My First Zwift Race - An Unmitigated Disaster
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- čas přidán 6. 02. 2023
- Why shouldn't you do your first Zwift race in too high of a category? How do you burn all your matches in the first five minutes and get dropped? What does a total failure look like in Zwift races? I answer all these questions and more in this video!
#zwift #zwiftfail #zwiftracing #igotdropped #cyclingfails
On kind of a whim, I took on my first race in Zwift. It didn't go well. Here, I break it down in all it's glory.
Want to watch the livestream of the race, uncut?
I'm in the middle of a six week FTP Builder Plan in Zwift and I livestream every workout here on CZcams! Join me in my quest to become a better cyclist!
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Equipment used:
Garmin Tacx NEO Bike Smart
Garmin HRM Dual Heart Rate Monitor
Sony ZV1
Rode Wireless Go II - Sport
Confucius say, in 40 minute race, do not pop blood vessel in first minute.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
This is one of the best Zwift racing videos I’ve ever seen! You perfectly captured the harsh reality of first-time racing on Zwift that has been experienced by so many of us. I laughed so hard when you shot out of the gate at 800+ watts. We’ve all been there. Your power was actually pretty good for rest of the race after you lost the front pack. You’ll be pretty good in no time
Thanks, Matt! I totally could have buried the footage and waited until I did better to post a video, but thought people needed to see the bad, too!
I think you’re way too hard on yourself! You’re beating yourself up for every little tiny mistake! but it’s your first Zwift race and you show great insight in spotting your minor learning opportunities / areas for improvement. Zwift races are tough and you always get caught up in the moment even when you’ve done loads of them. I think you did great and the lessons you yourself spotted and learned will stand you in good stead for future races 👍
Thanks X X! I did need a race like this to show me what to work on. I've done one more race, and it went much better!
Great video! Don't let it get you down, everyone's first race is a challenge, the tactics will come with time, probably the first 5-10 races before things start to come together. I agree with what you said about the ramp test, I find it tends to over estimate the ftp by a fair amount, perhaps try a 20min test?
Definitely upgrade your bike, level 19 and hasn't bought a new bike, impressive!
The hardest part is staying in the pack and saving as much energy as possible, even after a year of zwift racing I still find it difficult, but it does get easier with time. Keep it up, would be keen to see you do a class C race! Subbed!
Firstly, big respect for racing in the first place. Turning up in a pen is the first step. There’ll be plenty more great Zwift race experiences to come. I’m an A cat racer so have as few, hopefully useful, tips for you.
1. You’re right to race in B cat. Much better to come last in a B race than first in a C race. You only get better by racing people who are better than you.
2. Definitely go hard out the start gate but 6wkg is plenty (even in an A cat race). And you shouldn’t have to do that for more than a minute. Just need to do enough to be in the main group. Nothing more. Save your legs. Also, if you go off the front then the group will rush you when they catch up and could spit you out the back straight away.
3. Race at the pace of the pack. If they’re all going at 2.5wkg (which also happens in A races) then ride at 2.5wkg. Don’t feel like you have to ride at 3.5wkg+ just because you’re in the B race.
4. Don’t worry about being at the back. You can happily sit in the draft and recover instead. Even when you get the ‘close the gap’ message, don’t worry too much. If you crank it up by 1wkg for a few pedals strokes you’ll get back on. When to worry is if you drop back by more than 2sec. That’s when you’d need to double your effort in order to catch the group back up.
5. You mention bikes and wheels. It is important to have a good setup but it’s more important when you go up hills. As long as you’re in the draft on a flat it doesn’t make a massive difference. Spend your drops on a light frame and lightweight wheels before getting an aero setup. Many more seconds lost going uphill on the wrong setup.
6. Keep pedalling after you finish. Aim to do at least 10% distance easy rolling after the finish line to warm your legs down or you'll regret it the day after. If I race for an hour then I'll definitely do 10min warm down.
7. Definitely race again. We all have rubbish days. We all think we’re terrible sometimes. And then next race you’ll end up top 3!
Also, watch some ZRL streams. Doesn't need to my stupid lot in the A cat races. Check out some of the B or C events and watch how those guys race.
See you in the start pens!
