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Zwift Analysis Network
United States
Приєднався 17 лип 2023
For anyone who lives Zwift racing, I will provide shortened Zwift concepts and racing videos analyzing the key tactis on Zwift. I have been on the Zwift platform since 2020 and have progressed from a low C category to a low/mid tier A. I aim to provide short videos with tips to share knowledge of tools to help you in your next Zwift race. I have been a constant member of the community and participate in many GC tours on Zwift. I hope my videos enable you for less suffering!
In the banner, you will notice the channel mascot, Luna! Please give Luna and the channel some support.
In the banner, you will notice the channel mascot, Luna! Please give Luna and the channel some support.
Chasing The Peloton: Can You Keep Up With GC Contenders?
Ever wonder how long you could ride at Tadej Pogacar's climbing pace? On TV it looks so easy and we often believe we have the legs to hang on. But how hard is it really? I put myself through their grueling pace to see just how long I could match them.
- Contents of This Video -
00:00 - Intro
00:49 - How Fast Is The Pro Peloton?
03:18 - How Fast Is An Amateur Zwifter?
04:18 - 20 Minute Test
06:13 - Post Test Takeaways!
- Links -
Zwift Power: zwiftpower.com/profile.php?z=2869523&sid=42be7862549d78734b4486373bcbae30
If Interested, Join My Live Race Streams Going Forward: www.youtube.com/@ZwiftStreamingNetwork-sn7xe
- Contents of This Video -
00:00 - Intro
00:49 - How Fast Is The Pro Peloton?
03:18 - How Fast Is An Amateur Zwifter?
04:18 - 20 Minute Test
06:13 - Post Test Takeaways!
- Links -
Zwift Power: zwiftpower.com/profile.php?z=2869523&sid=42be7862549d78734b4486373bcbae30
If Interested, Join My Live Race Streams Going Forward: www.youtube.com/@ZwiftStreamingNetwork-sn7xe
Переглядів: 1 501
Відео
Time Savings From Weight And Why Losing Weight Is A Marginal Gain!
Переглядів 1,6 тис.4 місяці тому
As cyclists, we are obsessed with riding at a lower weight. Thinking if I just lose 1 extra pound I can compete with the likes of the pros, but the actual time savings from weight may surprise you. Even more surprising is why focusing on weight loss can be considered a marginal gain. - Contents of This Video - 00:00 - Intro 00:38 - 1lb Results 02:00 - 1Kg Results 04:08 - What Weight Difference ...
Is It Cheating To Ride At Below 100% Trainer Difficulty Level?
Переглядів 2,7 тис.4 місяці тому
Trainer difficulty is a Zwift setting that divides the room. Many race with it at the max setting to reflect outdoor racing, while many race at below 100%. But does it mean you are cheating if you ride below 100%? After all, there are good reasons why one might! Let's dive in and find out if there are advantages to be gained from the trainer difficulty setting. - Contents of This Video - 00:00 ...
How Much Can You Increase Your VO2 Max?
Переглядів 6 тис.5 місяців тому
VO2 Max was once thought of as being limited by genetics. Even if you could improve, prevailing wisdom said the increase would be minimal. But recent research and anecdotal examples show you can greatly increase your VO2 Max. This video details why VO2 max is important, how to train it, and where the average Zwifter ranks. - Contents of This Video - 00:00 - Intro 00:38 - What Is VO2 Max 01:56 -...
Are You Using The Wrong Bike In Zwift Races? Is A Watt Saved On Flat The Same As On A Climb?
Переглядів 10 тис.6 місяців тому
When preparing for a Zwift race, often we utilize sites such as Zwifterbikes to recommend which bike and wheel setup we should use. But these sites simply review the fastest total time! How impactful is it to save a few seconds on the flat if we are just sitting in with the peloton? Are you better off choosing a climbing rig and saving a couple extra watts on the key climb? In this video, we wi...
Should You Complete FTP Tests Monthly? Or Is Zwift's Estimated FTP Accurate Enough?
Переглядів 5 тис.6 місяців тому
Current guidance recommends that FTP tests should be completed every 4 - 6 weeks during training plans. But that seems to be a lot of FTP testing. After all, it is a grueling test and causes stress. In addition, if you complete Zwift races, you will have an estimated FTP. But is this estimated FTP reliable? So how often should you complete these FTP tests? Let's find out! Disclosure: FTP recomm...
