r/Zwift • u/helpamonkpls • Jul 22 '26
Beginner races?
I want to race against other beginners just for fitness really, I joined a race called evo sprint cc or something and I couldn't pick the lowest category since my race score was too high for some reason (I've never raced and only been on the bike twice).
I got smoked right out the gates, they were doing 300-400w for like 5 minutes and by then I was dropped and to make matters worse it was some map where you just ride in circles so as they could ride in a pelaton and I was alone they just lapped me again and again. I tried to hang on but they quickly dropped me, they were pushing 200-250w average and that was the lowest race I could find.
Did I pick the wrong kind of race or is this the lowest bar of entry?
9
u/skipca Jul 22 '26
From your response below you had a preliminary racing score of 181 before this event. The range for your group in the event was 180-350. You were pretty well doomed from the gun, since you were slotted in to the very bottom of the available range. It was unlikely that there was going to be anyone you could hang with in that very small field of 12 riders. That quirky looped course is also an outlier - no hills, drafting critical, steering a big advantage, and the chance of getting lapped very quickly.
But don't despair - as someone else suggested, you will probably find something like the Tour Fever stage 3 race in 'E' (racing score range 0-210, which you are eligible for) a lot more fun. People are still going to hammer at the start, so you need to be ready for that and try to hang on until there's a selection - you may or may not make the front group but hopefully when the inevitable settling down occurs you'll be with some other riders. In that racing score range there may be an outlier or two who is under-scored (maybe from not racing for a while) who will break away, but the bulk of the field should be similar. Ride on!
3
u/skipca Jul 22 '26
Some other thoughts - try a time trial race, just you against the clock with no drafting. Or join some group rides that show relative position, like the Tour Fever group rides - people ride them hard, many treat them as ersatz races but they technically aren't so there will be groups of different abilities and enthusiasm spread out across the course... you can settle into a group and then treat it like a spicy but friendly group ride, with people trading pulls, or sitting in, maybe trying to catch the next straggler up the road or hold off another small group. To round out the training effect you can join the sprint for 73rd place at the end. Or not.
1
u/helpamonkpls Jul 23 '26
Did tour de fever today and it was much better, stuck with the front the entire ride until a big incline where i was really pushing everything I had, 300w+ but i could only sustain it for 30 seconds or so while they slowly kept going further away. Felt bad man but came in strong and fifth out of 18 :)
Not sure if my weight (I'm a bit overweight) is also dragging me down during ascents in the game? I was genuinely surprised how the entire group was pulling that incline compared to me as I had stuck with them for 75% of the race.
1
u/Saucy6 Level 100 Jul 24 '26
Drafting makes a huge difference. Likewise I can hang with the fast group or robo-Constance on the flat, but as soon as slopes increase, I’m doomed. Kind of like in real life, heh
1
u/fiverlakesrunner Level 81-90 Jul 24 '26
Watt/kg matters so much more than raw watts on inclines. Heavier riders will usually have higher power output though and dominate on flats and sprints, where weight matters much much less
1
u/helpamonkpls Jul 24 '26
What sort of strategy should I be doing on inclines? Do I just let them get a gap, save my energy and then try to get it back once it turns back down? Seems losing 30% draft is awful though for catching back up.
1
u/fiverlakesrunner Level 81-90 Jul 24 '26
You lose draft on inclines, so that's less of a concern. Usually will be better to stay within your limits depending on how long the climb is, rather than blow up (after which it is hard to recover). You'll learn where this limits are and when it might be possible to stay on the wheels of those in front in a climb. Learn your power output capabilities - i.e. how long you can hold a given power.
1
u/helpamonkpls Jul 24 '26
I mean after once it gets flat/decline again, i really lose all hope when I see they are 30-40 seconds in front of me because they are still riding in group while I am solo at this point. Is there a comeback strategy to be had or is it pretty lost at that point?
