that was harder than the Hour Record * -- ALEX / alexdowsett / alexdowsett / strava CHANEL / yourroyalth. . / royalthighness_ / strava / thighsclub hello@thighsclub.com
Stephen Jones he might have done if it was a race, a lot of the group riders would be riding a cat or two down just to say they finished first.... It’s only a group ride !!!!
Thx for sharing. It was marvelous to see a Renowned PRO attack their first Zwift race as so many are coming to the platform to include myself (not a PRO). Nice vid to watch seeing also that you have the same struggles as many of us. Thx!!! Looking forward to the next one!!! 🕊
The key is never to lose the front group because as soon as you do you’ll never get back on as a solo rider. As you said it’s about finding the right pace not to go through the group, you can normally get some recovery sitting just behind those at the front, it just takes practice.
Thank you both! Really fun to watch. If you haven't yet, I suggest signing up for Zwift Power. It is a third party program that takes all data and determines winners, CAT's, Power, DQ's etc. it is real data you would enjoy, plus you will see your race results against the field. Thank you again for sharing your lives with us. it really does bring a smile in the midst of such difficult times. Both of you, be well.
Great to see you race on the platform Alex. It's super tough getting used to the difference between road and Zwift, but after a few races you really get it dialed in and it becomes more fun. :).
Was living in Bogota, Colombia for the last 18 months, and the altitude up there is 2600m. I always found it difficult to go crazy on the bike up there since the air is thinner. Just came back to sea level and my ftp increased by 19% just by doing the switch - my heart rate was cruiiising. So guys please be mindful, altitude does change your FTP for sure.
Nice effort for a first go. All about the draft and knowing the course in the e-races, once the racing is up to speed, 2.5 - 3.5wkg normally keeps me in the group on the flats.
Did my first Zwift race a week or so ago! Great fun but Zwift bases your ‘performance’ on the w/kg you put out ... and I’m not convinced there is a common accurate measure of power given everyone is on different turbo trainers! But you nailed it in your closing comments ... it’s more like an FTP test or Time Trial so good for high intensity fitness! I like the short / 15-20km events best and sometimes also do Sunday morning group rides with friends and chat on WhatsApp audio 🙂👍
Great watch...loved it! It’s tough to just jump in without fully knowing the strategies that are used in Zwift. So cool that you just did it! Keep it up!
There's UCI Pro Tour shape, and then there's Zwift shape. It's tough keeping up with a bunch of guys who do nothing but sit on a turbo trainer all day.
Over a year ago I gave Zwift a go. Got a smart trainer and all. Have to say. I didn't like Zwift at all. Riding for over 25 years and also a gamer. Love simulater. But Zwift didn't do it for me. Try to ride at 30kph. Was lime riding at 120%. Try to do a race!!! Sweet Jasus. 5% climb at 10kph flat out...
WELL DONE! One of the hardest things (mentally/physically) is to get into something TOUGH without really knowing how long and how tough it will actually be! I'm very average at Zwift (I race in C Category) but there's a lot to be learned about each course and when to kick in power. I think most people believe that the draft is going to be a lot easier but it isn't... well done sticking it out!
"It was hard!" Welcome to Zwift😜 You will learn and get the hang of it all after a few rides. That was not a race, it was a group ride but as almost all group rides turns to races in the front as you just experienced💪👍 Looks like your locked in Andorra (recognize the buildings) but I am probably wrong but if I am right you must be very close to neighbor's with Willy "Smyrfy" Smith. Hope to see you on Zwift😷 You might come out of this in better shape than before the lockdown if ride on Zwift correct!!!!👍🙏😍
Almost 400 races, 800 rides...Most competitive races start with 2-5 min of Vo2, then settle. Learning to surf the group is very important as well as learning the courses. Bike and wheel choices for the course can make a big difference. Nice to see that my team mate got 5th in that race, GG Bart.
Proud of you Alex. I know it is "different", but you will get the hang of it. And by my estimation, you JUST LIKE many others, will crave a Zwift race over no race at all. I am in Austin Texas. Over here we have something called the Driveway Series. You can google that and see that we race on a vehicle race track. Last time I checked it was the BEST crit series in the USA. But after 1 race this year, it was fully cancelled. Now, every Thursday we race on Zwift. Just like me and others, in this time of uncertainty and weirdness, let's race!
