Keep going Ryan, racing on Zwift will change your life forever, if you stick with it you’ll be racing in Cat C/B in no time, the advantage of racing is its addictive so you don’t need much motivation to ride, you’re already working out how to gain advantages with power ups and draughting so you’re going to keep improving , good luck, looking forward to the next race.
Another corker of a video. Really enjoyed this. And it really highlights how Zwift just leaves you on your own to figure this stuff out. There must be lots of Zwifters who don't know any of this stuff. There's a whole bunch of things that you need to know/get a handle on to make the most of racing that they just don't tell you. Bike choice is a big one, as you've found out (and aero seems almost always better than lightweight). How to draft is another, and spotting the avatar animations that let you know if you're in the draft. And power ups, too. It doesn't help that some are only available in races, so you can't learn how they work outside of them. I think once you start racing with a non-TT bike, you'll make huge improvements in races. You'll save a lot of energy that you've been burning just to hang on. Looking forward to seeing how you do. And best of luck for the big race this weekend!
Exactly this Lee, I kicked myself when everyone told me about the bike. Cant believe how much harder riding a TT bike made to my racing. I had no idea about the draft animation until you mentioned it. The 'tutorial' into Zwift is non-existent but on the flip of that coin, Im enjoying discovering how to overcome these hurdles.
For me the journey to uncover the Zwift craft is big part of the fun. If it was all just served, it wouldn't be as rewarding and there's so so much to explore so ppl would get scared/overwhelmed if they were faced with "everything" in the beginning when they don't even understand what anything means. It's a journey, takes time but a very rewarding one imo 😀
Like the rest of the comments, loving the attitude in your zwift journey. And just a general tip that I think helped me when I started out, because I was a grinder and think I held an average cadence of around 67 - I learned that this builds a lot of fatigue and I worked on getting that to around over 84-85 which now feels comfortable to me and is easier to sustain for long efforts. I would try to use those gears a bit more and start spinning a bit quicker, especially on the climbs, and increase that cadence slowly until you find a pace you are comfortable with. Great job on these videos.
Love your attitude! Best way to get faster in the early stages is to just ride so keep it up. You look like you’re on a normal bike in these videos, not a TT bike so nothing to correct there any more. And the anvil only increases weight on downhills so you didn’t slow yourself down by doing it on the flat, but it was pretty pointless. There’s a quote that says ‘An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.’ so keep making the mistakes and you’ll be an expert in no time!
Can't wait for more videos! As a more experienced rider, I really enjoy you walking through some of the same questions and experiences I had back in the day!
Stumbled across your channel today; great newbie content 👌🏼 I joined the Zwift gang last week with the Zwift hub and today, I signed up for the UCI WC stage 1 race Monday! Great tips for me in this video!
Well done, Ryan. You're right - gotta learn the course! Especially when they're custom length routes like the Tiny Races often use. Knowing what the powerups do helps too, of course. :) Those Tiny Races will push you to the limit every time. It doesn't get easier - but you'll get faster. Keep up the good work.
@@RyanCondon lucky for you, the Anvil can't hurt you anymore - it just doesn't work unless you're on a downhill of 1.5% or more. Zwift changed it to work this way because so many people were sabotaging themselves and deploying it on climbs or flats in races!
I find your being pretty hard on yourself mate, I tune into this channel and I love it because it’s raw honesty. Remember your helping smooth people’s learning curve out by showing us your experience. Glad to see you have a fan now!! Be really good to see you take on some electrolytes too!! 😂 Cheers
It’s fun seeing how far your racing has come in such a short time, it’s also funny to see how kind you are to yourself in the commentary 😂. You are right dive in and keep hammering away. My kids ordered me a cassette for my trainer so I can get back to racing in a month.
Don't be so hard on yourself unless your goal is to be a top racer. If your goal is to lose weight and get in shape you are killing it. Your commitment is incredible.
@@RyanCondon for reference, if my heart rate breaks 160 I don't have a lot of time before I'm falling apart. If i can keep it in the 150 range I can push. It really is m top metric, keep the HR below 160 and I can pedal for hours.
Those tiny races are brutal, I entered a C cat one once when I was fit and a Cat D almost C. It hurt and I was dead last of all the C's. Love the videos, perhaps when I'm back riding again I'll bump in to you on Zwift
Enjoying watching your progress in Zwift. I got a smart trainer and started this month. There is a lot to learn at first (trial and error), but it is so rewarding. Also entering a lot of races as they are far more fun than training plans. 😂
your videos are great because you are analysing the "stupidities" we all are doing in the beginning :P. btw, it seems that very soon you will be upgraded to CAt C, isnt? keep up"!
Just finish one race in 3rd and with much less effort. Keeping with the Peloton in front is very important. However I would like to try speeding up on the last 3km just to see if brings something. The prob with leaving to sprint to the end is that you really need legs for that....:)
Dude have you looked at the TTT on a Thursday night ? Im part of the ATOM race team. They're a cracking ride and we have a good laugh on the team radios. Ive done some videos covering them on my channel. The fan is legit ive got one as well, I was using mine to cool the bedroom down at night during the brief heat wave we had earlier in the year
what are your thoughts on that fan? i saw the same one and i am debating buying it or something more powerful. I am about your same weight. way out of shape. I suspect that I might need a fan that splits atoms and sends the sub-atomic particles through my fat layer to actually cool me down. I'm not sure though. seeking opinions.
