How lucky was I with the PUs. First I skipped the penultimate PU as I had a feather already. I used that (though rather late) on the mostest climb to the penultimate arch (and last PU). There I was lucky to get a van PU. This I used as soon as the feather finish with 30.3km to go. That still had 1/4 left at the finish. Ideally might it have been better is the other way around, van-feather, rather than feather-van. A van being ideal when travelling fastest, the feather on the steepest gradients (up). However in this cas I was doing 24kph approaching the penultimate arch, and around 40kph approaching the finish (45 to 32kph). But I used both too late. And as usual I was putting out sprint power late, even the other side of the finish. That's the annoying 5 to 6 second lag which I get all the time. Any clues or leads for how to remedy this would be greatly appreciated and acknowledged.
All in, thank you very much James, and I'll return when MW is quite a bit more developed. Who knows, perhaps when the app is available on the Mac, it will have grown up and emerged like a butterfly, and its caterpillar phase will be forgotten.
{1} Or were some riders able to position themselves more sensibly. I tried to position myself in the lane middle but that was like chasing a drop of mercury of a glass plate.
Be happy... you beat me. Just watched this.... that Riedle looks strange unless he's about 45kg. A bit the same here.... it was full-on to stay with my group on the flat, over the aquaduct and on the flat again, so when we hit the hill I just blew/rode my own race. That strange rider d.dddd was teh only one in the frame. Keep chewing iron bars. Charly.
It's such a toss-up as to what group we find ourselves in. I do like that we're a great scrum all together so riders tend to settle out by their verve, rather than supposed cat. Though I do wonder about so many younguns joining our over-70s cat. Chasing them could bring on excessive efforts as we assume we've competing with some peer. In the TdF (I mean VLF), I was riding with a Californian who was near me, though a little younger. After a big hard stage (that I think ended up Ventoux), he died that night. I hope that I played no part in provoking that. All very well saying that we should back off and solo when it feels too difficult, but chasing someone that we take as a peer and equal can get us a bit carried away.
After some useful interaction with network professionals, it seems this is not connected to ping. My ping here is 21.0ms, jitter 22.1ms. Ping to California is down to the speed of light through fibre optic cable. From here, obviously a lot slower than for this in the west of America. Zwift's ping minimum requirements have to be bogus/misguided, unless they are saying that their platform is only viable for racing if living not far from their servers. I'd excluding 98% of the world. On one level, I think not, but then again Zwift is really just a variant of Peloton (without the shouty "You can do it" ... "You smashed it") nonsense. I mainlining on anything to take revenue, and us users and race organisers have repurposed the platform, as best we can, to use it for racing. Zwift also use paid pro teams to do pseudo racing of sorts, as adverting and bling. Meanwhile they could hardly do less to support quality racing. They don't need to, we're self motivated and make do with whatever we can find. The big money is in the masses, not us 1% outliers. Besides the Zwift platform, the basic games engine that they are using, cannot represent spatial information anywhere near accurately enough to be race-worthy. But fine for jolly chi-chat group rides and workouts. We Zwifters (meaning the masses, have yet to make the transition to far more race-viable platforms like RGT, IndieVelo, MyWhoosh. And tumble weed, plus early phase development, aren't much of a turn-on. So for those like me with 6 second lag, there's nothing for it but to grin and live with the significant advantage that American racers have. But despite America being economically and culturally far behind Europe, in everything they always put themselves first. It is technically easily for Zwift f any Stateside servers to made a level playing field, by giving every rider a differential delay such that. everyone has the same delay. But racing isn't Zwift's bag. Their focus is always money and hence the undemanding masses.
The man in question was around all right.... just that you were off like a rocket, I see from this pulling 250-300 watts from the gun, when mere mortals were around 230-240.
20w difference doesn't seem that much. I thought that that was the regulation way to ride in our virtual frolics. 5 secs before the start, go flat out ... hold on for as long as you can, then as legs give out, fade back from the front racers. Now the job is to hope to hitch up with some clump of riders. By the end, all matches have been burned, so expect to be dropped by everyone nearby. At that point you see all the sandbaggers, who were just cruising to that point, light their afterburners and fly away. My ambition at the end is only to not be quite the last. That occasionally happens, but only occasionally (probably because those taking it easy were only using the race to warm up for another race where they show their real strength).
Well done. I see you overtook me at about 20seconds from the start. I did a couple of comments mid-race and see they appear on your video even though you weren't anywhere near... must be more careful from now on.