Thank you for the great advice, werdsmyth! I definitely get riding with better riders will make me improve - that’s how I became a good runner in high school. I’ll keep at it! It’ll be a long time before you see me in the A pen (unless I hit the wrong button in Zwift). Ride on!
🫂 Fellow Zwifting CZcamsr here: I love what you’re doing.
You’ll be happy you recorded this video and put yourself out there, even if you’re not proud of it right now. I recorded my FTP attempt and missed my goal by less than 1%…….6,000+ people have now watched that video, and I’m proud of it. Not because I “failed,” but because I wasn’t scared to show the internet that it’s better to try and fail than never try at all.
Hopefully you will look back on this video and feel the same way, I’m sure you’ll make awesome gains!
Thanks, man! There’s so many videos of cyclists at a high level I think there’s value in average folks trying to get after it! I’ve gotten so much support and great advice, I’ll keep trying!
B cat is super hard, really admirable for sticking with it for 8 minutes, kudos. Now you are hoooked!
Great to watch and so relatable, thanks for sharing and good luck with your workouts - I think you’ll crush in B as you gain more experience :)
Thank you, Kate!
Thanks for deciding to post this video. It should be mandatory watching for anyone thinking about getting into Zwift racing.
Thank you, Chris! Just did a second race - let’s just say it went better!
I’m majorly glad you have uploaded this. Just got my WattBike this week about to sign up to Zwift so I’m learning & videos like this are amazing. Thank you for all the tips
Thanks Paul! I see a lot of videos of people doing well - I put my videos up warts and all so people can learn what not to do and not be discouraged if things don’t go as planned. Enjoy your WattBike and your training! I did the 6 week FTP builder plan and it worked wonders for my fitness. Check out the FTP test videos and my other race vid to get some pointers!
@@ericbarnettcycling I will do, I’ve subscribed to the channel so I’m going to be looking at the videos for more tips. I’ve barely trained in like 3 years so need to start from scratch. Never been much of a cyclist but it’s the best for starting back & will provide least impact to joints/knees etc whilst being so over weight. Keep up the videos but! Good luck from Scotland
Congratulations on completing your first race. FWIW, I raced a lot of C races before upgrading to B and still really struggled in the first 10 minutes of every B race. It was literally my goal to stay with the pack for the first 6 minutes, so you already exceeded that goal. The B races typically settle down, or I come in to my element, after 6-12 minutes. Learn to make it through the start and you will likely have success. Good luck on your next race!
Thank you, Randy!
Props for competing! Sounds like you learned some good lessons that you can apply for next time. Some great advice in here so I won't repeat any. Looking forward to competing against you out there!
Thanks James!
Great analysis of your own follies. I can totally relate to all the things you talked about. Experience will certainly be a great teacher once you're done your FTP program. Having gone through the C train and now suffering in B races, here are my recommendations for Zwift racing, which you'll certainly recognize.
1. Only go hard enough not to get dropped by the lead group out of the pen. If you are 'in the wind', ease up, the pack will catch you and you'll have no juice left to accelerate up to pack speed.
2. Course recons are crucial. Know where every little bump and hill are, so you can prepare yourself for the inevitable attacks. It's much easier for groups to split on inclines, so even if you go into the red to stay with the lead group over a climb, you'll place better than with a managed power output.
3. While race categories are determined by 20 min power, races are truly decided by 15s, 1min and 5min numbers.
4. Never race in a category higher than you have to.
Good luck on your next race (in Cat C)!
I should print out that list and tape it to my screen! Great tips, Arvid! Thank you for the encouragement!
I entered my first race purely by accident yesterday (wanted to ride the Scotland map) and it was humbling for sure!! Like you, rocking the entry bike and trying my hardest to get through the laps without death.
It's definitely the best way to learn what not to do! Congrats on diving in headfirst - I'm going to try a race again this week and expect to make a whole new round of mistakes, but I know I'll learn a new thing every time!
As a runner I know next to nothing about cycling; this just popped up in my recommendations. Big kudos to you for sticking it through until the finish. 💪
Thanks Sebastian!
Well done. As a fellow zwifter-racer I experienced the same growing pains in learning to race zwift.
One trick I like to deploy is to crest hills with the same effort as climbing. It’ll help keep you connected to the pack. Good luck
Good tip - thanks!
