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Bike Upgrading Hack: Using “Forced Frame” Events To Upgrade Bikes More Quickly in Zwift

Eric Schlange
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13
Bike Upgrading Hack: Using “Forced Frame” Events To Upgrade Bikes More Quickly in Zwift

Bike Upgrading Hack: Using “Forced Frame” Events To Upgrade Bikes More Quickly in Zwift

Fresh on the heels of last week’s “Four Temporary Zwift Hacks” post, here’s an ongoing hack you can use to level up your frames more quickly. This may be of particular interest to riders like myself who are looking to upgrade their gravel bikes as quickly as possible!

The Basics

Zwift events can be set up to restrict the frames and/or wheelsets available for use. This restriction can be super narrow (forcing everyone to use the same frame and/or wheelset), or much looser (disallowing TT frames in road races is one common example).

When events are set up to force riders onto a particular frame, or disallow a particular type of frame, Zwifters can still select whatever frame they’d like from their garage, in order to accumulate upgrade progress toward their selected frame. This is by design – which I suppose means this isn’t exactly a “hack” – because Zwift rightly wants to let riders decide which frame will receive upgrade benefits from their efforts.

Digging Deeper

There are two types of events regularly seen on Zwift that enforce frame restrictions and thus lend themselves to this “upgrade hack.”

Forced Frame Events

There is a small (and unknown) number of weekly ride events which are set up so everyone is placed on the same frame and/or wheelset. This custom event configuration was first seen in special Zwift events like the Cervélo Gravel Rush Series, where Zwift partners with a bike brand to promote specific bikes. And while it doesn’t happen often with Zwift events, it still does happen: one notable current series is  Zwift Camp: Breakthrough, where all riders are placed on the Pinarello Dogma F 2024 with Princetone Wake 6560 Lava wheels.

Community organizers can ask Zwift’s events team to set up their event with a forced frame and/or wheelset as well. How many events are using this feature? It’s impossible to tell, because Zwift doesn’t use a searchable rule or tag for these events. You can get creative and search for particular text in the event descriptions, such as “Cadex”, but this is far from a perfect solution.

See all events containing “Cadex” on ZwiftHacks >

Events with a forced frame will show the frame’s name in the event details in the Companion app. (Forced wheelsets are not shown.) As far as I know, this is the only place that always shows forced frames. Apart from this, we’re left with whatever organizers put in the event title or description!

Events that force a particular frame and wheelset are the best for this hack, as they give Zwifters complete flexibility in selecting the frame they want to upgrade for credit. Simply choose the frame you want your efforts to go toward upgrading – before entering the event, or at anytime during the event – and your efforts will go toward that frame.

You can even stop mid-event to verify this. Here’s a screenshot in a test forced-frame event showing my Cannondale SuperX‘s upgrade progress before and after a couple of kilometers of riding. (Note that this event was forcing us to use the S-Works Tarmac SL8 with Princeton Blur wheels.)

One caveat here applies to events that force a particular frame, but don’t force a wheelset. In this case, if the event is forcing a road or TT frame, and you want to get upgrade credit for a non-road or TT frame (perhaps a gravel bike or MTB) or a Halo Bike, you’re going to end up rolling the slow “Zwift Classic” wheelset in the event, on whatever frame is forced.

This is because your non-road or Halo bike uses a wheelset that can’t be used on the frame that is being forced in the event. So when you choose that non-road or Halo bike, Zwift doesn’t know what wheelset to use for the event… so it uses the default “Zwift Classic” wheels.

“No TT Bikes” Events

Events set up with the “No TT Bikes” rule allow riders to use any type of frame they’d like in the event, except a TT bike. This is commonly seen in races, including all of Zwift’s ZRacing events, since riding a TT bike can give riders an unfair advantage in a breakaway and makes packs behave strangely due to the lack of drafting.

See a list of upcoming “No TT Bikes” events at ZwiftHacks >

These types of events (and there are hundreds of them every week) allow you to upgrade your TT frame while still participating in the event. Simply choose your TT frame before the event, or at any time during the event, and the minutes you accumulate in the ride will be credited toward upgrading that TT frame.

