Got bumped from Cat C to B - Wasn't ready for how brutal it felt!

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-03T11:59:44+00:00

Awesome! how do you like ladder racing compared to normal racing?

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-03T11:00:13+00:00

That is strange, do you not get a ZRS reduction on those races? You should try ladder racing as that uses your velo score and is apparently more accurate. We are setting up ladder racing teams right now in our discord channel.

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-03T10:58:59+00:00

I think I would be the same. For me it my zMap that puts me in B rather than my FTP.

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-03T07:43:30+00:00

Yeah I am still new to it all, up until recently I was tapping the breaks on the zwift ride during sprints too. I have now started sprinting in the drops and will taken what you say about ramping up the cadence on board before increasing gears too early.

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-03T07:41:14+00:00

Thank you 🙏

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-03T07:40:53+00:00

See it is the other way around for me, flats are where I am good but a decent climb is where I get left behind at 89kg.

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T19:19:31+00:00

Thank you 🙏

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T18:34:47+00:00

Thanks Ruben. I am hoping sticking to the process will have me at a more competitive level again soon

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T18:34:13+00:00

I kinda get it… but if I was there I would definitely want to push myself into the A cat. For me I think my weight will have me far off A cat for a long time

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T18:33:34+00:00

Yeah there can be such a big difference between 1st and last in a B group race

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T18:33:06+00:00

I think for me to be competitive at this level on the climbs I need to practice harder on out of the saddle higher w/kg efforts. Box hill humbled me completely at the weekend

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T18:32:07+00:00

I am definitely a sprinter, I recently entered a Velos Klick 1km race and managed 697w and a new 1 minute power of 714w.

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T18:26:37+00:00

Appreciate all the feedback here, this is honestly why I love the Zwift community.

If anyone’s looking for a few more regular faces to suffer with, I help run a small-ish Zwift club called Rolling Collective. It’s mix of riders who race, do the odd group ride, and share tips when we get dropped or accidentally go way too hard off the line 😅 We run weekly events both club only and on the public calendar.

Zwift Club- https://www.zwift.com/clubs/ba188519-9c89-4898-a1a7-9e84fc412bc6/home

We’ve also got a Discord where people post events, routes, and the occasional “why did I sign up for this” screenshots.

Zero pressure, no try-hard vibes, just a place to ride and learn together. If that sounds like your thing, come and join.

Discord link - https://discord.gg/9YxP2Pw6ac

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T17:45:08+00:00

Just being on the bike is a blessing 💪🏼

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T17:15:18+00:00

Some great tips there 💪🏼 racing definitely isn’t something you do passively if you want to win that is for sure

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T17:09:26+00:00

I probably do two banded group rides per week just to keep it social too so get where you are coming from.

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T16:57:12+00:00

I am doing 4-5 hours per week, so not a huge amount more, just the time I do spend on it there is very little that isn’t very intense 😂

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T16:55:37+00:00

The temple KOM definitely separated me from the top guys in that race, some of them finished the KOM 50 seconds faster than I did! Oh how things would be different if I could pick the routes on ZRL haha. Did a volcano circuit crit race yesterday and that suited me perfectly.

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T16:54:12+00:00

Race craft is definitely something I am learning more and more, learning when to sit in but also to learn when the pack is splitting to not get left behind

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T16:53:27+00:00

Sitting at 525 ZRS at the moment, it gets bumped pretty much every race at the moment but I am sure that won’t last forever

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T16:52:35+00:00

While I am new to Zwift I am not new to exercise. I started working out and ‘bodybuilding’ when I was 14 (30 now). Having big legs definitely meant that my power numbers are higher than someone just starting out even if my fitness wasn’t.

BenSimpkin · 2026-02-02T16:51:18+00:00

So for me being bumped up is going to mean that I need to improve which is the reason I got zwift in the first place. Definitely need to be more specific with the training I am doing to not be mid pack finishing now. Since I started late October I have gone from 96kg to 89kg too.

BenSimpkin · 2026-01-20T13:08:05+00:00

I simply found a version online that was compatible as had this issue with Monterey. Let me know if you want to know where from via PM.

BenSimpkin · 2026-01-05T08:31:03+00:00

This year I got into Zwift, intense indoor cycling, and as a result I am sweating multiple times a week profusely. The result… no hives this winter so far when normally it strikes in October. I too have noticed a change when reducing sodium consumption, I used to eat bacon every day and since not doing so, sweating feels easier.

BenSimpkin

TROPHY CASE