Are you aware of the ‘secret’ of signing into the race pen as soon as it opens (30 minutes before the start) then ending the ride with no need to save it? It puts you at the front right at the start banner & saves your place until you rejoin the race with say 1 minute to go. It means you can go elsewhere to warm up. Try it in a race you don’t intend to do to see what I mean. Its a top tip to be at the front for a fast getaway at the banner drop.
Thanks for the top tip. I was aware of this trick tbh however I don't think I'm quite at the "shave nano seconds off my time" stage of racing prowess just yet 😅
Anything that will give you a mental advantage! You are learning the hard way & well done for that. I was lucky to have my Zwifting son to guide me through my early days & explain everything.
Keep going Ryan, racing on Zwift will change your life forever, if you stick with it you’ll be racing in Cat C/B in no time, the advantage of racing is its addictive so you don’t need much motivation to ride, you’re already working out how to gain advantages with power ups and draughting so you’re going to keep improving , good luck, looking forward to the next race.
Thanks for the comment Wayne. I am very impressed with Zwift and you're right about it being addictive 🙌
Loving the videos, loving the effort you are putting in.
You might have a new fan but you've all ready got fans mate.
🤣 Thanks 🙌
Another corker of a video. Really enjoyed this. And it really highlights how Zwift just leaves you on your own to figure this stuff out. There must be lots of Zwifters who don't know any of this stuff.
There's a whole bunch of things that you need to know/get a handle on to make the most of racing that they just don't tell you. Bike choice is a big one, as you've found out (and aero seems almost always better than lightweight). How to draft is another, and spotting the avatar animations that let you know if you're in the draft. And power ups, too. It doesn't help that some are only available in races, so you can't learn how they work outside of them.
I think once you start racing with a non-TT bike, you'll make huge improvements in races. You'll save a lot of energy that you've been burning just to hang on. Looking forward to seeing how you do.
And best of luck for the big race this weekend!
Exactly this Lee, I kicked myself when everyone told me about the bike. Cant believe how much harder riding a TT bike made to my racing. I had no idea about the draft animation until you mentioned it.
The 'tutorial' into Zwift is non-existent but on the flip of that coin, Im enjoying discovering how to overcome these hurdles.
For me the journey to uncover the Zwift craft is big part of the fun. If it was all just served, it wouldn't be as rewarding and there's so so much to explore so ppl would get scared/overwhelmed if they were faced with "everything" in the beginning when they don't even understand what anything means. It's a journey, takes time but a very rewarding one imo 😀
Like the rest of the comments, loving the attitude in your zwift journey.
And just a general tip that I think helped me when I started out, because I was a grinder and think I held an average cadence of around 67 - I learned that this builds a lot of fatigue and I worked on getting that to around over 84-85 which now feels comfortable to me and is easier to sustain for long efforts. I would try to use those gears a bit more and start spinning a bit quicker, especially on the climbs, and increase that cadence slowly until you find a pace you are comfortable with.
Great job on these videos.
Good advice and makes sense. I'll have a look at this. Thank you 🙌
Love your attitude! Best way to get faster in the early stages is to just ride so keep it up.
You look like you’re on a normal bike in these videos, not a TT bike so nothing to correct there any more.
And the anvil only increases weight on downhills so you didn’t slow yourself down by doing it on the flat, but it was pretty pointless.
There’s a quote that says ‘An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.’ so keep making the mistakes and you’ll be an expert in no time!
Thanks for the watch and comment. I like that quote, very true. 🙌
Can't wait for more videos! As a more experienced rider, I really enjoy you walking through some of the same questions and experiences I had back in the day!
Thanks! More on the way :)
I’m currently going through your back catalog and I’m enjoying your videos and journey. Keep up the great work ✊🏾
Top man! 🙌
Stumbled across your channel today; great newbie content 👌🏼 I joined the Zwift gang last week with the Zwift hub and today, I signed up for the UCI WC stage 1 race Monday! Great tips for me in this video!
One newbie to another... Thanks! 🙌
I like your integrity to show the bad with the good, and of course, keeping your weight updated on Zwift.
Thanks John. I will always use my real weight, no point if I don't. I'll never understand those that put in lighter weight. Thanks for watching.
Well done, Ryan. You're right - gotta learn the course! Especially when they're custom length routes like the Tiny Races often use. Knowing what the powerups do helps too, of course. :)
Those Tiny Races will push you to the limit every time. It doesn't get easier - but you'll get faster. Keep up the good work.
Thanks 🤣 knowing what the power ups do and not sabotagjng myself with an anvil is always a good idea.
Gotta learn the course! Always good advice 🙌
@@RyanCondon lucky for you, the Anvil can't hurt you anymore - it just doesn't work unless you're on a downhill of 1.5% or more. Zwift changed it to work this way because so many people were sabotaging themselves and deploying it on climbs or flats in races!
