"Winter" - Cruzbike Virtual Time Trial Challenge
- Thread starter LarryOz
- Start date
Tonight I am climbing the Alp, so tomorrow I planned to ride the Zwift Watopia route. Apparently, Sunday is another world and the world hack is more of a pain on my iOS tablet.
I have Zwift running on my work laptop now as well just for when I need to switch worlds. Now to get time for the TT tomorrow!
I have Zwift running on my work laptop now as well just for when I need to switch worlds. Now to get time for the TT tomorrow!
Did it this AM on the volcano flat. What a PITA having to do the "world hack" etc etc. Is this 2002 with these internet hacks? Seems a simple thing to let users pick wherever they want to ride.... except I forgot we are dealing with the very large cycling community so there always seems to be the "need" for an overlord to tell people what/when/where to ride.
(Sarcasm)
(Sort of)
(Sarcasm)
(Sort of)
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
If you don't like the "world hack", you can just take a look at the Zwift calendar and plan when to do your ride.
https://zwiftinsider.com/schedule/
For some reason I am not allowed to upload photos any longer on this forum, or I would post a screenshot of the Jan 2019 schedule.
They are usually in Watopia (Zwift Island) about 1/2 the time. At least 2 days of each week it looks like.
https://zwiftinsider.com/schedule/
For some reason I am not allowed to upload photos any longer on this forum, or I would post a screenshot of the Jan 2019 schedule.
They are usually in Watopia (Zwift Island) about 1/2 the time. At least 2 days of each week it looks like.
Cool. I was not even aware that you couldn't change worlds. Been off the Swift for a while doing neighborhood loops at a much more relaxed pace so this will actually get me into the groove again.
I tend to ride at far too leisurely of a pace outside anyway and there are way too many stops/starts to make this a realistic challenge to do other than on the trainer.
Thanks Larry for your help getting me set up. The tech glitches right when you are prepped to ride are rather frustrating but it looks to be smooth once that is done.
Well, looks like my power info doesn't make it to Strava. Nothing like two steps forward and 10 steps back. Time to go ride outside with ZERO tech attached to the bike. Ugh.
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
I wouldn't worry about it Robert. At least you can ride the Zwift Watopia Laps now anytime you need to for the challenge. Eventually we will figure out how to get Zwift to report your watts in the Strava upload. All we really need is your time anyway. It's just nice to have the watts to see how the 2 relate. At least you have them on the Zwift side and can see them when you ride. That is what counts. Take Care - Larry
CruzLike
Guru
I planned to let this lie, since Robert brought it up. About 6 months ago I swapped worlds in my pref file as described above with no issues. This last week I got warmed up, logged out, edited my pref file and went to NYC. I edited again and went to NYC. then surfed for the "how to" page above. then went to NYC. Then read the fine print on the "how to" page, shazam, I'm in Watopia. It was about a 30 minute detour. I think I have learned and won't repeat the detour I took next week.
I guess with all the frustration of swapping world, I ended up putting down a good run. I averaged 105% of my ftp. I should be able to stay under that number pretty easy for the next 10 weeks. We are supposed to come close but not go over your time, right?
Just kidding, I know the game. I just may have set myself up to not be as competitive as others.
RojoRacing
Donut Powered Wise-guy
I'd never be able to motivate myself to go fast on a flat TT course on zwift without someone to chase. My best efforts will always be climbing watopia mt to the radio tower or zwift de alp because my mind associates climbing with hard efforts. I'd have to shoot for an effort within a window of total time instead of 15 miles.
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
Whatever you need to do Jason - good practice for you to learn another discipline! Going all out TT for 15 miles without having to climb a mountain. I imagine for you - shoot to average FTP+10% for this short of a TT. Put your Garmin on your bike with a screen display showing avg power for lap. Then run the 2Laps Watopia and just keep your "power avg" on your Garmin whatever your "goal" is. That should do it.
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
OK everyone! This is week #1 of the Winter TT Challenge. Sponsored by our favorite bike maker: Cruzbike - I'm trying to talk them into giving the winner an S40 frameset! 
- We shall see what they come up with! haha
All joking aside - yes - this is the first week that your Personal Best will get "registered". Everyone will get 1 point for riding since there will be no winner as we establish everyone's baseline.
There is still time for you to play from the start even if you have not gotten me your "week 0" test ride. You just need either complete the 2Lap Watopia by end of the day Sunday the 27th, or ride your own outside course and create a Strava segment.
Remember if you want the option to ride "either" your indoor or Zwift segment for any of the following weeks of the challenge, then you need to ride both of them this week. This will establish your personal best on both routes. Those PB's will be "adjusted" based on which ever course you ride a new PB on.
Good Luck to everyone - and ride safe.
Larry
p.s. Zwift defaults to Watopia on Thur, Fri & Sat this week if that helps you with your planning.
questions and rides to: larryoslund@gmail.com
- We shall see what they come up with! hahaAll joking aside - yes - this is the first week that your Personal Best will get "registered". Everyone will get 1 point for riding since there will be no winner as we establish everyone's baseline.
There is still time for you to play from the start even if you have not gotten me your "week 0" test ride. You just need either complete the 2Lap Watopia by end of the day Sunday the 27th, or ride your own outside course and create a Strava segment.
Remember if you want the option to ride "either" your indoor or Zwift segment for any of the following weeks of the challenge, then you need to ride both of them this week. This will establish your personal best on both routes. Those PB's will be "adjusted" based on which ever course you ride a new PB on.
