Zwift Race | Good Cat C rider tries Cat B | Here's what happens

[@lukepugh7728]

Personally i think zwift need to change the category system for racing. There is a huge jump between c and b class. They almost need to introduce a level in-between like c+. Because there are so many riders on zwift i think they need to seriously think about overhauling the entirenthing as even c cat is very competitive nowadays

[@thewattlife]

Would be interested to hear what other people think about this... More Cat's? Or is everything ok as it is?

[@tuvi4643]

I think its pretty true to life where folks are pretty fast for one cat but not fast enough for the next, so stay in the lower till you're set enough to move up, or get forced up. I suppose the idea behind restricted groups based on power numbers is as close as we'll get to anti-sandbagging..but beyond that, just ride the wave. Currently racing C's and getting my ass handed to me each race lol @@thewattlife

[@thewattlife]

What i found is that as you get stronger the events get a little easier so you have to find ways to work harder to keep your fitness improving. Otherwise when you do make the jump its a really big gap

[@rileyraspberries]

@@thewattlife 1000% want more nuanced categories. I'm going to be racing at 6'7 260lbs (115kg); I might be a strong, lean bodybuilder type for my size, but I'm still huge for cycling standards. I'm always going to be in C. But instead of feeling like I've "beat the game," a new, less intense but challenging category to move up to would be awesome.

[@gearmonger8616]

Massive diff from from to back of the B peloton, too! The front of B is stacked with guys who really weigh 170 pounds rigging their weights to 200 so they can stay right under the cat limit.

[@BrensRCracing]

First time coming across your channel mate and a "tip of the cap" great effort sir,.

[@thewattlife]

Thanks kindly, hopefully get to race sometime

[@OWjonah]

Spot on Max, I feel exactly the same whenever I race in cat b races. I find them brutal! Good effort

[@thewattlife]

Jonah- how are you man? Yeah im slowly slowly getting better but i keep getting my ass kicked in Cat B!! LOL

[@mental9mikey]

Based on this performance you ARE a Cat B. Just because you didn’t win or stay with the main group etc doesn’t make you NOT a Cat B. Looks like you’ll enjoy the experience with fewer riders perhaps… Racing against stronger riders is your quickest route to improving your fitness, so no more Cat C for you, Sir! Great work 💪 See you in Cat A soon 😘 (I can assure you it feels exactly the same stepping up again!)

[@thewattlife]

This was back in my early days, threw myself into a couple of fast Cat B races. This one was tough but now I’m a few months down the line I love riding these Cat B races and every now and again I manage to hold the front!! Loving it

[@thepixelcyclist]

Before I got ill lmast year I did move up from C to B and I feel your pain... 10min with the front group was the maximum I could stay with them on. Congratulations for the HUGE effort mate! 💪💪💪

[@thewattlife]

Honestly tried my best, live to fight another day. Will just to flutter between C & B's.

[@mortendmortensen]

No need to upgrade yourself to B. Enjoy being in C as long as you can. Enjoy fighting for the victory before Zwift upgrades you to B@@thewattlife

[@werdsmyth]

I ride Cat A on Zwift and, whilst the hard efforts are much harder (1min @ 7w/kg...5min @ 5w/kg), the transition sections in races will often be ridden at below 3w/kg. Much more about conserving energy for the big efforts, rather than trying to rip everyone's legs off all the time. The B in Cat B definitely stands for "Brutal".

[@thewattlife]

Im hoping that with a good end of year build i can get a bit more comfortable in the B's. Would lvoe to ride A's one day

[@werdsmyth]

@@thewattlife just pick a mass start race and see if you can stick with the A group. Often have B riders up in the A pack and they're all welcome (as long as they do a turn on the front!). Most important thing I learned about Zwift racing was you ride to the pace of the pack. No point doing 4.5w/kg if the group you're in is doing 3.5w/kg average. And even in A-only races we'll often happily tap along at 3.5w/kg or lower. Jump in and give it a go.

[@werdsmyth]

(P.S. currently got Covid, so not riding at all right now. But happy to point you towards a good race to practice mixing it with the A group once I'm back on the bike.)

[@thewattlife]

ha maybe a couple of races that are Cat B would be a good place to start if you can rec any?

