Zwift Chat

[steverob]

@Whorty - we were luckier than you in that we didn't have too many people actually try to make breaks at the front (or maybe they did but always failed!) it was more a bizarrely high tempo that was being set and because of that, I'd say that 95% of our field did make it to the first climb in the main pack, though many were knackered already at that point! First climb shed about half the field, but then they eased up on the descent and allowed maybe 5-10 dropped riders to catch back up.

I think for the next round that the Dodos and Ducks will probably end up merging. We've lost three riders to C now (one other last night as well as me, plus one earlier in the season via a non-ZRL race) and I don't think there'll be enough numbers to justify two D teams in DIRT. I'll be looking to join a "developmental" C team for the next round - think I stand a better chance of contributing there rather than in a proper C team.

 

[alex_cycles]

Well after last night’s final climb, my ZMAP score went through the roof and apparently according to my team captain, WTRL now has me listed as a C.

Interestingly Zwift and ZP say I’m still a D and I calculate it as 3.19908 (therefore below the 3.2 cut-off) so can only assume it’s a rounding thing.

Companion app shows you as a C. ZP lags behind unless you click "refresh profile" in which case it updates on demand

 

[Whorty]

@Whorty - we were luckier than you in that we didn't have too many people actually try to make breaks at the front (or maybe they did but always failed!) it was more a bizarrely high tempo that was being set and because of that, I'd say that 95% of our field did make it to the first climb in the main pack, though many were knackered already at that point! First climb shed about half the field, but then they eased up on the descent and allowed maybe 5-10 dropped riders to catch back up.

I think for the next round that the Dodos and Ducks will probably end up merging. We've lost three riders to C now (one other last night as well as me, plus one earlier in the season via a non-ZRL race) and I don't think there'll be enough numbers to justify two D teams in DIRT. I'll be looking to join a "developmental" C team for the next round - think I stand a better chance of contributing there rather than in a proper C team.

Well done on the upgrade
I found out today I got upgraded to C too - that damn climb haha
ZP has me at C too, my 95% of 20 mins shows as 2.479 which I assume is above the D cat limits? Less than 2 weeks back and I've dragged myself out of D and back into the lower grades of C.
We lost 2 riders (me and James) last night to upgrades, so we'd join any C development team if that was an option. I think one of the guys has approached WTRL to see if we can get this new team up and running for round 2.
Time to get my fitness back - see how far up the C ranks I can crawl again

 

[steverob]

Looks like you got caught in the same trap as me Carl; your ZFTP is still within D numbers but your ZMAP (3-6 minute power) is what’s tipped you into C.

But given there are now Developmental divisions we should both be able to find a team next round that we can race with and not be completely at the back.

 

[bridgy]

Well done on the upgrade
I found out today I got upgraded to C too - that damn climb haha
ZP has me at C too, my 95% of 20 mins shows as 2.479 which I assume is above the D cat limits? Less than 2 weeks back and I've dragged myself out of D and back into the lower grades of C.
We lost 2 riders (me and James) last night to upgrades, so we'd join any C development team if that was an option. I think one of the guys has approached WTRL to see if we can get this new team up and running for round 2.
Time to get my fitness back - see how far up the C ranks I can crawl again

The "A, B, C, D" categories on Zwiftpower (which WTRL use for ZRL) are based on your zFTP and zMAP numbers now, not 20 minute power (this has been the case for quite a while now). You can see your zFTP on Zwiftpower, and both your zFTP and zMAP on zwift.com in "My Feed". The category boundaries are:

NOTE: All this has NOTHING to do with Zwift Racing Score which is a completely different category system - race organisers can choose which one to use which is why some are based on your ZRS and some (like Zwift Racing league still) are based on the A, B, C, D categories as above. Obviously races using ZRS still place you in the A, B, C, D pens for the race but that's just riders being separated by the ZRS boundaries for that race and is nothing to do with these categories on on Zwiftpower (although the pen is often what you'd expect anyway!)

 

[bridgy]

Looks like you got caught in the same trap as me Carl; your ZFTP is still within D numbers but your ZMAP (3-6 minute power) is what’s tipped you into C.

But given there are now Developmental divisions we should both be able to find a team next round that we can race with and not be completely at the back.

The Development divisions - basically making 8 categories instead of 4 - has been a fantastic introduction into this round of ZRL and I hope they continue with it. I can only speak for Cat B as that's all I know, but the change from 20 minute power to Zftp/zMAP to define the categories meant a lot of previous Cat A riders now fall into Cat B, making the ZRL races in recent previous rounds REALLY hard if you're towards the lower end of the category (I assume the same happened with Cats C & D). The racing this season so far has felt much more balanced in terms of abilities

 

[Whorty]

The "A, B, C, D" categories on Zwiftpower (which WTRL use for ZRL) are based on your zFTP and zMAP numbers now, not 20 minute power (this has been the case for quite a while now). You can see your zFTP on Zwiftpower, and both your zFTP and zMAP on zwift.com in "My Feed". The category boundaries are:

View attachment 788699

NOTE: All this has NOTHING to do with Zwift Racing Score which is a completely different category system - race organisers can choose which one to use which is why some are based on your ZRS and some (like Zwift Racing league still) are based on the A, B, C, D categories as above. Obviously races using ZRS still place you in the A, B, C, D pens for the race but that's just riders being separated by the ZRS boundaries for that race and is nothing to do with these categories on on Zwiftpower (although the pen is often what you'd expect anyway!)

