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@@Nicomacchiato It's not. Looks like I've messed up my audio settings in the editor. But I don't know which one. 😂 But I will fix it for next outdoor video.
Great to see that I am not the only one a bit miffed by this years ZA. Disagree though with the gains for this year training series. This is designed to put you in a very deep hole to test your limits. I am not sure that's healty or even nets you any gains. Unless overtraining is a gain. I am indeed aiming for the races, these look fun! Painfull fun :D
I like the Dr. Coggan's mantra "testing is training". Whether or not those workouts are the most efficient way to do so...well...I think everyone needs to evaluate that themselves. :-)
@@tt-tk9076 I understand their motivation to make these changes. I just don't like it. I fully agree that the fairness of the programme is paramount but there could be at least some group ride sprinkled here and there.
I feel like people take the idea of overtraining out of context. Especially if you are an indoor specific rider. You can train much harder for indoor fitness considering the races are much shorter and require a lot from your anaerobic system. If you look at trends from top level riders they tend to race significantly more frequently than lower cats. Outdoor styles of training are good for fitness, but if you want to be a beast inside, you have to get rid of the “two hard days” only a week mentality.
In my opinion fatigued tests are actually best for everyone that participates in some kind of racing, either on Zwift or outside in the real world. If we exclude time trials, the most important efforts during a race is almost every time at the end of a race, so knowing your limits after a good amount of fatigue is more valuable than fresh numbers
@@Felixtr0511 Fatigued tests are excellent but not for generally available FTP models and/or amateur-level interpretation. I mean...how would you interpret a 15 min effort that is performed after two other max effort and other hard intervals? (Serious question, kudos if you can do that!)
I have never heard so much crying. I hope someone mops these tears up. I've got Race 2 left to go, and then I'll take my swag. As you said, I'm not, nor ever will be one of the 2. I just want to say "I did it."
Hey, good analysis, but I actually think that this year's ZA is even worse for ordinary riders than you said. There are a lot of maximum efforts in here. For someone completely new to cycling, that's a LOT of maximum efforts, and you won't actually be able to push yourself that much and still be productive. For someone with more experience, this might be doable, but it's also not as much training stimulus. Like workout 2, Power Push, is 3x 30s sprints, then a 20 min block at threshold. Seasoned riders are going to need more like 40 mins at threshold. I think you implied this, but it seems to me that if they gave us our percentile rankings for each of the aspects of power they were trying to measure, that would be a nice thing for everyday riders. They aren't. Personally, I've never done Zwift Academy. I have experience with structured training. I'm not going to start with this one. I can just do a critical power test if I want.
I am pretty surprised that there are only two races considering the event takes place through November. Are there other zwift racing series thay they are afraid of taking demand away from?
There is going to be the new Zwift World Series but I can't see why they couldn't live next to each other (especially since they are both timed to the end of the month).
I think another problematic point: finding races with enough participants. Since the academy is stretched over such a long time, like you mentioned, I guess it will be somewhat difficult to find races with a lot of people, especially if you are not a prime time rider/racer like me.
ZA has been shrinking year by year in terms of Zwift's effort. New riders have no idea how to pace a 10 minute free ride segment so they should pick some other program. In past years it was a good introduction to doing structured workouts, but not now.
Agreed. I understand the shift towards the talent hunting aspect (afterall, the teams have money in the game) but with a minimal effort this could be a nice community event, too.
Oh my god. This thing happened once again. It always happens when I use Insta360 footage. I'll give it a focus tonight, thanks for bringing it into attention for me.
Memberships!
If you like my content and would like to support the development of this channel, consider joining one of five (100% optional, videos will be always FREE!) membership tiers.
Get more details and join here: th-cam.com/channels/gqQzVp5YsE0rFysyl4yT6Q.htmljoin
Tiers and Perks:
Tier 1 - Domestique:
- Unique "Road to A" badge for comments and live chat (the longer you are a member, the better it will look)!
- Guaranteed response to comments/live comments (limited when I'm out of breath :))
- Access to membership-only community tab
Tier 2 - Super Domestique:
- All Domestique perks
- At least 3 hours early video access
Tier 3 - Lead-Out Rider:
- All Super Domestique perks
- I will follow on Zwift so you can teleport to me and we can ride together (except during races)!
Tier 4 - Directeur Sportif:
- All Lead-Out Rider perks
- Your TH-cam name in video credits
Tier 5 - Cycling Legend:
- All Directeur Sportif perks
- Personal thanks in each video/live stream
Thank you for considering the support!
My left ear like this video !
You've got to be kidding me, it happened AGAIN? Oh my. It has to be something about the Insta360 footage or I don't know.