For once I was lucky enough to be able to hitch a ride with a big group of riders. What a difference that makes. Small wonder so many people lolligaga about till in their sandbagging easy cat. Being back amongst the stragglers is so much harder work.
Who is from Chickasaw? There should be a button I can press on routes with two big climbs like this.... so anyone 10kg lighter than me has to pause for 2mins when halfway up and let me inch ahead. That said.... well done.
Would a towrope do. I'll trail one when there's some decent up gradients. But I could do with similar by return on flat courses which flay me. Especially the descents.
Of course, you could join me in my science driven (for health reasons), only-veg diet. So shrink, as I did, by that 10kg. But be warned, some of those kg will be muscle.
The clue is in the result sheet!! The latter became a hermit in the forests with no electricity, either for heating or for warm water.... or for linking to Zwift.@@halwye
Wahoo TICKR HR monitor has an extremely fragile battery cap. Yet again the little fragile lugs broke off. I have had no success, on the two previous occasions that this happened, trying to superglue them back on. The monitor will frequently (and this has happened with 2 others too) show ridiculously exaggerted HR values (180bpm when I am relaxed and my watch shows 55bpm). I think it is past time to turn my back on Wakoo HR monitors for good, and find a better designed replacement. Can anyone recommend. better designed and more reliable HR monitor that is cycle racing suitable?
Incidentally, I couldn't believe that what Urs did. He was helping me, and did so really successfully. Never had that before, like that. I don't remember ever coming across him before. Really unusual sportsmanship (or perhaps charity), and particularly relished. I must try harder to copy his example.
Missed SISU stage-3 today, and a climbing one too. So depressing. Still no clarity of what next. Another (new) trainer? Most of a month waiting for this NEO 2T to be fixed, and the cost of that. Needing some inspiration. Is there any way to use this to raise my enthusiasm and cycling activities, start a new chapter. If only the Stages/NEO/Kickr bikes were not so expensive, support in the UK so questionable at times. Zwift and others so slow at adapting to new technologies for steering, braking, etc. Suggestions always welcome to fire up my enthusiasm for virtual cycle racing as the ravages of age tick on.
On reflection, when one can't cope with the front group's pace, could it be preferential to back off earlier than later. That way, one conserves more energy, and has longer to for up into a secondary group with other stragglers. Not by design, I did that yesterday. And pretty soon were were picking up more soloists that had later dropped off the front group. They had had to have been burning more energy both in trying to keep up and in soling their way back to us. A soon as a decent rear group has formed, that becomes my race. Interest in whatever may be going on in the front group fades to nil. Indeed, for me, as I am never near the lead group, I never have any interest in the podium finishers. It's disappointing that so many, especially luminaries and commentators focus only on the front few. Boring and irrelevant as far as I am concerned. They tend to look after themselves, those front riders. They get their kudos in their own bubble. That's what was so good about Marcus's WKG racing, it wasn't just that he took real interest mostly at the rear racers (from cat-D up), but there was a culture of those at the front also taking an interest and being involved in the racing lives of the slower racers behind. Take the marathon for example. The front runners with all their physical (and probably financial and support) advantages. They take their usual couple of hours then can parade their achievement before the cameras. But what about the older lady with weight problems and any number of physical aspects of their bodies complaining and making running at all a real struggle. They have to slog, often alone and feeling none too proud of teh loose fat around them moving by itself. 6 hours later, no kudos for them, no camera ego-fest. And which overall tried hardest, suffered most, put in most. Who amongst them is the hero. My vote is for her, as cold and exhausted she sits alone in the dark on the train afterwards travelling home. My interest and support goes to the rear sloggers. Little vanity there, and personalities have to be the kinder. Less exhibitionists and show-offs. And at the rear of each cat, less sandbaggers. Guess it is all down to sportsmanship and culture. Or is all the above just me feeling guilty having, before the race, had Carolyn Potts in my crosshairs, as my competition. Afterwards I discovered that she is a cat-D. PS. It's a nuisance that ZP sorting never works for age.
I've been sensing recently that powers were decaying ever faster. But at least today I saw a VO2max of 45, which has to be better than the average man in the street. There can be no escape or dodging the elephant by the turbo. Just have to try harder. And no, max clearly isn't enough. Go for double max. And no killing yourself getting there. Be warned young bucks and does, it'll be your tunr soon enough. And you' too will find that you'll find that you need to try harder than ever, and be blind and deaf to ever steeper challenges while you fade away on your glide path to you end. Or will you be the sort to laugh setbacks off and go for it. Losing all the way. Your mileage may vary.