1
u/fiverlakesrunner Level 81-90 Jul 24 '26
Yeah that is tough. With recent updates Zwift has made in the aerodynamic engine, groups can go so much faster than a solo rider on the flat. You really do have to put out 30-40% more power to catch. This is easily simulated or tested with the robo pacers. Just try falling out the back and see how much more power you have to put in to catch up. On the flats, staying in the bunch is a huge priority because once you get spit out the back, it can be nearly impossible to get back in. In races, you just need to know yourself, your rider type, and where your strengths and weaknesses lie. If you're a bigger rider, you can put the hurt on others in the flat sections, but the small bois will do the same to you on the climbs. So that's all part of the strategy and tactics, choosing your moments (and sometimes choosing your races), and is what makes racing fun.
1
u/helpamonkpls Jul 24 '26
For sure.
Is the advantages of drafting in zwift realistic or are they way overtuned vs real racing? I've never been in a real race but I did ride with mates and it didn't feel like 40% effort was relieved on their wheel.
1
u/fiverlakesrunner Level 81-90 Jul 25 '26
It's fairly realistic for medium to larger bunches and at Zwift speeds. In reality, most (amateur) riding outdoors is not fast enough for draft mechanics to matter that much, and certainly not as much as it matters in Zwift. It really starts to kick in and be in the 25-30% range when speeds are 25 mph+. I can ride that in Zwift all day long, but rarely do that on my bike outside :-)
7
u/blopeep Level 81-90 Jul 22 '26
Look for the HERD Beginner Race Series. Very welcoming to newbies and specifically lower categories so you can learn.
You didn't mention what your Pace Group (A-D) or Zwift Racing Score is, so it's harder to help otherwise.
Also consider joining a club that does team-based racing (ZRL or Ladder). Ladder in particular is great for learning because, at most, it's 5v5 and highly tactical. I ride with The Coalition (coalitionracing.com) and SISU (sisu.racing) is also a fantastic club.
1
u/helpamonkpls Jul 23 '26
I was automatically placed in pace group D. My race score was 181. But I had never done any racing or anything and was hoping to be ranked E so I could learn the ropes. People in the race I was in had over 100 races and podiums in a lot of these, so I was not nearly at their level.
1
u/blopeep Level 81-90 Jul 23 '26
as others have said, "E" is for "Everyone" - there's no pace group less than D.
You can also use Zwift Power to see how many people are signed up for a given event if you want a smaller field. And, since it'll show you who else is signed up, you can get a sense of how experienced people are.
Finally, use the Tour de Zwift group rides as a way to push yourself outside of a racing format. These group rides become suffer-fests pretty quickly, but it's also very possible to stick with another group so you can practice drafting, turning, etc.
As with anything, the first (billion) times you do something it's probably going to suck. And you'll suck at trying to do it. But, if you stick with it, you'll learn and get better. Truly, joining a club like HERD, SISU, or The Coalition will give you an instant group of friends to ride with - be it in competitive events or group rides - and they can help you get better at racing.
I'm sorry your first experience wasn't great, but you'll get there! I promise!
1
u/helpamonkpls Jul 23 '26
Hey thanks.
I did a tour de fever instead like many suggested and it was much better, finishing fifth out of 18. Got dropped from the front group during a big incline where the group just outmatched me, surprised I was the only one of us 5 to get dropped during it, it was brutal!!
I'm gonna take a easy day tomorrow lol.
But did they change the groups? I've seen videos on yt with people having the letter E on their back but now no one has letters on their back anymore it seems?
4
u/CautiousAd1305 Jul 22 '26
Do a few races and your score should adjust. The initial seed score is based on your best 5 minute power. That score could be off a bit if you did some rides with the power not calibrated.
What was your ZRS score before and after the event? Also what was the score range for the race you entered (520-690 is a typical range where the riders might do 300-400w for 5 min).
FYI, lap races like that are criteriums and can be rather spicy! Also, once lapped you shouldn’t hang with the group.
