In this video I documented my progress from being dropped in EVERY race to NOT BEING DROPPED for the first time in Zwift - ruclips.net/video/sDwpzQbBfTI/видео.htmlsi=ViZVbU8LNibFMhAM
I made it on the podium in an A race last night without even trying. The secret is to find a race. that nobody is entering. I rode in zone 2 for all 25 miles and finished third out three. Technically still a podium finish.
Brilliant! I'm gonna do this and edit in a few clips of a 175 strong social ride to make it look like a win on a packed out field. Thanks for the comment, made me laugh.
This channel is exactly what I needed. I'm a heavier rider too, not fast at anything, looking to lose more weight (lost 36 so far), hoping to lose more and get faster at cycling and running. Love your Zwift content! I watch it while I'm suffering on Zwift as well
New Zwifter here, too. Just did a ramp test and I'm in Cat D at 2.1w/kg. Gonna try a race tonight. There's some low distance events that might be good for a Monday night after a commute from work!
@RyanCondon That was tough, but fun. I was good until halfway through when I started to wane a bit. Happy with 4th (out of 6) on Glasgow Crit Circuit. 2.2w/kg average, just slightly over my FTP!
Great video Ryan. It`s addictive when you understand the key things and the physics around it ey :). Love seeing your improvements on Zwift, and man that makes it so much more fun to ride on Zwift. My story; I`ve started cycling in 2008. Just to try moving my body a bit. Did only outside riding back then in summer time. I did not care about my weight back then. I was a young lad then, 23 years old. I became an okey cyclist on an exercise level. But still did not care about the food I was stuffing down. 2016 I did my last outside race on a bike. I hit the wall, it became a struggle just thinking about cycling. Then my road to my personal hell started, I got depressed like never before with a hell of an anxiety. Depression and anxiety has been a part of my life since I can remember, but then in 2016 it really got bad. I started self medicating with alcohol and became an addict. It removed the anxiety in one second. I had a wife and 2 kids back then. I hided it for as long as I could for my wife. But in the end the only person I was fooling was my self. She knew that I struggled and stood by me and tried to tell me I had to give up the alcohol, but I just couldn`t. Then in 2018 I hit rock bottom that left me with a choice, either let it all burn down or start to become a better person. This was march 2018. I gave up the alcohol, got some professional help with my depression and anxiety. We now had 3 small kids then. It took me 33 years to grow up, but better late than never. Take responsibility for my actions and understanding that my actions impacts those who are closest to me. I started slowly to bike again to get in better shape. Still only outside riding, but I found the happiness in biking again as on an exercise level. Still not caring to much about food. My brother and a friend of us gave my a Kickr core for my birthday in April 2020. Started to get to know Zwift a bit through out 2020. Mid January 2021 I decided to care about my weight in regards to get better at cycling. Started 98kg, Cat D on zwift to. I am 175 cm so 98kg is a whole lot more than it needs to be, but I had not given it many thoughts before because I was happy with where I was. But I had to make a change to get better. I am now at 71kg, A cat on Zwift and won my first A race on Thursday :) Dirt Racing Series Stage 3 on Flatland Loop on Makuri Island. My 20 min ftp is now 320 - 4,5 wkg. And what I have found out is that to improve you got to set yourself goals, small goals, small steps. Show up when its not fun, do the work regardless of life`s hurdles. Life always make hurdles, but when you have the mindset to do the workouts either way it become less important what`s going on around you. I did also a test up the Alpe Du Zwift on Monday. When I started Zwift I did not get up ADZ in under 90 minutes. On Monday I did in in 44:36. So I suppose what I am trying to say is that never, never ever stop, keep going, keep pushing, push through the hard days. The sun comes out when the clouds are gone :). I tell you my story because I feel you are a person that have taken action and responsibility over your own life. And you make the life better for you and those around you. And I love your story and how open and how much self insight you have. And you are a smart person that know how to have a conversation. I`ll watch your videos as long as you make them :) Best regards from a man who know what it means to take action and responsibility for my life. I`ll terminate the writing with a quote. "If you cant fly, then run. If you cant run, then walk. If you cant walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you got to keep moving forward." -Martin Luther King jr. Congratulations with your podium :))
Richard! Thank you very much for taking the time to write this comment. First of all, I'm very impressed with your achievements and even more inspired by your journey you have been on. It's amazing how platforms like this allow people to connect through their own personal stories. Congratulations on your first CAT A win but most importantly congratulations on winning in life, for taking ownership and for being an inspiration to your children. Good for you and good luck for the future. I hope this is the first of many exchanges on here. Fantastic MLK quote! I also like the think of my journey as simply "relentless forward progress"!
Brilliant! Loving how well put together these videos are. Well done on the result, very inspiring to watch and really cool to see the older races and the progression to get to the podium. That move you bridged at 15km was executed to perfection, I nearly shed a proud tear - if you able to interpret and understand those situations correctly you’re a pro racer there and that instantly gives you a huge advantage on most riders. Watched this one with my girlfriend, still can’t believe she prefers your videos to mine but massive thanks for the shout out as that gave me some cool points back 😂😂👌
New to Zwift. You inspired me to do my first race last night. Class D 1.8wkg. Finished 8/10, and I was thrilled I didn’t finish last. I’ll do another race today. Thank you!
