Zwift spins

dahat · 13-04-2020 11:39PM

CramCycle wrote: »

I had money saved up over months for the Ras, as soon as I realised it wasn't happening I released the funds for a smart trainer. If nothing else, the CX season is going to be epic or awful depending on your view of the world.

CX does nothing for me so I'll leave mad folk at that.

Had you planned the RAS? Ambitious & fair play so another year to prep for you.

A purchase of Assomo pedals will be sacrificed once I talk to LBS tomorrow, I'll order the Tacx Flux S as they are dealers. At least I'll be prepped for the next virus ðŸ˜‚ðŸ˜‚.

CramCycle · 14-04-2020 12:12AM

Very ambitious, with a more realistic idea that I would be kindly told no and provide support. I kind of lost the drive I had last year very quick this year and Zwift races via my club league are turning out to be the drive I need to actually put in an effort but it certainly won't make me fitter or healthier. Our organiser is a pessimist and has it arranged for 20 online races for us, he isn't expecting any normality before October, and even then, it will be phased in. Online racing is odd and I am starting to think needs alot more off the bike work to stay in good condition as you simply don't get the full movement that you do in a regular race/commute/spin.

dahat · 14-04-2020 11:45AM

I've accepted no road racing for 2020 now & see Zwift as nessecary so ordered a smart trainer this morning from LBS. However when I actually get one is another thing.

Solo road spins or with one club mate in combination with Zwift racing will see me through when the lockdown is lifted.

iwillhtfu · 14-04-2020 11:48AM

dahat wrote: »

I've accepted no road racing for 2020 now & see Zwift as nessecary so ordered a smart trainer this morning from LBS. However when I actually get one is another thing.

Solo road spins or with one club mate in combination with Zwift racing will see me through when the lockdown is lifted.

Did you get the Flux s? If so prepare yourself as they can be hit or miss on build quality, I had to return a couple of them.

dahat · 14-04-2020 11:55AM

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Did you get the Flux s? If so prepare yourself as they can be hit or miss on build quality, I had to return a couple of them.

I tend to buy higher quality stuff through LBS for ease of mind for ease of returns etc. The newer model seems to be of better build according to DCR so hopefully he can source one for me.

daragh_ · 14-04-2020 12:19PM

Zwift stuff has been fun so far. A handful of races done - one Club League, one CI race and some random selections.

I've a cheap wheel-on Turbo. It's fine for Trainer Road but it's really not up to scratch for Zwift. First few races I did my power was way off (not that I have much to begin with) and I was getting dropped all the time.

After much messing about it seems to be a little more realistic. Still bugs to iron out with the ANT and Bluetooth signals. Dropped out of the CI race on Saturday as I was spinning out in the big ring and not moving! If I was buying again I would save up longer and get a direct drive trainer.

Like Cramcycle above I'm not convinced that Zwift is a full replacement for Road Racing. I'm still holding out (I can dream) for some Vets racing this year - so I'm going to focus on a Trainer Road Block with a bit of Zwift racing for the craic.

andy69 · 15-04-2020 12:04AM

daragh_ wrote: »

...I'm not convinced that Zwift is a full replacement for Road Racing....

yeah can understand that alright - but...personally I think the fact CI do not have
- specific CI races (a national body should have enough clout to ask for this), and also
- the races they do Piggy-Back on are ´all cats out together' rather than like MANY other races where A's are away 1min before the B's ...and so on. There are even hare-n-hound races which are brilliant too!

Haven't done a huge amount of races, but I immediately ignore ANY race, regardless of distance or profile, once I see they all start together. It's just chaos, not fun, not good, and not how it should be, D Riders starting along with A's... the difference is unreal...seriously it is unreal....night-and-day differences immediately. Group gets strung out and torn apart VERY quickly.
You enter a D race with their own start time and it's a whole other world. Not at all easy, but the difference is stark.

