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N0bodyOfTheGoat
Über Member
- Location
- Hampshire, UK
I believe info about gravel wheels is outdated, all gravel wheels perform the same.
That bit about the Crux allowing custom gravel wheels, but the Aspero not, is news to me too.
mjd1988
Guru
True. The only one that might have a few at level 5 is the specialised as people try to do it alongside the aethos and the sl8 to upgrade their halo bike or whatever it is.
Yes I think I saw someone comment that about the performance.
All a bit complicated
alex_cycles
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
I'm struggling to see how it could possibly be an advantage these days since they changed the Crr of dirt and made the difference between road and gravel bikes so small. A bike swap loses 20-30s including slowing and acceleration. Also braking is OFF in ZRL and the pairing screen won't slow you down until you hit 0 watts.
Back in the days when FTS points were worthwhile and before they nuked the dirt Crr it was worth it, but in a scratch race which doesn't end at the top? IMHO I can't see it being useful at all. Too risky and not much upside.
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N0bodyOfTheGoat
Über Member
- Location
- Hampshire, UK
I'm not in ZRL, but if it was me and I had a stage 4/5 Crux/Aspero, I would swap to it just after proper KOM climb start on the final lap once your avatar is losing speed to ~20kph due to gradient.
The Crux would be fastest up the dirt KOM, but I think the Aspero will marginally win out after the dirt descent and then the tarmac flat/descent to the finish, because it's more aero.
Otherwise, I think the SL8 stage 5 is so strong, I'm not sure there would be any gains from a lower upgraded gravel bike.
The Crux would be fastest up the dirt KOM, but I think the Aspero will marginally win out after the dirt descent and then the tarmac flat/descent to the finish, because it's more aero.
Otherwise, I think the SL8 stage 5 is so strong, I'm not sure there would be any gains from a lower upgraded gravel bike.
mjd1988
Guru
I think it is 20 seconds at 300 watts difference according to the speed tests, maybe in D group the margins might be finer but I agree it's a lot of hassle that will probably at best break even if executed perfectly. Theres also a lot of draft benefit on the climb.
It's a bit of a pity though, even though it wasn't an option for me on the ATV it was quite interesting to watch some folks drop back and then come barrelling through like the terminator, bit of panache.
Itll still be a rough old climb
It's a bit of a pity though, even though it wasn't an option for me on the ATV it was quite interesting to watch some folks drop back and then come barrelling through like the terminator, bit of panache.
Itll still be a rough old climb
alex_cycles
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
But you have to swap twice or you'll get killed on the tarmac finish section. So even if a swap only costs you 20s you have to multiply that by two.
I just don't think the numbers are even close to adding up to an advantage. I hadn't even considered it until Eric Shlange mentioned it. Although he was an emphatic NO as well. Just doesn't make sense in this kind of race.
That's from someone who's first ever ZRL race my main job for the team was to change to a gravel bike and take FTS on Temple KoM (which I did for CCC 🏆)
I also remember doing it with @Whorty on chain chomper back when there were decent FTS points.
We talked about this in our team chat, and my view is it's worth doing if there are FTS points or the race finishes at the top of the KoM, but with the descent and tarmac afterwards I just can't see a clear advantage.
Too much of a faff too.
I've come down with another chesty cold that is buggering me up. I am due to ride tonight but I'll be at 50% I think so mostly there to grab a few finish points. Can't see me being at the pointy end at the finish.
alex_cycles
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
💯% this, but nowadays even FTS points are barely worthwhile in ZRL.
I think they murdered bike swaps when they nuked the Crr of dirt and gravel. The Sgurr used to be great fun on a gravel bike and the jungle made an interesting challenge. But the jungle really sucked to ride on a road bike and when they did the Watopia coastal extension they had no choice really. Remember the "pave the jungle" campaign on the Zwift forums?
So many of the "new" routes go through the jungle though that something had to be done.
Now if you have an SL8 level 5 and the best wheels you are competitive anywhere. I am upgrading my Aethos gradually in my free rides, but the truth is I rarely race mountainous routes so I don't use it much. SL8 for everything except TTs.
alex_cycles
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
zrl 🤮
View: https://www.youtube.com/live/KHy4o-33PBE?si=VdXqiVIsBS0uewop&t=321
zwiftracing.app had me expected 8th
I might have done slightly better, but my chain skipped a couple of times in the final sprint. Not sure it made much difference though
View: https://www.youtube.com/live/KHy4o-33PBE?si=VdXqiVIsBS0uewop&t=321
zwiftracing.app had me expected 8th
I might have done slightly better, but my chain skipped a couple of times in the final sprint. Not sure it made much difference though
I thought you were going to chase the lightweights up the 1st hill , I think you made a sensible decision. I take it the group had no interest in chasing the lightweights down on the flat because everyone knew they drop everyone on the climb 2nd time
mjd1988
Guru
Hard to race a 42kg woman up a hill! Very much two races going on there, it's a long old climbing effort. I know it's not the total treacle it once was but mentally I've always struggled with the dirt roads being slower.
Isn't pave the jungle a joni Mitchell song?
I've just seen that the early B Dev race winner took 1 hour 22 minutes so I look forward to the inevitable cramp kicking in during that final climb!
I hate that climb - it's just the length of it at 6-7 minutes which is short enough to have to go REALLY hard for most of it, but too long to go REALLY hard for most of it!
I hate that climb - it's just the length of it at 6-7 minutes which is short enough to have to go REALLY hard for most of it, but too long to go REALLY hard for most of it!
alex_cycles
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
I started, but quickly realised after about 1 minute that it was going to do me in
I had 2s gap on the group at that point and just eased off to get in the draft.
Managed the KoM in 7:01 and then did 7:01 again lap 2.
7:01 is a PR, so to have managed to do it twice shows I got the pacing right and didn't exhaust myself on lap 1. Quite pleased about that.
I imagine so. My intention was always to let the three lightweight ladies go. In the end one of them didn't show up, but another rider took that job, so it was still a group of 3 off the front.
The problem with the watt floor is that anyone over 200W can't do more than 4.1 for 5-6 minutes or they'll get zMAPped. So even if heavier riders were capable of keeping up with the ultra-lights they would get promoted. I'm still under 200w for zFTP so I could do it, but not over a 7 minute climb - it's just a bit too long for me to sustain that level (and have to do it twice). I learnt in the Everything Bagel race in round 1 that YES - I can almost keep up with those three on a 5 minute climb, but that's me done for the day. I conked out about 20 minutes later well before we had to do the climb again. So it's really better just to let them go and compete for the next available position
I could have perhaps got 5th or 6th if I'd committed properly and gone with 700m to go - turning it into a 1m effort finish to neutralise the sprinters. But after an hour of riding I didn't feel like doing that - and perhaps I couldn't have managed it anyway.