[@aethylwulfeiii6502]

I definitely prefer the “mass start” races so I don’t have to go onto those ridiculously expensive starts and can save matches for the end. I tend to be around 20th in a 130 person field.

[@Norwegianwatts]

10min with them boys.. thats amazing man! 💪🏻 ride on man

[@thewattlife]

Thank you

[@gtftrpt1]

Haha, can’t wait to try it…I got pushed into Cat B last week after a silly little TT ride…savage watts!

[@thewattlife]

I’ve finally got to grips with Cat B racing. It’s savage

[@scottjones9362]

Ive been category enforced from a C to a B for the last 2 months. I was a bigger fish in the C races. I could finish top 3 if I wanted to most of the time. Im definitely a small fish in a big Cat B pond. This weekend was the first time I finished in the top half of a race rather than the last quarter. I stayed with the lead group as long as I could before getting dropped. That gave me a sufficient lead to defend from the chasing packs behind me. I nearly burst a lung doing it though!

[@thewattlife]

Ah amazing- yeah I imagine that soon enough this will happen to me, im not sandbagging any races and trying to work my way up. I don't mind riding the odd Cat B but I always get dropped from the front group... its a good goal to have

[@Milo-wl2if]

FTP isn’t much of an indication for category, to race cat B you need to have 5 min W/Kg of 4.6+ or you will get blown away in the selection, typically a climb.

[@thewattlife]

Im definitely being blown away in most Cat B races at the moment

[@mrcha0s]

I'm at 3.81 for 5 min. Is that bad? For reference I have a 15 month baby

[@aethylwulfeiii6502]

Somebody is correct in stating that five minute power is more important than 20 minute power in draft legal races, but sometimes the only power that matters on flatter races is literally just your 8-30 second power.

[@raunefare]

​@@mrcha0s no unless you want to win a cat b race 😅

[@CarlBaravelli]

5 min power correlates quite well w ftp. If you have to go over 30% of your ftp for 5 minutes, most people will be cooked as you will produce too much lactate. I feel that if u can hold 3.8 to 4.0 w/kg for 30 to 40 min, then u will be good for most b races

[@johnl4310]

Your defo capable of racing Cat B. My suggestion would be for you to chose a longer distance race next time. The shorter ones are mega spicy, the longer ones tend to settle after the first 2-3 minutes and then ramp up on hills and towards the end...

[@thewattlife]

Some of the zwift Monthly events this month are a bit longer- or at least double the length that they normally are so will see how i go this month

[@runninfool]

This is 100% correct the shorter races are always much harder

[@JasonLeBel]

A lot of races last year (SISU Climb specifically, where there was a long straight stretch before a climb), as a C rider I would jump in with the A/B groups from the start (all groups started together). I could keep up with them on the flats (and separate myself from the rest of the C riders). But I find the biggest difference, is when there's a bump, or worse, a climb. That's when it's most apparent the difference between the Bs and Cs (sprints as well, but never got into a sprint with a B before).

[@DontGetDroppedCycling]

Keep it up and it get easier!!! 🤙🏽 We’ll line it up one day! Edit. I JUST SAW MYSELF so we have lined it up already!

[@thewattlife]

Haha when i move up to Cat B eventually ill def hit you up for some races, i think weve lined up a few times but ive never been able to hold the group

[@eloyzwift]

It is always a hard effort to go to a harder category. Good job! Small advice: It is a little better if you switch to km/h instead of mi/h. You will get more XP with the km/h (20XP per km or 30 XP per mi). Higher lvl means access to beter frames and wheelsets.

[@thewattlife]

Ah i have been told this but i seem to always work in old money from my running days! I just struggle with the conversion, not sure i can handle KM's

[@eloyzwift]

@@thewattlife That is a good reason to stay at the miles. Anyways the speed is not important. You just need to follow the peloton on Watts and W/Kg ;)

[@gavinwilliams9091]

​@eloyzwift does the different wheels / bikes make any difference or is it purely cosmetic?

[@eloyzwift]

@@gavinwilliams9091 frames and wheels have different level of performance. Helmet, glasses, gloves, socks, shoes are just cosmetic

[@raunefare]

I'm pretty sure they fix that in a update but not entirely sure

[@mathewrose2951]

I've been racing against my own best times on the climb. portal, but I decided to join a random race for variety last weekend. I was surprised to see that Zwift had bumped me to Cat A for category enforced events. I was dropped in the first two minutes. Reminded me why I don't typically race. Excellent 20 to 40 minute power doesn't help if you can't stay with the group at the start.