So to summise...I think it CAN be nearly as good as real racing (given the circumstances we have now)...BUT just that this CI format is not a great intro, and so you might think 'oh, this is how it's done in zwift, and I'm not mad keen on that'. Try some other races, with staggered start times. You just might love them!!

daragh_ · 15-04-2020 11:39AM

andy69 wrote: »

Try some other races, with staggered start times. You just might love them!!

I've done a couple of D Races that started like that and once all the Weight Cheaters vanished up the road at 60kph then the dynamics were more like a real race. I've even had a few Podiums in D (according to Zwiftpower anyway which has moved me to C).

But I would still swap my Turbo for a few laps of Green Sheds in the rain.

lennymc · 15-04-2020 11:43AM

I dont think zwift will ever be a replacement for real road racing, there is just so much more to real racing than power to weight. I do think it is a good alternative to racing to get some race like intensities, and I find for me, that I dig deeper in a zwift race than in a regular training session on the turbo.

keane2097 · 15-04-2020 05:52PM

Would like some fan suggestions actually if anyone has one they find a particular bargain?

CramCycle · 15-04-2020 06:23PM

Heading for the Lidl ones tomorrow morning, will report back after my club legue race tomorrow night.

keane2097 · 15-04-2020 07:50PM

Ideal - cheers CC

Daroxtar · 16-04-2020 09:52PM

Took part in a TTT this evening. Tough going!! Not quite as balls out as a regular race but still a fair effort. Definitely saved some watts drafting but found it tricky to keep a very steady rhythm to keep the group tight. All made it around, so maybe next time we can use a few bodies to drag us through the first lap and then the stronger finishers power on from there. Good fun

Bambaata · 16-04-2020 10:28PM

Did the TTT also. Was very difficult to get the push at the front right, I was constantly gapping a little and then at times easing too much. Using discord helped but we definitely can improve if doing again. I was calling when going to go to front and calling again to say I'd just do another 10 or 20s etc but some others weren't, with 7 of us it was difficult to keep track of who should be giving a turn and ensuring that 2 or 3 weren't trying to go to the front all at once. First half was relatively easy but I was suffering by the end!!

nordicb · 16-04-2020 11:23PM

How did you find people to do the TTT with? I wanted to try, but this stopped me...

Daroxtar · 16-04-2020 11:34PM

Zwift Ireland FB group, plenty of teams there and probably still a few spots left with some.

lukegjpotter · 17-04-2020 10:50AM

I used the Lidl Fan for my "SST Med" workout last night, it's very good. much better than the Honeywell fan. Only forehead sweat.

andy69 wrote: »

... I immediately ignore ANY race, regardless of distance or profile, once I see they all start together. It's just chaos, not fun, not good, and not how it should be, D Riders starting along with A's... the difference is unreal...seriously it is unreal....night-and-day differences immediately. Group gets strung out and torn apart VERY quickly.
You enter a D race with their own start time and it's a whole other world. Not at all easy, but the difference is stark...

USA Cycling have a Wednesday evening series starting this Wednesday the 22nd at 18:55.
It uses the Indoor Specialist series format, so the categories start one minute apart.

First Event URL: USA Cycling Race League by Indoor Specialist.
Subsequent Zwift Event Tag: #usacycling.
Just set it to Time = Evening.

Full Schedule: www.usacycling.org/virtual-race-league-zwift

The new Anti-Sandbagging Function might also help keep categories consistent.

Hopefully no one gets sacrificed at the top of the volcano on Saturday!

CramCycle · 17-04-2020 11:00AM

lukegjpotter wrote: »

I used the Lidl Fan for my "SST Med" workout last night, it's very good. much better than the Honeywell fan. Only forehead sweat.

I found it great, not noisy, only had to pat my head once or twice but the difference was night and day, I was able to dig in for longer and was far steadier and could actually pu in an effort when I wanted too, great investment.

dahat · 17-04-2020 11:12AM

Racing tmrw for the first time on non smart dd, nervous but looking forward to emptying the tank for no real gain whatsoever.

