Zwift Chat

[Whorty]

@Whorty, you'll easily come in WAY under 6 hours for the Tour of Cambs. I'm aiming for about 6:20 - 6:30 depending on how long I need to stop for and I know I'm nowhere near as strong a rider as you.

The last two times I've done it, it wasn't 100 miles admittedly, but I managed roughly 5 1/2hrs for 85 miles (2016) and 5 hrs for 80 miles (2018). On last year's ride, I went in actually LESS fit than on my previous attempt, but managed to get in a good group for most of the second half of the ride (the flat bit) and that dragged my average speed up massively, plus the headwind (and there will be one, I can guarantee that!) was really strong and in the worst possible part of the route during the first attempt compared to the second one.

You'll have to look out for us on the day. We'll have our lovely Orange Chaingang tops on .... Should be easy to spot

I'm doing it on a single speed bike so as legs get tired I'll have no easy gears to drop down to. That's when I'll be looking for groups to drag me along . just hope no one minds me sandbagging the last 30 miles

 

[theboxers]

Your target time is slightly faster than mine over the ToC but may mean we are near each other at times during the ride. I'm only looking to stop to top up water and grab a snack, nothing longer; I find if i stop too long my legs start to lock up The next 5 weeks therefore are just long tempo rides, burn some calories, eat a little less for 4 weeks, and hopefully drop another 2 kg so i can be 75kg. Every ounce off will help on the hills

Edit : I've tried some of the Fondo workouts in the past and I didn't like the fact that they were a constant watts for a long time with little variation. I really struggled to keep going and it didn't feel natural. Be interesting how you get on with them.

The Gran Fondo plan I'm doing is quite variable in power on the shorter workouts, 3 times a week. I think the longest I've spent at any one power, so far, is 3 x 20 mins in zone 3 and that was on the long workout last week. It's getting me used to putting out power constantly not up and down.

This is why I am doing the IRW rides as I can see how I am doing on the flat, what little there is around me. It's not too bad as far as I'm concerned. I can get up to 20 with effort and cruise at 15-17 fairly well but not easily. I just need to keep working on the tempo side so I can cruise a little lower and still make my power and speed numbers.

 

[theboxers]

You'll have to look out for us on the day. We'll have our lovely Orange Chaingang tops on .... Should be easy to spot

I'm doing it on a single speed bike so as legs get tired I'll have no easy gears to drop down to. That's when I'll be looking for groups to drag me along . just hope no one minds me sandbagging the last 30 miles

I'll bring mine along but may not actually ride in it. I would but when you see us Brothers together I think you'll understand.

 

[Whorty]

I'll bring mine along but may not actually ride in it. I would but when you see us Brothers together I think you'll understand.

I'll wear mine with pride ,.. As opposed to the London Pride jersey I usually wear

 

[Brendan Parker]

44.54 for stage 4 for me this morning. Well happy with that and hoping the old knackered kickr was nicking a few watts from me.

 

[IrishAl]

Sub 40 for me in the 0800
@CXRAndy is not far behind me i on the 0900

 

[Whorty]

Looking to jump on the 2 o'clock today but not racing. Aim is to do 1 (maybe 2) laps in my ToC SS gearing, then head over to the flats to top up to 100km. Depending how legs (and buttocks!) feel I may push on to 120 km. Slowly building up to 100 miles on the turbo.

 

[CXRAndy]

Stage 4 done

Claim to fame 1st out of the gate, 3rd out of the aquarium.

From then on, it was all going backwards.

Cant complain really, PBs at the front of the course and some near the finish. 207/8800 for fatties club for whole course and in the thick of it with CC group C

 

[IrishAl]

40:09 in the 0800 ToW4
39:22 in the 0900

I’m not quite sure how I got round quicker in the 2nd go as I was feeling the legs after the 1st attempt. All I can think is that it was a slightly larger lead group in the 0900 outing - 30ish compared to 13 and the 2nd time I stayed in a small gruppetto in the descent of the final climb so I had company for the final 6km to the line whereas i was solo to the line earlier. I didn’t see @CXRAndy at the line - he must have headed straight to the car

 

[Del C]

Well that was odd.

Rode Stage 4 again today.

Rode it on Wednesday with a steady start, still recovering from my chest infection but gradually increased my pace and finished in 45.55. After 3 weeks feeling crap I was happy with that.

Today, I went for a faster start and was around 150 out of 520 for most of the first half. Felt far less snotty today, felt stronger and felt like I was keeping a good pace. Finished 25 seconds slower in 46.20!

A quick look on Strava suggests I was quicker on the first half compared to Wednesday but then tired and lost time.

Oh well. At least I’m feeling better. A week off now on holiday in Cornwall and then I’m off to Mallorca on 4 May for a week cycling.

 

[CXRAndy]

40:09 in the 0800 ToW4
39:22 in the 0900

I’m not quite sure how I got round quicker in the 2nd go as I was feeling the legs after the 1st attempt. All I can think is that it was a slightly larger lead group in the 0900 outing - 30ish compared to 13 and the 2nd time I stayed in a small gruppetto in the descent of the final climb so I had company for the final 6km to the line whereas i was solo to the line earlier. I didn’t see @CXRAndy at the line - he must have headed straight to the car

I thought I caught a glimpse of a Cyclechat name flash by on the first climb. I was 50th at the bottom of the climb, where were you at that point?

 

[IrishAl]

I thought I caught a glimpse of a Cyclechat name flash by on the first climb. I was 50th at the bottom of the climb, where were you at that point?

That could have been me. I spotted you just at the bottom of that first climb and threw you a Ride On for encouragement

 

[Norry1]

Just realised next week is a catchup week for ToW. Any thoughts on our weekly race?

 

[bobinski]

40:09 in the 0800 ToW4
39:22 in the 0900

I’m not quite sure how I got round quicker in the 2nd go as I was feeling the legs after the 1st attempt. All I can think is that it was a slightly larger lead group in the 0900 outing - 30ish compared to 13 and the 2nd time I stayed in a small gruppetto in the descent of the final climb so I had company for the final 6km to the line whereas i was solo to the line earlier. I didn’t see @CXRAndy at the line - he must have headed straight to the car

Back to back rides?!? Very strong! I could barely get off the bike after my one attempt! Feeling weak...
What trainer or PM you using? Please don’t say NEO because that will make me feel even worse

 

[Whorty]

Just realised next week is a catchup week for ToW. Any thoughts on our weekly race?

I'm biased, but I'd love to propose a TT race but setting up our bike as a 'SS' ... by that I mean we select a single gear pre-race and can't change gera throughout the race. Need to pick a gear that you can spin up on flats, but still get over the lumps. Have to set trainer realism as 100% too

Anyone up for this?