Absolute belter of a video again! And that last race was fantastic. Bridging over to the front group took cajones. And you still had punch left for the rollers and even a last push in the sprint. You're clearly getting stronger and more confident in how to race. Fantastic to see. Can't wait to see your first win. It's going to be so deserved and well earned. We even got to see the silly hat! Need it on, peak forward, though! Thanks so much for the name check in the video. I'm definitely nowhere as good or smart as the other guys you mentioned or Thomas and Mark who commented here. But I do appreciate it, mate 👍
LEE! thanks for the comment mate. My Zwifting confidence has grown, can't believe my attempt to bridge worked, was even more surprised that we managed to drop the 4th rider that I didn't put in the video. Also, I don't think there is a good way to wear that silly hat, I knew it was back to front, just my childish sense of humour. I also wear it as it annoys my teenage daughters even more so then their 43 year old Dad trying to win at a computer game race. Well deserved shout out for your channel, you're better then you give yourself credit for. I'm in the process of trying to get that win, then promotion to CAT C. Gotta half marathon this weekend, then I might focus on Zwift for a bit.
@@RyanCondon yeah, you can see how your confidence has grown, and it's excellent to watch. People do wear those hats back to front. It kind of takes the edge off them, I suppose. But you've got to go all in on the ridiculousness of it one day and wear it, peak frontwards, and angled up. Just for the full lol Your kids will love it and want you to hang out with their friends all the time then. Promotion, along with the win, is clearly on the way. You're getting stronger at a fast rate. The amount you put into this, from the dieting to the effort during the races, it's just a matter of time.
Congratulations Ryan! It's amazing to watch your progress from the first Zwifting video you made to this one; you inspired me to do a couple of races too, though I have figured out that's not my thing. Lighter weight on Zwift has it's own problems, yes you can go uphill easier, but I have to push hard downhill too! And I struggle to generate the watts the bigger riders can put out. However, you just continue to inspire and I look forward to your next one and your continued progress. Love how much your kids support you! Keep it up.
Well done, you will no doubt have great success with such dedication, I have just started Zwifting yesterday and have you to thank, I’m also following you on swift your a great inspiration
nice! I like how you reference zp results as you go along as people make moves to give context on if it mattered. I'm one of those who all they can do is sprint so i burn every match just trying to stay in front group. Then even if my sprint is 300w down its still enough to keep me in contention. 135ftp->250ftp 18 months in. I find incorporating a bunch of SUB2/SUB1.5 group rides in lets you not destroy yourself every ride and keep more consistent.
You’re an inspiration Ryan please keep the vids coming. Not sure what you’re “riding” in Zwift but I just upgraded to a Cannondale Evo frame with Zipp 202 wheels both of which were the lightest within my reach and I honestly feel they’ve made a difference on the climbs. With you being a heavy rider you need to be riding something light rather than aero in my opinion.
KERBOOOOOOM!!! Fantastic racing and video, totally nailed it. Great thinking and strength to make that bridge, deffo a good idea to use the aero too. Absolutely loved that.
Great point about minimizing the barriers to getting on the trainer for a ride. The fact that all i really need to do is change into my riding shorts and shoes and go down to the basement (not forgetting to fill my water bottle and turn the fan on), so that i only need about 5 minutes to go from working at home to being on the trainer makes it a lot easier to keep it up. At my old job we had a gym in the office, which also made it a lot easier to get a workout in.
Just found your channel. I'm on the long road back to lost fitness having had double hip surgery 5 months ago. I'm not a natural cyclist so improving takes a lot of effort and a lot of zone 2 steady state indoor riding. I'm working through all your Swift videos and really enjoying seeing your improvements, both on Swift and body composition. Keep up the great work...great seeing a normal person cycling rather than some 58kg lean machine knocking out 350watts for an hour :)
Thanks Zebeddy, I appreciate that! Good luck on your recovery as well. I too am inspired by someone coming back from recovery. Nothing better than a good underdog story, keep up the great work!
Congrats, Ryan! Massive! What a big move you did to bridge that gap and catch the leaders. Glad it paid off. And it was just a joy to see you still improving. Man, you looked like you were absolutely flying on the last part of that final race, even despite all those efforts you put in to be at the front
@@RyanCondon absolutely. Crushing it, mate. Being able to up the wkg for longer and longer intervals; just bit by bit, is exactly what you’re aiming for. And you’re having fun getting completely immersed in the racing and the tactics which is just the best part
Great result and loving the channel🍾. You want the yellow cleats for your shoes as they have more float and I noticed on the hills and sprints your cadence is low which might mean your in a too high a gear and using more energy instead of spinning the legs more
Yes, I've had this advice a few times before. I don't know why but I can't move forward in higher cadence. I prefer to grind the power than spin for it but I'm sure it's just my inexperience. Thanks for the channel compliment. 🙌
Really great video. Some good advise for new Zwifters. I agree us heavy riders struggle on the gradients but we can make it up on some good decents. Nicely done keep it up and I'll see you in C Cat in the near future.
Just finding you, thanks for sharing your experience. I’m also new to zwift, enjoying the zwift racing, and using it all to help get myself into better shape. Thanks again!!
Congrats on the Podium Ryan! That's a tough course to race too with the hills at the end 💪💪💪. You've made huge progress in 5 months and have learnt from some of the best Zwifters on YT 👊
Thanks for the comment Mark! Love watching other Zwifters on RUclips especially those I mentioned. Next step is the out and out win now. No more podiums by default.
@@RyanCondon I'm sure the win will come soon 🤞 Will you be live streaming any of your races, it would be great to be able to see your first win live and cheer you on!!!