When Are Wkg More Important Than Raw Watts? And Are Lighter Riders Disadvantaged In Zwift?
Переглядів 27 тис.7 місяців тому
What matters more in your Zwift races? Is it raw watts or Wkg? Well that largely depends on the course profile, current speed, and gradient. In this video we will try and find at which point you should stop focusing on raw watts and watch your wkg ratio. It may surprise you how steep the gradient needs to be for wkg to really make a difference in Zwift Racing! - Contents of This Video - 00:00 -...
Can You Improve Only Racing? Or Should You Utilize A Training Plan Tracking Fatigue, Fitness, Form?
Переглядів 2,4 тис.7 місяців тому
It's so easy to hop on the bike and join a Zwift Race? Many will see improvements just by doing this. But what happens when you hit a plateau? This happened to me and I had to develop a plan to continue improving. Join me, as I outline what you need to know about fatigue (ATL), fitness (CTL), and form (TSB). In addition, I will share tips on how I plan to incorporate these metrics and what I le...
Is Zone 2 Training Worth It For The Average Zwifter?
Переглядів 14 тис.8 місяців тому
What is all the rage with Zone 2 training? We hear so much about it! Just search Zone 2 training on Google and you will find hundreds of articles saying you must be doing it! But many studies examine the effect on elite riders. How about the average Zwifter? Will training in this zone still have benefits for them? This video examines if the average Zwifter has the time requirements to benefit f...
Common Mistakes Newer Zwifter's Should Avoid! Plus A Bonus One That Could Save All Levels Money!
Переглядів 3,7 тис.8 місяців тому
We all began our Zwift journey somewhere and chances are we all made mistakes learning to race on Zwift. Avoid these mistakes while you ride those miles. In addition, stay tunned for one mistake all Zwifter should avoid and can potentially save you real money! - Contents of This Video - 00:00 - Intro 00:24 - Not Sweat Proofing Bike 01:34 - Having Huge Expectations 02:14 - Being Obsessed With We...
Spinning (Seated) vs Grinding (Standing), which is more efficient for Zwift Racing?
Переглядів 9 тис.8 місяців тому
The age-old debate, which method is better to climb in? Should you remain in your saddle like Chris Froome, or be out of the saddle dancing on your pedals like Alberto Contador? This video dives into the science and finally puts this question to bed, on which tactic you should utilize in your Zwift races. - Contents of This Video - 00:00 - Intro 00:39 - Grinding 03:09 - Spinning 04:56 - When To...
Can You Attack On The Downhill? Use This Unknown Method In Your Next Zwift Race
Переглядів 8 тис.8 місяців тому
Separation from the peloton is often created on the steeper gradients during Zwift races. But can you also attack on the downhill? This unknown Zwift method may allow you to do just that in your next Zwift race. Or it can help claw your way back into the peloton. - Contents of This Video - 00:00 - Intro 00:24 - Downhill Attack Method 02:41 - Where To Use It In Your Zwift Race 03:51 - Is It Stic...
Zwift Power's 4 Unknown Metrics! - Learning Zwift
Переглядів 3,2 тис.9 місяців тому
We all use Zwift Power after a Zwift race to check our results! But are there other use cases for Zwift Power? Of course, these 4 little-known metrics will take your Zwift Racing to the next level! - Contents of This Video - 00:00 - Intro 00:26 - Colors On The Profile Page 01:16 - Checking Pre-Race Competition 02:08 - Results & Gain Numbers 04:15 - Viewing Additional Metrics & Bonus Tip - Links...
Zwift Team Time Trials, Avoid Getting Dropped In Your Next Race! - Learning Zwift
Переглядів 9239 місяців тому
How many Team Time Trials have you made it to the end? Let's find out some simple Zwift tips to ensure you cross the finish banner with the full squad! - Contents of This Video - 00:00 - Intro 00:26 - Plan For The Climbs - Pre-Climb 01:05 - Plan For The Climbs - During Climb 02:15 - Its Ok To Skip Pulls At The Start 03:21 - Assign Strong Riders To Close Gaps 04:08 - Overestimating Strength At S...
Is Zwift Faster With A Fan? I Suffered Through The Test To Find Out!