Totally agree that Cat C would have been the better option. Don't worry about overachieving and getting disqualified ... you are learning at this stage. You might also want to look at races which are a bit more "benign" such as the Tour de Zwift or the Tour of Watopia (coming in March). You have a lot of riders which are going to take it very competitive but you will also have a lot of people that just want to complete the tour.
If you haven't got anything out of the drop shop you should get the Canyon Aeroad 2021 and the Zipp 808 ... this is by far the best all-round combination for your level. If you are still doing the ftp builder you could also do this on the alpe du zwift course (road to the sky) for the chance of getting the Meilenstein wheels (best climbing wheels in the game). You might have to do some extra climbing after finishing the workout as you only get the prize for climbing the Alpe when you actually get to the top.
Great tips! I did pick up that bike & those wheels - did another race (this time C) and it went much better! I'll get to tackling the Road to Sky. Thanks!
I really enjoyed watching this back! You’re already at such a high level of knowledge. The way you can look back and break down where you can improve is like you are a Zwift master. I think you will do well in B in no time, can’t wait for more!
Thanks, man! I’ve learned a lot from watching your videos! I talk a big game - now I have to start riding one…
given the huge watts you put out at the start of the race, I think you'll be very competitive in Cat C. key is to be able to dig deep when you need to and hang on to the front group. usually just for another 30 seconds, and the pace will drop off again. And save some energy for a sprint at the end - you've got plenty watts to be v competitive in a spint in Cat C. Won't be long before your kicked out of C and back in B - so enjoy it while it lasts!!
Thank you, Richard! Nerves definitely got the best of me. I think C will teach me a lot about pacing and tactics.
Definitely, you're in the wrong category. start with cat C first. Then move to b if it's getting easier as you do more races. You need to focus on the race. If you lose focus even for a split second you will be spat at the back before you know it. Watch everyone's effort. if they accelerate you have to accelerate as well. You have to match their efforts. If you notice you're going backwards add a little a bit of power to keep up. Be prepared to suffer on the climbs, that's where riders get dropped. You still have to keep the watts up for a few seconds when on top of the climb because riders tend to ease up 5 to 10 seconds after the climb. You will learn more tactics as you do more races. Zwift racing is hard. There's not much difference between Cat B and A if it's a flat course. Cat A shines in races with lots of climbing. From a Cat A rider.
Nice video, I completed my 1st race recently (1st Stage of Race Scotland) and I also overreacted at the start and then in the end I wasn't able to outsprint my competitors even though I have a powerful uphill sprint. Thanks, I'll definitely try to learn from those mistakes.
If my mistakes can save someone else from the pain I put myself through, I’ve done my job. Best of luck in your future racing Šimis!
This actually helps a lot! I got 260 on my ramp test which puts me at like 2.7 but idk that I could ever maintain 260 for an hour. My "zFTP" online is much lower and more realistic on a day to day basis. My first race ever I was dead at 243w avg a few months back. Good job Eric!
Aim for the lowest category zwift will let you ride in. They'll be lots of riders sandbagging so they'll smash the wkg & give you a good workout. You'll push yourself much harder than any training session & you'll enjoy it if you can stay with the leading pack for a bit. Zwift will force you to move up when you're too good for the category, just enjoy being competitive for a while 🙂 when you move up you're a bottom feeder for a while 😂
Yeah, zFTP is definitely a best-case-scenario. Troy thought I’d just be pumping out 287 the entire time!
Major skill to learn in Zwift racing… DRAFT. Learn to get in the “blob” and find the sweet spot. You’ll be amazed how much energy you can conserve. A good place to practice this is in the pace bot groups.
I’ve since gotten better at drafting & can hold my own in B races - not quite consistently on the podium. Still room for improvement, though. Thanks for watching!
i rode alone in my first race too. i still have no idea what i'm doing or what level i'm really at but good for you, you kept going! thanks for sharing. :)
It’ll take a few before I know more, and I’m sure as soon as I think I know what I’m doing I’ll get my butt kicked again. Ride on!
czcams.com/video/DHzqajtv65w/video.html Sarah gives great insight into all things Zwift. Using ZwiftPower over a period of time to gauge your level is a great idea.
