I have been on Zwift for a few years and ride outdoors often. But I am soon to be 60 and over 100KG so I have avoided racing all together. I did the Tour de Zwift this year and it is sort of like a race but if I look in the categories in that or in races so many do not list their age and there might be 1 or 2 people that are 100KG +. As such when there is a hill that is above 4 or 5 it is really going to be impossible to keep up to those who are 70 or 80KGs. Is it possible to have a race for those of us who do not fit the cyclist mode. I think if there were a race where you had to be >100 or maybe even 90KGs it might be joined by many that fit my build. I know there are some who do very well but I suspect that most in that category never race who are like me who like the drive you get when you are in with people that you are competitive with and not fun when you get dropped in a mile or two and then ride the rest of the race alone. To me that is a time trial and not a competitive event. In the TDZ I did occasionally find some riders that I could ride with but I also spent a good deal of time alone and on the steep inclines well I watch them fly away. I get that some 100+ riders do very well but I suspect that the number is pretty small compared to those who weight 70. Even if the race category used group and weight to enter. I recall I think it was when I ran there was a Clydesdale classification and perhaps that would be frowned on now but I think that there exists some groups that because of weight or even age since I see no age group classifications either that are not going to participate in a race where there is no danger of recking but is certainly something to drive you forward. I know my tour de Zwift experience has motivated me and I found 1 race that I think I will try because it is short and flattish so being bigger I have higher power than some of the lighter riders but not the sustained endurance. But having more opportunities where I might find others that I could compete with. Yes I am pretty old now and would like to see an age group race but I realize that there are many people my age that are just fantastic and I see people my age mixed into all the categories. But in most cases in all the categories I only see at most 2 or 3 100KG riders. So it certainly is a group that is underrepresented and will probably benefit the most by getting the competitive juices flowing again.
An example race that has smaller Racing Score ranges per pen.
I have been going through Zwift Power quite a bit. There are group rides and this race is for beginners but I only see one person who is 100KG+ . My point is not a race for beginners but a race that considers weight. When looking I was checking different racers that were in one of the tiny races that are short and I saw lots of 50 and 60KG riders I could not find a rider that was 100KG. If a 50K rider is going up a hil I have to double his output to stay with him. Couple that with what I think is realistic is that most riders over 100KG are not at peak fitness so to think that they have a chance of going 5wkg up a longish hill is just not realistic. However, my main point is that those who are 100+ in my opinion are not participating at a high level. I check races hoping to find a few riders that I might be able to hang with but even in class E there are very few riders of my size and most often most are 80-. I do not mind being at the back of a race but would like to have some competition. Perhaps I view this all wrong but think zwift can easily look at their database to see what capabilities that those of us above 100 are and determine if they are at a disadvantage. I think I train a good amount so I realize that I need to train more to get better but but if you look at the results for any bigger race the top riders in every classification are the light riders which I think would be no surprise. My point is not to give me an opportunity to win but an opportunity to compete. Not just participate.
Just like the rest of us - start at the bottom and work your way up the ranks. I lost 90lbs through 2 years of Zwift riding, started at the bottom class. Hurt myself. Trained harder. Now I get my butt handed to me quite often by people half my age, but they make me work harder - and that is why I am there. You can do it, too.
I have raced in the past and I think I am pretty competitive now and get what you are saying. I am not talking about moving through the ranks and I probably will try a few races to see if I can hang with someone. But when your goal is to not be last before you even start well it is not so easy to jump in. Perhaps the wrong attitude. But my point is not about improving but about providing a motivation to enter. I do not think that I am the only one that thinks it is not worth getting in a race when you are at the back of the race after the first mile all by yourself. I have been riding bikes my hole life and probably did some competitive races for 10 years so I am not a beginner and I am not especially weak of a rider but at my weight and I am working to lose but at my age and weight it could be years to get to a weight that is not detrimental to my performance. Go through the races in zwift power and count the number of riders over 100KG. and you might find 3. Usually less. Look and the entry level classes and often there are none. I was never great at racing and never was but I could ride with some of the following groups just fine. But I am not going to enter a race with hills that are above 5% because I just do not have the power at my weight to hang with someone who is 50 or 80KG. So I do not enter. I suspect that someone who is newer to riding and enjoying the site it would make sense to have a way for them to be encouraged to try racing. Riding the tour de Zwift I got the feel of a hard ride but that stage 4 I was close to a few meaning 10 to 30 seconds and when I hit that hill I ended up more than a minute behind. I spent most of the time after the lead in riding alone. There were some behind me but not many and I suppose they were just doing it to complete the tour and not really caring about the time it took Oh and the stage I did I looked and I was the only person that was over 100KG. Miguel induran lost his last tour and after a study they said that he was 1 Kilo heavier than the previous year and after they calculated it that was the time he lost by. Again my point and I apologize for rambling but give them a race where they can get involved and get motivated to work harder, lose weight and test the waters. You don’t learn to swim by jumping in the ocean and you do not go up the Alp du Huez on your first ride up a hill. Maybe I am wrong but I think Zwift is great and I think that giving what I think is a group that does not participate a chance to race where they feel they are with those who have the same struggle with how much they weight. There are a few people who post on YouTube about their success over weight and their ability to race which is inspiring and great to see but there are not that many and the one I watch did way more work than most people could do and had a dedication that really is incredible. I am weeks away from 69 so working that hard is never going to work for me. I have improved of course but even those who have no history or working out pushing that hard could lead to injuries. But once you get that taste of competition it is easier to work out and work out all year. A benefit to Zwift at getting and keeping subscribers. It is a completive field and I want the app to succeed. The way to make sure that happen is to have a majority hooked to the site not just to ride around but to have a goal and no better way to see progress than when you are 3 seconds behind someone and you dig in to catch them and see you place move up.