Переглядів 2,1 тис.9 місяців тому
Have you ever started a Zwift race and realized your fan wasn't on? Let's find out how much your Zwift race performance may be affected by riding with no fans! Stay tuned to see if I crack under the Heat during this Zwift climb portal route. - Contents of This Video - 00:00 - Intro 00:25 - Science Of Cycling At Different Temperatures 01:21 - Test Parameters 02:03 - Test A With A Fan 03:21 - How...
When Should You Attack In A Zwift Race? - Learning Zwift
Переглядів 22 тис.10 місяців тому
When Should You Attack In A Zwift Race? - Learning Zwift
Is 20 Minute Power A Trash Metric In Zwift? | Learning Zwift
Переглядів 2,7 тис.10 місяців тому
Is 20 Minute Power A Trash Metric In Zwift? | Learning Zwift
How To Sprint Faster In Zwift! - Learning Zwift - 5 Tips For Non-Sprinters!
Переглядів 8 тис.10 місяців тому
How To Sprint Faster In Zwift! - Learning Zwift - 5 Tips For Non-Sprinters!
Unexpected Things You May Learn Progressing Through The Cats - Zwift Racing
Переглядів 5 тис.10 місяців тому
Unexpected Things You May Learn Progressing Through The Cats - Zwift Racing
Chase to the Underground 9.22.23 - Zwift Chase Race
Переглядів 31311 місяців тому
Chase to the Underground 9.22.23 - Zwift Chase Race
Can Losing Weight Negatively Effect Your Results? - Zwift Racing - The Risks Of Weight Loss
Переглядів 8 тис.11 місяців тому
Can Losing Weight Negatively Effect Your Results? - Zwift Racing - The Risks Of Weight Loss
Are You Wasting Watts? - Zwift Race - How To Save Watts
Переглядів 16 тис.11 місяців тому
Are You Wasting Watts? - Zwift Race - How To Save Watts
Chase to the Underground 9.8.23 - Coming Down To The Sprint Finish - Zwift Chase Race
Переглядів 27711 місяців тому
Chase to the Underground 9.8.23 - Coming Down To The Sprint Finish - Zwift Chase Race
Zwift Racing League - Season 1 Overview and Strategies to Claim the Title
Переглядів 66611 місяців тому
Zwift Racing League - Season 1 Overview and Strategies to Claim the Title
Zwift Racing League (ZRL) Season 1 - Teaser Video!
Переглядів 19711 місяців тому
Zwift Racing League (ZRL) Season 1 - Teaser Video!
Chasing Red Stage 8 - Three Sisters Reverse, Epic KOM and Radio Tower Climbs?
Переглядів 18111 місяців тому
Chasing Red Stage 8 - Three Sisters Reverse, Epic KOM and Radio Tower Climbs?
The Coalition - Chase to the Underground 8.25.23 - Can The Ds Do It?!
Переглядів 70Рік тому
The Coalition - Chase to the Underground 8.25.23 - Can The Ds Do It?!
Chasing Red Stage 1 - Trying To Survive Richmond UCI Reverse
Переглядів 126Рік тому
Chasing Red Stage 1 - Trying To Survive Richmond UCI Reverse
Chasing Red (La Vuelta) - Zwift Hype Video
Переглядів 553Рік тому
Chasing Red (La Vuelta) - Zwift Hype Video
Personally: I don't think that reducing trainer difficulty is cheating. I mean, the game itself gives you the option. I do believe that riders who have lower trainer difficulty have an unfair advantage vs riders who have a higher trainer difficulty. I don't think all races should mandate 100% trainer difficulty. I mean, why should a casual cat d race mandate 100% trainer difficulty anyway? Nobody has anything to gain from cat d racers rage quitting Zwift en masse. That being said, I still believe that 25% minimum trainer difficulty should be mandated in cat c, 50% in cat b and 75% in cat a. This is also going to cause a lot more people to get hard stuck in cat d and cat c, but is that worse than people promoting to a higher category only to get absolutely chewed up and spat out of the lead group less than 10 minutes into the race? I don't think so. That can also be solved by having a window of overlapping power to weight ratio between two categories. I mean, for example: 0-2.7 W/kg in cat d and 2.5-3.5 in cat c, 3.3 to 4.2 in cat b, 4.0 and above in cat a. This way, a lot fewer people will sandbag in the higher category, because they won't get dropped in less than 10 minutes in their first races at the newly promoted category. Money races (or at least high profile ones) should definitely force 100% trainer difficulty AND certain setups. I don't think anyone should unfairly be able to make money from zwift just because he has a dumb trainer or a 0% TD. That would suck.
so, if you have virtual gearing, trainer difficulty can be whatever
Btw about this t1ctic...when you do this as a lightweight rider on a climb you will be flagged for sticky watts. But on descents it´s allowed???