@@RyanCondon after signing to a race check zwift power in your signups and you can see all the riders in that race who are on zwift power. It will give an idea who to stick with and who to let go. Also it will tell who is genuinely in your category. You can even see all their power data, like their 20 min power to their 5 second. But some riders my just genuinely not be on zwift power. I go by zwift power👌🏼keep up the good work💪🏼
Absolutely awesome video that i relate to so much. Congratulations on the podium. Question: If riders is deleted on zwiftpower, is that because theyr numbers don't add up (sandbagging orsomething else) or is it just because they haven't registrered on zwift power? I've done two of the cats on the first stage of Tour of Watobia, and the place i finish in, is much lower that mu place on zwift power. like a 50´difference sometimes in the position. :) Surely that many people can't be cheating, but what do i know. I'm a noob like you :)
From what I have been told by several (far better Zwifters than me) that theyre intentionally dropping down a CAT for the win and being removed from ZP for that reason. Im not 100% sure on the why though. I don't understand why anyone would race those below them in capability, no glory in that win. Thanks for the compliment.
Always inspired by your drive. Keep killing it! I am a little concerned with your handlebar width, it looks wide but might be just camera angles. Ideally the bars are only as wide as your shoulder bones. Your arms want to come straight out with your hands in a handshake position on the hoods. Your hands appear to break in at the wrists which can be uncomfortable over long periods which is usually caused by a wide handlebar.
Well done very impressive, you really had to work for that podium and bridge the gap to the leaders 180bpm plus woah. You could pick a better course if you want to be more competitive as those last few KMs are tough. 💪💪
Your channel is awesome. Never seen anything so relative to myself. Used to cycle a lot (4000 miles a year) three years off a bike and 15 kg heavier your channel got me back on a bike and buying a smart trainer. Got a win on a boxhill Cat D race. Does life get any better than this?
124kg 56years, level 20, cat C. Thanks great video, new shoes and shimono pedals in the new year, and start time trial s on zwift. 140km last week, do the same this week. 😊
When I started cat D I got dropped 1/2 way to 3/4 through every race I tried. Then I would be DQ saying I had too much power for this category. Now I have ZS of just over 200 and show cat C in ZP and still can’t make it to the end of a race in the lead pack. Not sure what my problem is. Anyway, you’re awesome Ryan! Ride on🚵♂️🥇
@ and just like that, I completed a race not dropped! 5th in the overall and 2nd in ZP! There were 30+ racers. Thank you for the encouragement and the videos of your journey. It’s very inspiring and I am super proud of what you have accomplished.
Know the course - yup. During my warmup I check the other riders on companion, if you look at their activities and especially races you can see which is strong and your direct competitor. This gives you help for breakaways and the sprint finish… I am now Cat C
Well done sir! you made me start youtube. you made me start racing on zwift. my wife is not impressed yet, but hey.. we need a bit of quality time on zwift
Hey Ryan, Great video :) I'm brand new to Zwift and really want to get into racing....My FPT is currently 135 and I have done group rides at E category as I found D category was just out of reach. Do you think I should train a bit longer before jumping into a race or go straight into it and if so any recommendations on what race I should do and should it be at category E or D ? Thanks Matt
Hi Matt. Thanks for the comment, I'm pleased you like my vids. I too didn't know what to do so I just jumped in feet first. Good luck. I hope you smash it. 💪
Well done, it is so much fun zwift racing your right their is actually a lot of strategy and your right even though it feels like your the only one struggling others are as well. I really wish that swift had better controls for racing I still believe this is alot of weight doping and sandbagging going on.
Thanks IronDistance. We can only race our own races. I don't mind losing to someone better than me. It's annoying but not a game ender being beaten by a sandbagger. There is always someone trying to cheat the system in everything we do, Zwift is no different.
@@RyanCondon very true their are cheaters everywhere. I’m really enjoying your content, I’ve been trading for a marathon the last 4 months so my cycling time has been very little you have me stoked to get back on the bike and crush it
@@RyanCondon I was planning on doing the Seattle marathon but my wife and kids where sick for the last month and a half. So my long runs have suffered. In the next 4 days I plan to do a 18 mile long run kit check and then start tapering and do a backyard marathon in your style at my local running trail in 2.5 weeks
ZP is a website that records all your race stats. I'm not 100% on why racers get removed or DQ'd, you'll get a different response depending on who you ask but I think it's a combo of they're racing in a cat below where they should and other stuff.
@@RyanCondon either they are not registered on zwiftpower , so they wont show up in the results , or they getting DQed , if you wanna see why - get on the race and than next to results is unfiltered , you ll see why some peeps getting DQed , mostly for not using a HRM or UPG upgraded, WPG wkg too much for that cat
The best way to know which riders to worry about in a race is to follow it live on Zwift Power. I use my phone strapped to my top stem. Get the race up on ZP, filter it to show just Cat D and when everything has settled down after the frantic start hit the 'live' button. Then you can see which of the riders you're seeing on the screen are on ZP and race accordingly. It makes a big difference when you know that guy who's just made a breakaway doesn't matter because he's not on ZP and therefore not relevant to your race. Knowing who your 'real' rivals are is a big advantage in my opinion.
I was having fun getting top 5 in cat C but then Zwift bumped me to cat B and everything is a lot harder to keep up with. No big deal to me though, just has gone from a game to a heavy training, which i think is better for me.