@@RoadtoA yup! I thought that was my headphone bug lol
@@Nicomacchiato It's not. Looks like I've messed up my audio settings in the editor. But I don't know which one. 😂 But I will fix it for next outdoor video.
Great to see that I am not the only one a bit miffed by this years ZA. Disagree though with the gains for this year training series. This is designed to put you in a very deep hole to test your limits. I am not sure that's healty or even nets you any gains. Unless overtraining is a gain. I am indeed aiming for the races, these look fun! Painfull fun :D
I like the Dr. Coggan's mantra "testing is training". Whether or not those workouts are the most efficient way to do so...well...I think everyone needs to evaluate that themselves. :-)
The ultimate goal is to find potential talent. It’s designed to find young kids with the best fatigue resistance.
@@tt-tk9076 I understand their motivation to make these changes. I just don't like it. I fully agree that the fairness of the programme is paramount but there could be at least some group ride sprinkled here and there.
I feel like people take the idea of overtraining out of context. Especially if you are an indoor specific rider. You can train much harder for indoor fitness considering the races are much shorter and require a lot from your anaerobic system. If you look at trends from top level riders they tend to race significantly more frequently than lower cats. Outdoor styles of training are good for fitness, but if you want to be a beast inside, you have to get rid of the “two hard days” only a week mentality.
@@drewbuffington I agree but I am lost in the context here.
In my opinion fatigued tests are actually best for everyone that participates in some kind of racing, either on Zwift or outside in the real world. If we exclude time trials, the most important efforts during a race is almost every time at the end of a race, so knowing your limits after a good amount of fatigue is more valuable than fresh numbers
@@Felixtr0511 Fatigued tests are excellent but not for generally available FTP models and/or amateur-level interpretation.
I mean...how would you interpret a 15 min effort that is performed after two other max effort and other hard intervals? (Serious question, kudos if you can do that!)
At least I have a chance this year with a proper mountain 🤣 not in Scotland like last year, I also like Yorkshire too 💙
@@crankandsprints Oh my, I am thirsty for some Scotland racing! Love that world. 😂
I have never heard so much crying. I hope someone mops these tears up. I've got Race 2 left to go, and then I'll take my swag. As you said, I'm not, nor ever will be one of the 2. I just want to say "I did it."
Alright. Congrats in advance! :)
Hey, good analysis, but I actually think that this year's ZA is even worse for ordinary riders than you said. There are a lot of maximum efforts in here. For someone completely new to cycling, that's a LOT of maximum efforts, and you won't actually be able to push yourself that much and still be productive. For someone with more experience, this might be doable, but it's also not as much training stimulus. Like workout 2, Power Push, is 3x 30s sprints, then a 20 min block at threshold. Seasoned riders are going to need more like 40 mins at threshold.
I think you implied this, but it seems to me that if they gave us our percentile rankings for each of the aspects of power they were trying to measure, that would be a nice thing for everyday riders. They aren't.
Personally, I've never done Zwift Academy. I have experience with structured training. I'm not going to start with this one. I can just do a critical power test if I want.
@@weiwenng8096 That was indeed my implication! I also do not think this is a particularly good program for general rider.
I am pretty surprised that there are only two races considering the event takes place through November.
Are there other zwift racing series thay they are afraid of taking demand away from?
There is going to be the new Zwift World Series but I can't see why they couldn't live next to each other (especially since they are both timed to the end of the month).
I think another problematic point: finding races with enough participants. Since the academy is stretched over such a long time, like you mentioned, I guess it will be somewhat difficult to find races with a lot of people, especially if you are not a prime time rider/racer like me.
@@Cid0484 the two races themselves are going to be actually constrained into a pretty tight period (about 10 day period) to combat that.
@@RoadtoA thanks, good to know
So you don’t go all the way to the top of ven top?
I mean...if you are very fast... 🤣
But other than that, no. Whoever gets the furthest in those 30 minutes, wins.
ZA has been shrinking year by year in terms of Zwift's effort. New riders have no idea how to pace a 10 minute free ride segment so they should pick some other program. In past years it was a good introduction to doing structured workouts, but not now.
Agreed. I understand the shift towards the talent hunting aspect (afterall, the teams have money in the game) but with a minimal effort this could be a nice community event, too.
So I will stick to my plan to ignore the Zwift Academy also this year 😂
There's going to be better events!
nothing against your video but pls fix audio haha my right ear feels jealous
Oh my god. This thing happened once again. It always happens when I use Insta360 footage. I'll give it a focus tonight, thanks for bringing it into attention for me.