ZWIFT RACING UNTIL I WIN!

[@RyanCondon]

Guys! What this next race vid if you enjoyed this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/d32rpJuJnpuEhKcsi=STI_28TDICcgaq9W

[@gallo5263]

I’m going to be controversial Ryan. Zwift is loaded with weight dopers and ‘juniors’ weighing six stone. I started using it as a winter training tool 6 or 7 years ago and was initially blown away by the potential. As is the way of things I then got sucked into the competitive side of it but before long was questioning my sanity. At 75KG with an FTP of 305 (no world beater for sure) I couldn’t compete with amateur riders doing the entire Alpe climb at 5 or 6 watts per kilo. I continued to use it for a while whilst training for the Haute Route (Alps and Pyrenees events) the Marmotte and the Etape du tour but as a racing platform it was flawed. Funny how I never see anyone come past me on the Glandon or Galibier at 10 watts per kilo but on Zwift it happened every ride. I still use it occasionally but it is a tool for training during the UK winter and a means to measure me against me last year. Enjoy the bike when it arrives, get yourself down to the French Alps and embrace the beauty of cycling. Zwift is a tool, not the event.

[@TheGamingLander]

Alpe du Zwift this evening!!!😁

[@drumtoe]

Kinda excited for it

[@TheGamingLander]

@@drumtoe I can’t wait tbh 🤣

[@GingerWarriorCyclingClub]

That twelve year old - I.Barker - Did me in Stage 4 of the Zwift Games also (check my feed). Was aggrevied at the time, but have since backed him at the bookies for the 2032 Tour 🙂

[@francodellamura7471]

It was a pleasure riding with you and Erik Lee AdZ this evening.

[@thepixelcyclist]

Going to watch this now as I'm getting on the bike for a zone 2 session 🔥👌😎

[@thepixelcyclist]

That was awesome to watch as always. Your positioning is much better. If I could give you a tip for this specific course or zwift racing in general it would be this. When you have an incoming short climb, try to push much harder (like a mini sprint) 1-2 sec before the incline starts to increase. That way you will get a bit of momentum for the steeper portion and it will feel a bit easier. I notice you started to push once the climb had already started but I don't think it's ideal. Heavier riders like us have to take advantage of what we have. 👌😁

[@MarkyMarkZwifts]

You're getting so close to the win now Ryan, it won't be long! Good luck for the Alpe tonight too 👊

[@JasonSheehy]

LOLs at "R.M" pushing 26.7w/kg at 19:02 in your video.

[@stianpollestad754]

You're motivation and believe in yourself to make it is inspirational. Keep it up 👍

[@RyanCondon]

Thank you sir!

[@uncledudley1928]

I had my toughest cat D race the other night. Even though I've won one race and placed 3rd a few times, this was a challenge. I found myself at the front of the chase pack. I wanted to attack the two in the leas while they were still in sight. I kept finding myself in no man's land. If I could catch them, I would have been smoked and been dropped quickly. The chase pack seemed fine when I wanted to lead the attack, but nobody wanted to help. So I stayed where I was. It came down to a sprint at the end, where I placed 5th. My first sprint finish! I'm usually far ahead or far behind. This was so much more fun.

[@RyanCondon]

Congrats on your first sprint for the win. Awesome.

[@CBRMackie63]

Hey Ryan, great Alpe event yesterday. It was cool to see how many people turned out for it and I was glad to be a part of it. As for your attempts at a win on this course...you are destroying your legs pushing too hard a gear when you climb. You can push those watts with a higher cadence and save your legs. Have you seen my "How I Sprint on Zwift" video? I talk a lot about cadence and how to use it.

[@RyanCondon]

Thanks for sharing your video. Ill check it out.

[@CBRMackie63]

@@RyanCondon great...and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask!