Funny you should ask this. I haven't ridden a bike since I was 18 however I have signed up for the London to Brighton ride so probably need to buy a bike.
congrats on your results. Just wanted to say that in the long run, racing everyday is not the ideal way to optimize your fitness. You shouldn't do more than 2/3 days with high intensities effort within a week. Pardon my english, i'm french Keep up the good work !
I don't race everyday. I run on the days I don't (to be fair, I also run on the days I Zwift aswell). I find the training plans on Zwift boring. My fitness is exponentially better than before. Thanks for the congrats though.
Btw with apologies to the Ministry of Silly Hats there is a point to them once you’re outside…in cooler weather to keep your melon warm and more importantly as a visor that can easily be flipped up or down when cycling into the sun. Carry on cycling!
Ive raced for years, however Sir, you are a Inspiration. A podium, good show. Are you registered on Zwift power, so that your race results are recognised. Zwift power looks at results off zwift & throw out all the 'Dodgy' ones. Again you are a Inspiration. PS I will look out for you. Stay safe keith Lambourne
Dude, i hope you are seriously giving yourself proper recovery. I think i heard you ran 4 hours and then the next day did a high intensity ride? That sounds pretty taxing on your body. I want to see you making videos for years to come. Also you should join the ZLR races....it makes racing even more fun.
You are pushing a lot of watts, however. I have seen your races and you are not benefiting enough from the draft. I am at level 31 and I have just learned this crucial detail. Your avatar rider crouches when he is not in the draft and stays seated while enjoying the draft. Regardless you are riding behind one or one hundred riders the behavior is the same. Stay on the draft as much as possible by keeping an eye on your avatar's sitting position. I am sure you will start getting podiums by just doing that.
I think you’ve got about 5 pounds of hair there, just think of the wind resistance when you start riding outside…all kidding aside I think you’re doing an awesome job and enjoying yourself to boot…which is the real point isn’t it? Well done brother!
well done mate, you lost a lot of weight. If I can allow my self to give you my humble my opinion... I'm pretty sure that if you cut your hair and trim your beard you'll look more younger and healthy.( 19.08) I hope you don't take this comment in a bad way... cheers, keep grinding!!!
Hey mate.. just want to say how much I enjoyed your video and your journey. Your editing skills are on point and it made your vid incredibly viewable. Are you on Facebook? I’d like to invite you to a zwifters RUclips group..
@@RyanCondon it’s Nathan from In The Drops show.. we are working on pulling together YouTubing zwifters so we can come together to collaborate on different things..
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
In this video I documented my progress from being dropped in EVERY race to NOT BEING DROPPED for the first time in Zwift - ruclips.net/video/sDwpzQbBfTI/видео.htmlsi=ViZVbU8LNibFMhAM
I made it on the podium in an A race last night without even trying. The secret is to find a race. that nobody is entering. I rode in zone 2 for all 25 miles and finished third out three. Technically still a podium finish.
Brilliant! I'm gonna do this and edit in a few clips of a 175 strong social ride to make it look like a win on a packed out field. Thanks for the comment, made me laugh.
This channel is exactly what I needed. I'm a heavier rider too, not fast at anything, looking to lose more weight (lost 36 so far), hoping to lose more and get faster at cycling and running. Love your Zwift content! I watch it while I'm suffering on Zwift as well
That's great to hear. Welldone on your weightloss 💪
I'm pleased you enjoy the vids. 🙌
New Zwifter here, too. Just did a ramp test and I'm in Cat D at 2.1w/kg.
Gonna try a race tonight. There's some low distance events that might be good for a Monday night after a commute from work!
Good luck! Hope you smash it.
@RyanCondon That was tough, but fun. I was good until halfway through when I started to wane a bit.
Happy with 4th (out of 6) on Glasgow Crit Circuit. 2.2w/kg average, just slightly over my FTP!
@@phil_d good for you. Keep it up! 💪 Sounds like a great result for your 1st race.
Great video Ryan. It`s addictive when you understand the key things and the physics around it ey :). Love seeing your improvements on Zwift, and man that makes it so much more fun to ride on Zwift.
My story; I`ve started cycling in 2008. Just to try moving my body a bit. Did only outside riding back then in summer time. I did not care about my weight back then. I was a young lad then, 23 years old. I became an okey cyclist on an exercise level. But still did not care about the food I was stuffing down. 2016 I did my last outside race on a bike. I hit the wall, it became a struggle just thinking about cycling. Then my road to my personal hell started, I got depressed like never before with a hell of an anxiety.
Depression and anxiety has been a part of my life since I can remember, but then in 2016 it really got bad. I started self medicating with alcohol and became an addict. It removed the anxiety in one second. I had a wife and 2 kids back then. I hided it for as long as I could for my wife. But in the end the only person I was fooling was my self. She knew that I struggled and stood by me and tried to tell me I had to give up the alcohol, but I just couldn`t. Then in 2018 I hit rock bottom that left me with a choice, either let it all burn down or start to become a better person. This was march 2018. I gave up the alcohol, got some professional help with my depression and anxiety. We now had 3 small kids then. It took me 33 years to grow up, but better late than never. Take responsibility for my actions and understanding that my actions impacts those who are closest to me.
I started slowly to bike again to get in better shape. Still only outside riding, but I found the happiness in biking again as on an exercise level. Still not caring to much about food. My brother and a friend of us gave my a Kickr core for my birthday in April 2020. Started to get to know Zwift a bit through out 2020. Mid January 2021 I decided to care about my weight in regards to get better at cycling. Started 98kg, Cat D on zwift to. I am 175 cm so 98kg is a whole lot more than it needs to be, but I had not given it many thoughts before because I was happy with where I was. But I had to make a change to get better.