It's a quality that every Zwift race has. IRL, when a group goes out hard, everyone that got dropped will cooperate and has a good chance at picking off people down-the-line. You have to be attentive to that competitive need to cooperate, but that doesn't exist in Zwift races - - yet.
@@DEAR7340 being a virtual platform, a lot is still lost in translation. You can't read anyone's face to see if they're dying or not - can't verbally communicate.
We all start somewhere, it's a learning curve...I've never raced but i'll go easy coming out of the block when i do ;)
I think my biggest mistake was going Cat B instead of C
Dude the dream was over well before you called it. Yes race in your correct cat. You really didn’t do too bad. Ride On. That hill gets me on this course also.
I've learned a lot since this race - mostly how to manage my expectations. Gonna keep plugging away at it!
Thanks for sharing this. I've been Zwift racing for a little over a year now in Cat C. Loads of fun, and yes - everyone underestimates the strategy involved. Who knew? Bike choice, power up timing, and course management are all important. Check out the WTRL Racing league when you're ready. So much fun, and a great way to have a max effort ride once a week.
Thank you, Rob! Looking forward to improving in C!
I want to mock you but I can only dream of those Power numbers for such a long period. Job well done me thinks! 👍
Haha - thanks! My biggest mistake was not starting out in C cat - I'd have learned how to do so many things better. I do tend to learn lessons better when they are painful, though.
Zwift racing is HARD! Several people hear confirm just what I would say, don't be embarrassed to do C's. For now B's will end that way or worse each time. I love your honesty and guitars!
Thanks @Gear Monger! Is the gear in your name implying bikes or guitars or both?
Great spirit bro !! Don't give up !! 😜 I fight in B category too 🥊
Thank you! Don't think I'm ready to hang in B yet, going to learn some tactics in C and work my way back up.
@@ericbarnettcycling Don't worry i know what u mean i was in category C and since 7 months i'm in category B i progress litlle step by little step...long is the road 🤣
You absolutely have the power to race B when you are ready for it. Zero shame in that first race, it's hard to know where and when to put power down to be efficient and it's just experience. Hone those skills in C until it auto bumps you, it's still great racing but a bit less pushing up hills and speed bumps along the way.
I love doing the group rides that are "not a race" and trying to keep up with the fast Bs and As as long as I can to push myself with the ability to fall back to a slower pack when needed.
Good luck, kudos for finishing the race it's hard but so satisfying when it all starts to click.
Thanks Kevin! It’s definitely been a learning process, but I can feel the progress!
nice job for a first time. I'm not a zwifter, I ride rouvy, but I wanted to check out what a race looks like and the video is very well produced. If I had some feedback, I'd say to stay within yourself and your watts abilities. You've got power all over the race, but I think trying to stay with the lead group was a miscalculation. If you look at your final watts, 265, you were way above several of the other people faster than you in the final results from what I can see. To me, this means they managed their avg watts better while you had your blow up and needed to slow for recovery. Just my $0.02, but well done for a first time.
Thanks Barry, that’s spot on! I was on the cusp of B and C with the Category and should’ve went with C being so inexperienced. The next race I did C and it went way better. I learned a lot from this experience.
@@ericbarnettcycling I think the challenge is worth the effort going c-b to give it a shot. I think managing those early watts within your comfort range would benefit you in the long run. Being at the head of the race is great, just think long term. You'll get it figured out. you obviously have the numbers to put out some hard efforts, picking the right spot is what we all can do better.
If you are categorised as a B then I would stick with B. And some 'auto cat' races (which is a lot these days) won't let you enter a lower category. Sandbagging isn't popular with other legitimate racers in that category.
I'm a low to mid cat B and know how hard it can be sometimes. It's all about staying with the main, bunch especially in those crazy starts - definitely don't start with a full on sprint though, try to settle with the overall group and it will settle down after 2-3 minutes. I rarely trouble the podium, and main aim is just staying with the main bunch of I can. Then if dropped, it's staying with a chase group and it then becomes a race withon the race - working together and then sprinting it out for 38th place. Worst thing is being caught in no man's land and having to ride alone...
We organise the F365 Racing League on Thursday evening (UK time) which is a little different - intermediate sprint and prime points contribute to overall result. Get involved if you can 👍
I wasn’t specifically placed in B. I’d never raced before in Zwift and my friend guessed I should be a B. I’m going to do some TDZs in C and if I get kicked go to B. Feel like I haven’t earned the B, yet.