I think the key difference on climbs vs descents is it's a tactic that works IRL for one but not the other. For descents you will see riders sprint out of corners, pedal on flatter bits and then try and get as aero as possible on the steep bits (RIP super truck 😂 ). On climbs the issue is that switching between pedaling and not pedalling would make you slower IRL. If it's steep enough you might even fall over if you stop long enough. That's the key distinction I make, but it's not set in stone and everyone is entitled to their opinion on the matter. Also true sticky watts happens on certain trainers and my trainer wasn't sticking (like I stopped pedalling and the power stopped half a second later)
Zwift downhills are OP when you are a heavier rider. He1vier riders doing 2.8w on a climb while I´m constantly 3.4w f.ex and I only manage to get 6 seconds or so on a longer climb. And then on the downhill they fly passed e and gain 20 sec in 2kms
Fascinating. I will defo take the advice on my next race.
Only a 2 second difference per pound, but on the bike selection video, you argue a three second gap could decide the race?
That's a fair point the two numbers are similar. But to me there are two major difference: 1.) Your not racing (ill call it) as honestly as possible. I get others (probably not your or me) are probably racing below their actual weight, but i would rather just input my actual weight and accept that 2 second difference. Whereas the bike selection is a true time savings, you could get the same savings in real life by choosing different equipment. 2.) The 2 seconds saved is assuming you would also be able to hold the same watts. A lot of riders are capable of this after dropping only 1 pound. But as weight loss increases (dependent on the person/shape) watts may drop as well. For me personally, I have had a few climbing races were I overly focus on getting from 160 lbs (right near my optimal race weight) to 159 or 158 lbs, and end up cracking or performing a lot worse than i would have at 160. Basically, i view the downside risk as not worth saving 2 seconds.
@@ZwiftAnalysisNetwork I don’t update my weight before every ride, but I probably update it once a week after a ride. I also know my weight can ebb and flow by a pound or more over a week; high after meals and refueling, low after a visit to the restroom, or after sweating out two pounds in a Zwift race. I wouldn’t describe those swings as weight loss or gain that affects power output. My weight hadn’t swung much over the last two years, but with the Zwift fitness I gained over this winter my watts have been rising and my weight has been trending down steadily since February. So for me it hasn’t been one or the other, the power gains have come hand in hand with weight loss.
I definitely get frustrated when I fall off the back when I hit the flats or downhill since I keep my difficulty at 💯. Definitely great music!
Great video Dave. Think it is your best one so far
Thanks! Glad to hear it's the best one yet
Great video! I just started using zwift 2 months ago and it’s helped me lose 15 pounds! Now I need that tron bike lol
Thanks! Just keep riding, it will be unlocked before you know it
I should prob lose 50kg then😂
😂you would be setting a lot of PRs then!
Inb4 he’s already 50kg and will just be banished once he loses 50kg 💀
Awesome video
My 6w/kg isn't even 1 minute 😢
No worries! everybody has a different specialization, I know a couple A's that are barely a 6wkg 1 minute.
Great video as always, keep up the good work!
Really interesting video ZAN. Love the way your videos break everything down. Must take ages to do so thanks for taking time to make and share.
thanks mate! they typically take me about 25-30 hours all in, but are always on topics I just want to know more about myself so i dont mind 😀.
Good video but your cadence is way way too low!!! You need to be around 95rpm. Using higher cadence as does Pogacar and Vingegaard for those power numbers takes load from leg muscles and transfers the load to your cardio system.
Thanks! I actually prefer climbing at a higher cadence, usually Ill do longer climbs around 90 rpm. However, the watts I needed seemed so difficult to find to keep up, so it felt like I kept needing to get out of the saddle with a lower cadence to be able to match the watts
@@ZwiftAnalysisNetwork yeah got that but those guys are seated and definitely at least 95. I suppose their cardio is very advanced
I guess that would be a good challenge to myself. Just see how I fair, staying seated with a higher rpm. Maybe I could hang on longer.