I am now at 71kg, A cat on Zwift and won my first A race on Thursday :) Dirt Racing Series Stage 3 on Flatland Loop on Makuri Island. My 20 min ftp is now 320 - 4,5 wkg. And what I have found out is that to improve you got to set yourself goals, small goals, small steps. Show up when its not fun, do the work regardless of life`s hurdles. Life always make hurdles, but when you have the mindset to do the workouts either way it become less important what`s going on around you.
I did also a test up the Alpe Du Zwift on Monday. When I started Zwift I did not get up ADZ in under 90 minutes. On Monday I did in in 44:36. So I suppose what I am trying to say is that never, never ever stop, keep going, keep pushing, push through the hard days. The sun comes out when the clouds are gone :).
I tell you my story because I feel you are a person that have taken action and responsibility over your own life. And you make the life better for you and those around you. And I love your story and how open and how much self insight you have. And you are a smart person that know how to have a conversation.
I`ll watch your videos as long as you make them :)
Best regards from a man who know what it means to take action and responsibility for my life. I`ll terminate the writing with a quote.
"If you cant fly, then run. If you cant run, then walk. If you cant walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you got to keep moving forward." -Martin Luther King jr.
Congratulations with your podium :))
Richard! Thank you very much for taking the time to write this comment.
First of all, I'm very impressed with your achievements and even more inspired by your journey you have been on. It's amazing how platforms like this allow people to connect through their own personal stories.
Congratulations on your first CAT A win but most importantly congratulations on winning in life, for taking ownership and for being an inspiration to your children. Good for you and good luck for the future. I hope this is the first of many exchanges on here.
Fantastic MLK quote!
I also like the think of my journey as simply "relentless forward progress"!
@@RyanCondon Thank you :) I really like that goal :). I hope for many conversations like this to come aswell.
Brilliant! Loving how well put together these videos are.
Well done on the result, very inspiring to watch and really cool to see the older races and the progression to get to the podium. That move you bridged at 15km was executed to perfection, I nearly shed a proud tear - if you able to interpret and understand those situations correctly you’re a pro racer there and that instantly gives you a huge advantage on most riders.
Watched this one with my girlfriend, still can’t believe she prefers your videos to mine but massive thanks for the shout out as that gave me some cool points back 😂😂👌
Your channel is 100% always worth a shout out as it has massively helped me in my progression.
Thanks for the kind words Jake. 🙏
Congrats! Official Podium Racer!💥
New to Zwift. You inspired me to do my first race last night. Class D 1.8wkg. Finished 8/10, and I was thrilled I didn’t finish last. I’ll do another race today. Thank you!
Good for you! That's awesome. 💪
Absolute belter of a video again! And that last race was fantastic. Bridging over to the front group took cajones. And you still had punch left for the rollers and even a last push in the sprint. You're clearly getting stronger and more confident in how to race. Fantastic to see. Can't wait to see your first win. It's going to be so deserved and well earned.
We even got to see the silly hat! Need it on, peak forward, though!
Thanks so much for the name check in the video. I'm definitely nowhere as good or smart as the other guys you mentioned or Thomas and Mark who commented here. But I do appreciate it, mate 👍
LEE! thanks for the comment mate. My Zwifting confidence has grown, can't believe my attempt to bridge worked, was even more surprised that we managed to drop the 4th rider that I didn't put in the video.
Also, I don't think there is a good way to wear that silly hat, I knew it was back to front, just my childish sense of humour. I also wear it as it annoys my teenage daughters even more so then their 43 year old Dad trying to win at a computer game race.
Well deserved shout out for your channel, you're better then you give yourself credit for.
I'm in the process of trying to get that win, then promotion to CAT C. Gotta half marathon this weekend, then I might focus on Zwift for a bit.
@@RyanCondon yeah, you can see how your confidence has grown, and it's excellent to watch.
People do wear those hats back to front. It kind of takes the edge off them, I suppose. But you've got to go all in on the ridiculousness of it one day and wear it, peak frontwards, and angled up. Just for the full lol Your kids will love it and want you to hang out with their friends all the time then.
Promotion, along with the win, is clearly on the way. You're getting stronger at a fast rate. The amount you put into this, from the dieting to the effort during the races, it's just a matter of time.
Congratulations Ryan! It's amazing to watch your progress from the first Zwifting video you made to this one; you inspired me to do a couple of races too, though I have figured out that's not my thing. Lighter weight on Zwift has it's own problems, yes you can go uphill easier, but I have to push hard downhill too! And I struggle to generate the watts the bigger riders can put out. However, you just continue to inspire and I look forward to your next one and your continued progress. Love how much your kids support you! Keep it up.
Thank you Anne. ♥️
Don't give up on the racing. The more you do, the better you'll get.
Really admiring your perseverance and enjoying seeing your progress.
Thanks Steven. 🙌
Well done, you will no doubt have great success with such dedication, I have just started Zwifting yesterday and have you to thank, I’m also following you on swift your a great inspiration
Top man! Good for you. Great way to get fit and stay fit. 💪
Maybe see you in Watopia. 🙌
Hell yeah brother we will be fit in brain and body until our very last days. Never stop, we are consistent
Well done Ryan.