I definietly didn't exceed the FTP figure so it must have been the zMap (is that the 5 minute figure?) - in that race my best 5 mins was 3.23 which is just over the limit.

Just need to work a bit harder now I'm back in C, and pick flatter races
At the end of the day I'll race wherever I'm put, and just race those around me, so it's not really that important so long as I do have others to compete with

 

[Whorty]

Looks like you got caught in the same trap as me Carl; your ZFTP is still within D numbers but your ZMAP (3-6 minute power) is what’s tipped you into C.

But given there are now Developmental divisions we should both be able to find a team next round that we can race with and not be completely at the back.

Should help my fitness to hang on to others in C although a gradual introduction via a developmental league would be welcome lol

 

[Norry1]

The Zwift Ride is on offer this weekend at £999.99 + £65 shipping which seems a great price to me. It includes the New KICKR CORE 2 and the Tablet Holder. I've just ordered one for my good lady - so soon we may be Zwifting together in my our pain cave.

Gonna order a Tablet for her to run it on - any suggestions?

 

[CXRAndy]

My base training is coming along steadily. I now at the end try out some power efforts to see how it feels. Yesterday's power effort saw me try out the virtual shifting to gauge which gear suits my sprint.

I managed to peak over 1100W and hold 900W for 16 secs.

Cadence was a little lower than my best power figures, so I'll drop a virtual gear next time to rev up a little more.

Im looking to add some races in next month if everything progresses nicely

 

[bridgy]

I definietly didn't exceed the FTP figure so it must have been the zMap (is that the 5 minute figure?) - in that race my best 5 mins was 3.23 which is just over the limit.

Just need to work a bit harder now I'm back in C, and pick flatter races
At the end of the day I'll race wherever I'm put, and just race those around me, so it's not really that important so long as I do have others to compete with

Yeah looks like you just nudged over the zMAP limits.

zMAP is based on 4-6 minute power - and both zMAP and zFTP are based on all efforts over the past 90 days.

The Cat C zMAP boundary is 3.2wkg and looking at your power curve your 4 minute power is 3.29w/kg, 5 minute 3.23w/kg and 6 minute 3.24w/kg - so very close to the boundary but above it at all points over the 4-6 minutes. You will be able to see exactly what your zMAP currently is on "My Feed" on Zwift.com

For zFTP, remember it isn't just your 20 minute power, it's a bit more complicated than that (and the exact formula Zwift use is secret):

 

[Whorty]

Yeah looks like you just nudged over the zMAP limits.

zMAP is based on 4-6 minute power - and both zMAP and zFTP are based on all efforts over the past 90 days.

The Cat C zMAP boundary is 3.2wkg and looking at your power curve your 4 minute power is 3.29w/kg, 5 minute 3.23w/kg and 6 minute 3.24w/kg - so very close to the boundary but above it at all points over the 4-6 minutes. You will be able to see exactly what your zMAP currently is on "My Feed" on Zwift.com

For zFTP, remember it isn't just your 20 minute power, it's a bit more complicated than that (and the exact formula Zwift use is secret):

View attachment 788788

I'm really pleased with that over 4-6 mins considering I've only done a few rides since I started back up. My sprint is Ok too at 8 w/kg. Just need to get more in the engine for the longer sections and improve my recovery after a sprint or climb.

I held on to the D pacer at 2.1 w/kg for 90 mins this evening, when 2 weeks ago I had to quit after 6 mins as I couldn't hang on any more.
The DIRT team are looking to sort out a C development team for round 2 which should be great for us lower Cs and for me personally should help my progression back through the C cat.
Not sure I'll ever get back to B cat as I can't see me being able to get to 75kg in weight again given the weight training I'm doing, but if I can be fairly competitive in C on the flatter courses that should suit me just fine).
How are the old B team doing? Who you guys riding for now?

 

[alex_cycles]

My base training is coming along steadily. I now at the end try out some power efforts to see how it feels. Yesterday's power effort saw me try out the virtual shifting to gauge which gear suits my sprint.

I managed to peak over 1100W and hold 900W for 16 secs.

Cadence was a little lower than my best power figures, so I'll drop a virtual gear next time to rev up a little more.

Im looking to add some races in next month if everything progresses nicely

you‘re still a beast then 🦵

 

[CXRAndy]

I decided to try out a few weeks of base training in a race-

I know I know, I said next month. Anyhow

Held on the first climb and got onto the top of the second, but I was gasping lead pack got away. I was then fighting with myself not to get caught. I held on for 11th in D got a big demotion. Well and truly a D


View: https://youtu.be/dtnPrxcf0yA?si=d3bcZIqw4p-jVeiu

 

[alex_cycles]

I know I know, I said next month. Anyhow

We didn't believe you anyway. Well done and welcome back.