There’s a caveat to this, though – you will be placed on the default (and rather slow) Zwift Steel frame in the actual event. Here’s our test bot in a recent “No TT Bikes” event, with the Cadex Tri frame selected, but placed on the actual Zwift Steel frame in the event:

Given this caveat, you wouldn’t want to use this hack in a race. But if you’re looking to upgrade a TT frame while also participating in non-TT events – particularly non-competitive group rides – this is a good hack for you.

Pizza Burner, or Gravel Burner?

Because I want to upgrade my gravel bike quickly, I’ve had the ever-helpful James Bailey set up my Thursday 100km Pizza Burner ride to force participants onto the Canyon Aeroad 2024 frame with Princeton Carbonworks Wake 6560 White wheels starting this week.

I’ll be entering the event with my Cannondale SuperX Lab71 gravel bike selected, so the fast 100km of riding will go towards upgrading that bike.

Join me on Thursdays at 5:05am Pacific and upgrade whatever bike you’d like! >

Questions or Comments

Have you used this hack? Know of any forced frame events apart from those linked above? Got any questions or comments about it? Share below!

Tourette Syndrome: From Pills to Pedals – Torben Adolph

Kevin Winterfield
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2
Tourette Syndrome: From Pills to Pedals – Torben Adolph

Tourette Syndrome: From Pills to Pedals – Torben Adolph

Torben Adolph has Tourette Syndrome. “It’s a nightmare for the family, for anyone around me. I can’t be social with friends. I can’t read the room. I misinterpret what people say. I get angry. Into conflicts – fighting and yelling. It’s uncontrollable.” 

He’s had to live a solitary life. 

When he was younger, he turned to martial arts and boxing, as it was something he could do by himself. Torben has a wife and kids now who understand him, and he has a job working from home in IT.

It’s Time: “Rebuilding My Life Without Medication”

For years, he controlled the Tourette’s with antidepressants. “The medication helped me through difficult periods, and I don’t regret using it when I needed it. But after many years I also felt something was missing.”

When his children had moved out, he struggled to control his weight, and he often felt strangely empty inside. In the last years he had also started to feel a real disgust toward his own body. “I knew something had to change.”

“I decided I wanted to try rebuilding my life without medication — if that was possible.”

Sparring with ChatGPT 

“I started using ChatGPT during a period where I was trying to rebuild my health and create more structure in my life. I tend to approach problems analytically, so I used it almost like a sparring partner to discuss nutrition, training ideas, and general lifestyle changes.”

Torben had been on a fairly high dose of antidepressants continuously since 2006, so stopping was a long and careful process. He didn’t want to rush it.

During that period, he experienced two severe anxiety attacks on two consecutive nights — something he had never experienced before. “It was honestly pretty scary.”

“In those moments, ChatGPT unexpectedly became very helpful. It guided me through breathing exercises, suggested calming music, and even helped focus my mind by planning future training sessions.”

Around the same time, he started riding on Zwift, and the structure of training quickly became an important mental anchor for him.

He began asking ChatGPT questions about how to approach indoor cycling more seriously. ChatGPT helped him understand the concepts and plan things, and Zwift gave him the environment, motivation, and community.

“In a way, ChatGPT helped me think about the process — but Zwift is what changed my life.”

Today it has been a little over one year since he stopped antidepressants completely.

From Pills to Pedals

“But the real trigger for Zwift was actually my wife.”

She had started doing structured workouts on Zwift and was getting seriously strong. At the time Torben was riding on Rouvy, mostly just cruising around enjoying the scenery and pretending he was training.

Then they raced each other on Zwift.

His wife absolutely destroyed him.

“My wife beat the living hell out of me in a Zwift race. That was the moment I stopped cruising around on Rouvy and started training for real. That moment flipped a switch in my head.”

