Zwift Chat

[Del C]

You're racing mostly with younger blokes. From 50 its a slow descent for most. Some do keep a better level. You're are nearly 60 and putting very respectful numbers out, dont knock yourself

Yeah I think that's the truth.

Put me in a TTT or ITT and I'll roll along comfortably as a B cat, but ask me to put out silly watts at the start and I'm just not there. I'm not far off to be honest, but far enough.

The Cat system is pretty unkind when in your in your 60s, although if I check out other riders there are guys in their 60s who are putting out some big watts.

 

[mjd1988]

Yeah I think that's the truth.

Put me in a TTT or ITT and I'll roll along comfortably as a B cat, but ask me to put out silly watts at the start and I'm just not there. I'm not far off to be honest, but far enough.

The Cat system is pretty unkind when in your in your 60s, although if I check out other riders there are guys in their 60s who are putting out some big watts.

As Andy says you are being very hard in yourself, especially as you went up a category not that long ago.

That course in particular is a tough one if you don't get into a group by the time the laps start

 

[bobinski]

Del, don’t listen to lardy, prematurely over the hill Andy 😁 You do hang in on some of the fast starts. You also race and ride a lot. Perhaps you carry a bit too much fatigue into racing to always be able to hang in, perhaps you need to change your warm up regime and/or just need to do some specific training for those explosive starts. I don’t know mate.

 

[CXRAndy]

Del, don’t listen to lardy, prematurely over the hill Andy 😁 You do hang in on some of the fast starts. You also race and ride a lot. Perhaps you carry a bit too much fatigue into racing to always be able to hang in, perhaps you need to change your warm up regime and/or just need to do some specific training for those explosive starts. I don’t know mate.

I'm just quoting the recognised stats VO2 max drops off significantly into our 50's That's the important number' when explosive power is needed, but to be able to recover quickly and continue at threshold, tough ask.

Del's ,Martin's and extraordinary you too are putting out very very good numbers for your age.

Look at Dan LLoyd@GCN, a former professional who could make 300W for 4 hours Now struggles to make 280W for 1 hour at the lowly age of 39. There are outliers, Lee being one, I know another 60 yr old who runs with A cats, but he constantly and I mean all year round works hard to sustain his VO2 Max.

You cant stop father time, slow it, yes, but not stop it. (insert meloncholy violin tune)

There should be age group racing too


BTW Im just preparing for winter

 

[BurningLegs]

Great racing with you last night @IrishAl @berty bassett @mjd1988 @Del C

I quite liked that circuit - first time racing it and tbh I think 2 or 3 laps is enough but I suppose 4 laps brings a bit of jeopardy as the small front group is chased down.

My legs felt good and I was comfortable up the early climbs. After a bit of a pull with @berty bassett to stop the chase getting hold of us I still felt I had something left so decided with @IrishAl to go early. Unfortunately I made a mistake and at approx 2KM to go I came out the back of the group!! So that needed a big old dig to get back in, and then straight into my long range attack

If I hadn’t needed to effectively attack from 2KM out, and attacked at 1KM as intended I actually think I’d have had a chance. If @IrishAl was directly behind I’d have yielded, of course

@mjd1988 - I was a little concerned I might be pulling myself into A Cat when I was pulling our group away from the chasers but don’t think I did when I looked on ZP afterwards??

 

[IrishAl]

Sorry to p people about - could I have an invite to weds please - must have expired as I can’t find it And I guess I should get off settee and do something 👍

You found it ok Berty?

 

[BurningLegs]

 

[IrishAl]

Great racing with you last night @IrishAl @berty bassett @mjd1988 @Del C

I quite liked that circuit - first time racing it and tbh I think 2 or 3 laps is enough but I suppose 4 laps brings a bit of jeopardy as the small front group is chased down.

My legs felt good and I was comfortable up the early climbs. After a bit of a pull with @berty bassett to stop the chase getting hold of us I still felt I had something left so decided with @IrishAl to go early. Unfortunately I made a mistake and at approx 2KM to go I came out the back of the group!! So that needed a big old dig to get back in, and then straight into my long range attack

If I hadn’t needed to effectively attack from 2KM out, and attacked at 1KM as intended I actually think I’d have had a chance. If @IrishAl was directly behind I’d have yielded, of course

@mjd1988 - I was a little concerned I might be pulling myself into A Cat when I was pulling our group away from the chasers but don’t think I did when I looked on ZP afterwards??

I could see a few in the group behind calling turns and asking about @mjd1988 - where they checking you were ok and enjoying the ride or trying to make you work? 😀

@BurningLegs you are now showing as A in Zwiftpower at 4.01wkg. Time to have some cake(s) 😅

 

[Norry1]

I'm just quoting the recognised stats VO2 max drops off significantly into our 50's That's the important number' when explosive power is needed, but to be able to recover quickly and continue at threshold, tough ask.

Del's ,Martin's and extraordinary you too are putting out very very good numbers for your age.

Look at Dan LLoyd@GCN, a former professional who could make 300W for 4 hours Now struggles to make 280W for 1 hour at the lowly age of 39. There are outliers, Lee being one, I know another 60 yr old who runs with A cats, but he constantly and I mean all year round works hard to sustain his VO2 Max.

You cant stop father time, slow it, yes, but not stop it. (insert meloncholy violin tune)

There should be age group racing too


BTW Im just preparing for winter

There is. There is at least one Masters Series where the groups/categories are age based. There is also the BMTR (British Masters Turbo Racing) who are basically BMCR on Zwift. They join "normal races" but show the Age Category placings afterwards as well.

 

[Milzy]

Ok Lee is in now, so We've got 4 in each team for Wednesday.

Looking at the teams again, I could have put Nick in A, but I don't know who to drop to B, so I've stayed with the 4 who've been strongest in the past. Anyhow, it just means we've got 2 strong riders to pull B along.

I could have put Bob, Adam or Martin in B or C, so if you have a preference or object to where you are then just say and I can move you guys around.

Everyone happy with my handicaps. There's an element of guesswork between A and B with the way people are currently riding.

View attachment 531830

Looks really good. If the weather is blazing hot I might be tempted to go outside 😭

 

[CXRAndy]

Here are some numbers for VO2 max

I don't know an accurate way to get your number but here is a chart if you do

 

[Del C]

Here are some numbers for VO2 max

I don't know an accurate way to get your number but here is a chart if you do

View attachment 531856

Is there an accurate way to test your VO2 max?

 

[Del C]

Del's ,Martin's and extraordinary you too are putting out very very good numbers for your age.

I know this is true, even when I get frustrated with rides like last night.

If I look where I sit in Strava segment tables, I'm often in the top 10-20% and in age group tables much higher than that.

And I often remind myself that I'm riding against some very strong riders and I'm not doing badly.

I ought to be quite happy when I think that way!

 

[berty bassett]

Shall will all club together and buy Andy a Zimmer frame for Christmas ?

 

[Norry1]

I know this is true, even when I get frustrated with rides like last night.

If I look where I sit in Strava segment tables, I'm often in the top 10-20% and in age group tables much higher than that.

And I often remind myself that I'm riding against some very strong riders and I'm not doing badly.

I ought to be quite happy when I think that way!

I'm the same. Still think I'm 18 and I should be beating everyone. Think I should be renamed Canute