The MK Bowl Tuesday night races I'm doing remind me a bit of Zwift races. When just the inner circuit is used, it is a lap of about 1:40 which ends with a 30-40 second incline to the finish. This Tuesday my NP was 300W - which I think is the first time I've hit that figure in a race (which was 41 minutes long).
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The MK Bowl Tuesday night races I'm doing remind me a bit of Zwift races. When just the inner circuit is used, it is a lap of about 1:40 which ends with a 30-40 second incline to the finish. This Tuesday my NP was 300W - which I think is the first time I've hit that figure in a race (which was 41 minutes long).
Had a good result today, though I expect my category was down on talent. It was handicap chase 'The Chop' around London
DelC was also taking part in C cat whilst I was in D. We were caught with around 5k to go. I jumped with the C leaders and a couple others came too. I eventually got shelled from the C pack as the A and B came by. This gave me just enough gap to drop 3rd place rider in my category.
I managed to hold on soloing, as he made a strong surge in the last km, the little bit of draft from fast stragglers in the higher groups saved me
2nd place in D, slightly improved power
DelC was also taking part in C cat whilst I was in D. We were caught with around 5k to go. I jumped with the C leaders and a couple others came too. I eventually got shelled from the C pack as the A and B came by. This gave me just enough gap to drop 3rd place rider in my category.
I managed to hold on soloing, as he made a strong surge in the last km, the little bit of draft from fast stragglers in the higher groups saved me
2nd place in D, slightly improved power
steverob
Guru
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
Not got a Zwift subscription at the moment, but with today supposed to be on and off showers, plus me set to do a 70 mile sportive tomorrow, I thought I'd use up some of my free 25km allowance for the month. And as I wanted to get maximum value for the distance, it seemed best to try a session up the Alpe, as that would be a nice long ride yet at the same time if I didn't do the downhill afterwards, it would still leave me with about 7km for later in the month.
Found a group ride that had ride leaders doing 65, 70 and 75 minutes paces up the Alpe (humans not bots) and as my best time was currently 77 and a bit minutes, thought that I'd try to hang on to the slowest group for as long as possible and even if they dropped me, I still might be on target for a PR. I was struggling a bit for the first few bends but started to get used to the pace and it was looking good until I had a dropout between bends 10 and 9. That put me 30 seconds behind my group, so I put the hammer down and got it to within 10, but seeing my HR spike and fearful that I was burning all my matches too soon, after that only very slowly closed the remainder of the gap.
Was hanging on desperately for the last two bends but a lot of verbal encouragement from the riders around me plus one or two pacing me, I eventually crossed the line with a 74:34!
Found a group ride that had ride leaders doing 65, 70 and 75 minutes paces up the Alpe (humans not bots) and as my best time was currently 77 and a bit minutes, thought that I'd try to hang on to the slowest group for as long as possible and even if they dropped me, I still might be on target for a PR. I was struggling a bit for the first few bends but started to get used to the pace and it was looking good until I had a dropout between bends 10 and 9. That put me 30 seconds behind my group, so I put the hammer down and got it to within 10, but seeing my HR spike and fearful that I was burning all my matches too soon, after that only very slowly closed the remainder of the gap.
Was hanging on desperately for the last two bends but a lot of verbal encouragement from the riders around me plus one or two pacing me, I eventually crossed the line with a 74:34!
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Peter Salt
Bittersweet
- Location
- Yorkshire, UK
Congrats for breaking the 75 barrier, Steve. Keep on pushing
My recent sprints have been OK, but now need to work on endurance - all the recent breaks definitely didn't help with that.
I tried the Wattgames thingy on Friday. Silly little thing, I can see myself jumping on it every now and again.
On a completely different note: Don't suppose anyone ever went cycling around Klosters/Davos areas in Switzerland? Looks like I'll be around there in August and very much considering taking the bike.
Legs
usually riding on Zwift...