That’s where structured training became incredibly important. Especially the harder Zwift workouts. “Programs like Build Me Up gave me something I hadn’t felt for a long time: real drive and purpose. Hard training became my outlet.”

“I live with Tourette’s and a mind that rarely slows down. The intense workouts gave that energy somewhere constructive to go. Instead of restless thoughts, I could push everything into the pedals.”

Over time the structure, discipline, and physical exhaustion started giving him the balance he had been looking for.

“For years I tried to quiet my head with pills. Turns out I just needed to smash the pedals instead.”

Lifestyle Changes

Training was a big part of the transformation for Torben, but it wasn’t the only change.

At the start of 2025 he stopped drinking alcohol completely. “I was never a heavy drinker, but I could certainly enjoy it when the occasion was there. Since then, I’ve only had a small glass of wine on Christmas Eve 2025. Otherwise, I drink alcohol-free beer today.”

He also cut out chips, candy, and most of the snacks that used to sneak into his everyday life.

“Part of the reason I was able to make those changes is actually related to my Tourette’s and some ADHD traits. My brain tends to work in a very black-and-white way — it’s often all or nothing.”

So instead of trying to moderate things, he simply removed them completely. “Once my brain accepts a rule like that, it actually becomes easier to stick to. Combined with structured training on Zwift, those decisions helped me regain control over my body and my health.”

What Zwift Means To Him Today

“One of the biggest changes for me hasn’t just been the weight loss or the fitness — it’s the community. For many years, my life felt very isolated. Today, that’s completely different.”

Torben rides with The Herd, which has become a home base for him on Zwift. “I’m part of their Ladder and TTT race groups, and the teamwork there is something I truly enjoy.”

Recently he became a Red Beacon (aka a sweeper) on the Sunday Endurance Ride, a two-hour ride that currently starts at 12:55 CET. His job is to help keep the group together and make sure nobody gets dropped.

Helping others finish the ride has become something he really enjoys.

“Honestly, I look forward to that ride every week like a little kid waiting for Christmas morning.”

“Going from years where I mostly tried to manage things on my own to suddenly being part of a global cycling community has been one of the most unexpected and meaningful parts of the journey.”

Ride on, Torben! Thanks for being an active part of the community!

You can follow him on Zwift at: Torben Adolph

How the (Team) Race Was Won: Banjo Cafe Blowups

Eric Schlange
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0
How the (Team) Race Was Won: Banjo Cafe Blowups

How the (Team) Race Was Won: Banjo Cafe Blowups

The final round of Zwift Racing League 2025/26 is underway, and I’m still racing with the Coalition Delusion squad I joined back in Round 1. While I had anticipated coming into this round in good shape, it’s turned into a rough start.

After a lovely trip to Mallorca for Zwift Community Live, which included three days of epic training rides, my wife and I headed to Germany. We found lots of amazing castles and cathedrals, but she also found a chest cold, which she eventually (generously) passed on to me.

Returning to the US, I agreed to ride the first race of round 4, because we were low on riders and I can typically hold my own in a flat TTT. Sadly, this first outing for our team was not pretty. While we normally excel at the TTT, we started with only five riders due to availability challenges, and one was quickly dropped. While I felt like I held my own and hit my targets on pulls, we finished 6th overall. (Notably, our final time was only 32 seconds slower than the winning squad. That’s a close set of results!)

I had been taking it easy on the bike, trying to follow the conventional wisdom of, “If your sickness is from the neck down, don’t push the bike training.” And I definitely was on the mend. But as I would soon find out, “On the mend” and “Back to full fitness” are two very different things…

The Race

Our race was a points race on 6 laps of Watopia’s The Classic, which meant six KOM efforts and six sprints. I was just hoping to stay with the front group for the duration of the race, but planned not to push hard for points, unless I felt unexpectedly good near the end.

As it turns out, I managed to both exceed and fall short of my expectations. Luckily, this is a team event!

