Bad idea. But good video. Early on you'll find fitness doing almost anything but it's not optimal for growth. Maybe if you do these two week blocks and treat them as sort of a virtual "team camp" it might be beneficial before race season, but not giving your body a chance to recover is not the best bang for your buck.
Perfect way to think of it. If I’d have kept it up, I think things would really start to decline. Doing the different types of races helped, kind of like doing different workouts. The day after the Tiny Races had me worried!
The Zwifty fitness plan comes with an essential warning: ‘This plan is not meant to improve fitness metrics in any way, shape or form. It is only designed to maximize amount of fun. If fun deteriorates, take a break’ 😅 Great vid, Eric❤
Yes, that exactly. I hope I made it clear that people should listen to when their body needs rest. It was a good boost, but for me unsustainable long term:
As much as I’d like to race everyday I usually get to day 5 when I’m just toast and have nothing. Not to say it couldn’t work for others, just not me as I’m quite old now. However I’m quite happy to watch you race everyday 😁
I’d never take on more than the two week block. Also, I really varied the type of races, so it was a slightly different workout each time. For now, I’m back to 2-3 times a week. I’d love to get my fitness to the point where I can join you in a race, sometime!
You can join me in a race anytime, I think we are closer than you think, some of your recent segment times are faster than mine, like the hill climb yesterday you are 13 seconds quicker! You may soon get to the point where you have to be careful with doing bigger 20 minute solo efforts if you aren’t ready for A cat as your numbers are easing closer as the fitness goes up and the weight comes down! Can’t wait 😜
You can actually see why other riders got disqualified on Zwift Power. Above the race results you have the menu bar where it says "Results", next to that is a button "Unfiltered" which shows all competitors in the order of completion but with a mark of why they did got disqualified if they got disqualified. In the case of the EVO CC Sprint Race Series it turns out that one rider isn't on Zwift Power and as such didn't register a time there and the other rider didn't wear a HR monitor.
Great video and a good deep dive into your fitness and strength progress. Like others that posted have remarked, you are a really strong rider. I'm really going to enjoy racing in the same slot as you for the ZRL series.
Not bad at all for 2 weeks! Any weight change in that time? I wonder if it's possible to 'bulk' and 'cut' for cycling power in the same way bodybuilders do? On another note I feel like you could make a good video about just explaining the different types of zwift racing, I definitely learnt a thing or two about them for sure!
Thanks man! I did lose some weight (and keep it off) during the two weeks, but it came right back on when I wasn’t racing every day. I was eating so much to try and replace the calories!
As usual a very interesting video. Your improvements over those 14 days were very impressive, but you're definitely right that you have to have easier periods for recovery too.
For sure. Two weeks was my limit - maybe a block of it transitioning from outdoor to indoor season each year would be a decent kick in the pants, but always being careful to not take it too far!
Oh no, Eric! What have you said! Blasphemy!!! Blasphemer!! I’d like watch your step. People do not like hearing this. I rarely do anything as intense as what you took on there, man. Some great results too and a lot of fun races. I hope you enjoyed it, which is the point; getting better or not.
All your fault, Rob. Don’t you remember telling me Zwift race every day, all out, no rest ever? Anyway, it was good fun & a good fitness boost. Back down to 2-3 a week and outdoor/group rides.
Bad idea. But good video. Early on you'll find fitness doing almost anything but it's not optimal for growth. Maybe if you do these two week blocks and treat them as sort of a virtual "team camp" it might be beneficial before race season, but not giving your body a chance to recover is not the best bang for your buck.
Perfect way to think of it. If I’d have kept it up, I think things would really start to decline. Doing the different types of races helped, kind of like doing different workouts. The day after the Tiny Races had me worried!
The Zwifty fitness plan comes with an essential warning: ‘This plan is not meant to improve fitness metrics in any way, shape or form. It is only designed to maximize amount of fun. If fun deteriorates, take a break’ 😅
Great vid, Eric❤
Yes, that exactly. I hope I made it clear that people should listen to when their body needs rest. It was a good boost, but for me unsustainable long term:
My opinion bad idea....need to recover.