- Location
- Staffordshire
Did Tiny Races for the first time in ages last night.
Although I'm good for a 1-2 minute effort, I'm terrible at putting it out on anything but the freshest of legs. I spent the 5-6 minutes between races spinning my legs at <100W and wondering how/whether I'd be able to do any more than 200W in the next race!
I went too early in the first race - with 200m to go up the hill it looked like it'd be between me and A.N. Other for the win, but we both got swamped and I came tenth.
I pretty much sat out the second race, which was a climbing race up the sky road at NYC. If I'd soft-pedalled the first race, I'd have fancied my chances on this one.
Third race was downhill, then flat. I told myself I'd not go long... but 650m was still too far! I looked up when I thought that my initial sprint burst was over, and it still said 0.4km to go! I finished 6th out of 27, upgraded to 5th on ZwiftPower.
Fourth race was fairly similar, Champs-Elysees with an uphill finish. Couldn't be arsed to use my ghost. I actually timed my finish quite well and, for once, was making up positions as I neared the line. Fifth over the line, 4th on ZwiftPower.
Although I'm good for a 1-2 minute effort, I'm terrible at putting it out on anything but the freshest of legs. I spent the 5-6 minutes between races spinning my legs at <100W and wondering how/whether I'd be able to do any more than 200W in the next race!
I went too early in the first race - with 200m to go up the hill it looked like it'd be between me and A.N. Other for the win, but we both got swamped and I came tenth.
I pretty much sat out the second race, which was a climbing race up the sky road at NYC. If I'd soft-pedalled the first race, I'd have fancied my chances on this one.
Third race was downhill, then flat. I told myself I'd not go long... but 650m was still too far! I looked up when I thought that my initial sprint burst was over, and it still said 0.4km to go! I finished 6th out of 27, upgraded to 5th on ZwiftPower.
Fourth race was fairly similar, Champs-Elysees with an uphill finish. Couldn't be arsed to use my ghost. I actually timed my finish quite well and, for once, was making up positions as I neared the line. Fifth over the line, 4th on ZwiftPower.
They are killers aren't they Tim?
I lay slumped over the bars after each race wondering if I'll survive till the next start.
Somehow manage
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Well done!
What is your FTP? Mine is currently around 2.5 so I think the Alpe could take me about 1 h 30 m?
I haven't tried Zwift yet so I am not sure what is what. I would like to give the Alpe a go but I suspect that I would have to complete other rides first? If so, what are the minimum qualifying rides and could each of them come in at under the free monthly 25 km? (I have a 2 month free subscription but don't want to use that until the late autumn when my outdoor cycling tapers down towards the winter.)
And now... The Alpe du Shobrooke! (I am visiting my sister in Devon and off out to do a tour of the local lumpy lanes.)
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Good - I will be watching it this evening!Stage 1
What a finish Criterium du Dauphine
Thanks for not putting spoilers in. I am pleased that I will have something exciting to watch but do prefer not knowing who did what.
I got distracted by dog walking, coffee and cake... I will be going out round those lumpy lanes soon, honest!
steverob
Guru
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
I went up the Alpe at an average of 239W, which at my current weight would be 2.47 w/kg. Though I'll admit I put out more watts on the bottom half - partially fresher legs, partially the first few bends are the steepest and so need a bit more power.
Strava estimates my current FTP to be 248W (2.56 w/kg) but I don't know how accurate that is considering 90% of my cycling at the moment is outdoors and I never come close to those sorts of wattages on an outdoor ride - I'm always doing longer distances so my power is in Zone 1 for the vast majority of the time.
I believe to access the Alpe on a free ride you need to be at least level 6, although if you join an organised event you can be at any level. Having said that, at lower levels it doesn't take any time at all to earn enough XP to level up - to go from level 1 to 6 is only 13,250 XP and considering you get 20 XP per km, plus all sorts of bonuses for completing courses, challenges and workouts, I'd be surprised if it takes more than a few weeks to get there.
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