Lap 1: Unexpected Sprint Win

Everyone took it easy on the lead-in to Jarvis, and most chose to hold onto the Feather powerup they’d been given in the pens. We hit the bottom of our first Jarvis KOM as an intact group of 57 starters… but that wouldn’t last long.

A few seconds before the uphill wooden bridge, the feathers began flying, and efforts ramped up. I used my feather as well, and hammered my way up and over. I had no intention of finishing near the front – I just wanted to stay well-positioned so I wouldn’t get dropped.

Descending the other side, I tried to take it easy and catch my breath while also moving up a bit in the group. (As an “overmuscled cyclist”, this is typically pretty easy to do.) Aero powerups started flying rather early, but I held onto mine until I was 8 seconds from the sprint start line. (Not that I timed it that precisely, I just know the timing based on watching my recording, which is below.)

With the help of the Aero powerup I quickly moved toward the front of the pack, then into the wind. I hadn’t expected this, but I was on the front with less than 100 meters to go, so I kept hammering to hold my position… and it worked! 1st place. 57 FAL points!

I definitely felt that effort, though. And my heart rate spiked to 186 (my max is 189)! So I decided to try to recover on the next lap, simply staying in touch with the front group without chasing points. To try to follow my original plan, after already mucking it up.

Lap 2-3: Dropped

The starting group of 57 had been reduced to 30 after the first lap. Lap 2 went as planned – I “sagged” the climb, starting near the front and finishing near the back to minimize effort. I did the same thing on the sprint.

My heart rate was clearly elevated above normal, and the legs didn’t feel great. But heading into lap 3, I was feeling like I could at least hang with the front group, perhaps until the final big push on the last lap’s KOM.

But I soon learned that was pure hubris. On the final ramp of lap 3’s KOM, riders pushed the effort once again – and my legs said, “Nope.” I was dropped.

The front group was now 22 riders, and I was in the first chasing group of four. I had one teammate behind me, and (happily) three still in the front group.

Lap 4-6: Survival

I figured I’d be able to hang with my group of four (places 23-26) until the end of the race, and that we’d probably catch a dropped rider or five as racers blew up on the back half of the race.

Little did I know, I was the one who would blow up. Again and again.

My group stuck together for lap 4, and caught two riders near the start of lap 5. Unfortunately, the group pushed harder than my will, and I was dropped again before passing the Banjo Cafe. A group of 11 behind caught me soon afterward.

Now I was fighting for, at best, 25th place.

But the prospect of 25th rode away from me on the final KOM as I was dropped by most of the group. My body just didn’t have it.

I finished 34th.

See my ride on Strava >

Watch the Video

Takeaways

Teammate Andrew finished on the podium in 3rd while Andrea, William, and Mike all finished in the front group (7th, 9th, and 11th, respectively). I was 34th, and Neale was 38th.

Looking at the WTRL results soon afterward, we saw we were leading with only FIN points calculated. Could we possibly win the overall?

It turns out we could! We took the overall win, putting us in 4th overall:

My personal takeaways? Just a reminder that I’m not invincible, I suppose. I didn’t feel like I was overextending myself on that first lap, but XERT says I had a near breakthrough, so I think it’s safe to say I pushed too hard, and paid for it later:

Did I maximize my points by doing what I did? Perhaps. If I’d sat in on that sprint, I probably would have survived longer in the front group, thus grabbing more FAL points up the road. But it’s hard to say if I would have earned more points overall by taking the conservative approach.

Riding while sick/recovering has been an interesting experience these past two weeks.

When I start a hard effort, I feel pretty “normal”, apart from my heart rate being elevated by 5-10 bpm. But the most surprising thing is how I seem to hit a wall unexpectedly early.

It’s no fun when my body doesn’t perform as expected. But what else can I do, apart from taking it easy, then pushing it a bit every few days to test how I’m feeling?

So that’s my current plan. Hopefully my heart rate and performance normalize soon.

What about you?

How did your race in Jarvis go? Share below!

Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of April 18-19

Eric Schlange
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3
Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of April 18-19

This weekend’s picks include a kickoff ride for the ever-popular Tour de 4, three long rides of varying intensity, and your last chance to enjoy Zwift’s Big Spin for 2026! See all the details below…

🤝 Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4

✅ Good Cause 　✅ Popular 　✅ Kit/Cap Unlock

Monthly Zwift rides for the Tour de 4 ride with Sir Chris Hoy begin this weekend, and the kickoff event already has over 500 riders signed up, including several special guests! The ride is open-paced and 45 minutes long, on Watopia’s Tempus Fugit.

Donate to Tour de 4 >

Saturday, April 18 starting @ 9am UTC/5am ET/2am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/tourde4

🤝WOW – High Speed Ride on TT bikes with draft

✅ Fast Miles　✅ Upgrade Hack　✅ Unique Event　

Want to accumulate lots of miles quickly? Join this newish and popular group ride, which puts everyone on the fastest TT bike in game (Cadex Tri) with drafting enabled. It’s 100km, but it’ll be a fast 100km!

Riders are on Triple Flat Loops this week. Four different pace groups are offered, released so the faster groups catch the slower groups over time.

Bike upgrading hack: on rides with forced bikes, whatever bike you’re on when you join the event is the bike that accumulates the distance/elevation/time. So, for example, you could accumulate lots of distance toward a road bike upgrade, while riding the Cadex Tri in this event.

Sunday, April 19 @ 12:45pm UTC/8:45am ET/5:45am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5550734

🤝 Vikings Valhalla Sunday Skaal Ride

✅ Endurance Challenge　✅ Legacy Leaders

It’s been a while since we’ve featured this event, but it’s always well-attended and well-led at a pace that helps everyone stay together. Experienced leaders and sweepers do their best to keep the groups together so everyone can work together to knock out a long ride!

This week’s ride is offered at a D pace of 1.7-2.2 W/kg, and is on Watopia’s Southern Coast Cruise for a total length of 103km and ~587 meters of climbing.

Sunday, April 19 @ 7:05am UTC/3:05am ET/12:05am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5550635

🤝 JETT Endurance Ride 100km 2.5~3.3w/kg

✅ Endurance Challenge　✅ Pace Options

Here’s a popular, spicy long 100km ride with two pace options: B group at 3-3.3 W/kg, or C at 2.5-2.9 W/kg. The B group will be on Three Little Sisters while the C group will be on Watts of the Wild. Both groups have optional efforts on some of the intermediate segments if you’d like.

Choose your desired pace, listen to the ride leader, and get that endurance work done! Both categories have a leader (yellow beacon) and sweepers.

Saturday, April 18 at 8:05pm UTC/4:05pm ET/1:05pm PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5549563

🤝 Zwift Big Spin Make-Up Stages

✅ Popular 　✅ Prizes 　✅ Dino Kit

Zwift’s annual Big Spin series winds down this weekend with make-up stages scheduled hourly. Still trying to unlock the cowboy hat or MX Riders? Here’s your last chance!

Learn all about the Zwift Big Spin >

These are group rides, but you can treat them like a race, a recovery ride, or anything in between.

Hourly events all weekend
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/the-zwift-big-spin

How We Make Our Picks

We choose each weekend’s Notable Events based on a variety of factors including:

  • Is the event unique/innovative in some way?
  • Are celebrities (pro riders, etc) attending/leading?
  • Are signup counts already high, meaning the event is extra-popular?
  • Does the ride include desirable unlocks or prizes?
  • Does the event appeal to ladies on Zwift? (We like to support this under-represented group!)
  • Is it for a good cause?
  • Is it just plain crazy (extra long races, world record attempts, etc)?
  • Is it a long-running, popular weekly event with a dedicated leader who deserves a shout out?

In the end, we want to call attention to events that are extra-special and therefore extra-appealing to Zwifters. If you think your event qualifies, comment below with a link/details and we may just include it in an upcoming post!