Great video man! Thanks for sharing.
Seeing your own Holo go up the road is the most miserable experience in Zwift
Yup just watching the replay ride away, wondering why can't I keep up 😂
It's all about marginal gains, and try to get as many of them as possible, to become more competetive. What breaks me in many zwift races are the repetetive punches. X surges in a race with just a little less weight in the end feels mentally good 😂 Great video 👍
I’m 95kg, 182cm, and my peak race weight was 81kg. So I guess training for me will both reduce weight and increase power.
Great to get the science here. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Great video. All of yours have been really good. As a polite suggestion it may be worth working on the production quality, using a good mic and lighting. We do that at work and it make everything look and sound amazing. In relation to the video I suspect there are some on Zwift who drop a good 5kg in races. Just basing it on strava profile photos vs stated weight. So the power to weight really does come into play.
I actually just had 2 LED video lights arrive. I bought them after I noticed there was a shadow on one side of my face in this video 😂.
@@ZwiftAnalysisNetworkI think the microphone is more important. Good quality audio is one of the most important things.
Thanks coach!
Can u make a video to show difference between gender performance on ttt, when I notice that to zwift, they acuse me antifeminist, I acuse them of favoritism, of commercialis, ready to lie about performance just to keep a client categorie on the there market, when I just tried that result should be neutral showing only performance outcome rather than gender's belong. To have more than 4min delay from a women team with 190w average each, against men team with +260w average and it's on flat, that's away from justice.
Is the ask to look into something like the average TTT times between all men's and all women's teams? And maybe look at how speeds differ by category?
Not sure what is asked but for fun maybe make a test with a male rider vs female rider with the same height and weight, if there any difference in speed at the same power?
Yes exactly, do it 😁plzzzzz, just for flat route, I'm sure female for 200w she got 50km/h,male 37km/h.
It can be hard to quantify why we do what we do. Your analysis certainly helps shed light on what is important!
Go for a pee and loose that pound! Counterpoint, I'm over weight was carrying 25.4% body fat. I cycle a lot, however my weight has remained high. Why, because I ate too much and a lot of processed food. My power and fitness where ok, but the fat really does slow me down. I've now made changes and I do obsess over my food, making sure its health promoting and that I'm not eating too much. I have lost 2.5 kg in 1 month my power has gone up and I'm feeling good. I plan to drop another 5KG at least, which will bring me to a healthy weight. That is not a marginal gain, its a massive performance and life upgrade. If you are at or near race weigh then I take your point. Weight loss is so individual, for some it's needed beyond everything else. By the way I really love your videos, thanks for making them.
glad to hear you have been able to drop some weight and sounds like you have a plan for the last 5kg! it's always 1 type of food that gets everyone, for me it's sweets, if I have chocolate or donuts around the house I can't stop eating them! I hear your point on it not being marginal from your point of view and not only a cycling benefit but overall life benefit. it definitely isn't something that 1 plan works for everyone. My perception of it is probably influenced by my own history. I have had trouble in the past only eating salads or very light foods so I can drop an extra pound and it ends making me feel poor afterwords. part of it is that I'm pretty skinny to begin with though.
It's just like using different gear ratios. What next we should all have the same cassette and chain rings as well. So let's go further and we all have the same bikes and we all have to weigh the same. All bullshit.
Trainer difficulty absolutely impacts. Do Alpe Du Zwift at 75% and 100% and you'll see what i mean. Riding road bikes with mountain bike gears doesn't happen IRL. On paper it's easy to say a watt is a watt but it doesn't work like that on mountains.
To your point, on Adz the only test i had to switch to my small ring was when riding at 100% difficulty.
Adjust it to the point that you don’t spin out of gears on the majority of downhills. Radio and Alpe descents are the exceptions.
Watts are watts. Trainer difficulty is nothing but gearing. It is in place so that riders of different levels can have a good experience no matter the equipment they have available. Zwift is a business and it needs to be inclusive. What is up next? Banning standing up on the bike because you can be very efficient riding that way on a rigid direct drive trainer?
