Completed my tour yesterday. Woke up and I had originally intended to do one stage on saturday, the 3R 100km sunday morning followed by the second but just did 2 stages in a row on sunday instead.
Stage 7: Harrowgate
https://www.strava.com/activities/3103932962
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=333460
First up was Yorkshire and it was utterly brutal. So attritional. I let the front group go and settled into a chase group of around a dozen. I found myself generally chasing wheels the first half but did find myself one of the most powerful on the main climb so was the right side of a decisive split. Quite a big group behind the split would constantly close the gap and then lose it on the bigger ramps. The two riders with me where constantly surging and then easing, so I was alternating between chasing wheels or between riders trying to judge what to do. Really on my limit, then at other times able to easy pedal and recover. Into the second lap the 3 became two as 1 guy went up the road when another guy going like a steam train came past us. The next time up the big climb I distanced my companion and reeled in the guy from up front. I dropped him soon after but he formed a 2up behind chasing me with the other. The drag & slight ease into the finish (by the drafthouse) before the ramp, they'd caught me but I'd been gradually easing to save something for the sprint. I opened up and although I was caught, the guy who'd passed me couldn't sustain it up the final ramp, so I kicked and went over the top of him easily, he was unable to follow and neither of them able to get on my wheel when I went. Horrible course to have done first so quite glad I missed the immediate start I had planned for stage 4...
As I missed the start of the group ride for Stage 4 by a few minutes I changed my jersey, grabbed some snacks and rolled around for 20 minutes until the Race start. I figured as the Long Ride and Race for Bologna where the same length then so be it. Same race 'it's not a race'.
Stage 4: Bologna
https://www.strava.com/activities/3104341772/
https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php?zid=333676 (Find me in filtered results along with the 3 others I was racing)
I figured this one being on this TT course would be frantic but it was actually quite a measured start! I found myself in a chase group but I was the one doing most of the towing. We caught/reeled in the front 3 riders just before the first gradual ramps started towards the hill. A gradual selection was made and I found myself chasing the scattered riders up the road with a gap behind. I eased a little to be with a couple more chasers, when the real incline started they mostly dropped back. I was feeling quite strong so settled into a 3w/kg pace which felt sustainable. One by 1 I reeled in the riders up front until only 1 (Lind) was left. I eased up a little pacing myself more. 4 of us very close togeher. Lind, Chitryn and a SA guy without a name Zwift could display. When we went through the arch to the steepest part I really started to burn, the two lighter riders gaining quite a lot of ground up front so I thought the race was over. Settled down and just paced it until back through the arches. The slight ease in gradient there (14% down to 6-7%?) really helped and I seemed to get some respite so was able to put the power down again. Holding 3.2-3.4w/kg at times was able to easily reel in the front 2 guys over the top, 3 of us together and one close behind. I descended in aero, easily keeping pace with the others due to my cake weight and getting some rest into my toasted legs. 4 of us together by the bottom I settled into my usual 2.5-2.8w/kg and seemed to be holding pace well. At a level I knew my legs cound sustain and could recover enough for the second time. At one point we got strung out and ended up as 2 groups of 2, I dropped Lind just as things began to wind up and he was caught by another guy from behind. We hit the second climb and I was rested enough to sustain similar efforts to the last time, fully expecting my previous companion (Lind) to do the same and he was getting a nice tow from the guy who'd caught him. I rode a little more reserved expecting them to catch me, they got within 4s just before the bridge and steep part. French towing guy was dropped. The feather and extra power I'd managed to save got put down hard and Lind hadn't got the legs to close me gradually losing ground on the steepest section. I knew I had him on the latter section so managed the gap all the way to the finish coming in 3rd. Supreme ride and effort from me, each of the climbs over my FTP (250W).
First at 264W,
second at 263W. Both the exact same time and power average. Call me Mr consistency!
Really glad I finished the TdZ. Every year it's given me a good kick start and I've always enjoyed it.
I started well, stalled with missing stage 4 and a bad day/ride/trainer on stage 5. Stage 6 I got my mojo back a bit so it felt good to continue that bit of form into the catchup days for some good results. I'd have liked to re-ride stage 3 & 5 for better results but no time.
How you guys manage to type and ride still pushing big numbers is beyond my capability but then i am a CAT D with a mere 207FTP at 78kg and one more year till i am 50
Still should have the pain cave ready this weekend instead of stinking the lounge out
I find it quite easy with my Quadlock and companion app on my mobile - typing from my bars!
Nothing wrong with those numbers, weight and age! Regardless of your FTP, the HR zones and 'feel' of large efforts - regardless of the actual power produced - your efforts will be the same as others ("It never gets any easier, you just go faster!"). I'm the same weight and in large efforts (like my Bologna climbs above) could only type short messages, much easier to stay 'in the zone' and keep pushing without distractions. Then again much of it could be stamina, from riding hard and deep into threshold you get to the stage you can sustain it. I tend to blow up with my HR towards 190bpm, but equally those sustained efforts deep into it at 180bpm and slightly above I can recover from without blowing up or even needing to ease very much... While also 'chatting'/typing. Just get 'used' to being on the knife edge and floating around it.
My "free" TICKR HRM arrived this week, just had to pay £5 delivery. Good timing as my Scosche optical HRM has started to die in the past couple of weeks, though it looks like Scosche might replace it despite being 3.5 years old.
To answer Roady's question, Sufferfest is 129 USD a year or 15 USD a month.
Great deal for the TICKR. Fantastic little device, enjoy!
Good deal on SF but really can't justify that alongside a Zwift sub...
Yay, another race/ride 2/3rds thru and zwift has joined another ride I added. Lesson learnt now. Shame you can't add reminders of what's coming up with no commitment.
You can - just have to be aware of the popup when you get it. You on PC? Around 8-10 minutes before you get a countdown timer on the
rightleft hand side, there is an option to join or leave there. Then when the counter gets to 5 minutes left you get the popup in the middle with a 30s counter. If you
don't click on 'Stay' it'll auto 'OK' you which will put you in the pen for the ride you've 'Joined'. But that's probably what you've observed!
Still need an ant+ stick for my laptop, anyone got any cheap recommendations!
I have the Suunto moviestick you sold me a few years ago?
but the cover is a bit broken and it's a bit hit & miss some days (replaced it with the standalone Tacx one).
DHB/Wiggle/Lifeline do their own which is meant to be ok.[/S]
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