Fair point. I was right on the edge by the end of the two weeks. As an experiment, I had fun with it, but I’d never do it all the time.
Unless I'm eating Chinese food every day and/or the weather is terrible, then yea maybe.
It would never be a constant thing for me - gotta get outside!
I heard average 😂😂😂if you are average I am the walking dead
As soon as I start feeling like more than average, I get spanked in a race. Superstition keeps me saying average.
As much as I’d like to race everyday I usually get to day 5 when I’m just toast and have nothing. Not to say it couldn’t work for others, just not me as I’m quite old now. However I’m quite happy to watch you race everyday 😁
I’d never take on more than the two week block. Also, I really varied the type of races, so it was a slightly different workout each time. For now, I’m back to 2-3 times a week. I’d love to get my fitness to the point where I can join you in a race, sometime!
You can join me in a race anytime, I think we are closer than you think, some of your recent segment times are faster than mine, like the hill climb yesterday you are 13 seconds quicker! You may soon get to the point where you have to be careful with doing bigger 20 minute solo efforts if you aren’t ready for A cat as your numbers are easing closer as the fitness goes up and the weight comes down! Can’t wait 😜
@@ericbarnettcycling I think 2 or 3 races per week is perfect with some longer z1/2 easy rides and even dare I say a day off!
Go for it Buddy
🔥🙏
You can actually see why other riders got disqualified on Zwift Power. Above the race results you have the menu bar where it says "Results", next to that is a button "Unfiltered" which shows all competitors in the order of completion but with a mark of why they did got disqualified if they got disqualified. In the case of the EVO CC Sprint Race Series it turns out that one rider isn't on Zwift Power and as such didn't register a time there and the other rider didn't wear a HR monitor.
Thanks, didn’t know that. Useful tip!
Eric, this is seriously proper racing! Keep on rockin‘!
Thanks man - I feel like I’m making progress finally!
Great video and a good deep dive into your fitness and strength progress. Like others that posted have remarked, you are a really strong rider. I'm really going to enjoy racing in the same slot as you for the ZRL series.
Likewise, Roy! Tuesday will be my first TTT, but I’m always game to suffer for the internet’s entertainment. See you there!
Not bad at all for 2 weeks! Any weight change in that time? I wonder if it's possible to 'bulk' and 'cut' for cycling power in the same way bodybuilders do?
On another note I feel like you could make a good video about just explaining the different types of zwift racing, I definitely learnt a thing or two about them for sure!
Thanks man! I did lose some weight (and keep it off) during the two weeks, but it came right back on when I wasn’t racing every day. I was eating so much to try and replace the calories!
I’ve thought about doing some more tutorial-type things on Zwift. Just wanted to make sure I knew what I was talking about first!
As usual a very interesting video. Your improvements over those 14 days were very impressive, but you're definitely right that you have to have easier periods for recovery too.
For sure. Two weeks was my limit - maybe a block of it transitioning from outdoor to indoor season each year would be a decent kick in the pants, but always being careful to not take it too far!
Oh no, Eric! What have you said! Blasphemy!!! Blasphemer!! I’d like watch your step. People do not like hearing this. I rarely do anything as intense as what you took on there, man. Some great results too and a lot of fun races. I hope you enjoyed it, which is the point; getting better or not.
All your fault, Rob. Don’t you remember telling me Zwift race every day, all out, no rest ever? Anyway, it was good fun & a good fitness boost. Back down to 2-3 a week and outdoor/group rides.
@@ericbarnettcycling not sure I said no rest ever! Still I got to enjoy the spectacle. In truth though, I think a lot of cyclists who do
@@ZwiftyZwifter yeah, I made that part up. Just trying to get you in the boat with me in the hot water I'm stirring up. 😂
Great improvements there Eric. Well done!
Thanks man!
One of your best intros so far!
I’ve gotta get you more into Zwift racing
@@ericbarnettcycling I'm all in after race season!