[@thewattlife]

Yeah i can definitely see why people dont love racing but its been so much fun and always so positive for me... even when im getting dropped

[@homerj1640]

I am 50. Zwift recently bumped me to B just before the Zwift games. I'm more of a spicy group ride guy. Without the Zwift Games events, I would not have been racing. My experience was pretty similar to yours. It is making me stronger, but it is not fun. I have never been so tired. I used to ride 5-6 days a week. Now I can only ride 3 days because my legs are so sore and I have no energy. I haven't mastered spinning as fast as you and my heart rate quickly gets out of hand when I spin over 85rpm. I am more comfortable at 65-70rpm. I've climbed the Alpe du Zwift 17 times and my fastest time was 1:02 until stage 5 of the games. I stood for most of the climb chasing a couple riders and managed 51:33. I never thought I would get the Liftoff badge. But it turns out if you chase stronger riders long enough, you will actually get stronger. Now the games are complete, I can get back to chilling with Coco in zone 2.

[@thewattlife]

It’s nice to mix things up- racing in faster groups has been great for my fitness but yeah… at times it’s super hard!!! Well done on a great AdZ time, that’s awesome. Out the saddle for most of it sounds intense

[@kalleandersson916]

My FTP is around 300, but CatB is much more than just FTP. In CatC, you can push yourself to podium spots with just power, but in the higher categories, more things need to be on point-tactics, technique, timing, and so on..

[@GreggBennett-j3p]

Cat D rider (me) eyebrows raised. Wish I could get anywhere near those numbers. Good job.

[@willoinn6129]

Very short races will always be a bit manic! Looks like you’re headed in the right direction though - I do the Gorby workout once a week to build up resistance to hard surges - it’s not fun but it’s time efficient 😅

[@thewattlife]

I need to get back into the workouts asap

[@gilboslicer6915]

I had the same situation with self promotion from D to C. Hard work.

[@thewattlife]

Im kinda bouncing between the two for now, but also doing an FTP builder program so hopefully something will finally click

[@chris3275]

Do you find your FTP of 272 accurate? I did my first test last week and got 201, however, there’s no way I can do that wattage for an hour.

[@thewattlife]

What I’ve found, being a bit newer to the sport, is that my ramp tests are a lot higher than my 20 min FTP tests. Over time the gap is closing but there’s still a huge difference. I use Alpe du Zwift as my 60 min FTP effort, and haven’t hit anything g close to a ramp test yet…

[@konradkowara3747]

Just found this vid and it made me feel a bit better about myself actually. I recently picked up Zwift again after 5 years of hiatus. It still had me on my old racing fitness so I got thrown straight into an A race - needless to say I got absolutely destroyed. I’ve since updated my FTP but I’m still in B, and it does not feel a lot easier. I’ve done a lot of long distance cycling in the past few years and just don’t have the top end to even stay with the group on climbs, let alone contend for the win.

[@thewattlife]

I’ve had a lot of people on here talking about how all the Cat’s have got a lot more competitive over the past few years and how Cat C/B races are now insanely hard, to be at the business end of the race you really have to be a rider capable of riding a Cat above but sandbagging so you don’t get category enforced

[@Masteroftee]

what zwift suggest you to race with ?

[@thewattlife]

Back in those days I was Cat enforced to ride Cat C. Nowadays I’m Cat enforced to ride Cat b

[@BeeblebroxTV]

I tried doing a whole month of zRacing in Cat B a while back, it was not pretty, lol! You're better than me though, so keep pushing and eventually the time you can stick with them will be long enough that you can enjoy some of the more restful periods and downhills etc

[@thewattlife]

Lol i think if i can pick my races slightly better then i will get more out of it for sure, i think the slightly longer races might suit me better. I guess we'll see

[@neilferguson5940]

On the wrong side of 50 and race b and A races, would like too drop down to c, but enforced too b.