It appears that Zwift Insider, as most, is focused only on the podium riders. They being the privileged ones that get a nice long rest between races. But for slower riders, little to no rest. Straight on with the next race. This despite, for the individual, racing just as hard, maybe trying even harder. The intrinsic nature of such back to back short races, the recovery times issue can't be otherwise. The strongest riders get the most recovery. But regardless of that issue, I'm never interested in higher cats or podium racers. Rather the riders around here I am. In these races I didn't recognise anyone. But I was intrigued to find a few 70+ riders in cat-C. 3 others. They, I take as fairer competition. And I came last. A good base from which to improve. It was fun, though the asthma is a huge interference in such intense racing.
Well paced to the end Hal, I tried chasing you down once I realised you had lost the group but you were too strong💪🏻👍🏻 it made a solo last lap enjoyable😜
I wish. I don't know what happened there. A senior moment perhaps. I really must learn to make a better job of my "sprint" finishes. The last several, indeed all this year have been simply pathetically hopeless. Front to off the back every time. There must be a way.
Sorry I couldn't give any better advice, Hal. This is such a hard race and the other teams also have very strong riders. Too bad there isn't a really long climb in this league, I'm sure you would shine in that. Still a very strong performance, well done!
I thought that I was quite hopelessly pathetic. On reflection doing my utterly puny best to go faster (can't call it any sort of sprint) through the segs. Worthless to the point of being embarrassingly inappropriate. Hopelessly out of touch with what the race is actually about. I quickly found myself amongst riders doing a recovery ride for one point, but I was taking them as competition. Small wonder they were so slow. And not surprising that I managed to get in front of then, there were still pottering through segs at 2w/kg.
I'm unfamiliar with any sort of print racing and presume rather unsuited to it. But I now assume that I should have burned half my box of matches just to try to keep up with the main group. But I was so bloody cold. Even by the end of the race I was super cold and stiff despite wearing clothing and no fans. I'd rather like to teleport to somewhere scorching hot and dry in Namibia. Give it a few months to thaw and dry my bones out.
Now we hear how RGT does not takes rider size into account for wind resistance. Z must be doing that too. OK excuses don't wash - my legs are just dilapidated.
I need some insights/coaching for how to make something of sprint races. As you'll have seen, in this race I went from front of the group to last. Not very rewarding.
I've yet to view your race, I was too zonked in mine though I had it on. You had me worried at the end, the noise on Twitch sounded fatal for something.
The TTT left me feeling that I'd done all the TTing that was in my legs for this week. It can get a bit boring, always on the same cadence on flattish courses; just feeling the watts ebb out out. Perhaps that's just from riding in isolation, no communication. Need to learn just what it is that fires TT specialists up. Get some of that. Or maybe that's not really available for shinny weaklings on flat courses. Truth Sunday ... ha!
I have yet to begin to get to grips with the delay that I always get (about 5 seconds). Is it my MBP, my ISP, the distance from here to Zwift's servers and back, the turbo, power meter, ... It can be quite a nuisance.
Sorry about that, I didn't notice our getting separated. I had meant to do negative splits (take the 2nd half faster), but somehow forgot about that along the way. Thought that you rode really well given the amount of work that you had to do. You nailed Snorre. We should do more of these so get more used to them. I was listening while Anne watched your Twitch, though I couldn't make sense of everything.
@@halwye I was very happy I could stay with you that long, you were a really big help. But at a certain point I just had to ride my own race, I would have blown up completely otherwise.
I was a bit peeved at the top. I kept some oomph in reserve in case I needed to cope with you sprinting up behind me. And there was Helena coming instead. Right, I'm ready for you, thought I. And blow me down, my HR decided to go potty, which upset Anne. So I had to back off. Oh well, I'm so out of the league rankings anyway. Still, the knee was encouraging, even better today.
@@halwye I watched Helena catch you on the line, she is a very good climber. I tried to stay with her and Joni after you dropped me, but didn't stand a chance. I think you did really well yesterday.
@@MaartenOverweg 10 to 20 minutes slower than earlier times up the alp. It's wildest guesswork as to where one should be on this decay curve. I wonder, if I practiced it a bit, if I could find what sort of power I could sensible sustain for an hour. And whether get under the hour again. But doing that would be to rather isolate myself - make a private torture chamber. As my priorities are health first, then fun, perhaps I should let such thoughts drift out of mind forever. So accept that legs have become more mid cat-C, and see what that equates to.
