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How did the ZRL TTTers get on, that's an awful course for a TTT straight uphill then down lots of flat then back up the hill making it very difficult to pace with riders of different weights and fitness . My and the other lightweight 1st job was to pace the climb in away not to split the pack so we had 6 over the top and then the flat . We started proper rotations as we hit the flat . My problem was when in wheel 2 I was doing my target watts in the wheels for 45 secs then had to keep them going for another 45 on the flat . A couple of suicide pulls by the heavy weights in to the climb which left 4 of us to finish it off , Annoyingly the chasing team caught us 3/4 of the way up they had got to within 10 secs several Kms back but we held them off . Anyway team wise 7th of 8 don't think we could have done anymore . Good news we beat RWB who's rider has out sprinted me in the last 2 rounds ,revenge is sweet 😂
honeybadger
Senior Member
- Location
- Lancashire, NW England
We had a couple of our team unable to be in the start pen for various reasons so only started with five of us. Like yourself 13 rider we had various riders of different weights and power so with only five of us pacing was key. We agreed to do mainly 30sec pulls but if feeling strong do longer. From the start I felt really good so offered to do 60 sec pulls up the hill. In fact along the flat I even did three 90sec efforts to let some of the team recover a bit more. It worked a treat, only loosing one rider on the last climb. We got round in 38:59 coming 1st in our league 17seconds quicker than 2nd place 
alex_cycles
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Skyving today. I'll be back next week for Cobbled Climbs x3 🙌
steverob
Guru
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
I will see you and raise you regarding spread of rider weights: 38kg, 50kg, 70kg, 80kg, 98kg (me) and 104kg.
Considering our struggles on the last TTT, we did REALLY well this time in comparison - came 4th overall out of 9 teams and were consistent across all the splits. One thing we did do was fewer but longer pulls for the stronger riders rather than lots of quick rotations and that worked out well for us. I think I did a couple that were 3 minutes long, but I only needed to be in high Z4 / low Z5, which I can handle fine.
The final climb was a bit tough as it ended up being me and the three lighter riders pushing for the finish, but thankfully there were enough points where the gradient dropped a little which gave me some recovery chances.
Considering our struggles on the last TTT, we did REALLY well this time in comparison - came 4th overall out of 9 teams and were consistent across all the splits. One thing we did do was fewer but longer pulls for the stronger riders rather than lots of quick rotations and that worked out well for us. I think I did a couple that were 3 minutes long, but I only needed to be in high Z4 / low Z5, which I can handle fine.
The final climb was a bit tough as it ended up being me and the three lighter riders pushing for the finish, but thankfully there were enough points where the gradient dropped a little which gave me some recovery chances.
I still can't race at the moment, doctor's orders. My asthma still not fully under control, lungs still 20% below where they should be. I'm doing some Z1/Z2 rides that are a challenge still but I'm keeping it even and controlled. Not sure when I can race again, just going to keep resting and hopefully will be back on the start liine in the next week or two.
alex_cycles
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Flat week for Friday Smash...
Tempus 2.0 km https://www.zwift.com/events/view/5316835
Then London Classique Rev (12.9km, 85m) https://www.zwift.com/events/view/5316844
Tempus 2.0 km https://www.zwift.com/events/view/5316835
Then London Classique Rev (12.9km, 85m) https://www.zwift.com/events/view/5316844
alex_cycles
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Cobbled Climbs next week. You like that one.
mjd1988
Guru
Glad to see Richmond back. Probably the best racing route
I do, but my doc may be a little annoyed if I don't take her advice
For once I'm being a little sensible and will only come back to racing once my body/lungs are fully recovered.
alex_cycles
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Certainly the scene of my best ever result. It was a 5 lapper of Cobbled Climbs in Chasing Tour 2024 Easter Day. I managed to hold onto the A group up Libby ans 23rd, and dropped nearly all the Cs. Then the B group caught me at the end of lap 1 and I stayed with them (or most of them) to the end. By Libby lap 2 I was the only C left in that group and held on to win by more than a minute.
But last year I didn't have it. Couldn't hold on for long enough and got my arse handed to me.
Hoping for a strong top-10 in the ZRL points race though.
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Legs
usually riding on Zwift or up steep hills...
- Location
- Staffordshire
Hi Alex, I’m WFH tomorrow morning (got carpet-fitters) so I’m planning to take a coffee break just before 10:30…. Just one question about the TT: is it timed from the pen, or does the time only count from the ‘start line’ a short way beyond?
alex_cycles
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
I think it's timed from the pen. Certainly the clock seems to start right at the beginning. On the tempus race one week we noticed we all took a few seconds more and it was because we started in the back pen. So yeah it must start there.
alex_cycles
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Final scores on the doors for January Friday Smash. Top attendance points to Phil and me (we both did all 10 but I have it set to take the best 8).
(we both did all 10 but I have it set to take the best 8).
Legs
usually riding on Zwift or up steep hills...
- Location
- Staffordshire
Oh man, I have no top-end power! I managed to hold about 480W for a minute, then slid and was barely managing 300W at the end. I'll start interval training again in a couple of months...
Thanks for the opportunity to do it, @alex_cycles
Thanks for the opportunity to do it, @alex_cycles