[@Steve_Lo_Watts]

Looking forward to the Alpe later this evening. Cheering you on to a PB 🎉

[@desmoMarco91]

Hey ryan, love your journey to fitness. I've done my very first zwift race yesterday in cat D actually inspired by you. I'm actually a fit 33 year old but i've only ridden 100km on zwift in 2024, 400km outdoors. I happened to finish in second place with 2.6 W/kg average so i guess i'll jump into C if i'll ever race again...best of the rest because the winner went on a solo breakaway on the last climb. If you're not a sprinter type i'd advise you to conserve your energy as much as possible without ever pulling the front group and launching an attack at -500/-700m thats how i've managed to get the podium. Besides that i really find it tough to get motivation on a trainer, riding a real bike is SO much satisfying. You'll love it

[@RyanCondon]

Thanks Marco. I'm pleased you enjoyed my vid. I do love Zwift, it's made a huge difference to my training however I'm looking forward to getting my bike, unsure how I'll get my daily racing fix IRL though.

[@desmoMarco91]

@@RyanCondon You wont even need a daily racing fix. You’ll have so much more to enjoy

[@jakesandersonsnowmancycling]

Top effort mate. Great tactical awareness and that first win is not far away 👍

[@RyanCondon]

Cheers Jake

[@willballard87]

Some thoughts, I'm also a heavier rider, whilst you enjoy climbing, they will always be tough to win as a heavier rider, say you have to ride at 350w for a min at about 3.7 w/kg, a lighter 75kg rider only has to do 280w to ride at the same pace, so even if you average the same w/kg across the race, you will put out more watts but you will struggle to match their outright max w/kg, so lighter riders will eventually drop us on climbs. However on flatter courses its more weighted (no pun intended) towards pure watts so if you drop 350w on the flat at 3.6w/kg, the 75kg rider has to still put out close to 330+w to keep pace so they'd need to ride at closer to 4.5w/kg, in short use the flats where its all about watts to smash the lighter riders who whilst ultimately whilst have a better w/kg can't match your power!

[@RyanCondon]

Thanks Will. Good tips.

[@GeorgAndTheBike]

Thanks for the amazing AdZ event! That was so much fun!

[@ClapMyDog]

You show why I stopped doing racing. I am at about 1.5 to 1.75 on a good day. There is as big a gap between me and them as there is between them and a cat b. Well done on your improvements, they inspire me to keep trying

[@RyanCondon]

Always keep trying! Thanks for the watch and comment. :)

[@DL-mv8ii]

Your racecraft is getting so much better - great to see. You are making life hard for yourself though looking for that first win with the course - you're strong on the flat and can put out some watts so try and pick courses that are overall flat with just some small climbs to attack on (eg to just power up them). Glasgow is never going to suit you. Your numbers are easily good enough to win D cat races if you pick the right ones - will love it when it comes!

[@RyanCondon]

Thabk you. You're probably right but it's a good challenge. 💪🙏🙌

[@Procli74]

Well done Ryan! 👊 Great fun to see you have become stronger and are improving on Zwift! 😃 On that first steep climb i would have pushed 2-3 seconds BEFORE that left turn/before climb starts.. AND i would have a higher RPM (feel i get more exhausted in my legs when using very low RPM/cadence) - If you have higher speed than others going into a corner your rider often takes the shortest/fastest line through that corner (but you have steering so 🤷🏼‍♂️) Keep them videos coming! 👊

[@RyanCondon]

Thanks for the tip. 💪

[@rolandhoward8421]

Even if you are a lone warrior it’s a really good idea to go out with a group early on. You’ll learn much more quickly about bike maintenance, road etiquette and pick up loads of helpful tips. Warning though, if you think Zwifters are quick to offer unwanted comments, there’s nothing like outdoor cyclists. Thanks for the awesome event yesterday, got my target by 2 mins and almost 10 minute pb. Oh yeah, don’t worry about the 12 year olds in Cat D, it’s best to give people the benefit of the doubt, and cheaters are only cheating themselves.

[@rolandhoward8421]

And well done on your pb and time, I’m really starting to properly believe the hour is possible. Congrats on the co-hosting gig, that’s fantastic.

