Discussion
I did it. Cat C as well.
I've only done workouts for the last few years but tried racing again at the start of the year. I've found an extra gear, a very painful, far more painful than even running extra gear!
Looking at the results the top riders in each category, A to C, have pretty similar power numbers, they just get heavier. If, like me, you are built like a cyclist then you'll struggle on these flat races.
I've only done workouts for the last few years but tried racing again at the start of the year. I've found an extra gear, a very painful, far more painful than even running extra gear!
Looking at the results the top riders in each category, A to C, have pretty similar power numbers, they just get heavier. If, like me, you are built like a cyclist then you'll struggle on these flat races.
frisbee said:
I did it. Cat C as well.
I've only done workouts for the last few years but tried racing again at the start of the year. I've found an extra gear, a very painful, far more painful than even running extra gear!
Looking at the results the top riders in each category, A to C, have pretty similar power numbers, they just get heavier. If, like me, you are built like a cyclist then you'll struggle on these flat races.
Used to be built like a cyclist, I'm 96kg now, so I'm gonna get killed on the lumpy stages, enjoying it so far..I've only done workouts for the last few years but tried racing again at the start of the year. I've found an extra gear, a very painful, far more painful than even running extra gear!
Looking at the results the top riders in each category, A to C, have pretty similar power numbers, they just get heavier. If, like me, you are built like a cyclist then you'll struggle on these flat races.
Yesterday @ 11:00 for me.
I'm new to Zwift since Christmas, so still feeling things out for how hard I can push and not die!!
I got in a decent group that made me push on a bit, but wasn't beyond my capabilities.....until I came to Leith Hill....and then I died!! Granted that I'm not built like a cyclist and in my prime (44yo - 6' 2" - 91kg), but I found the hill brutal and just went backwards. I finished, which is all that I'm after really as Zwift is just for some winter fitness with more interest than staring at a wall.
Not sure if I'm looking forward to stage 2?
I'm new to Zwift since Christmas, so still feeling things out for how hard I can push and not die!!
I got in a decent group that made me push on a bit, but wasn't beyond my capabilities.....until I came to Leith Hill....and then I died!! Granted that I'm not built like a cyclist and in my prime (44yo - 6' 2" - 91kg), but I found the hill brutal and just went backwards. I finished, which is all that I'm after really as Zwift is just for some winter fitness with more interest than staring at a wall.
Not sure if I'm looking forward to stage 2?
Sat here trying to let my legs recover after finishing the cat B race earlier. I’m a couple of stone heavier and a lot less fitter than I should be thanks to a few months of house renovations, no exercise and bad eating.
Over Christmas I managed to dig the turbo trainer out from under the mountain of stuff stacked in the sitting room, got Zwift running on my old laptop and have been riding every day since the start of the year. Happy that I managed a decent power average for me and finished the happy side of mid-pack (just).
Am I mad to be thinking of cat A for stage 2?
Over Christmas I managed to dig the turbo trainer out from under the mountain of stuff stacked in the sitting room, got Zwift running on my old laptop and have been riding every day since the start of the year. Happy that I managed a decent power average for me and finished the happy side of mid-pack (just).
Am I mad to be thinking of cat A for stage 2?
I did the Stage 1 Race (C) on Monday - which was my first ever Zwift race, I finished 75th out of 161. The person that won the CAT-C race would have been top 5 for the CAT-A race (averaging 4.5watts/kg) so looks like CAT system is a bit of a joke...
I plan to try and ride every stage, not sure if I wil opt for the races or do the group rides.
I find that the whole Ziwft group ride categories a bit odd. According to the FTP tests I have done my FTP is 3.4 watts/kg which would make me bottom of CAT-B but when I do CAT-C group rides which state average pace of 2.7-3.2 watts/kg I find that I need often need to ride above FTP to avoid being dropped (even in the draft). I weigh 70kg so I am not super light...
I plan to try and ride every stage, not sure if I wil opt for the races or do the group rides.
I find that the whole Ziwft group ride categories a bit odd. According to the FTP tests I have done my FTP is 3.4 watts/kg which would make me bottom of CAT-B but when I do CAT-C group rides which state average pace of 2.7-3.2 watts/kg I find that I need often need to ride above FTP to avoid being dropped (even in the draft). I weigh 70kg so I am not super light...
The category system isn’t in any way enforced on Zwift itself so the ‘official’ results are a complete joke. Zwift Power does enforce categories and you’ll be DQd if break the rules. However not everyone is registered with Zwift Power so your results are often shown in the context of a much smaller field of riders.
lauda said:
The category system isn’t in any way enforced on Zwift itself so the ‘official’ results are a complete joke. Zwift Power does enforce categories and you’ll be DQd if break the rules. However not everyone is registered with Zwift Power so your results are often shown in the context of a much smaller field of riders.
