Zwift Chat

[BurningLegs]

I am a bit of a lurker in this thread - I ride Zwift but mostly do workouts and the occasional group rides, I have never raced.

You guys have got a great little community going on here, and I'd love to join you for my first race if you don't mind?

I did an FTP test at the start of Zwift Acadamy which puts me at 3.1W/KG so just at the top end of Cat C in theory (but I have zero race craft). I suspect my FTP is now higher and I am probably just about in the Cat B band but don't want to race Cat B as a first time out and get demoralised!

Do you all join specific races regularly, or ad-hoc like yesterday's? I have a newborn baby so it can be difficult to commit to a ride but I do get time for a few rides each week so I'm hoping that I will get a window of opportunity to join a race soon!

I have to say, I don't like the way that the categories are done in Zwift, it seems to be too open to abuse. In my opinion, every new racer should start as a Cat E and then be awarded points for finishes. Then they can be automatically promoted into a new category when appropriate. I don't think it's fair for people to be free to choose their racing category, we seem to see strong riders deliberately putting themselves in a low Cat and holding back. I suppose they like the feeling of being a big fish in a little pond??

If everyone started in the lowest cat and then got promoted based on their performance, it would make it a lot easier (you don't have to work out your own cat or even have any awareness of your FTP) and in my opinion fairer too.

 

[bridgy]

I am a bit of a lurker in this thread - I ride Zwift but mostly do workouts and the occasional group rides, I have never raced.

You guys have got a great little community going on here, and I'd love to join you for my first race if you don't mind?

I did an FTP test at the start of Zwift Acadamy which puts me at 3.1W/KG so just at the top end of Cat C in theory (but I have zero race craft). I suspect my FTP is now higher and I am probably just about in the Cat B band but don't want to race Cat B as a first time out and get demoralised!

Do you all join specific races regularly, or ad-hoc like yesterday's? I have a newborn baby so it can be difficult to commit to a ride but I do get time for a few rides each week so I'm hoping that I will get a window of opportunity to join a race soon!

I have to say, I don't like the way that the categories are done in Zwift, it seems to be too open to abuse. In my opinion, every new racer should start as a Cat E and then be awarded points for finishes. Then they can be automatically promoted into a new category when appropriate. I don't think it's fair for people to be free to choose their racing category, we seem to see strong riders deliberately putting themselves in a low Cat and holding back. I suppose they like the feeling of being a big fish in a little pond??

If everyone started in the lowest cat and then got promoted based on their performance, it would make it a lot easier (you don't have to work out your own cat or even have any awareness of your FTP) and in my opinion fairer too.

Welcome!

With regards your comments about the race classifications, I do kind of agree with you that I'm not a big fan, but I'm pretty new to this Zwift stuff a few things are gradually starting to make more sense as I get more used to it so maybe I will gradually come round to it!

If someone rides in a lower CAT than they're capable of, that doesn't really bother me TBH. In order to stay within the w/kg limit (which is hard if you're capable of doing more as you can't see what your average is as you go along) they would have to hold themselves back, which is a bit pointless in a race really - they may as well do a social group ride instead, and ultimately it's their loss fitness-wise. Also, you'll notice that very often the "winners" on the road of the lower CAT races do exceed the w/kg limit and get DQ'd in the Zwift Power results. If you're holding yourself back in a lower CAT race it would be hard to know where to place yourself to win the race and stay within w/lg limits. So, their loss not yours!

 

[<Tommy>]

Hi burning legs. I agree with your sentiment with regards a point system but maybe it's more complicated to implement? Dunno...

Also I know a guy from my local area who is classified as a cat A racer in real life, but he often sometimes races cat B. I don't think there's a rule against it. I'm thinking if you're a powerhouse but are a bit bulky for hill climbs maybe you want to drop down a category to compete more? Or maybe it's just at a convenient time or place.
If people are doing it just to nick a cheap win well they probably have fairly sad lives so let them have their hollow victories

Welcome aboard bud!