[@thewattlife]

Its definitely tough out here! Im enforced to Cat B now- check my latest FTP video

[@neilferguson5940]

@@thewattlife Will do, Squats will help overall both for sprints and hill climbing. Practice one legged on your weak side. Good luck in the B cat.

[@renegadeflyer2]

I have the same problem when I race Cat C. My ftp is supposed to 225 watts, but if I can't always average 200 watts on a hour ride . Never had a top 3 placing and zwift will not let me ride group D. So I decided to ride group and free rides until I get stronger.

[@thewattlife]

I’ve been doing a lot of races where I can only stay with the main group for 1/2 the race- have slowly got to the point where I can hold on till almost the finish so it’s definitely helping me improve. Stick with it

[@Baeritys]

Hi, nice clip and certainly a good effort. I am an average B (ride most TT), and I know some B-races have A's in them. If you know you'r powerzones by heart, than you can train/race more efficient, if you want to make steps. Try to improve your powerzone 5/6 for these races (avoid zone 7). And over/under training programs in Zwift are a good start for these

[@thewattlife]

Nice thanks for the tips. Hopfully have some over/unders lined up soon

[@1carusjohn32]

Pretty high cadence, that will be hitting your HR a little I think. I am not saying pedal at 70 rpm but maybe a little more torque at 90-95 may help you out here a bit. ( Sure, spin to win at high powers >300w etc) Welcome to B and 270 not shabby at all!! These short races are a full thrash so you are going to spend a lot of time over threshold. At the point where you bailed is the point where everyone settles into their FTP w/kg for the climb, up until then the ride had been dominated by bigger B cat guys with 350w+ ftp at 85 - 100kgs... very fast on slight rises and flat. They will have been pushing to ride the 'reserve' out of the climbers. Getting to the climb is a skill with your energy preserved in itself. The trick is getting comfortable with a over threshold effort in to a sustained threshold effort, or just under, composing then sitting at threshold for the climb. There was at least one rider in there, older lighter and way less power than you that got to the hill in that pack. ( Team mate ) Master draftsman ..... it can be done!

[@thewattlife]

Thanks for the advice- im really trying to develop and work on my leg strength, sometimes i come ito races quite fatigued so have to rely on cadence to get me through when i dont have the strength. So im doing more big gear work and totally agree that if i can develop stronger legs then i should be able to hold on better all round

[@RATM1971]

You hung mid-pack for 10min and were still ahead of 30 people when ypu bailed, looks like the right category to me.

[@waynesmith4589]

Dude ! I feel your pain as I’ve just moved up from C, I think where you’ve gone wrong is entering a race with an 8-10 minute climb, avoid these races like the plague until you’ve got your Cat B legs , stick to flat shorter races initially as you’ve gone from near the top of C to the bottom of B, you’re now going to suck badly at B, as you found out the speed is very different, also look at what type of rider you are and pick your race accordingly.

[@thewattlife]

Good advice, yeah definitely need to be a bit more informed on the course, then in theory it should mean that the flatter ones are just absolute threshold sessions and should help improve

[@waynesmith4589]

@@thewattlifeLondon Classique races are perfect, but still look out for the surges as they are also more sustained than C grade, good luck.

[@raunefare]

Last sommer I was winning a fair bit of cat. B races at 3.95w pr kg. And then there where some family stuff that kept me from cycling for over a month. Now I'm struggling not to get dropped if there's more than one small hill. My ftp is around 3.5 now. I still have a fairly good sprint but I'm just done if I manage to stay with the group and everyone is just sailing past at the finish line 😅

[@thewattlife]

Even in the year that ive been on Zwift Cat B has got so aggressive now!!!! I love it, but i also hate it.

[@ColoCX]

3.5 is Cat B all day. maybe just a bad day or a stacked race. try some Cat B crit races on the Bell Lap course. you'll be fine.

[@thewattlife]

Yeah i was definitely finding that i was cycling while massively fatigued. Hopefully working on a more balanced training routine and a bit more rest.

[@geetee4037]

Not saying this is you but people seem to move up category and expect to comfortable. It's a big jump and remember, there will be guys who should be Cat A leading Cat B races making it really hard, its just the way it is. It's taken me a year to become comfortable in Cat B and I'm still nowhere near the strongest guys in ZRL. Too many people expect to be successful in these virtual races when they have no clue who is who. Best way is to race ZRL where the parameters are massively better and you're pretty much safe in the knowledge people are racing against legit riders in the right category. You're definitely Cat B IMO.