The best thing I ever did was start racing on Zwift, its so much fun. Even though I nearly pass out at the end each time, I love it
I know that feeling. Ive never had to lie on the floor after running a marathon but I have after a flat out 30 min Zwift Crit. Love it.
nice! I like how you reference zp results as you go along as people make moves to give context on if it mattered.
I'm one of those who all they can do is sprint so i burn every match just trying to stay in front group. Then even if my sprint is 300w down its still enough to keep me in contention.
135ftp->250ftp 18 months in. I find incorporating a bunch of SUB2/SUB1.5 group rides in lets you not destroy yourself every ride and keep more consistent.
You’re an inspiration Ryan please keep the vids coming.
Not sure what you’re “riding” in Zwift but I just upgraded to a Cannondale Evo frame with Zipp 202 wheels both of which were the lightest within my reach and I honestly feel they’ve made a difference on the climbs. With you being a heavy rider you need to be riding something light rather than aero in my opinion.
Thanks Telsun! I think ive got the same.
KERBOOOOOOM!!!
Fantastic racing and video, totally nailed it. Great thinking and strength to make that bridge, deffo a good idea to use the aero too. Absolutely loved that.
Thank you ITD! 🙌
@@RyanCondon it’s Zwifty, of course, just signed into wrong channel
@@inthedrops you'll have to leave me another message then. 🙈
Great point about minimizing the barriers to getting on the trainer for a ride. The fact that all i really need to do is change into my riding shorts and shoes and go down to the basement (not forgetting to fill my water bottle and turn the fan on), so that i only need about 5 minutes to go from working at home to being on the trainer makes it a lot easier to keep it up. At my old job we had a gym in the office, which also made it a lot easier to get a workout in.
I'm notorious for procrastinating, not having barriers means I workout more. Thanks for the comment Ryan. 👍
Ride on!
Loving your enthusiasm, Ryan! Congrats on the podium - the first of many, I'm sure. 🙂
Cheers Tim! 🙌
Just found your channel. I'm on the long road back to lost fitness having had double hip surgery 5 months ago. I'm not a natural cyclist so improving takes a lot of effort and a lot of zone 2 steady state indoor riding. I'm working through all your Swift videos and really enjoying seeing your improvements, both on Swift and body composition. Keep up the great work...great seeing a normal person cycling rather than some 58kg lean machine knocking out 350watts for an hour :)
Thanks Zebeddy, I appreciate that! Good luck on your recovery as well. I too am inspired by someone coming back from recovery. Nothing better than a good underdog story, keep up the great work!
Top job Ryan!
Keep up the consistency, positivity and enjoy the suffering!
An inspiration to many 🤘🏻
Top man! Thank you.
Congrats, Ryan! Massive! What a big move you did to bridge that gap and catch the leaders. Glad it paid off. And it was just a joy to see you still improving. Man, you looked like you were absolutely flying on the last part of that final race, even despite all those efforts you put in to be at the front
Thank you Thomas! I needed that small victory. Apparently I can climb hills with an element of success now. 💪
@@RyanCondon absolutely. Crushing it, mate. Being able to up the wkg for longer and longer intervals; just bit by bit, is exactly what you’re aiming for. And you’re having fun getting completely immersed in the racing and the tactics which is just the best part
Love your zwift content 🤘🏻
Thanks! 🙌
With the amount of progress you’ve been making, I know i’ll be seeing you in B soon!
Great result and loving the channel🍾. You want the yellow cleats for your shoes as they have more float and I noticed on the hills and sprints your cadence is low which might mean your in a too high a gear and using more energy instead of spinning the legs more
Yes, I've had this advice a few times before. I don't know why but I can't move forward in higher cadence. I prefer to grind the power than spin for it but I'm sure it's just my inexperience.
Thanks for the channel compliment. 🙌
Really great video. Some good advise for new Zwifters. I agree us heavy riders struggle on the gradients but we can make it up on some good decents. Nicely done keep it up and I'll see you in C Cat in the near future.
DUDE YOU ARE KILLING IT! I love your positive motivation! All the Best! When is your next race I would love to join you. I need your help on the hills
Thank you! 🙌
Not sure yet. I've got a half marathon challenge next. Thanks for the watch and the comment.
Just finding you, thanks for sharing your experience. I’m also new to zwift, enjoying the zwift racing, and using it all to help get myself into better shape. Thanks again!!
I'm pleased the algorithm works occasionally. Pleased you enjoyed the vid. 🙌
Congrats on the Podium Ryan! That's a tough course to race too with the hills at the end 💪💪💪. You've made huge progress in 5 months and have learnt from some of the best Zwifters on YT 👊
Thanks for the comment Mark! Love watching other Zwifters on RUclips especially those I mentioned. Next step is the out and out win now. No more podiums by default.
@@RyanCondon I'm sure the win will come soon 🤞 Will you be live streaming any of your races, it would be great to be able to see your first win live and cheer you on!!!
@@MarkyMarkZwifts Prob not tbh. These videos take alot of editing so between these and everything else, not alot of time.
@@RyanCondon That's a shame, but I completely understand. Looking forward to seeing your next video 👍
192 bpm 😳. I’m 45 and did alp de zwift in 59 min 57 sec I was at 185bpm at the end. I’m totally impressed Ryan.
Great time up the Alpe! Putting me to shame.
well done mate, massive kudos. See you in C soon.
Congrats Ryan well deserve 👍
I absolutlely love your story. Keep being brilliant. Ride On 👍
Cheers Riz. I love that you love it. Thanks for watching. Ride On!