Hi. There used to be Clydesdale and Athena races on Zwift. Not sure if they are still being done, but I think @MRBaldi_T-ZHR organized them and they had a group on Facebook.
I also came across this post with someone me folks starting a club.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Zwift/comments/1frsxm1/bison_class_riders/?rdt=57014
At Herd Racing we have 2 races that might be a good fit:
- Herd Beginner Racing (don’t let the beginner bit confuse you, also more experienced riders are very welcome) with small ZRS ranges (0-150/150-225/225-300/300-375/375-425) making for very competitive races for lower ranked riders. There’s multiple races on Saturday and Sunday The at Home Cycling & Running Virtual Training App
- No Spring Chickens - herd masters racing. This race is starting next weekend (march 1st) and will have age group categories. Scratch races where you’ll race against those in your age group, but with a mass start so there will always be someone to race with. The at Home Cycling & Running Virtual Training App
There’s a guy on my WTRL league team who is in his 50s and 120 KG. The other teams hate it when he’s in the race because on the flats or downhills, he can ride everyone off his wheel. The rest of the team has trouble holding his wheel in at TTT.
Early on, I tried some age category races and pretty quickly learned that the 50 and 60 somethings were FAST. So I’d say don’t let age and weight stop you – just race your category. You might surprise yourself.
Yes I think that age is not really a difference maker. And regret that I added that. I do think that weight is subject to the laws of physics and You require more on the uphills than you gain on the downhills. I agree that there are some very talented riders that are 100+ but I think that it is the exception rather than the rule. Just like they have races for women so that females are more likely to participate. That is not saying that there are lots of women that can really ride. I do not see a whole lot of participation of those 100+ riders in the many races I looked at to see if it was worth my time. I appreciate pointing out some rides for beginners etc and I am going to try some races that look like they might provide me some chance to compete even it is at the back. But those long races with lots of elevation gain I know that no matter how hard I work out I will not be competitive so I just do not enter. I guess I cannot say I know when I don’t try. Sort of if you think you can’t you are right thinking. But I would like zwift to see if this might increase race participation of those over 100K. It is my belief that when you enter a race and have a chance to compete with someone you are even more hooked to Zwift. To me it seems obvious that the most enthusiastic and frequent riders are those that enter events and races.
I am not sure I am right and I think the categories are fine but just wondering out loud if had a class for over 100 by category if that group would participate more Oh I do swimming and the masters swimming results show that there are some really good swimmers my age but we would get smoked by those in their 20s and early 30s. It is just a fact of life.
can i join the thicc boy racing to ? 93kg
We are talking about racing here - and your best idea is to cheat?
That is true but not fair. And not the right thing to do. If I put my weight at 50KG I would have a higher multiple but I try to live my life by doing the right thing and if I were to cheat I would say I was a female too. I would be even better against women. But also it would not make me a good rider. No, I believe some people are that way but I do not know how they can feel good about it. Also changing my age does not have any value because my age is whatever it is. If I put down 20 years old I am not going to go any faster. I was raised in a time when integrity was important although it might have been more so because I grew up in a smaller town. There is no way I would do that to look like I am competitive.
That would never be the right choice for me and I hope every one else. I believe in fairness and doing the right thing even if others are not. I have to live my life the way I feel good about what I do so even if I knew everyone else is cheating that is on them. Milan that is a great response.
Nice post. 64 y/o, 6’5 228 lb guy here. I feel your pain! I’ve been on the platform a month, 5 races and have a lot of the same experiences as you. Tough on the ego. Find big events where you might find groups you can hang with. Ill ride w you anytime!
With you 100%. 64 y/o 6’5 228 here. I consider myself super fit and am getting toasted in D category races, finishing 3/4 back of the pack, And as you say, seemingly doing a TT often cause noone to ride with. All we can do is get better. Ill connect w you and try to ride in same events.