[@mumblecake251]

That looked very painful. While I stay by what I said that 3.5W/kg is definitely Cat B territory, I also stay by the other thing I said that if I were you I wouldn't necessarily race in Cat B unless Zwift forced me to. While the boundaries are officially 3.2-4.0W/kg for Cat B I think Zwift only moves you up if you have demonstrated an effort (any free ride will count in addition to races) which shows an FTP of over 3.4W/kg. So just coming out of a ramp test with that ftp doesn't count as at that stage it is just a derived value. While the widely accepted way to get to that demonstrated effort is to use the best 20min effort and taking 95% of that I believe that Zwift is doing something similar but with your best 12min effort. There is also a minimum raw wattage limitation which means that some very light riders are in a category lower than they otherwise would be, but that doesn't apply here. What that shows me however is that you have to be very careful what you wish for as my goal is to move up into Cat A and I foresee a similar thing happening there in that I would get totally destroyed at every corner in particular as Cat A does obviously not have any bounds.

[@thewattlife]

Yeah its a difficult one to navigate, and i think choosing the right race probably plays a big roll. Ive only ever won one race in Cat C and there was only 6 of us in it. So i think im more suited to Cat B but will try mix it up as much as possible

[@dominicshepherd9054]

I still think that you are still closer to cat B than cat C racer. I end up in the same position in cat C races. So you are still loads more powerful for a cat C racer.

[@Ance]

"I'm in complete dismay at how you get to this level of cycling" - After taking about 6-7+ years off from riding/competing and just getting back in to things, I feel this to my CORE as I'm finishing cat D races feeling like I'm going to pass out lol

[@thewattlife]

haha i spend most of my time while racing in a daze wondering how people are so fit and good at this.... the rest of the time im trying not to die

[@markfawbert2991]

Gives you an indication of the insane level of any professional sport. Watching on TV gives you zero idea of what pros do whether it be tennis, football, cycling or even darts!

[@keithhigginson554]

Awesome video !

[@thewattlife]

Thanks Keith

[@ericmagee9054]

Just need to work on the upper ended power. Do some HIIT rides focusing on higher wattage so that your HR doesn’t explode during these tougher moments in the races

[@daviddawn9043]

Like this honest video..

[@TheRimBrakeGuy]

Hey mate, good effort, try flat Cat B races, or longer events, the stinger is smaller.

[@thewattlife]

Im all signed up for the ZRL this week and the first race is a 40km which im hoping i might be able to hold on to

[@MatzeMumpitz]

Your 3,5 W/kg is in fact Cat B. I am 3,56 W/kg and I am riding Cat B races and am finishing in the frontpack most times. So ride on!

[@thewattlife]

I got bumped to the B’s a few mo the ago and not long after this video- been suffering away regularly since then trying to hold the group in the fast races lol

[@dmitrymalanda9278]

Race craft and skills is important, in Zwift as in real life. Don‘t be ashamed to race C when you feel like it, especially if cat B races is a cross-eyed sufferfest for you where you don‘t learn much. After all Zwift is a game, and fun is important. People have their opinions and judgements, but you just do you 🙂

[@BooksWithBrad]

Man i am so curious what your gears are, ive never seen such a consistent 100rpm.

[@thewattlife]

When you lack the leg strength you gotta work with that you got!!! 52 chain ring

[@BooksWithBrad]

@@thewattlife lacking leg strength ha! You put out some Amazing power! Especially for only ever hitting like 160 bpm

[@razorree]

does Zwift simulate aero draft etc. ?

[@thewattlife]

Yup, Zwift has its own set of dynamics where you can ride behind people and it will simulate a draft. Different bikes and wheels have different weight and aero effects

[@lkb3rd]

Ride with riders faster than you are, refuse to give up, keep showing up, and you will get faster. It won't be easy though.

[@thewattlife]

This is the plan, just keep showing up and getting my legs torn off. Fun... sometimes

[@ShawnMcAfee]

Welcome to 🐝 racing. You’re gonna love it here.

[@thewattlife]

Its definitely tough- trying to hold in there

[@ShawnMcAfee]

@@thewattlife it only gets easier.