Good Luck to everyone - and ride safe.
Larry
p.s. Zwift defaults to Watopia on Thur, Fri & Sat this week if that helps you with your planning.
questions and rides to: larryoslund@gmail.com
RojoRacing
Donut Powered Wise-guy
FYI
benphyr
Guru-me-not
Hi Larry,
I did a couple rides but I'm still having some difficulties. First, my trainer will not retain the wheel circumference in settings; it reverts to a 700 wheel setting every time, so I think it is reporting power based on calculations from a 622mm rim but I'm using a 559 mountain bike rim - so Power is probably 25% high. Second, whenever battery levels get low on the iPod it cuts out and ceases to record, then when it comes back online it seems to double record or something. Today's ride was reported as 91km in 54 minutes at 147W!! Break 2000km at Sebring! My friend's Zwift would not connect to anything so he didn't get any reliable info either...
So, maybe you can just put me down for completing the ride for this past week.
Cheers,
Ben.
I did a couple rides but I'm still having some difficulties. First, my trainer will not retain the wheel circumference in settings; it reverts to a 700 wheel setting every time, so I think it is reporting power based on calculations from a 622mm rim but I'm using a 559 mountain bike rim - so Power is probably 25% high. Second, whenever battery levels get low on the iPod it cuts out and ceases to record, then when it comes back online it seems to double record or something. Today's ride was reported as 91km in 54 minutes at 147W!! Break 2000km at Sebring! My friend's Zwift would not connect to anything so he didn't get any reliable info either...
So, maybe you can just put me down for completing the ride for this past week.
Cheers,
Ben.
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
Results from week #1:
The following people successfully rode the week1 Tt at full speed and set their PB on their course(s) of choice. Per the rules - everyone gets 1 point. We are all tied.
Cliff Federspiel - 1
Jim Finger - 1
Ken Holzhausen- 1
Larry Oslund- 1
Jim Parker- 1
Maria Parker- 1
Rob Lloyd- 1
Robert Hollar- 1
Josh Bonczkowski- 1
....
Now the fun starts. We are in week #2 until midnight Sunday. Whoever rides the fastest against their own person best (PB) will win week #2 and receive top points for the week, which will be added to last weeks points.
If you still want to have fun with us, go ahead and ride your first PB this week to set your baseline. You will get 1 point like each of us did this week, then the following weeks your finishing order will be based on your deviation from your PB.
The following people successfully rode the week1 Tt at full speed and set their PB on their course(s) of choice. Per the rules - everyone gets 1 point. We are all tied.
Cliff Federspiel - 1
Jim Finger - 1
Ken Holzhausen- 1
Larry Oslund- 1
Jim Parker- 1
Maria Parker- 1
Rob Lloyd- 1
Robert Hollar- 1
Josh Bonczkowski- 1
....
Now the fun starts. We are in week #2 until midnight Sunday. Whoever rides the fastest against their own person best (PB) will win week #2 and receive top points for the week, which will be added to last weeks points.
If you still want to have fun with us, go ahead and ride your first PB this week to set your baseline. You will get 1 point like each of us did this week, then the following weeks your finishing order will be based on your deviation from your PB.
RojoRacing
Donut Powered Wise-guy
one more race one more win to add to the profile. This one played out like a typical road race with 10 riders in the mix with a couple trying some attacks and others just sitting in no matter what. I tried to let a couple riders get off the front like 10 or so seconds then quickly gaped the field myself so I could pick up those two riders and work together to pull away but....they didn't get the memo. I ended up flying right passed with them still backed off at 3wkg so the rest of the group quickly consuming them so I had to ease up because there's no way I can hold a breakaway on my own. I had considered trying to hold 400 watts from 1.5 miles out to the finish which would be slightly better then my best 5 min power but when I tried the others were quick to bridge. So I then changed my strat to adding on two more sneaky attacks which put the others on the defensive and made them hesitate to go for the sprint first or as early as they would probably normally do. This let me initiate the finish sprint at 0.2 miles to go and I ramped up hard and used my aero PU only after they reacted to my numbers because using the PU just before or right when you kick is an instant giveaway and lets them react 2 seconds faster. So I instantly opened a 15 meter gap then as they reacted and their hard kick got it down to 7 meters I kicked once more hard to stabilize the gap and take the win. I can say these types of races that play out like the cat and mouse game are my least favorite and remind me why I don't do real life road races.
Maria Parker
Administrator
I'm so grateful to Larry for setting this up. I'm looking forward to seeing week two results on Monday. Please join us anyone who is lurking. It's set up so we are racing ourselves. @rohoracing, what's the deal? You need to join us in the time trial. No excuses about not being able to push yourself.
RojoRacing
Donut Powered Wise-guy
Ouch the big boss is calling me out well the short answer is it requires a preset planned effort which is like following a training plan if only for a single day of the week which is only 6 steps away from going full blown training plan and that's 1 step too close for me
if you look closely you'll notice another free spirited racer missing from the mix, where is @trplay? I suspect he has seen first hand what a plan can do to his closest riding partner and isn't going to touch anything like it with a 6 foot pole
well the short answer is it requires a preset planned effort which is like following a training plan if only for a single day of the week which is only 6 steps away from going full blown training plan and that's 1 step too close for me if you look closely you'll notice another free spirited racer missing from the mix, where is @trplay? I suspect he has seen first hand what a plan can do to his closest riding partner and isn't going to touch anything like it with a 6 foot pole