Nice to see you getting into some Zwift racing, Alex! It's all just a bit of competitive fun, while getting in a hard workout at the same time, init. :) I see you've already figured out that there's quite a bit of in-game mechanics and group dynamics at work on Zwift, which takes a bit of experience and thought to predict and get right. It's not only about cranking out the watts. Just as you mentioned, your avg watts were probably quite a bit higher than the really good Zwifters who can just feather it and always stay in the draft. Also, draft is super important on Zwift, it gives you a slight respite but mainly amounts to a lot of speed when you're in a big group like that. You should do a couple of rides or races with some more experienced riders that can give you some basic pointers, so you can catch on a little quicker. ;) Nice job on the Cameron Jeffers reference. :P
Awesome effort Alex, a massive well done. Seasoned zwifters are a hard lot and quite skilled at it. All group rides ive ridden are always full gas, the determination to win for the amateur is great! Well done again and at altitude.....
Chanel’s commentary was unique. Loved it. BTW, your Thighs Club intro is really top class. Who’s idea was that? Thanks for the always entertaining videos.
last 3 winters I have been using zwift mostly as Base training and joining races like each 10-14 days just to kill my self .. Its not Real racing its a Game And the game gets better as you learn how to play it.. But races are tough and will keep fit and strong =) .. Good luck hope you do more =)
You’ll kick butt once you figure it out. That was just a group ride. It also helps greatly to be familiar with the routes. You’ll be A group for racing . The ride is all groups. Also, be up to wattage 3 seconds before to start.
My .02 and take it FWIW, just a humble opinion 1. Yes some people weight dope, but like others have noted it can/can’t make a difference, but it depends on how much they skew it 2. There are more people riding non-drive trainers with uncalibrated PMs, I see this a ton at our shop “you meanI have to calibrate a PM?!?” “How do you even do that, that’s a thing?!?” 3. This should be number 1, there are in fact tons of people who can put out big sustained wattage for 30-45-60+ min because that’s exactly what they have trained for. The prime examples I like to tell people are as follows -I see tons of dudes who can lift very heavy at the gym, ie bench press 400-500+ pounds squat 500-700+ pounds deadlift 500-700+ pounds, they may excel at one or more disciplines but will never become a pro power lifter or bodybuilder. -how many kids can run mid 4.xx second 40s and will never play college American football -how many college guys can run low 4.xx 40s and never even sniff the NFL -the hundreds if not thousands of marathoners who put up an Olympic qualifying time but have zero chance of ever making their country’s team because the time gap is just never going to close on the elites We all knows tons of elite level athletes who can dominate at the local or even state level but cant hang with the national or international (world class) level athletes, whether it be horrendous bike handling skills, poor racing tactics/strategies, inability to work with a team etc. some people are just gifted and with hard work become amazing, they just can’t do it at the pro ranks, which takes an additional myriad of x-factor skills
Well done for sharing this Alex. Yes zwift is hard and different to real life racing but as you said a very good tool to stay fit and get ur ride fix. We regular cyclists really appreciate your honest insights and being such a genuine bloke. Thanks
You actually did a Group Ride, but a very competitive one. You should look out for "Crit City Races". They are performed on a special course you cannot enter otherwise and are usually arround 20min with the A group. It is like a big TT effort with a sprint at the end :) You will love it, except for the sprint
There are non drafting TT races you can enter on Zwift. So if that's more your bag, Zwift can accommodate. Use the Companion App and scroll through the Events to find an upcoming one.
It's funny to see Alex really getting to grips with this amongst all the top Zwift riders out there who are clearly very talented and have got this 'race' world dialled in. Would also be great to see how those top Zwift guys would fare in actual outdoor time trials and road races. Of course I appreciate the fact that many of them may actually be pros, ex pros, or just hardcore riders who can produce phenomenal performances; to endure those sublime wattages for that long. Impressive 👍👍👍👍😎😎😎
Most Zwift "racers", who crank out 5.5 w/kg on their home trainer, struggle to put out 4.5 w/kg once they're on a properly calibrated one. And we're not even getting into weight doping :)
Cold air no no airflow is kind of the worst, as you tend experience both burning and freezing simultaneously. I'd suggest experimenting with multiple, powerful enough fans + the window only semi open so the indoor temperature remains around 10-13 °C, and the rider has plenty of airflow everywhere needed. When dialed-in properly, even during a race you'll barely sweat: no need to use a towel to catch drops and all that.