[@don156]

Good effort. Tough pace to maintain. I think the transition up the categories is rough. Just because you belong in a cat B race doesn't mean you will be able to win or stay with the front group. Some people say it takes a year at a new category to be competitive

[@mortendmortensen]

If Zwift didn't upgrade him to B yet, then it means he belongs in C. No need to upgrade yourself just because some people think he belongs in B

[@paulwynne1811]

I'm very similar to you in power and being able to win a few cat c races. Biggest difference between the 2 cats is hills. They just power away. Pick a few cat b flat races

[@thewattlife]

Ive been paying my dues is Cat B for a few months now and its been rough- finally getting somewhere and recently have started finishing with some of the main group

[@MrPedel]

Racing in B will definitely be a good fit soon enough. Looks like you have the wattage in you. Anyway, pushing yourself to stay with the pack is a great workout - and the Z races are flatter in July, so definitely give them a go. Longer races you’d probably also do well in. Or if you want a more relaxing start, try an A race. They usually don’t storm out the gate like they do in B cat 😅 Looking forward to following your adventures in new cat! 💪

[@thewattlife]

I find that its great for those tempo sessions, a little bit like over/unders where im always slightly over or slightly under my FTP so a flat month of Zmonthly races will be awesome for fitness.... i hope

[@MrPedel]

@@thewattlife should be good. Differences in rolling pace on flat courses are not that big from C to B and B to A. The climbs are where the differences are most clear. So you gave yourself a baptism of fire on Box Hill :)

[@dapodix]

Just wondering - how much of a warmup did you do? I think you had at least 15-20 more bpm on the heart rate to give. Maybe you were fatigued as you said? But anyway - good effort.👍 Keep at it, it doesn't get any easier 😉

[@thewattlife]

Yeah it definitely wasnt that high yet, but i know that even if i was to push and go higher i just wouldnt be able to hold on, so i ducked out and did a structured training session instead. Trying tie navigate this world of actual bike training.

[@dapodix]

@@thewattlife I know this feeling all too well.. The worst days are being late to a zwift race and jumping right in 😁 - the brain is it's worst enemy (if you're interested - central governor theory). I find warmup are all that more crucial this side of 40 - the brain gives in less after a good 10-15k z2/z3 warmup drill with a few spikes to open up the legs - some days it does take an espresso too. It really is easier to shout "shut up legs" 😄 when they've been primed for the load - The blood flowing gets the lactate going as they say.

[@99cya]

if you wanna win a cat B race do you need to be able to do a cat A effort? and same with all other categories? I can imagine there are always a few people doing categories they should not be doing.

[@thewattlife]

I think thats the case- some races are 'easier' to win than others but mostly if you want to win a Zwift monthly event then youll definitely have to be punching well above your Cat for a win

[@PauloBurgio]

I race in Cat B and the first thing I noticed is your cadence. I keep my cadence at around 82. You will struggle to keep control of your heart rate with a cadence near 100. You will go faster for longer at 300 watts with a cadence just above 80 than you will at the same watts with a cadence of 100. I know it seems easier running an easier gear with a high cadence but you won’t survive long like that.

[@thewattlife]

Haha I definitely didn’t survive long like that. This was a while back now and I’ve done a few videos on cadence. It’s a lot more controlled and measured now that I’ve improved, but yeah I agree that I was just trying to do whatever I could to hold the group

[@PauloBurgio]

@@thewattlife Zwift is so much fun and I love improving and bettering myself. I do wonder what some people set their weight at. I’m 89kg. So quite a bit heavier than you. I thought your 51 minute time up the Alpe was awesome and that’s including a stop. I really enjoy watching people race on Zwift. I watch an American guy in cat d and his commentary is really good. He wears his heart on his sleeve and it’s a great watch. Keep up the good work

[@thewattlife]

I need to get under 50 mins up the Alp

[@a_diverge]

Do the zwift racing training program. And i think you should have finished either way.

[@thewattlife]

Yeah, im on an FTP builder program at the moment. I actually stopped so that i could do my FTP training session instead, so i dont feel like it was completely wasted.

[@mumblecake251]

@@thewattlife I agree that it was the right decision to abandon. You were trying to see how long you could hang on and you did that valiantly. There was nothing else to prove. Finishing the race would have just created unnecessary fatigue which would have hampered your efforts in the training plan.