Yes I have you by five and I suppose 6 in a few weeks. And a few pounds but suppose that does not matter. Since I have only found a few races that seem fairly flat and not ver long I pretty much have not raced. I did the Tour de Zwift and that was fun because it was not a race although many road like a race so in five of the six I actually got to ride with a few others. Reminds me of some past races and yes even social rides that were like a race. I am thinking of trying a Tiny race or a trilogy race. Four short races that a few look to be not all that hard and it has that last category below D. Not sure how many will be there but I looked at one that was Tuesday which I could not do but it seems like there is a chance for it not to be a solo ride. I guess I would get some points since there are not a huge number of riders in that category. Not really what interests me but I like racing someone so that it is easier to push myself a little harder. You start to lose someone’s wheel and it is necessary to kill yoursef to get it back. On route rides sometimes you get a little of that but it is just a ride so no tactics like trying to make them push or what ever and I doubt that ever is going to be one of the plays in my book but with a bit more fitness who knows. I also am more of a sprinter so I can go pretty hard for a short distance but not really good on long and quick rides. Kind of why I like riding bikes because it is not really in my nature to go on long rides.
I am going to do the EZR ride tonight. its not really a race but supposed to be for beginners. So maybe I can learn something. I guess i do not like doing TT so only interested in racing if I can be competitive with some other riders. My post was more to have a ride where perhaps there will be more riders over 200 pounds that would want to join. Because honestly no matter how short and how much power I can put out I do not stand a chance at 104KG against some that I see who are 50KG.
I agree that training will make you better but at my age you have to be careful not to over do it as recovery is a bit harder and it takes a bit longer to see improvements. Thanks for you comment and sorry this is so long but I feel it is important to describe my views on this and my situation and I am not boo hooing about it. I enjoy Zwift but think that a 100+ KG race would draw in more riders and add to the dedicated riders in Zwift and perhaps have a category that is competitive and full of people just getting enthused at racing and having some success.
Tony
I wish you well in your search for a way to find a cohort of people to compete against. Bear in mind, though, that even if you whittle that down to a group of, say, 50 guys all north of 60 years of age and over 100kg, that’s not necessarily going to mean a closely-matched set of racers. You just never know.
Last word: you’re probably.not a sprinter. Like me - and 95% of Zwifters who think they are or get told they’re sprinters - you’re probably an all-rounder with poor-to-mediocre aerobic endurance.
Good luck 
I don’t know what I weigh anymore.
I enter about 75 kg in Zwift and I like the round number for doing calculations in my head on the fly.
The number is based on reality because I step on the scale at work from time to time and I am about 165 -168 or so lbs.
I recently started swimming and at the pool, there was a scale and I stepped on it and weighed 158 lbs.
At the pool I wore a dry , thankfully non speedo swim suit.
Probably the least amount of coverage that I do in public. No, it is, I don’t do less!
At work, pants ,socks ,tie, shirt ,shoes and all the fixings plus phone wallet stethoscope etc
But riding IRL I have shoes , a kit, 2 water bottles, repair and tool kit etc.
My weight is not exactly accurate but it’s close and consistent.
I think weight cheaters are pretty obvious.
It’s the changes that are the problem.
My real point was that , and perhaps I am projecting, but I believe that there are many Zwifters that are over 100KG that do not participate in any races. You cannot beat physics and toss in that many who are over that weight are probably not the most fit among the people on this app. Earlier I said that I should have just said weight because when I was younger and much stronger of a rider there were guys who were the age I am now and were really good. But reality is that your ability does diminish with age. When a 60 year old wins the Tour or any elite race then maybe they will prove this is not true. Same goes for weight you are not going to see a tour winner that is over 100KG.
I realize it would not assure that every race would be filled with people all going the same speed because some over 100KG are very fit and very lean and you see some results where people over 100KG do very well. I do not really check the A and B categories but I would think it is pretty rare that someone 68 and over 100KG wins in those categories. I could be wrong.
As far as being a sprinter, I swam in college and my events were all sprints. I tried endurance events but was never as good as the endurance guys. When we would swim the longer sets in practice they would go so much faster than I ever could. At the end of practice one of the distance guys would want to race me over 25 or 50 yards and they never came close. As you probably know we have fast and slow twitch muscles and that is something that does determine to some extent what end of the spectrum you will be better at. Am I a great sprinter no and wasn’t the best sprinter back then either. I did win my fair share of races. In zwift on the short sprints I occassionally give it a go and have been in the top 10 a few times when there were hundreds of people listed. Does that mean I am a pure sprinter NO. But I am much better going hard for a short period of time than going hard for a long time. Fitness will improve the long distance ability but I think I was just pointing out the reality of this life. Weight and Age are factors that reduce your ability to compete at a top level. Look at any elite level sport and it is clear that each of these factors is not going to be at the top level depending on the event. Guys over 100KG can be great running backs but you are not going to see them win a marathon. There are races for women but that does not mean every woman is going to go at the same pace. In fact some women are great riders but the reality is that they are at a disadvantage.to men.
But my thinking is really related to encouraging participation of a rider that in my view does not participate very often.