Zwift Chat

[Whorty]

Having done the course both Saturday and Sunday at both low and high altitude, todays speed was actually slow. As you can see in the video it was around 43-45 most of the way. Yesterday in "Mexico" I rode at around 40kph on a TT (thus no draft) not at all racing (avg. 2.7w/kg).

Sticky draft may well be slowing you down and breaking your speed? .... I did wonder if this would be an issue.

 

[LBHIFI]

@bobinski , @Brusgaard , @LBHIFI ..... how did that course feel with so many riders? Was it a continuous snake for the whole race or did the groups break up? If memory serves well, the start out the pens to the arch is slightly up hill (1% - 2% gradients ?) - does this split the field if you don't keep power on constantly?

It broke up in groups. After 5 min or so I saw a gap opening up in front of me. I was already at max so just kept my pace. I think that must have been the first group dissapearing, while Brusgaard, me and apparently AAC was left in 2. group. After 15 min in zone red, I had to take a break and dropped back to group 3 while Brusgaard and AAC continued in group 2.

 

[Brusgaard]

It broke up in groups. After 5 min or so I saw a gap opening up in front of me. I was already at max so just kept my pace. I think that must have been the first group dissapearing, while Brusgaard, me and apparently AAC was left in 2. group. After 15 min in zone red, I had to take a break and dropped back to group 3 while Brusgaard and AAC continued in group 2.

As you can see in the picture, AAAC didn’t start with the rest of us, as he is about 500m “behind” us, even though we ride neck and neck.

 

[Whorty]

It broke up in groups. After 5 min or so I saw a gap opening up in front of me. I was already at max so just kept my pace. I think that must have been the first group dissapearing, while Brusgaard, me and apparently AAC was left in 2. group. After 15 min in zone red, I had to take a break and dropped back to group 3 while Brusgaard and AAC continued in group 2.

OK, that's interesting. So the option is either to burn lots of matches early and see if you can hold on to a group, then drop back if you need to ... or get into a comfortable group early and take it easy? ha ha, as if anyone will take it easy

 

[Brusgaard]

View attachment 465447 But I will take this for now

I think you have to replace that image with a more recent one.

 

[AAAC 76C]

Looking for heart rate that event was picnic to @AAAC 76C .

HRM not working properly, not sure why could be my strap.
That all said it took me a while to realise what was happening. I chose the ride from the list top right of the screen and watched the countdown but at zero hours nothing happened so I clicked Ride and ended up on the Richmond circuit and then got a pop up to say Watopia was starting so I clicked to join.
And there I was in a sea of riders who all looked the same. Lucky I opted for a bun and no helmet so I could see where I was.
Cannot say that my trainer was working as well as it does in BKool (and that's saying something).
Anyway I just went along for the ride and jumped between groups when we neared the next group on the road.
Got totally lost in the sprint and got a few screen freezes just when you don't want them.

When was I supposed to switch the trainer on and off?
Need a new HRM band as all the elasticity has gone out of mine and the sensors are but snug against my chest when riding (or I need to do some weights).

 

[AAAC 76C]

Sticky draft may well be slowing you down and breaking your speed? .... I did wonder if this would be an issue.

Sticky draft?

 

[Brusgaard]

Sticky draft?

When you catch someone you may loose speed as your bike stick to his wheel. You then have to work even harder to get away from his draft and pass him.

 

[bobinski]

I think you have to replace that image with a more recent one.

I was gonna give a
But have a

 

[<Tommy>]

HRM not working properly, not sure why could be my strap.
That all said it took me a while to realise what was happening. I chose the ride from the list top right of the screen and watched the countdown but at zero hours nothing happened so I clicked Ride and ended up on the Richmond circuit and then got a pop up to say Watopia was starting so I clicked to join.
And there I was in a sea of riders who all looked the same. Lucky I opted for a bun and no helmet so I could see where I was.
Cannot say that my trainer was working as well as it does in BKool (and that's saying something).
Anyway I just went along for the ride and jumped between groups when we neared the next group on the road.
Got totally lost in the sprint and got a few screen freezes just when you don't want them.

When was I supposed to switch the trainer on and off?
Need a new HRM band as all the elasticity has gone out of mine and the sensors are but snug against my chest when riding (or I need to do some weights).

The learning curb is quite steep at first but after 3 or four races you’ll get the hang of the basics. It’s easier to work it out in smaller field races as it gives you more of a chance to work out how riders navigate each other and other little things. I had trouble working out how to join the races too but you do get used to it. I only mess it up half the time now...It’s better if you try and join the races 5/10 minutes before they start depending on how big the field is.

You can enter the races through Zwift power or the Zwift companion app and it’s eaiser to see what’s going on this way rather than the right hand column on the Zwift app screen. Then you just have to wait until an icon appears on your screen asking if you want to be taken to the start line.

If I were you I’d also try peddling around for a bit. Just to get a feel for it. Try cycling at other people’s pace to work out the draft.

 

[CXRAndy]

When was I supposed to switch the trainer on and off

After you have fully logged into Zwift.

 

[Milzy]

Adam I’m going to have a go tomorrow night if you fancy it mate. A few of us are doing a ride in Wales on Sunday so I’m planning to take it easy this week too.

Good luck Sunday!

That would work very well, I can try my new insoles too.

 

[JLaw]

OK, that's interesting. So the option is either to burn lots of matches early and see if you can hold on to a group, then drop back if you need to ... or get into a comfortable group early and take it easy? ha ha, as if anyone will take it easy

With 900 riding I expected to be in the draft most, if not all, of the stage. So I shot for a steady state just above FTP.

30:35 with watts just a hair over FTP.

I'll probably ride it again a couple more times. It's short enough that I think there's still a few more watts to give. I may even try a rabbit start and hold on as long as I can.

 

[JLaw]

It broke up in groups. After 5 min or so I saw a gap opening up in front of me. I was already at max so just kept my pace. I think that must have been the first group dissapearing, while Brusgaard, me and apparently AAC was left in 2. group. After 15 min in zone red, I had to take a break and dropped back to group 3 while Brusgaard and AAC continued in group 2.

Yea, mine broke up a fair bit as well. But still had nice sized groups to draft on and enough singles coming through that if one wanted to push forward to a faster group you'd have help getting there.

 

[Randyberlin]

@Del C and @bert1971 .

You two must have passed each other.