[@a_diverge]

​@@thewattlifeI get that for sure. Im struggling in C cat right now. Don't want to make excuses on why,. But finishing is important to know what you need to improve on next. Climbing is where i need improvement.

[@SuperOrcy]

did you make sure you were on the right bike? I joined a group ride the other day and couldn't understand why I couldn't stay with my group without putting out insane power, and realised I was still on a gravel bike from my scotland hill climb race. definitely a big jump between the categories though. I still struggle to stay with the front group in catC after being cat restricted out of D a couple of months ago.

[@thewattlife]

Yup was definitely on the right bike. I think the biger races are just faster and way more tough to stay in the group. Im sure ill get there. Will keep trying anyway

[@brunomfduque]

U have a amazing power to catB (if you have sub75kg) making around 250w and pushing very times to 350w with space to improve with your fc 150 and can going to 170/180. Amazing men ! Whats your ftp? 🔥

[@WheezyCyclist]

I Tried the same thing It did not go well for me either 😅 Got dropped at almost exactly the same point

[@thewattlife]

I think im going to have to be a bit more savvy about choosing my races. But looking forward to a few more Cat B races down the line

[@WheezyCyclist]

@@thewattlife come race in the Bullseye Points Race this evening It's a VERY competitive cat C group

[@thewattlife]

@wheezycyclist Yeah im keen. Will find it on Events. Ive never done a Points Race. What time?

[@WheezyCyclist]

@@thewattlife I'm not sure what time zone you're in I think it's 21:50 UTC

[@alanbell1821]

Can anyone give me info on ftp I'm at 200 age 55yrs ? Love zwift been so consistent for year,,,,hopefully push on to 250

[@thewattlife]

Sure- FTP is the theoretical power you are able to produce while cycling while your body is working anaerobically and producing lactate acid. If you go over your threshold you will need to slow down to recover. You can build your FTP by, Zone 2 cycling to increase blood network, strength training to build muscle network, and speed/threshold training to improve lactate clearance.

[@alanbell1821]

@@thewattlife cheers. What is a competitive number...us 250 pretty decent

[@thewattlife]

250 is very decent. FTP will be effected by weight in terms of your performance. So bigger riders tend to have higher FTP's but then they have more forces to overcome when they are on the bike.

[@alanbell1821]

@@thewattlife weight about 12 stone ,,,so if I get to 250 will be decent ? Got cold so will gave to build up again

[@simonharris5414]

Keep riding youll get there I was ranked UK 6th as a kid and I am just cat b. Check Marc Cav...

[@thewattlife]

Awesome- it’s one of those sports I wish I had started as a kid. Finally got to the point I can hold on in Cat B races and will be doing my first real world races next year 😊

[@123dwd]

Cat B needs pack filler too, everyone cant be up top!! just enjoy your ride, you typically lump up with other guys that are otb and have your own mini race. (i know well!)

[@PedroPrego]

272w and 3.5wkg ftp is definitely cat b numbers. I have those exact numbers and I don't even consider racing cat c. Makes no sense. Just go there to try to win? I don't see a point in that.

[@thewattlife]

Zwift isnt quite as straight forward as using FTP ramp test results to bump people up through categories, you need a whole zmap of decent data to be put into the B's. .

[@wesleyooms]

Very interesting to see. You still held id up for more than 10 minutes. I call that a win!

[@hendrix2430]

honestly, the 5-6w per kilo at the start in zwift races is just ridiculous

[@thewattlife]

Tell me about it, always sky rockets my lactate and then makes it super hard to hold a group

[@Ciupremo]

Not an easy course to make this try! Sometimes you are spinning too much maybe, especially downhill, so you have your bpms to the stars.

[@thewattlife]

Thanks, this vid was a while ago now, check my recent ones and you'll see just how much ive developed in that time

[@ColoCX]

also you're overthinking/misinterpreting FTP at 1:40 & 2:40 & 4:32. Your real time momentary power compared to your FTP has no relevance in a sub-30 min race. don't think of your FTP as a limiter to your performance. if you're smart and drafting well most of these races will be at or below 3.5 w/kg.