Zwift will recommend your category if you go to 'my feed' when logged into zwift via a Web browser. I tried to post a link but CZcams deleted it!
Race pacing is a struggle for everyone. IRL I've had this race.
I feel your pain
It's tough when there are only 28 riders. If you get dropped, there is no big second group to hitch on to.
It’s a lonely place, for sure!
Dude. Strong ride, vid, and spirit. FWIW, seems you are a legit B racer.
Maybe one day, lol. Didn't feel too legit in the moment - I just felt pain!
I like the way you define failure.
I redefine and exemplify failure every day!
Very impressive watts throughout still - ever had a bike fit Eric?
I haven’t - would like to sometime in the near future!
Atleast you were leading the race at one point, that's worth something
😂😂 should’ve stopped the video there!
I don’t race… I just ride events… Made a profile on Zwiftpower and went in one week (2 1h rides) from ‘C’ to ‘C almost B’ to ‘B’ cat… did that pretzelthingride… because I had 3,5 w/kg average
I’m now also a B rider… 😂
Not sure why you're holding onto those drops, but by now you should have a sweet Canyon Aeroad 2021, a set of ZIPP 808s and a set of DT Swiss ARC 62s.
I’m running a contest during my FTP builder - whoever guesses my final FTP gets to choose how I spend all the drops. Hadn’t really intended to race yet, so it didn’t really matter up until then.
Like you said right at the beginning or during the blogg , cat c is for u , plus try the flatter routes and shorter , lov the blogg
Thanks Robert. Did really good in a C race, but got booted back to B!
@@ericbarnettcycling ok at the beginning of the race in cat c ok , rev up too 250 or more Watts and u will see the pack to ure sides and in front, stick with the pack if u can , or best still go with a group which is going your pace , and stick with it , and hopefully that group if fast enough will bring you back to the other group, also save your legs and keep at back of the group, that's enough advice for now, RIDE ON 😉
@@robertkeyte8144 I raced again Friday, this time in C. Went much better!
Haven't done a zwift race yet but thank you for teaching me how not to do your first race.
Good luck, and don’t go out too hard!
Also all Zwift racers have to finish dead last, at least one time.
My most important Golden Rule -- ALWAYS finish the event / race you start. Never quit, even finishing last is better than quitting.
That's what I kept telling myself. It would take something (medically) drastic for me to not finish
What is your fan setup like? Hope it is more than just the two little fans on you smart bike.
Two little fans and a big floor one that puts out a lot of air.
Watching the video I realised the huge disadvantage that riding the stock bike was. I reckon if you rode something like the Uran Nuclear & the 404 you could ride at least 1wkg less & keep the same speed in the pack. You'll smash the next race 🙂
Thanks, man! Hopefully whoever guesses the FTP has done their research.
Pressing f for doubt.
The other bikes are slightly better; but no where near 1w/kg better
@@dsmhiggins67 in the future I’ll take any advantage I can get (short of saying I weigh less than I really do)
Wild how different heart rates are. For me 160bpm is very low. Endurance pace and the 190’s is where it’s considered high 202 being max.
Yeah, I hear a lot how low mine is, comparatively. Haven’t dug deep into HR zones, yet. Don’t really know if low is as good a thing as it appears on the surface - think I need to train it to go higher when I go harder…
@@ericbarnettcycling It’s likely genetics and not a good thing or bad. My resting is 36 and high is 202. For a 50yo this is a large range a doctors always comment on my resting rate as being low.
@@solidstream13 wow, that is a huge range. I need to get a wearable so I can measure my resting HR. I only use the strap when riding.
It's not your rpms - spin to win - it's your power output. You're right - C cat is a better fit.
It’s amazing what a month can do - check out my second race (just posted the video).
Switch to Gran Fondo plan when you finish the FTP builder plan.
I hope to get into the races mixed with riding outdoors - taking a look at the plan, though.
Switch to metric, build drops faster. Race C for a while. HR in 150s is low. Drop cadence and use power ups.