I’d use TD at 100% all day long. Except for the fact the inclines lag by 2 seconds. If they sort this out, let’s talk
I'm glad its not only me with the delay. I thought it may be poor connection, as i typically have about a 1 second delay. It does get annoying, especially on some of the hilly routes! I would think that it would be a fix that could be implemented as the game knows the routes you are on. Hopefully they can fix this (since it seems like people other than just myself experience it) in the future.
Your analyses are usually good but here it's confounded by a skill/technique issue on your part. Higher trainer difficulty actually makes climbing easier by increasing resistance throughout a larger portion of the pedal stroke, thereby extending the duty cycle of your leg muscles and delaying the onset of muscular fatigue. If you get more practice climbing and/or riding at 100% training difficulty you will definitely find it more efficient--it's especially obvious with shorter, maximal efforts. The reason more zwift racers don't run a higher trainer difficulty is because of the downside that you mentioned--you start to run out of gears on the downhills when you go higher than 50%.
thanks for your feedback. Could your feedback also be in some part due to just personal preference on if its easier at 100%? I typically ride at 100% and when i set it to 0% initially it felt a bit alien to be, but i was able to adjust. I actually exclusively ride at 100% in races (except if im doing training, or for this purpose testing), but still found when testing it felt easier at less than 100%. At this setting was the only one i had to change from my big ring to small on Adz. To your point, in my test i didnt go so deep into the red that i would be able to effectively test the onset of muscular fatigue, but did point out that based on my experience ive always felt it is difficult to keep that consistent power when the gradient changes like on Adz hairpins. Cheers mate! always interested and willing to listen to different perspectives.
@@ZwiftAnalysisNetwork I agree that it is a matter of personal preference as to whether or not riding at 100% feels easier, but that preference is determined mostly by the training status and anatomy of each rider. If you don't practice climbing very often then you won't be used to the way climbing uses your leg muscles (feeling "on" for a longer portion of the pedal stroke) and it will feel harder and give you sore legs more easily than doing the same effort on flat ground. That's only because you are exerting force on the pedals throughout a larger range of leg motion, and making slower, longer contractions with your muscles. (Which is the same reason why it's more efficient at maximal intensities). You make a good point that depending on the gearing of your bike, using a higher or lower trainer difficulty can feel harder or easier. With a lower trainer difficulty the resistance changes due to changes in gradient are reduced, resulting in a smoother feeling and more consistent power output, like you said. But if you have climbing gears on your bike and are used to riding at different cadences, this isn't an issue.
None of that makes sense. "Trainer Difficulty" simply adjusts the percentage of gradient one experiences while riding a given grade. 100% of a 15% grade will always be harder to ride than 50% of a 15% grade, regardless of effort/output. As stated in the video, and several other videos on this topic over the years, its the changes in gradient over undulating routes, and extended climbs, that introduces additional difficulty, as one has to manage more of their effort. Being able to just "lock in" to a steady power level, and stay there, is much easier than trying to maintain a constant effort over constantly changing gradients. As for downhills, physics, at least on this planet, dictate that that one will travel faster down a grade than only a fraction of the same grade...at least until they hit terminal velocity. There's a reason Zwifters hit the 100kph badge down the steeper grades than others.
I never changed the setting from the default 50 % 🤷... Maybe time to try the 100% at some time
its definitely worth playing with the setting! you may find its more enjoyable at a higher or lower TD.
Personally I find that having trainer difficulty on helps as it encourages you to push more when the road goes up, which is where the watts matter more and attacks are more likely to be made. But great video as always, my only suggestion would be to try to memorise the script and look at the camera rather than read off the screen. Looking forward to what's next!
Thanks for the tip! watching and editing the video myself i realized my eye line needed to be different.
i do solo riding in Zwift with around 80% TD, because i have the bike with 44T narrow wide chain ring and not small enough for Zwift hills. And it seems everyone in Zwift racing are using 0% TD, so anyone use some% of TD will have disadvantages. Especially in downhill. Some times you just watching everyone shot out while downhill and you can just do nothing. Hope one day Zwift will have another option, only tune TD for uphill and keep downhill at least just like on flat road. Other wise TD now can be used only for solo riding to mimic outdoor environment but not for group riding.
