Zwift Chat

[13 rider]

Bike comparisons are now so difficult due to bike level upgrades , who's got a level 5 gravel bike ? , so comparing a level 5 SL8 to a none upgraded gravel bike is almost impossible

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

View: https://youtu.be/TpfgPFcmxUc?si=_xnqWbyOG4V55mOn

The man's says no, But there is a senerio where it makes sense but only just at the end of the vid

I believe info about gravel wheels is outdated, all gravel wheels perform the same.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]

Bike comparisons are now so difficult due to bike level upgrades , who's got a level 5 gravel bike ? , so comparing a level 5 SL8 to a none upgraded gravel bike is almost impossible

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.

I believe info about gravel wheels is outdated, all gravel wheels perform the same.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.

Yes I think I saw someone comment that about the performance.


All a bit complicated

 

[alex_cycles]

Is anyone going for the bike swap in the ZRL on Tuesday? Not an option of apple TV folk and seems a marginal decision at best but might make sense in D cat? Or if you do it as a strong team

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.

 

[Whorty]

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.

That's my view too

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

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.

 

[mjd1988]

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

 

[alex_cycles]

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

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.