Zwift power is all that counts well done on your podium. 🎉💪🏼
Thanks Aaron. I have been told this but hard not to get caught up with the "breakaways".
@@RyanCondon after signing to a race check zwift power in your signups and you can see all the riders in that race who are on zwift power. It will give an idea who to stick with and who to let go. Also it will tell who is genuinely in your category. You can even see all their power data, like their 20 min power to their 5 second. But some riders my just genuinely not be on zwift power. I go by zwift power👌🏼keep up the good work💪🏼
Fantastic Ryan. Really motivating. Well done
Thanks Martin. Appreciate the comment.
Kicking!
Only racers registered on Zwift Power show on it. Excellent job and great videos! Congratulations on the podium finish!
Great videos Ryan, I’ve started following you on Zwift as well as RUclips🤝🏻 good luck in each of your sessions, Ride On. 🎉
Cheers Nik. I'm pleased you like my vids. Ride On 👍
Absolutely awesome video that i relate to so much. Congratulations on the podium. Question: If riders is deleted on zwiftpower, is that because theyr numbers don't add up (sandbagging orsomething else) or is it just because they haven't registrered on zwift power? I've done two of the cats on the first stage of Tour of Watobia, and the place i finish in, is much lower that mu place on zwift power. like a 50´difference sometimes in the position. :) Surely that many people can't be cheating, but what do i know. I'm a noob like you :)
From what I have been told by several (far better Zwifters than me) that theyre intentionally dropping down a CAT for the win and being removed from ZP for that reason. Im not 100% sure on the why though. I don't understand why anyone would race those below them in capability, no glory in that win. Thanks for the compliment.
great progress , keep it going
The main goal is to stay active for healthy life, result and improvent will come 🚴💪
I'm far too competitive to sit back and wait. 😅
Thanks , great video thanks
congratulations!
Well done mate!!!
Thank you!
Well done Ryan!!
Always inspired by your drive. Keep killing it! I am a little concerned with your handlebar width, it looks wide but might be just camera angles. Ideally the bars are only as wide as your shoulder bones. Your arms want to come straight out with your hands in a handshake position on the hoods. Your hands appear to break in at the wrists which can be uncomfortable over long periods which is usually caused by a wide handlebar.
Funny you say that. I did think they feel too narrow and would prefer them wider apart. I think it's the camera lens angle making them look too wide.
Well done very impressive, you really had to work for that podium and bridge the gap to the leaders 180bpm plus woah. You could pick a better course if you want to be more competitive as those last few KMs are tough. 💪💪
Thanks Scott. 💪
Your channel is awesome. Never seen anything so relative to myself. Used to cycle a lot (4000 miles a year) three years off a bike and 15 kg heavier your channel got me back on a bike and buying a smart trainer. Got a win on a boxhill Cat D race. Does life get any better than this?
That's awesome. Well done 🙌💪
124kg 56years, level 20, cat C. Thanks great video, new shoes and shimono pedals in the new year, and start time trial s on zwift. 140km last week, do the same this week. 😊
Congrats on the level 20!! Keep going 💪
When I started cat D I got dropped 1/2 way to 3/4 through every race I tried. Then I would be DQ saying I had too much power for this category. Now I have ZS of just over 200 and show cat C in ZP and still can’t make it to the end of a race in the lead pack. Not sure what my problem is. Anyway, you’re awesome Ryan! Ride on🚵♂️🥇
@@localride51rivertrail37 It seems easy to say but just keep trying. You'll get better. Racing is racing, good luck. 🍀🙏💪
@ and just like that, I completed a race not dropped! 5th in the overall and 2nd in ZP! There were 30+ racers. Thank you for the encouragement and the videos of your journey. It’s very inspiring and I am super proud of what you have accomplished.
@ I’ll see you on Zwift Christmas Eve. 3am my time! Please tell me this is a chill group ride and not a race.
@localride51rivertrail37 3am...ouch. Its a chilled ride. Im not racing, I cant speak for others joining though. 🙈
Wow, I'm a B grade racer and I just said Wow to myself.. Brilliant work
It's progress! 💪🙌
Thanks for the compliment B CAT racer Jamie. 🙏
Dude love your videos
Thanks 🙌
Know the course - yup. During my warmup I check the other riders on companion, if you look at their activities and especially races you can see which is strong and your direct competitor. This gives you help for breakaways and the sprint finish… I am now Cat C
Good tip. Thanks for sharing. 💪
@@RyanCondon trying to find you on zwift/Strava... Are you hidden ?
Well done sir! you made me start youtube. you made me start racing on zwift. my wife is not impressed yet, but hey.. we need a bit of quality time on zwift
Good for you.! 🙌😅🙏
Hey Ryan, Great video :)
I'm brand new to Zwift and really want to get into racing....My FPT is currently 135 and I have done group rides at E category as I found D category was just out of reach.
Do you think I should train a bit longer before jumping into a race or go straight into it and if so any recommendations on what race I should do and should it be at category E or D ?
Thanks
Matt
Hi Matt. Thanks for the comment, I'm pleased you like my vids. I too didn't know what to do so I just jumped in feet first. Good luck. I hope you smash it. 💪
Well done, it is so much fun zwift racing your right their is actually a lot of strategy and your right even though it feels like your the only one struggling others are as well. I really wish that swift had better controls for racing I still believe this is alot of weight doping and sandbagging going on.
Thanks IronDistance. We can only race our own races. I don't mind losing to someone better than me. It's annoying but not a game ender being beaten by a sandbagger. There is always someone trying to cheat the system in everything we do, Zwift is no different.