With Zwiftpower and being DQ'd how fo things work if your FTP puts you in CAT-C (FTP 3.2watts/kg), but for the shorter races (e.g. 17km) you can ride above your FTP (3.5 watts/kg)? Most riders can go "all out" for 20 minutes or so and the shorter races are similar to an FTP test effort so I would expect most riders to manage slightly over their FTP; am I right in thinking thta Zwiftpower will only DQ those that are obviously taking the piss (e.g. riding a CAT-C race above 4watts/kg)I find that CAT-C group rides on really flat routes are miserable experience if there are any sprint sections thrown in to change the pace - I often end up dropped and when the results come up at the end often ride I find I have averaged a higher watts/kg than the group that dropped me.
I think it is only a matter of time until Zwift have some kind of flag for people in the wrong CAT entering races or group rides. Group rides isn't too bad as they have the fence to stop flyers etc. Zwift power is really the best thing to go from, sign up and use that as your basis for results as it filters out the BS. The trouble is that you can race and think you've finished X place to look on Zwift Power to see that you've been promoted as others were in the wrong cat.
As a heavier (83kgs) rider you quickly learn that where your strengths and more importantly weaknesses lie. I feel like I've got the hang of using the column with the other riders and there respective w/kg to guesstimate if they are a light or heavy rider. A quick rule of thumb is how quickly there w/kg number flies up when on a climb. I know I can hold my own (even more so in a draft) on the flat but on the climbs I have to be realistic. Current FTP around 230-240w for info.
I would fully encourage anyone keen on getting a bit more Zwift wise, to look on Zwift insider. Great site to reference!
As a heavier (83kgs) rider you quickly learn that where your strengths and more importantly weaknesses lie. I feel like I've got the hang of using the column with the other riders and there respective w/kg to guesstimate if they are a light or heavy rider. A quick rule of thumb is how quickly there w/kg number flies up when on a climb. I know I can hold my own (even more so in a draft) on the flat but on the climbs I have to be realistic. Current FTP around 230-240w for info.
I would fully encourage anyone keen on getting a bit more Zwift wise, to look on Zwift insider. Great site to reference!
jesusbuiltmycar said:
With Zwiftpower and being DQ'd how fo things work if your FTP puts you in CAT-C (FTP 3.2watts/kg), but for the shorter races (e.g. 17km) you can ride above your FTP (3.5 watts/kg)? Most riders can go "all out" for 20 minutes or so and the shorter races are similar to an FTP test effort so I would expect most riders to manage slightly over their FTP; am I right in thinking thta Zwiftpower will only DQ those that are obviously taking the piss (e.g. riding a CAT-C race above 4watts/kg).
It’s a good question and one I don’t know the answer to. I’ve always entered races based on the category I fall into using my FTP, even if I think I can hold higher watts/kg for the duration of that race since it’s less than an hour. Since FTP is based on 95% of 20 minute power and I don’t think many races are much shorter than 20 minutes, there shouldn’t be huge differences. My FTP works out at about 3.6-3.7 w/kg and I think the highest average power I’ve managed in a short race is 3.9 w/kg. So if someone manages 4.1-4.2 w/kg in a Cat B race, that seems reasonable. Any more than that and I think they’re probably taking the proverbial.
Zwift basing their categories on Watts per KG is not helpful for flat races or group rides. They should stick to Average power (FTP) for flat event categories and only use w/kg for hilly events.
Example:
My teenage son has entered a few. He is 52kg so has to ride over 4 w/kg just to maintain a modest (cat C?) flat pace of 210 watts.....which is probably only about 2.5 w/kg for the average Zwifter.
So cat C is right for him in a flat event, even though the results will make him look a cheat for putting out 4 w/kg average in a cat C.
Example:
My teenage son has entered a few. He is 52kg so has to ride over 4 w/kg just to maintain a modest (cat C?) flat pace of 210 watts.....which is probably only about 2.5 w/kg for the average Zwifter.
So cat C is right for him in a flat event, even though the results will make him look a cheat for putting out 4 w/kg average in a cat C.
Edited by Get Karter on Wednesday 15th January 20:34
ked, doing mine on Friday.I will be doing the group ride @ 19:30 tonight if all goes to plan. I am assuming that there is another fairly monstrous climb at the end of the stage, looking at the map. I still don't know my way around yet, so I have not explored that area!!
I did a 40km group ride with SAS cycle club last night which suited me perfectly, 2.5w/kg average on the flat with a few sprints thrown in. I am learning that I need to ride at my own pace and not get sucked in to faster groups as I get ruined by the end.
I did a 40km group ride with SAS cycle club last night which suited me perfectly, 2.5w/kg average on the flat with a few sprints thrown in. I am learning that I need to ride at my own pace and not get sucked in to faster groups as I get ruined by the end.
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