[@thewattlife]

I see what youre saying but you cant think of lactate clearance as being immediate- it can take up to 10 mins to clear lactate. So if you keep ramping over your FTP and your LT2 then youll be building up a lactate backlog which ultimately causes your muscles to stop working as effectively

[@klausjessen5662]

@@thewattlife But you practically racing a hillsprint. Your FTP is what you should be able to hold for 1 hour. In this race, everyone should be racing well above their FTP. You don't rest or recoup in these races, you push through. The gradient on the climb makes weight become another big factor. And where I think one of the big differences between C and B starts showing. Some B guys are very lean.

[@JuliusPersson]

Trying to race in the wrong class is suecide...there is a bunch of 4-4.4 guys in the b class often...(that should be forbidden)

[@thewattlife]

Its been extremely hard so bouncing between B & C at the mo

[@michaelcox5682]

Each to their own but you should use your gears better, cadence is very high.

[@aaronselfe5132]

I will let you into a secret… What you describe here everyone in zwift feels when moving category. For over a year I have been a really good B rider - every time I move into an A race I leg destroyed. It’s hard to keep dusting yourself off every time but I’m sure one day we will make it stick!

[@thewattlife]

Ive been enjoying it and although there have been some horrible races i always come away thinking that its been really good training... I cannot even imagine what a Cat A race feels like

[@daviddawn9043]

Wonder how many people cheat?

[@thewattlife]

I think there are definitely people but so far it hasn’t really ruined it for me… yet

[@murry27]

is it just me or is this guy able to speak quite normally while at a fairly high heart rate?

[@thewattlife]

It’s a voice over- I do it after I’ve filmed the race /event

[@dsmhiggins67]

Congrats on lasting that long… cat b is full of sharks

[@thewattlife]

Dont i know it!! Some great riders here

[@HugoHocknell]

90% of B's use guff cheapo Smart trainers and are 50kg and 5ft 3".

[@thewattlife]

I know sometimes it’s hard to see who is using what trainer but I usually presume Zwift Power results are quite accurate. You can see weight, power and HR. There’s always ppl who are in the race and not on ZP and that’s a dead give away they are usually not as invested in the complete accuracy of their results

[@HugoHocknell]

@thewattlife My buddies are 6ft and 80kg but banging around Z at 70kg and 5'10". It's annoying but also a great workout for me. (I'm legit #JustSaying)

[@brulsmurf]

lol, keep shifting. try to find the gear that doesnt hurt.

[@thewattlife]

This was a humbling lesson. Have slightly improved since this though but still get my ass handed yo me on climbs

[@jeremykemp3782]

Its genetics mate, simple

[@thewattlife]

I’m getting there. Genetics and hard damn work.

[@alexandersmidt1316]

I dont get the logic here, you are a cat B but you cant win it so you are going to cat C and destroy people below your bracket? If you got 3,5w/kg you have to stick to cat B.

[@thewattlife]

Nothing to do with not being able to win- i dont win Cat C either. I havent registered anything over 3.1-3.2 w/kg while racing. Category usnt based on your FTP. Ill happily loose in any Cat

[@alexandersmidt1316]

@thewattlife yes its based on your ftp that's literally what it's based on. You are sad for doing this, it's a really big pussy move, and you know what you're only cheating yourself in the end.

[@thewattlife]

I dont think anyone is being cheated, and it certainly isnt a pussy move- if i was cheating myself then i would be winning easily and not having to race hard, if you actually watch the channel you will see that ive never won and i have to race as hard as possible to keep in the front group. Zwift Monthly and regular zwift races all attract different quality of riders. Ive literally never posted a w/kg over 3.2 in a normal length race...

[@alexandersmidt1316]

@@thewattlife people with your attitude destory zwift racing, what are the numbers for? Imagination? Do you realize that you're a cheater?

[@thewattlife]

Take a step back from this and think- If you do a ramp test or a 20 min FTP test then you go and do a race which is 40-50 mins long... youre not going to be holding your FTP the whole time. Races arent based on your FTP test, the categorise are based on your riding avg. w/kg over various times. Check your power curve. Or dont, i honestly dont mind either way

[@ryanlindsay4117]

people cheat in zwift racing

[@thewattlife]

I certainly happens- but it’s really helping with my fitness