 

[berty bassett]

Now he turns up !!
Nice to see you TT
I agree with being promoted for places
It was hard for me to decide where to race as being a lightweight I can fairly easily break the imposed wkg limit on c but speed wise I am still behind
I guess the decision has been made for me and I will now stay in b and try to draft
There was times last night that I felt I could have pushed harder so I kind of agree going to b but on a flat course I will be waaay behind
What I did read and found out it’s true is - the sooner you join the race the nearer the front you are when you set off what makes things easier
And welcome BL

 

[CXRAndy]

Welcome Burning Legs, is that your Zwift name aswell? So we can look out for you. Also if you add 'cyclechat' to your zwift name we can obviously tell if you're one of our ragtag group

I would say join cat C race straight off, go out from the gun hard for the first minute and hold onto the front pack, settle in and just see what happens. You might find it impossible to stay with them or easy, you don't know until you try. You dont need to to jump on one of our races, just pick one that suits your schedule and preference. Use mobile link from Zwift on yoyur phone to pick a race, then when you log in it will remind you in the corner to join.

 

[<Tommy>]

Now he turns up !!
Nice to see you TT

I never said I was going to join you lot last night Mr Bassett! In fact I prob won't join zwift until the atom turns up. I've got a bkool sub till Christmas so... I understand Bridgy and others doing it if they plan to stick with the pro a bit longer but I want a clean slate when I jump. The first time I put a beat down on Bob we all know he's gonna cry no fair so I'm happy to wait until we are on a level field

 

[Breedon]

It wasn't all bad 246 watts for 20 minutes only 3 less than my ftp.

 

[bridgy]

I never said I was going to join you lot last night Mr Bassett! In fact I prob won't join zwift until the atom turns up. I've got a bkool sub till Christmas so... I understand Bridgy and others doing it if they plan to stick with the pro a bit longer but I want a clean slate when I jump. The first time I put a beat down on Bob we all know he's gonna cry no fair so I'm happy to wait until we are on a level field

Haha! Good luck with that

 

[BurningLegs]

Welcome Burning Legs, is that your Zwift name aswell? So we can look out for you. Also if you add 'cyclechat' to your zwift name we can obviously tell if you're one of our ragtag group

I would say join cat C race straight off, go out from the gun hard for the first minute and hold onto the front pack, settle in and just see what happens. You might find it impossible to stay with them or easy, you don't know until you try. You dont need to to jump on one of our races, just pick one that suits your schedule and preference. Use mobile link from Zwift on yoyur phone to pick a race, then when you log in it will remind you in the corner to join.

Thanks for the advice. My name in Zwift was different but I have just changed it so my name should be B.urningLegs(CycleChat)

 

[Whorty]

boo
not bumped up - just kicked out

some races the organiser bumps you up, others the DQ you. KISS is a serious race for the big boys so they do it the strict way

 

[rob01792]

on the kiss races is it if u go over ur w/kg in ur cat 3 times in a race u get DQ cos I would put myself in D but on some climbs ill be well over

 

[Whorty]

I never said I was going to join you lot last night Mr Bassett! In fact I prob won't join zwift until the atom turns up. I've got a bkool sub till Christmas so... I understand Bridgy and others doing it if they plan to stick with the pro a bit longer but I want a clean slate when I jump. The first time I put a beat down on Bob we all know he's gonna cry no fair so I'm happy to wait until we are on a level field

Either that or come up with some excuse why he didn't win How is your knee @bobinski ?

 

[Breedon]

on the kiss races is it if u go over ur w/kg in ur cat 3 times in a race u get DQ cos I would put myself in D but on some climbs ill be well over

That's correct.

 

[rob01792]

that's me doomed then watching u guys lastnight there no way I could keep at ur pace

 

[bridgy]

on the kiss races is it if u go over ur w/kg in ur cat 3 times in a race u get DQ cos I would put myself in D but on some climbs ill be well over

From KISS races FAQ http://kissraces.cc/faq/

• Category limits can be exceeded in two ways; the first:
  • Exceeding limits by more than 0.1 w/kg
    • You will not appear in your category results and will receive an “UPG” tag in the ZwiftPower results.
    • Please upgrade in the next race.
    • You have been flagged, and will not appear in the lower category results because you are capable of performing in the next category.
• The Second
  • Exceeding limits by less than 0.1 w/kg.
    • You will receive a check mark next to your name in ZwiftPower.
    • You should consider upgrading as soon as possible
    • Once you have received three check marks for three races above the w/kg boundary, you will receive a “UPG” on your 4th race above the barrier.
    • After 3 check marks are received, you will no longer appear in the lower category results.