As a light rider, i have to have a low TD or i would immediately be dropped on the downhills. I am already rocking a 57t-9t ffs, the whole insinuation that its cheating is hilarious. As always, we dont all react or perform the same given certain stimulus. Requiring racers to run 100% TD is just another way to limit those of us already struggling to hang on the descents, i am already pushing over 300watts in TTT to stay with my coasting team mates
How often do you get dropped on the downhills? In the tests that i did, I wasn't able to recreate spinning out with my current setup. However, I do know I've had a few races in which i was dropped on the downhill due to this reason. Its for sure painful to get dropped on the descents after working so hard on the climbs lol.
@ZwiftAnalysisNetwork most ttt's hahaha, I then have to put in a massive effort of 9-10wkg to get back to my team, which would be impossible on a high TD. If it gets implemented, then I'll suck it up but light riders are already penalized enough in this game
Haha i can only imagine having to put out a 9wkg effort when your probably already tired. Never fun having to deal with that.
But isn't that how physics works in real life? Heavier riders descend faster with less effort? What about the heavier rider getting dropped by you going "uphill" that's also putting out 300W?
I’m here for the music. Stay for the Zwift gospel 🙌🏽
Really great content as always. We just gotta get you a way better mic and your channel would blow up.
Thanks! Any recommendations on mic/audio set ups?
It depends on your budget. Rode podmic or any condenser mic($30-$200) would be a big upgrade.
maybe ill check them out. sounds like i could just research "condenser mics" and it would lead me in the right direction!
Race organizers can request restrictions on TD settings for their events, but they generally don't. If the organizer is cool with people riding at TD 0% then it's not cheating. They set the rules. Some trainers can only simulate 6-7% gradients, some people ride with non-controllable trainers while using a power meter, some people race on spin bikes that don't offer controllable resistance and don't actually have a power meter despite transmitting some made up power number. Outside of elite events there are dozens of ways to have inaccurate power and resistance and organizers don't have the tools to manage most of them. I find that lower TD is better for racing for the reasons you mentioned (eg, lower NP, less mental effort associated with deciding to shift). The Titans Grove rollers are also a good test case for lower TD. I don't generally race at 0% because I want some feedback in the pedals that people are going to surge or back off with a gradient change. (And I have a smart bike with 50 gears and no cost to shifting so there's that.)
They do allow lower TD, but they often do not allow non smart trainers
@@dmitry.gashko In my events I require a power meter (using hardware enforcement so zPower can't join at all). That doesn't require that a trainer be paired as controllable, just that there's some kind of power meter paired. That "power meter" could be a $300 Bluetooth spin bike. My understanding is it excludes a few other power measurement devices like Elite Misuro B+ that are treated as zPower. If there are other options I don't know about, I'd certainly consider adding them.
I am testing out a slightly different video format. Let me know what you all think about having portions of the video with me on camera, as opposed to the old format with just the voice over. Any and all feedback/thoughts are welcome!
On camera is good, but look at the camera when talking, not at your own image or script. It feels like you aren't talking to the viewer and defeats the point of being on camera. If you have to read a script, which is fine, move the camera so it's at least at the same height and looks more like you are looking at us
thanks for the valuable insight. Its helpful to hear how others view it, and pointing out it kind of defeats the purpose of trying to speak directly to the viewer. I did notice that same point as well, I'm currently working on another video, and focused on improving the eye contact. I think it will be a noticeable improvement compared to this one.
Put googly eyes by the camera Lens to retain your focus
the anaerobic "system" does not kick in. we process glucose, anaerobically, and the eventual lactate, aerobically. we use glycogen/ glucose at all intensities, and it ramps up with intensity. we do not "go" anaerobic. when doing intervals, you may increase your anaerobic work capacity, which can confuse the idea of v02 max increases.
Lighter Riders are advantaged In Zwift. Just check the weight of the elite. Heavy riders are totally excluded from the top.
Once you reach the top 5% or so i would agree that lighter riders become more advantaged and the top ranked riders are in fact on the lighter side, as there is a limit to how many raw watts humans are capable of. However, the perspective i was coming from is about the average rider. The majority are in the C, and B cats and often racing in these Cats almost feels completely different than competing at a level of the Zwift Grand Prix riders.