@@ZwiftInsider I've learnt something new there. Thanks. 💪🏻
I find your being pretty hard on yourself mate, I tune into this channel and I love it because it’s raw honesty.
Remember your helping smooth people’s learning curve out by showing us your experience.
Glad to see you have a fan now!! Be really good to see you take on some electrolytes too!! 😂
Cheers
It’s fun seeing how far your racing has come in such a short time, it’s also funny to see how kind you are to yourself in the commentary 😂. You are right dive in and keep hammering away. My kids ordered me a cassette for my trainer so I can get back to racing in a month.
Thanks! Good luck in your new training on Zwift. 💪
Ryan, this video is so funny, the comparison between your commentary during the races and your comments afterwards are fantastic.
Thank you! I'm pleased you liked it. 🙌
Don't be so hard on yourself unless your goal is to be a top racer. If your goal is to lose weight and get in shape you are killing it. Your commitment is incredible.
Too competitive, that's my dilemma. 😆
Thanks for the watch and comment! 💪🏻
@@RyanCondon for reference, if my heart rate breaks 160 I don't have a lot of time before I'm falling apart. If i can keep it in the 150 range I can push. It really is m top metric, keep the HR below 160 and I can pedal for hours.
@@keithfels9963 it really is good training for all kinds of fitness
Those tiny races are brutal, I entered a C cat one once when I was fit and a Cat D almost C. It hurt and I was dead last of all the C's. Love the videos, perhaps when I'm back riding again I'll bump in to you on Zwift
Hope you're back riding soon 💪🏻
Perfect attitude and many lessons learned already. I love tiny races 😀
Thank you 🙌
My favourite zwift videos. Keep them coming .
Thanks Dawn, I appreciate that! 🙌
That fan is a great choice. Learning quickly. Can't wait for the next video!
Fantastic content. Really great to have someone share the mistakes. I'm always dead last in a race by a big margin.
Thanks LarkieDeek. I appreciate that. Keep going, you soon won't be. 🙏💪
Enjoying watching your progress in Zwift. I got a smart trainer and started this month. There is a lot to learn at first (trial and error), but it is so rewarding. Also entering a lot of races as they are far more fun than training plans. 😂
I completely agree. I'd rather race and lose than train. Same applies to my running 🏃🏼💨
Tiny races are sooooo tough! I did some on Monday and it was hell haha.
Great video as always!
They're fast and aggressive plus a lot of fun. Thanks for the watch 🙌
my first race ever on zwift were on these 4 tiny races and i'm instantly addicted to them, damn they are fun and a great vo2 max workout 😆
They are very addictive. 🙌
Game changer with fans. 😊
Another awesome video dude!
Very inspiring... and great attitude towards the challenge.
🙌
Another great video, with good commentary
Thanks!
your videos are great because you are analysing the "stupidities" we all are doing in the beginning :P. btw, it seems that very soon you will be upgraded to CAt C, isnt? keep up"!
Thanks very much 🙌
Just finish one race in 3rd and with much less effort. Keeping with the Peloton in front is very important. However I would like to try speeding up on the last 3km just to see if brings something. The prob with leaving to sprint to the end is that you really need legs for that....:)
Dude have you looked at the TTT on a Thursday night ? Im part of the ATOM race team. They're a cracking ride and we have a good laugh on the team radios. Ive done some videos covering them on my channel. The fan is legit ive got one as well, I was using mine to cool the bedroom down at night during the brief heat wave we had earlier in the year
Great content!!
Thanks :)
Thanks 😊
Great fan choice 👍🏻
Certainly does move air around well 👍
what are your thoughts on that fan? i saw the same one and i am debating buying it or something more powerful.
I am about your same weight. way out of shape.
I suspect that I might need a fan that splits atoms and sends the sub-atomic particles through my fat layer to actually cool me down. I'm not sure though. seeking opinions.
It's more than enough for me. I very rarely have it on maximum plus it has a little remote that I like to drop on the floor alot. Can't go wrong.
Are you aware of the ‘secret’ of signing into the race pen as soon as it opens (30 minutes before the start) then ending the ride with no need to save it? It puts you at the front right at the start banner & saves your place until you rejoin the race with say 1 minute to go. It means you can go elsewhere to warm up. Try it in a race you don’t intend to do to see what I mean. Its a top tip to be at the front for a fast getaway at the banner drop.
Thanks for the top tip. I was aware of this trick tbh however I don't think I'm quite at the "shave nano seconds off my time" stage of racing prowess just yet 😅
Anything that will give you a mental advantage! You are learning the hard way & well done for that. I was lucky to have my Zwifting son to guide me through my early days & explain everything.
@@steve-c this is very true. 👍
I am enjoying the Zwift life
Start training plan? To get consistently better ,,maybe at the whims of other cyclists on races ?
I have a training plan for a 100k running Ultra in September. Zwift is just part of the training plan. A means to an end!
Thanks for watching :)
Try a time trial 😊 ia