I'm not sure what you mean by "size up". My issue with shoes is that the tendons in the front of my ankle (the crook/front of my foot) take a a shortcut from shin to foot top, so most shoes bind there badly. I was mainly hunting for shoes that didn't bind there, or I could modify with a knife so they don't. Just my luck, most aren't just tight there, but have a strap or boa right there. I got these Lakes and am still using them, though I can't do them up only loosely. Too much bare foot running in my younger life might be the cause.
I'm sure you'll be feeling better soon, hopefully by Tuesday's short race. After losing concentration and getting caught by sprinters in race one tried a different tactic. Was in second group and managed to breakaway with Duncan Bruce and Kath D, kept a 30 second gap on the group by the finish.
Thanks Maarten. Yes I was really out of it for this race. Unfortunate as the course suited me better than most in this winter league. I still haven't much sense of what could be awry in me. Even find I've come back to those vaccinations, but that only because I haven't a clue what else. At least that many other possible factors. I think I'd better take it easy for a bit, hope to bounce back.
Your race looked amazing. Fantastic climbing. Indeed, on that first time up, I got the impression not that you are a pure climber, but climbing seems a part of your armoury. On my todo list is hunting out your stream (hope there is one) so I can see your finish. I imagine pretty tired by the sprint, but I've have bet that you'd win that. Overall a fantastic result. Bravo.
@@halwye I really hope you start to feel better soon. I've been under the weather for a couple days now too, but for some reason I didn't impact me in the race itself. I've just been so tired every day. No idea what it is.
@@halwye Thank you very much! I think the climb yesterday is more of a long sprint instead of an actual climb. I can push highish watts for a minute or 2, so this suited me. I did stream, so on Twitch you can see the sprint as well.
As usual I was caught between trying to help you on the climb and keep in touch with what was going on ahead. I thought your climbing was stonking strong. The thing that puzzled me was your gentle finish.
Legs hadn't got it at the very top. But Anne says that's to be expected as most were young enough to be my children or grandchildren.The climbing bike was a mistake (I took a the captain's suggestion as a recommendation, but even if that works for him I don't think the formula works for all (I'll stick with my own council in future)). I got cooked trying and failing to keep up on the flats. Percy was amazing, if you see his video. He's in another world altogether. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-y624NZfnhpM.html. Overall, it felt like racing in cat-B. Those ahead were on a completely different level. But we got through OK. Zilch points so right down the rankings, so a bit of a thrashing for not very much. My question is whether legs can recover in time to get round the WKG Winter League.
I fear that ir'd be a dream to see you after the first bend on most courses. Somehow I seem to have misplaced most of my watts. Getting skinnier every day as muscle disappears (I saw under 63kd the other day). No idea what's robbing me there or why. I'd never have been able to compete with your might finish surges. They are nothing short of awesome. Might I have a chance on a long steep climb. I'd banking on that. Bring on the epic radio tower.
@@halwye Hahaha, we should at least try to get you in the league organisation committee. I think this year it will be Martijn and Marcus doing it, with help from the scoring table team.
@@MaartenOverweg That's asking for trouble. I'd be blamed for every uphill gradient. Especially the new 3285m monster climb that Marcus has in mind. BTW that's the one where I will get sufficient lead in order to be able to survive to the end without you catching me (regardless of you getting any help). This regardless of Z's idiotic downhill algorithm that massively accelerates the heavies and brakes the featherweights. No point looking at Pidcock as an example of a real world descender, Z is just a game. ((I must scope out your more recent cycling prowess, see if there are any chinks in your bloodthirsty racing armour)).
Great race Hal. I really like your 8X videos ... Thanks for putting in the extra effort to produce them. It shows the ebb and flow of a race better than 1X. You should be pleased with that effort ... well done.
Understood. Cheeky of me to ask as I was not daring to keep clicking up the right side rider list to see where you were. Back's still silly, but a day outside with croppers cutting hedging in the harsh easterly wind kept it moving, if only gingerly. Then a hot water bottle on my lumbar seems to help as well. Legs have some fitness but core none. I wonder if a rocker plate or rollers might help get some fitness into the tum area. BTW my typing while racing is hopeless, and voice input has a mind of its own. Looking forward to seeing your video.
Great racing, Hal! How's your back doing? I really thought your group would catch us at one point. Sorry I struggled to answer you in chat, was hard enough trying to focus on the race :-)