@@ZwiftAnalysisNetwork Well, not being able to be top 5% in a game you participate, celebrate and pay for is quite a big disadvantage, right? Zwift could easily set up the game so that heavier riders would not be excluded from the top. But that is not made. Them trying to mirror outdoor cycling, which makes the same exclusion to heavier riders, seems more important than including the heavier riders in the game. Having to be light to be able to compete for the top spots is undoubtedly a huge advantage to light riders. Also since light riders are advantaged in this respect, heavier riders can e.g. steal Ranking Points from lighter riders in flat races, giving heavier riders better ranks. Had Zwift not advantaged lighter riders, the lighter riders could also steal ranking points from heavier riders on steeper climbs - but the heavier riders are excluded in Zwift by how Zwift makes it impossible for heavier riders to make it to the top = a disadvantage. I think this aspect is an important complement to your statement that lighter riders are disadvantaged in Zwift, hence I added the comment. I understand that you take things from a more narrow perspective, but I think your statement, which is quite generally stated, is not valid over the line. I would trade the current disadvantageous system any day for a system that did not exclude heavier riders from taking part in the game and having a chance to reach top positions.
Great info & thanks for sharing. Which workouts on Zwift do you recommend for VO2 Max training?
I personally create my own and import them to Zwift. But i think if you want to use a pre-made VO2 max workout on Zwift, I would try and find ones that are simple to start with. To me VO2 max is as simple as picking an interval length, rest period between, and how many blocks you want to do. One's such as the 6x2 VO2 max or 40/20's are good starting points. You can always edit the pre-made ones to have extra/or less intervals per block. For example the 40/20s #1 workout only has 4 intervals per block, but dependent on how strong you are you could increase it to 6 or 8 per block.
@@ZwiftAnalysisNetwork Thanks for you tips and advice. Relative new to workouts and dedicated VO2 max training so creating one is a little step too far (yet). So any good advice on some pre-made workout help to understand the idea :) Will definitely do the ones you advices!! The ones you showed in the video look fun ;-) Btw nice channel!
thanks! you gave me a good idea! maybe in the future ill work on setting up like a google drives that has the files for some pre-made workouts (they are set as a % of FTP so should adjust). But for pre-made zwift ones i would try out the "VO2 Max 3x3", "VO2 Max - 4x4 (40/20)" or "40/20's #1", these three are pretty straight forward and not overly difficult if your newer. It also provides a mix of SI and LI. As you become more and more comfortable with them you can try the "6x2 VO2 Max" or "Breakfast Returns". These are a bit harder and longer. Feel free to post a comment if you try any of them and let me know if they felt to easy/hard.
Excellent video. I'm 62 and my Vo2 is about 55 according to Garmin. I used to be around 57 in mid season but I'd like to get it to 60 if I can
Pretty solid if you can increase to 60. How is the garmin? I was actually thinking of getting one of the watches that estimate VO2 max myself.
@@ZwiftAnalysisNetwork on my Garmin Venu watch, my Vo2 reading is quite a bit lower because it's only tracking my hikes and walks. My Garmin Edge tracks my cycling Vo2. If I ran and did proper training on my 2 left feet, I'd probably get my non-cycling Vo2 up as well. I know there is only one Vo2, but Garmin does split it into two 😐
Loving the content, David! You've got yourself a new follower on Zwift, too!!
Most young people can increase their vo2 max with the right training. After 50 years old is another story!
That’s depends I think in how unfit you are to start with when over 50.
I would agree its probably a lot harder the older you are, as it takes more effort to find the right mix of training and resting, but not impossible to improve. One inspiring story i found while putting together this video was about Robert Marchand, he apparently set the world hour record for his age group and during his training increased his VO2 max by 13%, his first test was at the age of 101 and the increase was when he was 103!
however, you can still improve performance after 50. performance is more measurable and useful.
@@ZwiftAnalysisNetwork I seen that too. I had a quintuple heart bypass and took a KOM in my first ETAPE 11 months later and 20kg lighter. Still pushing hard. Hence my comment about where you start makes a difference.😂😂I’m 55.
That has to be tough recovering from that. Impressive to be able to come back and take KOMs though!
what is ftp ? i only know zone 1 or Zone 7
Thank you for doing the work to get this information out there. Very useful.
Coach ZAN comes through again! Thank you sir!
I would add don't underestimate the need for a large base that you can build on for VO2
Not for me, i drop people on climbs but i struggle to produce raw watts so i need help on the flats.