this is what i see on my screen, on the companion app:
have i been category enforced up to C? is that what that icon means in the D race? because i can’t believe my poopalong pace is C level. nevertheless, whatever. but is that what that triangle with the exclamation mark means?
look like it, yes. they analyze your power curve data captured in Zwift for all activities over the previous 60 days to define the boundaries
if you don’t have any activity for the previous 60 days, you can race in category E if it’s available
look like it, yes. they analyze your power curve data captured in Zwift for all activities over the previous 60 days to define the boundaries
if you don’t have any activity for the previous 60 days, you can race in category E if it’s available
well… E isn’t available as you can see. and yes, i have been snorting zwift crack recently. so C it is but that’s going to be pretty hard core. neither we in our own writing, nor zwift in its (that i can see in what i read) actually show the category enforcement icon anywhere. they tell you about the enforcement, but i did not know what it looked like. perhaps that’s what it looks like.
go to zwiftpower.com
click on your profile on the computer, not the companion app
click on info for zwift power category
you can see what races you did and what the ranking was and why you are now in C…(wait until you get to B…then it’s a real sh*tshow…) and excluded from D–yes category is enforced in that particular race
your profile goes back to the previous 90 days
you can view your race result history and click on the “view 95%” button as that is what is used for their estimate of FTP-95% of your best 20 min power
this is based on your 3 best races in the past 3 months
ride on
.
okay, just finished my first C race. Race Scotland: Stage 4. only 6.5mi long. mostly hillclimbing. 3 climbs, 2 descents (mountaintop finish). i was dropped from the lead back @ 8/10 of a mile. i averaged 2.7 w/kg, i would need to have been at 3.2w/kg to have been competitive with the leaders, so, i need to get stronger or lighter. 44 starters, i was 26th (i think 8 dropped out), so not entirely a blowout but i was getting used to the idea of riding comfortably in the front pack and that is now fantasyland.
dan
1)get rid of your zwift ID in your name-just be Dan Empfield–your slowtwitch kit should say it all as to your presence *(I only rock my ST kit on runs, I like my Norseman kit for cycling-it came with a higher price-just sayin’ and they don’t have a v-everesting kit for me in VR)
2)zwift racing is not real life-it starts with a BANG-all races at all levels start out with 30sec to 3 minutes of serious over-wattage------push hard, hang on to the front and then it will calm down
3)to be a contender in a 20 min C race, you need to lay down 3.3-3.5+ w/kg-not 2.7ish, so learn to draft really well, when you can-it’s an art and push like hell to hold pace when you have to–especially at the start
4)watch for the attacks at typical spots in all races-hills are often the way to crack the front, especially long ones–the front group will be relentless so practice long hills at above FTP
5)have fun! it’s all about pushing yourself, meeting some others here in virtual reality and you, sir, are a force from the past–let people know who you are and they will appreciate it
6)find your strength and use it-it’s still not clear where your best ability is yet, but it will show itself eventually
7)try lots of distances and give out appropriate effort, then rest and hit it again–you are in zwift heaven…ride on!
all in all =not bad, not great
keep at it
I think it helps to do a few really short races-all out stuff of 2-6 miles-like the Tiny Race series on Saturdays
and then do 20 min FTP races and 1HR races-one of each, each week to get a baseline
You’ve gotta get some numbers above 3.2 w/KG in some short races! Let’s bleed dude. Get to work
thanks for the exhortations. i’m pretty good at making and keeping with the lead pack, and doing the minimum of work. the problem today is that the whole race really came down to 3 sustained climbs. crits with punchy climbs, that’s my metier. i think i might be a better racer and a fitter rider if i stick with Cs and learn how to contest. i’m also still at the beginning of my riding season. i didn’t ride much or at all from the ablation until maybe december.
The shorter races are full gas and greater intensity. Longer ones tend to still be a fast start but settle in to a reasonable pace. One of the hardest adaptations for me is pedaling at ~4.5 when race starts—you have to be going hard when tape drops—and sometimes having to go to vo2+ for a minute before things calm down. My hr always stays elevated for duration, somewhere around 10-15 beats higher / watts due to initial effort. But for those of us with mostly slowtwitch muscle fiber and a dislike for intensity, it’s the best medicine during the winter months.