Looks to be plenty from here signed up anyway.

lennymc · 17-04-2020 11:15AM

dahat wrote: »

Racing tmrw for the first time on non smart dd, nervous but looking forward to emptying the tank for no real gain whatsoever.

Looks to be plenty from here signed up anyway.

you will be fine!

Enjoy (is that the right term) it and be prepared to dig deep!

CramCycle · 17-04-2020 11:15AM

dahat wrote: »

Racing tmrw for the first time on non smart dd, nervous but looking forward to emptying the tank for no real gain whatsoever.

Looks to be plenty from here signed up anyway.

The one thing I can say is, you will know in the same way you will in a TT whether you done it right or not at the very end. Not by your position but if your able to walk, you haven't done it right.

dahat · 17-04-2020 11:37AM

lennymc wrote: »

you will be fine! Enjoy (is that the right term) it and be prepared to dig deep!

Not been good at that lately unfortunately.

CramCycle wrote: »

The one thing I can say is, you will know in the same way you will in a TT whether you done it right or not at the very end. Not by your position but if your able to walk, you haven't done it right.

I've placed a soft mat beside the bike to fall onto when done!!!

Daroxtar · 17-04-2020 01:30PM

nordicb wrote: »

How did you find people to do the TTT with? I wanted to try, but this stopped me...

Link for the TTT teams, they're looking for a few

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2309735349260946/permalink/2729958327238644/

okane1 · 17-04-2020 01:31PM

Did my first race on Tuesday, mass start crit race. I sandbagged myself into Cat C, my weight and FTP would put me in Cat B but was unsure if I could handle Cat B been my first Zwift race and 1st road race in 2yrs.
It was hard and with the mass start (Cat A-D) didn't know where I was in my Cat. Road the legs of myself and got a WKG in the Zwift Power results. This was fair as my 20min average was 3.7w/kg.

I signed up for the CI Zwift race this Sat in Cat B. Just need to hang on for the first few mins and get into a good group.
Its fun but tough out. I find its similar to CX racing but without the small recoveries you get in CX on corners or technical bits.

On the cooling fans I'm using the Vac Master. At level 1 its provides serious cooling and it has 3 levels! Sweating is "almost" gone with it
https://www.cleva-uk.com/products/vacmaster-air-mover

dahat · 17-04-2020 03:00PM

CramCycle wrote: »

I found it great, not noisy, only had to pat my head once or twice but the difference was night and day, I was able to dig in for longer and was far steadier and could actually pu in an effort when I wanted too, great investment.

Just picked one up, savage fan for the money. A vast improvement on my current one.

Macy0161 · 17-04-2020 04:37PM

The TrainerRoad podcast has covered the effects of cooling a few times over the last year or so. I've the cleva fan above directed at my torso. I've re-positioned the bike to take advantage of the shed door being opened too. Fan, fresh air, sun in my eye's (in the morning), now a big tele and eye camera angle, nearly convincing... especially when I'm getting dropped!

dahat · 18-04-2020 08:44AM

Just discovered I've lost my ant plus dingle so no heart rate data for the CI race.

I'll assume I'll be missing from offical results list with heart rate data? I'll still use the Wahoo as per normal for other platforms but a nuisance really.

iwillhtfu · 18-04-2020 08:46AM

dahat wrote: »

Just discovered I've lost my ant plus dingle so no heart rate data for the CI race.

I'll assume I'll be missing from offical results list with heart rate data? I'll still use the Wahoo as per normal for other platforms but a nuisance really.

You'll be DQ'd afaik.

dahat · 18-04-2020 08:52AM

iwillhtfu wrote: »

You'll be DQ'd afaik.

On reading that seems to be the case, bollocks.

At least I'll hse the training file anyway.

iwillhtfu · 18-04-2020 09:00AM

dahat wrote: »

On reading that seems to be the case, bollocks.

At least I'll hse the training file anyway.

True you still get caught up in it, it also gives an easy out. Ah sure it wouldn't count anyway kinda thing

Zwift spins

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