Zwift Chat

[<Tommy>]

Why do so many ride well outside of category? I stayed in the top 10 for 3 of the 5 laps but again was dropped when the leaders were holding 5W/kg in the volcano sections and 3W on the flat sections. Alone, solo, speeds and lap times just bleed away.

Accept the category system is deeply flawed and it’s easier to make peace with. I think you said a week or so ago you weren’t going to focus too much on race results. That’s probably the best way of making peace with it to be honest 👍

 

[<Tommy>]

Michal, Peter, that was the race I landed on too. Hopefully see you on the start line 👍👍

 

[CXRAndy]

Accept the category system is deeply flawed and it’s easier to make peace with. I think you said a week or so ago you weren’t going to focus too much on race results. That’s probably the best way of making peace with it to be honest 👍

Sod that, I'm nearly on the podium

You're right Tommy, I shouldn't worry too much and just enjoy the racing for what it is a, a ladder to increased fitness/ power

 

[<Tommy>]

Sod that, I'm nearly on the podium

You're right Tommy, I shouldn't worry too much and just enjoy the racing for what it is a, a ladder to increased fitness/ power

😁

Im not saying you should have to accept it for what it’s worth. Just that it’s much less of a wind up when you do. It’s one of the reasons I generally look to race against people I know. I don’t mind losing if I can turn around and congratulate the other bloke, and say with confidence it was against someone not weight doping or sandbagging.

 

[CXRAndy]

😁

Im not saying you should have to accept it for what it’s worth. Just that it’s much less of a wind up when you do. It’s one of the reasons I generally look to race against people I know. I don’t mind losing if I can turn around and congratulate the other bloke, and say with confidence it was against someone not weight doping or sandbagging.

Trouble was I was chasing the wrong 10 guys. I suppose I should look at it, that this was longer race, my ability to hang in there was a bit better. I just wish a couple of others were able to be around to have an incentive later for a sprint finish

 

[Heigue'r]

I'm doing the 12:45 WTRL on Farmlands.

I joined this as my first zwift race,I can see how it would help with fitness,big time,I was in a group in the middle for the first 2 laps between pos 22 and 30,cat D,before being dropped,also got an increased ftp detection,so def pushes you opposed to freeriding.

 

[mjd1988]

I joined this as my first zwift race,I can see how it would help with fitness,big time,I was in a group in the middle for the first 2 laps between pos 22 and 30,cat D,before being dropped,also got an increased ftp detection,so def pushes you opposed to freeriding.

Well done!

Yeah that course in particular is a bit of an odd one in that it really is an interval training session, pan flat then gentle climb so you can sit in the draft for ages then one big effort (x4)

 

[Peter Salt]

Michal, Peter, that was the race I landed on too. Hopefully see you on the start line 👍👍

I was in 'C', unfortunately. Finished third... From the back

Yeah that course in particular is a bit of an odd one in that it really is an interval training session, pan flat then gentle climb so you can sit in the draft for ages then one big effort (x4)

Tell me about it! Those climbs almost killed me

 

[CXRAndy]

Michael did extremely well. Same time as winner, just big bunch sprint. Must have been caught on the barriers blocked his big push. What's impressive his W/kg was the lowest of all the top 10 finishers.

 

[<Tommy>]

Well done!

Yeah that course in particular is a bit of an odd one in that it really is an interval training session, pan flat then gentle climb so you can sit in the draft for ages then one big effort (x4)

I got a drop out right after we had got over the summit. Everyone disappeared. I tried to pedal at a pace that I thought would keep me in the pack but when you all came back you were well up the road. It’s pretty rare I get drop outs so hopefully it was a one off.

Really dull course wasn’t it? I wouldn’t look to do that one again. I know what you mean about an interval session but the climb wasn’t really long or steep enough to change much. I think I’d put Innsbruck or the like above it really. I was kind of thinking the best bit would be the finish because the run in was kind of interesting but I didn’t get that far 🙄

 

[BurningLegs]

I love racing on Yorkshire the most. It’s brutal, there is nowhere to hide!

I think @mjd1988 has the best race craft of anyone in our group. Always at the pointy end with lower W/KG than those around him as you noticed @CXRAndy . A very smart racer.

 

[mjd1988]

I love racing on Yorkshire the most. It’s brutal, there is nowhere to hide!

I think @mjd1988 has the best race craft of anyone in our group. Always at the pointy end with lower W/KG than those around him as you noticed @CXRAndy . A very smart racer.

*Lazy racer

Yorkshire and Innsbruck are generally great races

 

[mjd1988]

I got a drop out right after we had got over the summit. Everyone disappeared. I tried to pedal at a pace that I thought would keep me in the pack but when you all came back you were well up the road. It’s pretty rare I get drop outs so hopefully it was a one off.

Really dull course wasn’t it? I wouldn’t look to do that one again. I know what you mean about an interval session but the climb wasn’t really long or steep enough to change much. I think I’d put Innsbruck or the like above it really. I was kind of thinking the best bit would be the finish because the run in was kind of interesting but I didn’t get that far 🙄

Ah that's a shame was wondering what had happened

 

[<Tommy>]

I love racing on Yorkshire the most. It’s brutal, there is nowhere to hide!

I think @mjd1988 has the best race craft of anyone in our group. Always at the pointy end with lower W/KG than those around him as you noticed @CXRAndy . A very smart racer.

Dunno… not knocking Michael one bit just so there’s no misunderstanding about that! I agree he’s very good at sitting in the bunch. I always enjoyed watching @IrishAl in the bunch too because I think he’s also a master of conserving energy (maybe it’s an Irish thing!). And @bridgy is up there too for me. But if we’re talking about tactics it’s a conversation I’ve had internally with myself in the past. And the conclusion I drew (which may well be wrong so feel free to shoot me down!…), is that I look for the long term gain rather than the short term result. And I’m not sure if it’s not better pay off in the long run to sit at or near the front and get a better work out for it. I think it’s a tactic that pays off for me when you have to put in sustained effort over a distance. But I know we’re all different so I’d be interested to hear what other think.

 

[Peter Salt]

Michael did extremely well. Same time as winner, just big bunch sprint. Must have been caught on the barriers blocked his big push. What's impressive his W/kg was the lowest of all the top 10 finishers.

Noticed that in the results. That's some smart racing by @mjd1988