Zwift, TR, Sufferfest etc

[The Suit]

I just did TOW stage 2. I was going to take it easy.

Nope. New high FTP instead.

[bennymac]

I just did TOW stage 2. I was going to take it easy.

Nope. New high FTP instead.

Nice!

For stage 1 I was riding the long route daily as a warm up and then jumping into the short route right after and treating it as a race. Was fun to try and refine my approach to the “sand and sequoias” route each time.

Now with stage 2 I don’t think I’ll be riding the long stage every day as a warmup!

[buttahflake]

I had a good one on TOW stage 2 short today. Warmed up for like five minutes, planning on just riding in zone 2. Yeah, that plan went right out the window. Hooked in with the front group and was taking pulls, had a bad patch near the top of the volcano, got dropped but recovered in time to latch onto 3 fast guys. ZP has me at 19th out of 163. 3.5w/kg for 36 minutes, 3.6w/kg for 20 minutes. That’s about as good as I’m gonna get at 56 years old. I love these fast group rides, no pressure to get points.

We chased those guys in front of us down. I’m really digging the new AI pack dynamics
Orange hat is my guy

You can see my ‘bad patch’ on the graph, went too deep and blew a gasket! I did manage to get back in the fray. Happy endorphin and THC buzz now

[XtrPickels]

I just did TOW stage 2. I was going to take it easy.

Nope. New high FTP instead.

If you're gonna go, might as well go big.

[carpathian]

Finally got the gumption to do stage 2. Went about as expected, almost barfed at the end. Had a good time questioning my sanity and priorities in life as I suffered through the pixelated hellscape...

[bennymac]

I'm not looking forward to the 2 laps up Titans Grove finish of Stage 2 long version. You're video didn't help

Gonna do short route tonight and go long tomorrow.

[carpathian]

I'm not looking forward to the 2 laps up Titans Grove finish of Stage 2 long version. You're video didn't help

Gonna do short route tonight and go long tomorrow.

Heh, a little self doubt never hurt anyone... go get 'em tiger!

[kathleenturneroverdrive]

I was going to do an FTP test this morning but haven't raced on zwift in a few weeks so I hopped into stage 2 instead. The ending on Titans Grove. Ouch. I did not enjoy that. But I snagged 27th out of 382 on Zwift Power, finishing in 1:07. And really, I guess that basically was an FTP test (minus the super tuck I think bringing my average down a bit).

Carp, thanks again for the videos. It's cool to watch someone else question their life choices the same way I do

[bennymac]

I did the short route and tried to take it easy but the got sucked into passing people on the climb. Zwift bumped my FTP at the end and Zwift power moved me to B. Not really the recovery ride I had thought it would be

[bennymac]

Sunny day outside but double XP points still had me inside. Stage 2 long in the bag and the Muir route badge. Think I’ll stick to short stage for the next couple days - this one is too long and painful for repeats.

[Falcon3]

Oops. I was going to ride maybe 45 mins on the TDW and then run errands. The climb sucked me in and when I got to the top, of course I had to rack up the easy downhill points. Then I only had like 13k to go, so might as well finish it, right?

Including my warmup ride, two hours on the bike. I may be slower than expected tomorrow n

[carpathian]

Sunny day outside but double XP points still had me inside. Stage 2 long in the bag and the Muir route badge. Think I’ll stick to short stage for the next couple days - this one is too long and painful for repeats.

Top 10%. !! Solid effort!

[bennymac]

yeah but that is luck of the draw depending on who starts that hour

But thank you none the less!

Fortunately my wife is at work today and wasn't here to chastise me for being indoors on a bike during a sunny winter day

[EWG]

Need a small, table mounted fan to provide some headwind for the zwifting. Any great ideas? Was just going to get this one maybe:

https://www.amazon.com/Vornado-133-C...7722916&sr=8-2

[huckbucket]

I went with this one. Price was right and it does a reasonably good job.

[Dee Hubbs]

That Stage 2:A route is tough. I have a hard time keeping a smooth pace though those rollers early on.
I was no where near the front of the 850 in my ride. I paced myself to the top of the KOM, then picked off 37 riders on the radio tower climb, and then 35 in the final section to the finish banner.
I guess I could have pushed a little harder at the beginning.

[dan_pdx]

My setup is in a detached garage with no heat, which was great in the winter, but today's high is supposed to be 65 and it's going to be sweaty. I think I need to add a second fan to keep doing this into May.

[Dee Hubbs]

My setup is in a detached garage with no heat, which was great in the winter, but today's high is supposed to be 65 and it's going to be sweaty. I think I need to add a second fan to keep doing this into May.

I have a 20” box fan directly in front of me, a 20” box fan at 45 degrees, and a small 8” office fan on the window ledge with the window cracked a few inches.
I’m still wet by the time done, and I’m not a heavy sweat guy.
I cant ride without the fans on, and a sweat band on my forehead and wrists.

[EWG]

I have a 20” box fan directly in front of me, a 20” box fan at 45 degrees, and a small 8” office fan on the window ledge with the window cracked a few inches.
I’m still wet by the time done, and I’m not a heavy sweat guy.
I cant ride without the fans on, and a sweat band on my forehead and wrists.

Our garage is part workshop, part sporting goods store, and part gym in addition to Zwift room. So even in summer months I need fans going just for general use. We have a ceiling fan and an oscillating fan but they are farther away from the bike setup than I would like, so I'm just looking to add some headwind. Maybe two of huck's fans on either side of the TV, plus the existing fans behind...

[VTskibum]

Highly recommend remote control for fans. Have a floor stand oscillating one I picked up from Target pretty cheap w/ remote and an old box fan on the other side w/ a remote power switch ($10 off amazon). Start w/o any for a few minutes to warm up, switch on the oscillating after a few minutes and ramp that up over time, the box fan doesn't usually come on until it's really getting going. For our Tuesday nighters I would generally not start the box fan until the cobbles before the Innsbruck lap 3 climb and to the finish.

[grrrmountainman]

I have a 20” box fan directly in front of me, a 20” box fan at 45 degrees, and a small 8” office fan on the window ledge with the window cracked a few inches.
I’m still wet by the time done, and I’m not a heavy sweat guy.
I cant ride without the fans on, and a sweat band on my forehead and wrists.

are they white sweat bands?

[VTskibum]

are they white sweat bands?

Come on you know they match his shoes

[EWG]

Ok, I've already got general air movement from the ceiling fan an oscillating fan on the other side of the room, so I'm just looking for the rider fan. Now I'm thinking of either this:
https://www.amazon.com/Lasko-U12104-...07YKXF9VC?th=1

Or a 7" and 11" one of these on each side of the tv:
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-...5NV01NZP9&th=1



Kinda can't decide. I like the two small ones better as they can also be used to cool the rest of the room if you're lifting weights, but not sure they'll be as good as the Lasko.


Also, if you don't think Dee has 6 different colors of sweatbands to match all his different shoes then you haven't been paying attention...

[bennymac]

I don't have any whoop bracelets or other gadgets to indicate when I need recovery - but my legs are telling me by themselves today - so I'm gonna skip the 3 laps of the leg snapper/battery licker today. Have fun guys

[EWG]

I don't have any whoop bracelets or other gadgets to indicate when I need recovery - but my legs are telling me by themselves today - so I'm gonna skip the 3 laps of the leg snapper/battery licker today. Have fun guys

I'm out too. Meeting I can't skip.