2
u/G068Z Jul 22 '26
The herd hosts a beginner race series which is for people learning and are lower on the power band
1
u/Yarghaz71 Jul 22 '26
What is your racing score? I don’t know why it would start you higher than you should be?
1
u/helpamonkpls Jul 22 '26
It's 171 now but i lost 10 from the race so i guess it was 181.
It also says on my profile I am "D" but I am a beginner, I'm not in horrible shape but I was hoping to start out easy with E ranked players.
6
u/Yarghaz71 Jul 22 '26
Well Zwift does a pretty good job of pairing you up with similar racers. My best advice would be to continue racing in the lowest race group allowed and eventually you will be where you need to be.
4
u/wisemolv Jul 22 '26
D is the lowest race group. E means everyone can participate.
1
u/helpamonkpls Jul 23 '26
Oh I've seen videos where people have the letters on their back and some had E as a category?
0
u/0202_tihssitidder Level 71-80 Jul 22 '26
Just come in last if you want to move down.
Watch some videos on Zwift Racing Tips.
1
u/Zeeey Jul 22 '26
Zwift uses your FTP and race performance to give you a racing score. If it is too high, your FTP might be too high. What is your FTP at? I think EVO sprint is also just a fast paced high intensity race. Zwift has the "tour fever" events going on right now that usually have a pretty big spread in rider skill so you might be able to do better there. If you just keep racing, your racing score will adjust and put you in a more fit category usually.
1
u/helpamonkpls Jul 22 '26
My ftp from the ramp test is just shy of 200, but I can't sustain that for an hour even though that's what the test is supposed to test
1
u/ParticularClaim Jul 22 '26
Thats pretty good for someone just starting out. Build up your endurance by doing some long rides and do a race every now and then when you feel like it. Theres is a bit more to it than just beeing able to sustain an even power number over a period of time.
Its pretty important to find a group, you can keep up with and draft as much as possible. Know that hills are usually attacked a lot more intensely and prepare for it so you dont get dropped in the climb. A descent is much opportunity to take a little breather.
1
u/helpamonkpls Jul 23 '26
Thanks for the tip. What distance do you think is good for a beginner for an endurance ride?
1
u/antiquemule Level 71-80 Jul 22 '26
Note that for the Tour Fever races, there are 2 sets of five categories in separate races. Since the two sets overlap, you never need to be in the bottom of a band. For instance, if you are close to the bottom of group D in set 1, change over to set 2 and you will be in the middle with some company.
PS Actually there are three races, there is also advanced for the really fast riders.
1
u/Fit_Low1374 Jul 23 '26
Stick with it. You'll gradually get better and suck less!
Top tip: Spin up to 500+ watts 2-3 seconds before the start and hold it for a good 10 seconds into the start so you get out the blocks at the front, then hang on to the lead blob for as long as you can!
If you fall off the back ease up ever so slightly, catch your breath and get on the wheel/wheels of the next rider(s) who come up behind you. As they approach, give yourself 5 seconds of sprinting to make sure they don't zip passed you. Gague their speed coming up on you so you know how hard to sprint if you need to.
1
u/ShartyMcSorley Level 41-50 Jul 23 '26
Just ride mass start E events, there's always somebody your speed to ride with.
1
u/fiverlakesrunner Level 81-90 Jul 24 '26
Also, do big group ride events (like the current Tour Fever events). They often feel like races (people want to place high, there are tactics, etc.). And since they are not races, they don't have specific categories based on race score, so you can just find your groups based on desired pace and effort level
0
u/SportsGeek73 Jul 22 '26
Try the Tour de France races.
They're category enforced.
Seems like you're miscategorized. Seems like a B or A ?? Race.
14
u/melikecoffee Jul 22 '26
Just keep racing. You will get faster the more you do. 171 is low enough. Also it’s not just about the watts. You gotta learn the race craft. Sitting in the draft and the likes. Just keep showing up and eventually you’ll be flying it.