[@scottmccann4509]

Amazing progress Ryan, you're getting sooooo close. Personally i dont feel that course suits your strengths, it's basically 2 sprint hills a lap plus a final sprint finish, even this course the normal way round might be better, more chance of a long push to the line (but a harder single hill). 💪💪

[@lee-cycling]

You're doing so well in D now, Ryan. Racing smart and riding to your strengths. Fantastic to watch. Like you already know, you'll have to start watching out that you don't get promoted up to C before getting a win in D. But I don't think it will take long for you to establish yourself in C, either. 💪👌

[@RyanCondon]

Thanks! Lee! 🙏

[@andylewis8669]

Another cracking clip fella keep them coming 👍 btw just joined you on ADZ Zwift ride where I came last but 1 😂 & I used to race 😏😉😂

[@RyanCondon]

Welldone and thanks for joining in. 🙌🎉💪

[@88arkitekt88]

Congrats on the hard racing, another ZP win to be proud of. I did notice you and I are only a couple of places and 7 odd seconds apart on the lap it up ZP league. Looking forward to doing battle with you over the next two races!

[@RyanCondon]

Sounds good to me. 🙌💪

[@RonaldJacobs-e2i]

You might consider a real 'bike fit' by a bike shop. Nothing wrong with paying attention to your 'gut feeling' to adjust saddle position, handlebar position, etc. But when I was riding my road bike a lot, I found that a bike fit greatly improved my comfort on the bike. A professional bike fit will include some precise calibrations that will improve both your comfort and efficiency.

[@giannirofi3257]

Hey Ryan I've noticed that you ride uphill with a very hard gear to deliver high watts with a low cadence (I understand you might need higher numbers than average riders) isn't that destroying your legs? usually people do the opposite, can that be a reason for poor sprinting? I'm just curious to know if you have ever tried high cadency- easy gear! Keep up with the great content! cheers

[@RyanCondon]

For the climbing, I prefer higher gears. Feels better and I've tried both. For the sprint I need a higher RPM and I sprint in completely the wrong gear. Something I'm working on. Thanks for watching and the comment. 👍

[@G-Unit-fitness]

I’m 4 weeks in to Zwift and most likely talking out my A** 😂😅 but as a 117 kg rider and today after doing the full climb of the volcano for the first time (nearly killed me) in a category D group ride, I like to hit the climb 3 seconds before with massive wattage, push till I feel the burn then gradually cycle down the gears increasing the RPM, I seem to keep up with the pack this way. Any thoughts on this strategy?

[@RyanCondon]

@@G-Unit-fitness sounds solid to me.

[@G-Unit-fitness]

@@RyanCondon cheers for getting back Ryan! What a climb! (Felt sick at the top!) Definitely made me think twice now about that road to sky route! 😅😅😅 looking forward to you releasing that video!

[@Alan-Turnbull]

Good to see you analysing your performance and seeing where you can improve. I would love to see you either hold a constant 70-80rpm throughout the race or spin on the hills and grind on the flats* at the moment you are the other way around. *as a test to see if it there are any gains 😉

[@RyanCondon]

I'll do it. 🙌

[@CalmLikeABomb76]

Hope you'll get that win before you get bumped up to cat. C, but you must be close. And thanks for the great event this evening on the Alpe. I'm the danish bloke named Sandager on zwift. Awesome efford from you and the "team" around you. Hope you'll do similar events again. :)

[@RyanCondon]

Thank you 🙌

[@TonyCurran-mz6ds]

Yes I would like to here your review on the watt bike I do enjoy your KZbin chanel

[@dewidavies7995]

Finished 4h 17min. 54.2km 1,094m, elevation. Only 21km to finish my 162km for April. 😊

[@RyanCondon]

Welldone Dewi.

[@Gixer750pilot]

Brian go online and treat yourself to a bicycle talk wrench they are £25-£35 and they will ensure you don’t overtighten anything on your new bike when it arrives es anyway see you on the alp this evening

[@eloann]

You put up good fights. You still need to increase your cadence, change gears more gradually, get into climbs with more speed (start your efforts a few secs before climbs, definitely no free wheeling in a downhill just before a climb) but you'll get there. Regarding the super light riders, they're still at a massive disadvantage in terms of pure power and they'd have no chance in a sprint had anyone been able to respond.

[@RyanCondon]

Thanks for your tips. I appreciate that.

[@kevstephen9393]

Progressing really well, I look forward to racing with you in the C category 😮

[@RyanCondon]

😅

[@Steve_Lo_Watts]

…but we will miss you in cat D 😢

[@GrandpaWood_UK]

Not going to be long until you get the first banner win - and then cat C :)

[@RyanCondon]

🙏

[@COOKIE_wcc_]

Personally I would get a bike fit as that will help you also buy a torque wrench as you over tighten bolts saddle and bar settings

[@JB-np4lp]

Great vid. Your position looks much improved - still think your handlebars are too wide for you though. Slightly more expensive to fix that one. :P

[@drumtoe]

Shawn's Ellizay!!!

