easier to organise the team allocations etc here and allow for a bit of fluidity in terms of entries to ensure we have enough numbers in 1 team at least.

I would go with Option 1 as well. Makes sense to keep it more informal. Also I think you want a minimum of 5 riders in each team. If we don't reach that level then we should only enter the one team that week. Within discord I think we can have two voice servers so you just need to join the right one for the right team.

My opinion is that we should stick with a mixed approach between the teams as well.

I'll try to be involved on Thursdays if possible, usual work related possible lateness applies!

Think I'd be better in the second group where I can contribute more, rather than just making up numbers and hanging on for dear life! For me it's just being involved and having fun, so not bothered about being in the first group over the line.

Could you add my name to the list as well please.

Option 1 makes sense, potentially easier to administrate at we'd always be able to field at least one team ideally. It does make sense to have a 2nd team which is not quite as rapid I think if that's what people want & will get more of us involved. I am happy to ride for either team, the fast team is bloody hard work but hopefully is slowly making me fitter!!

To give you a sense of how WKG handle it each week they have call for riders where they ask who's available and which time slot they want, One guy then divvies those up into teams in a Google Sheet.

My instinct if most people can make one time slot then two teams in one time slot is the way to go. It doesn't matter too much if you're entered into the wrong category as they move team about afterwards based who was in the start pen.

As long as everyone then knows if they're in STWGNAR or STWNOTGNAR, joins the right pen for their team, their start time and change their ZwiftPower tags accordingly you'll be fine.

If you think you'll end up with an Espresso team I'm happy to jump back with you folks if that helps on numbers.

Also when working out who's on what team I'd suggest going off FTP Watts rather than WKG/Cat as it can be a bit misleading for all but the hilliest routes

I've entered a second team in the same pen.

A consensus emerged fast. The most boring debate ever has been avoided.

EVERYONE interested, enter category A here: https://www.zwift.com/events/view/1106597

We'll deal with the finer details of who rides in which team nearer the time: decide on here, officialise by zwiftpower tagging...

@kelvinshuffle thank you. I'd rather avoid Google sheet etc if there's a simpler way that'll work. I think two teams is simple enough. The pressure is more towards a latte and a frappe, maybe even a mocha rather than towards espresso. Keep your eye on it though?

entered!

The most boring debate ever has been avoided.

I take it you filter the forum to just zwift related threads?

It's looking like BRT may end up overloaded at the moment so I might be able to join you guys but don't know at the moment.

I’m also in. Questioning my own sanity though as I’m still suffering the effects of Tuesdays race!

Entered.

All the entries showing on the app are STW at the minute so we look fairly keen!

I'm entered! Hopefully I make it 🙂

I’m in...and I’ve got a new log in, just to avoid confusion. Don’t tell the mods 🤣

I've entered 🐈 A.

Already got 12 riders for next week! That’s a good start!

This is amazing. There is no-one else even signed up in that category yet, just a list of 12 STW riders.

Still 4 more places available. Join category A here: https://www.zwift.com/events/view/1106597?__znl=en-gb

I'm in
13 !

Im in also 14 now.

Here's what I'm planning:

- give it until tomorrow, and then post a consolidated list of all our signed up riders to prompt a chat about how to dice them up into two teams.
- then post provisional (but unlikely to change) team tags for zwiftpower on Weds...
.. and confirm them alongside start delays and discord channels for each team on Thurs AM.

There are still two places available. Sign up to category A here: https://www.zwift.com/events/view/1106597?__znl=en-gb

sounds good! would be amazing to have 2 full teams riding the same race!!

Biggest issue is who gets the Bumblebee jersey isn't it?

Just to say I'm definitely only in on STW team 2, I realise I'm late to the party so happy to duck out if 2 squad is over subscribed with others who have posted before me. Eventually I hope I can get back to the 1st team, but i'll get spat instantly on current form even with phil/ brian towing me all the way round haha

Executive decision (which, ridiculously, I have thought through):

Everyone can be a bumblebee.

Everyone can be a bumblebee.

I think one team will be bumble A won't they?

I think one team will be bumble A won’t they?

👏

Who is the admin of the discord channel? We need another voice channel added so one for bumble(a) and one for bumble(b)

I think the voice comms will be important. I felt a little distant on the TT event a few weeks ago. I mistakenly disconnected the discord link so when I had a dodgy connection I couldn't cry for help 😂.
I did re connect just as the rest of the team was finishing which was good to hear.