Check out the second race I did - did a lot of the things here. I still suck at drafting, though!
what setup do you use? looking to get into this but currently dont have anything
I have the expensive version of a Zwift setup. Garmin Tacx NEO Smart Bike & a MacBook. Zwift companion running on a iPhone & a fan (plus other stuff to stream). Definitely don't need that. I would recommend 1) a smart trainer like the Zwift Hub or Wahoo Kickr core, 2) a heart rate strap, 3) ideally, a second bike so you don't have to pull your outside bike off the trainer every time you want to ride outside (that's why I bought the Tacx bike - didn't have a smart trainer or second bike), and 4) a really good fan (or 3). Depending on the device you use to run Zwift (a phone, Apple TV, or computer), you may need to see whether your trainer and heart monitor run Bluetooth or Ant+ (ideally they'd do both). Make sure you protect the bike with towels from all the sweat you'll be raining down on it - the salt will ruin a bike!
If this list seemed like a bunch of tech jargon, let me know. I can find (or make) a good video here on CZcams breaking it down. I never know what level of tech folks are at on here. I know just enough to be dangerous.
Wow, i am surprised that u can sustain great power numbers without getting ur heart rate above 160bpm. Thats impressive.
Do some ITT races like tempus fugit course. Way too many sandbagging A’sin B grade so I like competing against myself…mostly😀
Yeah man, that's truly the best way to measure your progress. I may try some of those - thanks!
I can tell by looking at you that you're not a CAT B racer currently. You can't just go by your watts per/kg, you have to also go by your avg and max heart rates. Your heart rate was up over 130 bpm before the race even started, and it probably should be closer to 100-110 bpm ideally, before the race for CAT B or CAT A.
Yeah, I actually warmed up too hard and didn't have adequate rest. That plus nerves = I lost before I started.
Lol! I have so been there myself. Nice work, thanks for sharing. You should buy the Uranium frame, and the DT Swiss Arc 62 and/or Zip 808 wheels at your level. The Uranium goes nicely with the metric century jersey (my favourite).
Thanks for the tip, Squiddy!
TdZ events are group rides, not official races. Some riders will race the stages, while others will treat them as social rides. Events do not count for ranking points on ZwiftPower, but everyone is free to go as easy or push as hard as they’d like. Just have fun!
Thanks Stewart - I realize nothing was at stake but my pride. Just working and learning and above all else - having fun. Ride on!
Yoooo great vid. I’m from Ohio too Troy!
Thanks Charlie! I’m also originally from Ohio - Galion (near Mansfield). Welcome to the channel!
Yup race was lost before you started as you correctly stated…wrong cat. Also you were never going to catch the group once you fell out the back as their draft means you need significantly more w/kg than them just to go at the same speed. However, the good news is you have absolutely identified all of the mistakes you made which is a massive step forward and more than most do! As for bikes….the Focus is a great all rounder and costs about 400k drops and is a fantastic bike early on and the DT Swiss tyres. Finally, make sure you have selected the Everest challenge so that you are working towards getting the Tron. Good luck, ride on 💪🥳👍
I’m about 18% to the Tron (hit the top of Everest a few days ago & glad I knew that wasn’t the end)
Zone 2 time in saddle is your friend. Endurance.
Copy that - thanks!
Your mistake: Never follow people!
100 rpm isn't bad. 110 probably too high but 100 is bett than 75-80
You should come race Thursday Night Thunder at 6 PM EST
Can't this week, but maybe next
Start racing in C and turn off that HUD… the amount of commentary that you put in for minor stuff that doesn’t really affect performance in a major way except for your own mental state will be holding you back massively, but you really get bogged down into your cadence and how that is the fault, or the first 10 second sprint, neither of that really matters much to your body ;)
With no numbers to distract you, you will learn to draft decently quickly enough.
If its a 40 minute race, you need to know what watts you can hold on average , so to get the best results you can get for your fitness , let the pack go if you need to or you will blow up .
It was so much nerves that made be blow up right away. I think I needed a race where I made every mistake and then suffered so I know how to not suffer in the future. Thanks Andrew!
I'm a cat c rider and my best on that route is 25.45 and I would hav been drop by b cats learn to sit and draft
I'll do a few in C and learn
Great race effort! Looking at your stats from the race, you are not far from being a B rider. You had an average of 3,1 w/kg for the entire race and might have had a higher average for 20 min, which, ZP (Zwiftpower), calculate your category from. Give it a couple more races and you will be able to stay with a B group for the best part of a race. If you're staying i C cat with your numbers you'll very soon be acused for sandbagging! Ride On!