[@RyanCondon]

Lol

[@dewidavies7995]

4times up alp de zwift. 😊

[@phil_d]

You're off to Cat C after ADZ tonight 🤣

[@RyanCondon]

😅

[@w.trunks2472]

I got tools when I bought my watt bike did you not 🤷🏽‍♂️ but I use a torque wrench on the bike as the bolts watt bike use tend to break. Strange how your bike differs from mine. I can’t go above gear 15 as It becomes impossible to turn the cranks. My average gear is gear 10 and I spin up the hills in gear 7 8 or 9 not anywhere near what gear you are turning.

[@1972andyb]

Yeah a wattbike review. With play controllers fitting please. Zwift say they don’t fit wattbikes. Clearly they do 😂 thanks

[@RyanCondon]

They fit, no worries. 👍

[@Gixer750pilot]

One thing , that may be a good or a bad thing is with the warmer weather , the real cyclist will be outside more. So there will be less competition. So you need to race when it’s hot outside 😂

[@RyanCondon]

Lol. I could also try 3am in the morning.

[@patbriggsmbr]

Hi, I bought a wattbike atom about 18 month ago and to be honest I really do regret it. The service from wattbike is the worst ever. After only 4 months of riding it developed a rattle like a can of marbles, the engineer came and said the chain had stretch badly, so he replaced it. The rattle wasn’t as bad but was still there, 6 month later after I was told the rattle is normal, it got a lot worse. Contacted wattbike who said sorry it’s now out of warranty and for it to be repaired it would cost £249, just for the service before any parts? Now I’ve got a big paper weight, which rattles beyond belief, wish I never sold my wahoo kickr. Never again will I buy from wakkbike, garbage. Great race by the way.

[@RyanCondon]

I'm sorry to hear this. Sounds a nightmare.

[@doomguyzwifting]

Did you not have clip in shoes all this time?

[@RyanCondon]

I went ages with toe cages. I've had clippy clip clips for a good 6 months now.

[@doomguyzwifting]

@@RyanCondon have I gone back in time and watched an old video? 😂 I’m confused.., I thought you went shopping and showed us all your wares. 😂

[@RyanCondon]

@@doomguyzwifting not new, just flexing how Zwifty I am now.

[@dewidavies7995]

ZWIFT CYCLING LEVEL 33, ZWIFT RUNNING LEVEL 4, CAT D.😊

[@RyanCondon]

💪

[@chrisoliver6690]

Not entirely true, the Zwift algorithm benefits heavier riders; a lighter rider has to put out a hight wpkg up hill to go at the same pace as a heavier rider. The reason is the % of the bike weight/total mass is factored in. There is a video about the subject on KZbin.

[@RyanCondon]

Statistically or mathematically, you might be right on paper but I'd challenge any rider to ramp up their weight to 100kg and then race me... As long as their not pros. 😅

[@chrisoliver6690]

@@RyanCondon on Zwift you at 100kg, me at 72kg, both put out 3 w/kg on the same climb and bike, you will climb faster. The bigger the gap in weight the more the advantage to the heavier rider in pure w/kg. The only reason light riders often go faster is because they are able to hold a higher w/kg due to carrying less body fat. However get a muscle bound brute on and they can really do well.

[@russellturner7064]

I meant just as an experiment.

[@L4Y_SP]

dont go into climbs in last place. u need sliding room. wot all the sprinters do IRL

[@JayB9127]

comment for the comment god!

[@dewidavies7995]

2255😊

[@miazga82]

I'm almost 100% sure those guys were not 12 years old. Unfortunately zwift is full of cheaters, and you just had the pleasure to race two of those. This is sad but true.

[@TheGamingLander]

They averaged 3,8w/kg I don’t know what 12 year old can do that definitely cheating.

[@oxharp]

Turn your weight down and see if you can compete with the whippets.

[@RyanCondon]

I'm trying. I've lost nearly 95kgs.😅 (I know you mean cheat).