@@RyanCondon very true their are cheaters everywhere. I’m really enjoying your content, I’ve been trading for a marathon the last 4 months so my cycling time has been very little you have me stoked to get back on the bike and crush it
@@irondistance4313 What marathon have you been training for?
@@RyanCondon I was planning on doing the Seattle marathon but my wife and kids where sick for the last month and a half. So my long runs have suffered. In the next 4 days I plan to do a 18 mile long run kit check and then start tapering and do a backyard marathon in your style at my local running trail in 2.5 weeks
@@irondistance4313 Good luck, you got this. 💪
If you like the racing, maybe look into joining a team and compete in the Zwift Racing League ?
+1
O yes 2,000miles before March my one year on zwift. 😊
What is Zwift power and why are people being removed from it?
ZP is a website that records all your race stats. I'm not 100% on why racers get removed or DQ'd, you'll get a different response depending on who you ask but I think it's a combo of they're racing in a cat below where they should and other stuff.
Are you still shown on ZP if you're not registered?
@@RyanCondon either they are not registered on zwiftpower , so they wont show up in the results , or they getting DQed , if you wanna see why - get on the race and than next to results is unfiltered , you ll see why some peeps getting DQed , mostly for not using a HRM or UPG upgraded, WPG wkg too much for that cat
The best way to know which riders to worry about in a race is to follow it live on Zwift Power. I use my phone strapped to my top stem. Get the race up on ZP, filter it to show just Cat D and when everything has settled down after the frantic start hit the 'live' button. Then you can see which of the riders you're seeing on the screen are on ZP and race accordingly. It makes a big difference when you know that guy who's just made a breakaway doesn't matter because he's not on ZP and therefore not relevant to your race. Knowing who your 'real' rivals are is a big advantage in my opinion.
I was having fun getting top 5 in cat C but then Zwift bumped me to cat B and everything is a lot harder to keep up with. No big deal to me though, just has gone from a game to a heavy training, which i think is better for me.
Nice! Ride on!
Thanks. Ride on! 🙌
Have you ever raced a bike outdoors? Or is it all indoor cycling you’ve ever done?
Funny you should ask this. I haven't ridden a bike since I was 18 however I have signed up for the London to Brighton ride so probably need to buy a bike.
don't you have to sign up to zwift power separately?
Yes.
O yes race in cat c to win in D.😊
congrats on your results.
Just wanted to say that in the long run, racing everyday is not the ideal way to optimize your fitness. You shouldn't do more than 2/3 days with high intensities effort within a week.
Pardon my english, i'm french
Keep up the good work !
I don't race everyday. I run on the days I don't (to be fair, I also run on the days I Zwift aswell). I find the training plans on Zwift boring. My fitness is exponentially better than before. Thanks for the congrats though.
hey bud, whats that band on your arm?
My heart rate monitor.
Gz 😄🤟
🙌
Btw with apologies to the Ministry of Silly Hats there is a point to them once you’re outside…in cooler weather to keep your melon warm and more importantly as a visor that can easily be flipped up or down when cycling into the sun. Carry on cycling!
Ive raced for years, however Sir, you are a Inspiration. A podium, good show. Are you registered on Zwift power, so that your race results are recognised. Zwift power looks at results off zwift & throw out all the 'Dodgy' ones. Again you are a Inspiration. PS I will look out for you. Stay safe keith Lambourne
Thanks for the comment Keith. I am on ZP. I do love a good stat! 😉
Thanks for watching.
Dude, i hope you are seriously giving yourself proper recovery. I think i heard you ran 4 hours and then the next day did a high intensity ride? That sounds pretty taxing on your body. I want to see you making videos for years to come.
Also you should join the ZLR races....it makes racing even more fun.
You are pushing a lot of watts, however. I have seen your races and you are not benefiting enough from the draft. I am at level 31 and I have just learned this crucial detail. Your avatar rider crouches when he is not in the draft and stays seated while enjoying the draft. Regardless you are riding behind one or one hundred riders the behavior is the same. Stay on the draft as much as possible by keeping an eye on your avatar's sitting position. I am sure you will start getting podiums by just doing that.
I think you’ve got about 5 pounds of hair there, just think of the wind resistance when you start riding outside…all kidding aside I think you’re doing an awesome job and enjoying yourself to boot…which is the real point isn’t it? Well done brother!
I'm going for the Barry Gibb look. Thanks for watching.
If you want to be a c cat and you are a D. Get in with the c cat pacers. Tip and warm up before you start .
well done mate, you lost a lot of weight. If I can allow my self to give you my humble my opinion... I'm pretty sure that if you cut your hair and trim your beard you'll look more younger and healthy.( 19.08) I hope you don't take this comment in a bad way... cheers, keep grinding!!!
Cheers but not sure what my facial hair has to do with health and well-being.
Hey mate.. just want to say how much I enjoyed your video and your journey. Your editing skills are on point and it made your vid incredibly viewable. Are you on Facebook? I’d like to invite you to a zwifters RUclips group..
Thanks for the comment. I'm not on FB unfortunately, thanks for the offer though. 👍
@@RyanCondon it’s Nathan from In The Drops show.. we are working on pulling together YouTubing zwifters so we can come together to collaborate on different things..
@@NathanKrake Hey Nathan. Sounds like a good idea. Goodluck.
Look into polerized training. You’ll quickly plateau if you just race.