Don't worry I've been sorting discord channels today.

I know Rob gets a lot of praise for the race series but Savoyad deffo deserves a round of applause for taking on the role the STW TTT admin bod - especially given the labyrinthine WTRL regs.

Yep 100% agree Ivan! In some ways my job is easier as people choose whether to ride or not. Trying to get a team together is far harder! Thanks Savoyad!

Sorry cant make it, we've ended up without a full team at 6.30.

yes, thanks to both of you for doing these

on TTTs, is it just me that sometimes can't work out which bumblebee is me?
On the (OK, I admit) ONE that I did, I found myself slightly wishing I was in a different shirt to the rest of the group

It's all about how you accessorise.

@mrhoppy. It’s ok we aren’t on until 19.40 so you can do both....

I thought about it when you were on the 6.30 and I was riding 7.40 on a Mocha team. Not sure I'll cope with Sand and Sequoia 4 times especially as we seem to be getting 10+min delays in the pen at the moment, so it'd be a minute or so on the changeover.

I'm DS as well this week so I can't even drop out early. Got to have someone to shout at the bellends not moving out of the way.

When I logged on to warn up last week you can see all the messages from the ttt when you are in the main game. I saw one from you struggling with a hanger on who didn’t want to leave the group. Made me chuckle!

Hanger on!!! It was the whole sodding team taking a draft off us. The week before we had a team we caught for a minute in a lap call us a mess because they accelerated into our draft, wouldn't fall back and split off our last rider.

I must have looked like a right Mardy sod to the normal game dobbers.

IvanDobski
Full Member
I know Rob gets a lot of praise for the race series but Savoyad deffo deserves a round of applause for taking on the role the STW TTT

Savoyad is now owner of the STW Discord channel too, just in case he hasn't enough to do already!😁

Savoyad deffo deserves a round of applause for taking on the role the STW TTT admin bod – especially given the labyrinthine WTRL regs.

Absolutely, and certainly on the WTRL nonsense. I started looking into the full race series and I started to get noise bleeds when they mentioned spot checks on rider weights in the fun leagues

they mentioned spot checks on rider weights in the fun leagues

That is where they lost me too. Presumably you have to send in a photo of you standing on the scales but that is still open to abuse so unless someone comes to your house I don't know how they can manage it still. Going to stick to the Thursday TTT for me.

Presumably you have to send in a photo of you standing on the scales

It's not so much the how that got me as the why. I can understand in the Premier league but in the non serious ones it's like having to submit a blood test to participate in the parent's race at sports day.

You make it a serious sport by having non serious accessible stuff at the bottom, seems a bit of a own goal to follow the model of polo or dressage instead of football or running.

I'll just drop this dignified random example here shall I?

(I don't think a cat is mandatory).

I assumed it was a cut n paste error from the more serious category at first, but they mention it multiple times. The underlying rules (assuming they mirror the existing attempts at this) are perverse as well - they include a 5% allowance which is actually massive, encourages cheating if anything.

It would be great if we could get involved in that race series. And I suspect there will in reality be much less naked home videoing involved than those rules suggest. But I can really see why the hassle (overall, not just that) is an obstacle at the moment for @dangeourbrain.

Is a "noise bleed" the sound you sometimes make over discord during the TTT Brian? I'll post about that next. Back on topic etc.

Is a “noise bleed”

It the "uhhhhhhhhhh" sound you make when something intangible inflicts a physical wound, such as when someone explains their point of view using the words Daily Mail.

The underlying rules (assuming they mirror the existing attempts at this) are perverse as well

They'd see me (and I'm sure plenty like me) racing in B because my ZP category has been dropped, I'd be back in A on ZP as soon as I've done my first solo race.

What headphones do people use? Phil comes across really clearly but you cant even hear me so I am generally just listening in which didn't help last week when I was struggling and then couldn't get the message across but didn't want to delay the team.

I use a Bluetooth headset with an integrated mic but you just cant hear me.

Wondering if I should get a gaming headset with a proper mic (they are only £20) that physically plugs into the computer rather than a Bluetooth connection?

sounds like there's a few on here worried about getting caught out 😉

It's something else Zwift can't really win with... do nothing & some people will moan that they're paying good money & weight dopers are ruining their experience. Do something like this and others moan you're sucking the fun out of it! In reality it'll take most people 2 minutes if they even actually get selected.