First Race Up the Alpe du Zwift // Zwift Racing // Category C

[@MegaMarkoni]

Great video! My first attempt was 76 min, then did the FTP Booster program and did it in 60:15 😁 Now building up some mind power 😁 and with the help of the holo ghost to break the 60 min... Keep up the good work.

[@CaedmonCycling]

Oh nice, that will be a perfect pace setter! Good luck!

[@MegaMarkoni]

@@CaedmonCycling thanx!

[@RoyImahara]

Great job on your first ride up the Alp. Hope you took the extra 20 minutes and ride down for all the extra XP. You can super tuck all the way down. Heck you can get off the bike and let your avatar do it’s thing!

[@CaedmonCycling]

Haha, that's exactly what I did! Earned the extra mileage XP, and quickly realized there was no need for me to sit on the bike, so I stepped off for a couple minutes on the way down the Alpe :)

[@collider4378]

If you pedal, even slowly, you also get drops :D

[@winstonshaw2533]

Great video 📹 cheers

[@CaedmonCycling]

Thanks!

[@collider4378]

Didn't realize you had never done it before. Good strategy to keep an even pace - I blew myself up a few times before I figured it out. Getting up out of the saddle around the turns and building up some momentum also works pretty well. Your benchmark is my fastest time so far. Been off the bike for a while, so I'm probably back at square 1. Your next goal should be a vEverest attempt :D

[@CaedmonCycling]

Haha, we’ll see for Everesting 😂 that’s a serious undertaking. That’s a good tip on getting out of the saddle, I definitely did that periodically and moreso in the last couple of km.

[@CyclingwithVovo]

That is a Very good time!!

[@CaedmonCycling]

Thanks!

[@irondistance4313]

Fun effort I just did it last week and on the 18th I’m throwing down a full gas raid shooting for that hour

[@knutbk]

Solid time your first trip up!

[@CaedmonCycling]

Thank you! Happy to have a benchmark to improve on going forward

[@jaredhaller]

I enjoyed this video.

[@CaedmonCycling]

Hey, I appreciate it. Thanks for watching!

[@evanshaw17]

I am 74. Many years ago I was a professional race. One summer in Europe, went on to become a psychologist and active ever since as a bicyclist this year I went up in one hour and two seconds not bad for 74 but Greg Lemond says that you don’t lose much of your V2 max and he’s right.

[@CaedmonCycling]

Wow, that’s awesome, nice work 👍 any advice to become a better rider?

[@ryancraig2795]

One of these days... I've been working on the Epic KOM for a few weeks, trying to bump up my FTP a bit, still a bit short of 180. Lost some weight though, so that helps. It's a virtuous circle.

[@CaedmonCycling]

Nice, just keep working and you’ll get stronger every day!

[@chrisswan3986]

Good job on first attempt up alpe.when I go up alpe I try to split the alpe in half where if I know where I went wrong the time before i try to do better on that part the next time or set a time in your head at certain points .never did a race tho that would be interesting 🤔

[@CaedmonCycling]

Yeah, I joined the race to keep myself honest :) wanted to make sure I was pushing and didn't think about stopping if I wasn't feeling good. That's a good tip, I think I'll focus on the segment times and consistency across segments even moreso for my next trip up!

[@davidmcdowell2788]

Gotta try this climb

[@CaedmonCycling]

Yes! 100% do it, it's definitely worth it. Just take it segment by segment. Good luck!

[@Funsiestype]

Bros heart rate through roof for pushing < 200W

[@PaulCarter206]

I believe his max is pretty high. Around 200… so you have to keep that in mind. His zones are very different compared to a rider with a lower MHR

[@Funsiestype]

I get it…. I wasn’t dunking on or something.

[@monkeyfaceice]

Its a leg sapping monster of a climb but at least the hairpins keep it interesting and break the ride up. I did it three times in a week as part of a 4900m climbing bonanza, just to get that stupid shiny tron over the line :0)

[@michaele7859]

Try Ven-Top... it's magnitudes worse... Slightly lesser grade but 50% longer and no little segment map like on ADZ... it just drags on and on

[@CaedmonCycling]

Congrats on that tron! And Ven-top sounds brutal. I would need to throw on some KZbin videos to get my mind somewhere else while doing something like that 😂

[@robandsammyfamily8737]

I feel like a race is good motivation for going up this climb. Do you know when this race wil take place again or when this one occurred?

[@CaedmonCycling]

Yeah, I agree, the race kept me accountable. I see one scheduled for 12:30pm EST tomorrow. I believe this one I did was around 6pm EST on a Thursday. I'd say the best way is to search the upcoming events for 'Alpe', and see what pops up.

[@robandsammyfamily8737]

@@CaedmonCycling Ahh I typed alpe de zwift. Thanks!

[@ZwiftingWithGranny]

That was a great time! Well done! Next time use the OBS so we can see you suffer 🤣

[@CaedmonCycling]

Haha, usually when I add the camera, it has been for short crits. I didn't know if people would want to see the pain for 75min, but who knows, maybe that's exactly what people like to see!

[@ZwiftingWithGranny]

@@CaedmonCycling that's what I used to think too. I used to edit out the long boring parts in my videos but people told me they wished they could have seen the whole thing. I think people prefer to fast forward ahead to where they want to see, not where I think it would be boring. It made a huge difference in how long people viewed my videos. I was shocked that some of them actually watched the whole thing when it's more than an hour long.

[@CaedmonCycling]

Oh okay! I didn’t think of that, but makes sense. Thanks for sharing the tip 👍

[@ZwiftyZwifter]

Great benchmark! ‘Think that’s about what I did for my first. Best thing I did, really motivated me to get the hour. I think most people will see a gradual increase in HR over such a long effort even with even pace. Although dyed-in-the-wool racers as I guess we both are need to adjust to the mindset of racing against a time rather than people, finding a wheel can be a big mental boost, even leading someone up helped me. Not sure about even joining a race tbh, all just wasted effort. Coast down on a MTB (there’s actually a short cut from the Jungle Circuit) have a little rest then off you go! Can’t wait for the next attempt!

[@CaedmonCycling]

Yeah, I was happy to get a time in and have something to work toward. I joined the race because I thought it would motivate me more than just a normal ride. But it definitely is a time trial mindset/effort where it’s just you against the time. Thanks for watching!

[@RoyImahara]

@@CaedmonCycling Beleive it or not, there is a benefit to riding behind another rider even at slow speeds

[@CaedmonCycling]

Okay, that’s good to know! I had just assumed it wasn’t really relevant over 4-5% grade

[@mobettah]

Did you see the Yeti at Turn 4? 😁

[@CaedmonCycling]

Haha, I missed it! I’ll have to rewatch, or catch it on my next trip up the Alpe 😀

[@rafalmalinowski]

You need to update than one with your current fitness level.

[@CaedmonCycling]

Yeah, I haven't been up the Alpe in awhile. Maybe again soon!