2)zwift racing is not real life-it starts with a BANG-all races at all levels start out with 30sec to 3 minutes of serious over-wattage------push hard, hang on to the front and then it will calm down
The few IRL road races I did and all the local hammer rides, same damned thing. Folks on the front of the main group sitting there hammering at freaking vo2 to pull. I never really understand what it accomplishes. In the hammer rides we let them do that for like half the ride then when we know most of the freds and cat 4/5’s are clinging by fingernails the real players make their dig off the front one or two at a time to form a group. Then usually the same thing happens again in the smaller group, but it’s just the Cat 1’s toying with the rest of us until the last couple miles then they’re gone also. Sometimes those guys get bored early and just say “eff it” and drop everyone in the first mile.
zwift racing is not real life
No kidding.
Zwift game physics are nowhere even close to real life physics.
Like laughably bad.
zwift racing is not real life
No kidding.
Zwift game physics are nowhere even close to real life physics.
Like laughably bad.
It’s mostly good for group rides.
But it’s downright horrendous for racing.
2)zwift racing is not real life-it starts with a BANG-all races at all levels start out with 30sec to 3 minutes of serious over-wattage------push hard, hang on to the front and then it will calm down
It’s been a while, but IIRC every single bike race I ever entered started exactly like that.
2)zwift racing is not real life-it starts with a BANG-all races at all levels start out with 30sec to 3 minutes of serious over-wattage------push hard, hang on to the front and then it will calm down
It’s been a while, but IIRC every single bike race I ever entered started exactly like that.
It’s not exactly like that…
I’m not talking about a fast start that ramps up like a normal bike race.
Zwift races begin 10-15 sec before the actual start as everyone ramps up the power and cones off the line at 4+w/kg!
Not an organized pack with those slightly slower trying to keep contact, with everyone beginning together but fast. It’s a cannon start.
boom whoosh
If you’ve actually raced irl and on zwift, you’d understand…
I guess I understand this, but in the past I would sometimes slot into a lower category race to get more of an endurance ride. Now my only option is A. I know there are general group rides that can work for the same purpose, but it sometimes limits the options.
I guess I understand this, but in the past I would sometimes slot into a lower category race to get more of an endurance ride. Now my only option is A. I know there are general group rides that can work for the same purpose, but it sometimes limits the options.
not all races are category enforced. depending on the race i do it either supports that restriction or not; an it requires a HR monitor or not. i participate on the Race Scotland series to see that new world in Zwift and that series is category enforced.
And so what? It’s a workout for most of us here, and more entertaining than starting at the floor on a trainer in erg mode.
And so what? It’s a workout for most of us here, and more entertaining than starting at the floor on a trainer in erg mode.
I never said anything about entertainment value.
I just said the physics are not even close to reality.
Just takes more effort to find an event where you can race down. And with the forthcoming paring down of the event calendar…
I do get it – there’s a terrible experience in C and D in non-enforced events.
Just takes more effort to find an event where you can race down. And with the forthcoming paring down of the event calendar…
I do get it – there’s a terrible experience in C and D in non-enforced events.
yes. enforcement does work both ways. Stops riders from the Cat above dominating the lead group and driving the pace. i think races in the cat i am forced to be in are a bit easier since enforcement took out those from the cat above.
Cat enforcement based on 5 minute power would better reflect race outcomes though. Can’t escape the blob on the flat but got to work like hell to stay with it on those punchy climbs. .
Just takes more effort to find an event where you can race down. And with the forthcoming paring down of the event calendar…
I do get it – there’s a terrible experience in C and D in non-enforced events.
non-enforced C and D are absolute shit-shows. Complete junk. Cat enforced is not perfect but a HUGE step in the right direction.
I do wish they had age categories as well. I know it shouldn’t matter (power is power), but I’m 50 now. It takes me a bit longer to recover during a race than those young bucks.