Great content. Enjoying the vlogs. Zwift races are super hard - also you’re never sure whether everyone is legit. Can’t believe some of the average watts in these events. Keep it up though.
Superb, enjoyed that from you both immensely. Harder than the hour record...ummm OK if you say so 🤔 Looking forward to forthcoming episodes, your turn next Chanel 👍🏻
You're right, Alex: they haven't got the programming right yet for when you're in a group - you're either off the front or off the back, really hard to just stay in the wheels in the group, no matter how you try to adjust your effort.
Philip, it’s not that hard. Just takes a few races to practice. Once you nail the technique sitting in the draft becomes second nature. I’ve been Zwifting for 5 years and I don’t even think about it now.
Don't know anything about zwift except most of my friends are on it. I've resisted so far. Looked like a few guys were using some "power ups" at the finish to give themselves an advantage. Think that's also part of it. But how many watts does altitude steal from your ftp I wonder, 20, 40, 50?
Use 2 are such great entertainment and open. Zwift races take in so much in game gameplay and you need to know you’re way to Zwift race and use power ups. I hope you get the bug Alex at least whilst you are isolated. Zwift do time trials as well which you may enjoy (🤔). Just look at the events on companion app. Zwift keeping me sane at the moment . Keep up the great vids please 😀👍
Looks like it was a group ride, not a race. People still race though, but no resultlist pops up. You came in 24th, and tell Chanel to film the part where you get dropped next time. That’s the fun part. Even funnier than looking in an oven 😝 Good effort, in fact great for a firsttimer. Chapeau from Denmark
Get a fan and learn to use the power-ups. Great to see you on there. The baking interlude was also a great answer to the question "what do we show in the boring middle part of the race?"
Alex, If you fancy an old fashioned club 10 on Zwift, Newbury Velo run their club 10 (and a bit)'s on a Wednesday at 7pm. No marshals and no changing in a lay-by.
YES if you are surging then you just need to learn to sit in and your swifting .when you move up to the front slow the watts down and as soon as you start to drift back ,pick them back up again or you will be out the back .after a while it will be second nature
try to down shift to slow your watts and shift up to increase watts once at your level of yo yoing , i have gone through a set just in 3 months and learn to jump on top the next gear . its a ave of 3 sec out put if that helps its a game like good ole tecmo bowl lol
Suggest you could increase TOTAL audience by also posting this under heading “ My first attempt at pro race “commentating”. That was hilarious. I think if my SIGO was doing that while I was smashing the Watts in the pain cave I would do a full “Moscon”!!
Alex, the reason you could not see your result because it was a group ride, not an actual race! At a race it shows the results (also wattages and heart rates of competitors) and tells you your position and all gaps!!
I just tried my first crit race on Zwift and accidentally followed the category A riders out the blocks...must have been a rush of blood to the head! I'm somewhere on the boundary of cat B/C and let's just say I didn't keep up pace for very long..
@@hugoyoung4890 Not just weight but trainer doping as well. All it takes is a slight miss-calibration and you are doing 100w but the system thinks you are doing 400w. With these events you can safely figure that 95% are cheating.
Brian Muir It’s a training tool. Don’t get all serious. Have you ever tried a Zwift race? The lads I know are very good IRL and on Zwift so it’s not ALL cheating
people used to be pretty honest in the early days, but these days and especially since the lockdown with the normie invasion, its just full of utter scumbags
That ain't true - C & D races are generally OK - its the B races that are insane from start to finish and full of the lightest group of folks I have ever seen
Over a year ago I gave Zwift a go. Got a smart trainer and all. Have to say. I didn't like Zwift at all. Riding for over 25 years and also a gamer. Love simulater. But Zwift didn't do it for me. Try to ride at 30kph. Was lime riding at 120%. Try to do a race!!! Sweet Jasus. 5% climb at 10kph flat out...
