Hi, I have been using Zwift for 3 months, racing score is just into my category and consequently races are just super boring as I am dropped almost instantly, thinking of leaving zwift, as the races are just not fun at all! Any suggestions?
A good bit of information would be to know what your ZRS actually is …
Do some spicy group rides. Some of them pace steady for most of an hour and then race the last few km. This does require some sampling, but in general I am fine with group rides that provide an opportunity to give it a blast. Sweeping group rides is also a good way to practice racing skills.
You might also enjoy some of the team events that do not use racing score, such as Club Ladder or WTRL TTT. In those events even if your power isn’t at the top of your team, you can still contribute to a team win and you have a bunch of friends in the race who are not eager to drop you as quickly as possible. It’s also a great way to get tips from teammates about equipment, training, nutrition, tactics, etc. If you’re interested in that, I recommend looking for a team that has people near your level of fitness, speaks a language you are comfortable using verbally on Discord, and rides at your preferred time of day. If you happen to be a Facebook user, it’s really easy to get invited to join a team by posting in groups like Zwift Beginner Racers, Zwift Riders, Zwift Racers.
Speaking of beginner races, if your ZRS is below 430 you could try the HERD events and you might find yourself in a different place in the starting pens since they use different ZRS ranges than the usual ZRacing stuff. https://www.zwift.com/events/tag/herdbeginner
Each Wednesday Team Cyro-Gen hosts the Humpday Hussle. The yellow beacon group starts out at 2 wkg then moves to 2,2. The red beacon group waits for some time before starting - doing 2.7 or so wkg. Once the red group catches the yellow beacon the pack rides at 2.2 wkg. Then around minute 20 individual riders are sent off through the fence to break away from the pack and then hold 2.7 wkg. The leader then drops the fence and we hunt the “rabbit”. After they are caught, we resume 2.2 wkg. There can be 3-5 chases. After the final chase we regroup then at some mileage point, we’re told that the race will start. When the leader drops the fence, you race to the end. A great and fun workout and event for all levels.
The Cryo-Gen Humpday Hussle is one I do pretty regularly since it’s at a good time of day for me. I don’t always really race the finish but pretty often I just try to create some chaos at the finish by doing an effort that’s far too early and make people chase me.
The GGCC events that are based on distance rather than time are also good for this kind of effort. You know where the finish line is.
Also shout out to the Cryo-Gen Peaky Friday events which are sometimes climby, sometimes sprinty.
Some of the DWGS 90 minute rides are also fun. I haven’t figured out their format but sometimes the leader will really ram it up a short climb so I’m watching them like a hawk, pretty much like racing and it’s not some rubbish 30 minute race where you have to do a lot of other riding before or after in order to get in a decent amount of effort.
The Zwift Weekly races have range 1, and range 2. Which kinda moves the cats around. You are probably in the middle of one of those cats. Chase races are usually fun. Everyone in your cat, works together. Until the very end. Then it’s an all out sprint. Great fun.