I've at least got to sandbag once, just to rescue my self-esteem. Thanks, man!
Your biggest mistake was your over the top start :D But everyone has to start somewhere and learn. Dont focus too much on cadence, just ride at a cadence that comes naturally to you. You cadence was high, but not necessarily too high. You inital sprint power suggests you are more fast twitch than slow twitch and a high cadence might actually suit you better than getting bogged down in the low 80s. Good effort, your next race will go better!
Thanks Chris. I’m optimistic about racing in C. Last FTP test of the builder program is Sunday, then I’ll dip my toe in racing again.
FTP is not a true figure your can ride at. I’ve raced crits for a long time and a strong rider, my ftp is 243.
Yeah, I realize that. I’m going to do a ride in the future to see exactly how long I can ride 304 watts.
Well done, you learn most from your mistakes. You're probably the only one who has shown errors in racing rather than showing how great you are like 25 watts per Kg and all the other nonsense. 🤣
Thanks! Showing all the hiccups along the way is what my channel is all about. I enjoy the really good cyclists as much as the next guy, but I think it's time we see some mere mortals trying to learn.
Your first race? How can you call it a disaster that you've attempted something for the first time and learnt some lessons.
I'm just going off how it felt and how embarrassing it was to crash and burn so hard.
@@ericbarnettcycling That reflects more on your expectation prior to the race.
You also have a completely clear understanding of the biggest mistake which was sprinting out at the beginning. I'm also not sure your cadence later was a big problem, just not keeping with the peloton.
I've noticed that from some actual crit races where the data has been available that often the winner had often quite substantially lower average power than some of those who came 2nd, 3rd etc.
I was quite impressed with how long you held in there after your starting sprint tbh, then you made sure you finished the race too so you really can't describe it as 'crash and burn' appart from the burn your legs must have felt :D
Flat is fast...use the most aero road bike and wheels you have... NOT the rubbish Zwift basic bike and skinny wheels.
Yeah, hadn't planned on racing and hadn't bought anything yet from the drop shop. I'll be better prepared next time!
Increase your profile weight and you will be back in Category C
Eric, would you send me an invitation to your club you formed, I am recovering from surgery and doctor released me to get back on my trainer on the 22nd of February. I have truly enjoyed watching your CZcams videos on FTP build plan.
Thanks, man! I’ll send that invite today!
rookie mistake. never use FTP to calculate W/Kg. use your avg watts overall. but still not a bad showing for a cat b. your in good shape
Dang I wish I’d known that. Trying C next time!
DFL is better than DNF is better than DNS.
The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party?
Have not raced yet but zwift says I'm a c Cat and can't join D Cat and like no lol I'm definitely not a C Cat racer lol
Dang, that’s tough. After trying the B, Zwift Power said I’m definitely a C! Might take a bad C race for it to recategorize you.
@@ericbarnettcycling yeah got to get a heart rate monitor b4 I can race
Bro, C.
😂 for sure
Why make so much fuss about one race. There are tons. Just learn as you go. And if you finish last and made a good effort it wasn't time wasted. So stupid to care about placement.
In retrospect, you're not wrong. I'm just an anxious person and this was my first race. Didn't know what to expect, that made me nervous. Wanted folks to see this on CZcams to maybe help them out their first time.
not even a mvdp or pogi can ride their ftp for the full 60 minutes, maybe 50. And we the mere mortals, maybe 30 min
Yeah, Zwift doesn’t make this incredibly clear to newbies like myself.
@@ericbarnettcycling well it's more nobody really tells you untill you start digging in to research about FTP etc. But great video and strong performance after all. on Flat is fast courses, stick to the middle of the pack. Let others drain there energy first ;)
@@pimbeweegt I’ll try C next time. I need to build up some confidence and learn to hang in the pack. Hanging on for dear life was no fun
@@ericbarnettcyclingbut that will make you a lot better over time lol.
@@alaefarmestatesllc that is true. I’ll learn to like the pain. Just have to slip in some cat C to try and feel good about myself 😅