Tiny Race Series – April 18 Routes – Tiny Apple

Eric Schlange
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0
Tiny Race Series – April 18 Routes – Tiny Apple

Tiny Race Series – April 18 Routes – Tiny Apple

See zwiftinsider.com/tiny for current Tiny Race details.

Which Bike for Yumezi Grit? A Study in Zwift Bike Choice

Eric Schlange
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30
Which Bike for Yumezi Grit? A Study in Zwift Bike Choice

Which Bike for Yumezi Grit? A Study in Zwift Bike Choice

Zwift recently rolled out Yumezi Grit, a new Makuri Islands route featured in the Pas Racing Series. The route is an almost 50/50 mix of dirt and tarmac, creating a bike choice quandary: do you go with a road bike for top performance on pavement, or a gravel bike so you’re fast in the dirt?

Let’s dive into that question. First we’ll look at how different bikes perform on this route in controlled solo tests. Then we’ll discuss how your strengths and the nature and location of the different road sections might affect your bike choice.

Related: Rolling Resistance on Zwift: Crr and Power Savings of Various Wheels

Animated “Yumezi Grit” Route Details (Makuri Islands) Map
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks

Solo Test: Road vs Gravel Bike

For the first test, I’m using Strava’s Comparison graph to compare the times of a fast road bike setup (S-Works Tarmac SL8 with DT Swiss 65 wheels) with a fast gravel bike (Cannondale SuperX LAB71 with Roval Terra Aero CLX wheels). These are basically the two fastest setups for this course.

A few notes to help you understand the chart:

  • These tests were performed in an isolated environment: solo 75kg, 183cm riders holding a steady 300W.
  • I tested using un-upgraded versions of both. If I compared the fully-upgraded versions of both, both frames would be faster overall, but the gaps between them wouldn’t change.
  • I marked the dirt sections of the route in Strava’s chart below, so you can easily see how relative performance changes between dirt and tarmac.
  • The purple line charts the time gap between the gravel bike and the road bike (which is the black line).

You can see that on the initial paved section, the road bike steadily grows a gap on the gravel bike. By the time they hit the dirt, the road bike is 7 seconds ahead.

Then they hit the Golden Forest descent, and the gravel bike pulls back 4 seconds. But as soon as we turn onto the pavement and begin the paved, slight climb up through the Fishing Village, the road bike gains another 11 seconds. By the end of this section, the gap is the largest it will be on the entire course: 14 seconds between the two bikes.

We turn a hard left onto the start of the Temple KOM, the road turns to dirt, and the gravel bike begins to quickly claw back time. Notice how (and this is important!) when the climbs get steeper, the stronger bike pulls ahead faster. This is true on paved roads and dirt.

By the time we leave the Temple KOM dirt, the two bikes are tied.

But the route ends with just under 1km of paved, flat road. During that time, the road bike gains another 3 seconds on the gravel bike, finishing 3 seconds ahead.

Solo Test: TT vs Gravel Bike

Out of curiosity, I ran the same test, but swapped out the road bike for the fastest TT setup available (the Cadex Tri with DT Swiss 85/Disc). This really doesn’t relate to the Pas Racing Series (or most Zwift races) at all, but it is interesting data if you’re racing a time trial on a mixed route!

Here, you can see the TT bike is much faster than the gravel bike on paved sections, gaining 11 seconds on the first paved segment.

Then, on the dirt descent through the Golden Forest, the TT bike actually gains 2 more seconds! Chalk this up to the TT bike’s higher weight and greatly superior aero performance.

The gravel bike loses more time (15 seconds) to the TT rig on the paved climb through the Fishing Village. Then we turn onto the Temple KOM, and the gravel bike pulls back a handful of seconds, but only on the uphills.

After losing more time on the paved finish, the gravel bike finishes 24 seconds behind the TT bike.

The simple takeaway here is this: a TT rig is around the same speed as a gravel bike on flats and descents. More precisely, the gravel bike is slightly faster on flats, while the TT bike is slightly faster on descents. On dirt climbs, the gravel bike is faster. And if the road is paved, the TT bike is faster.

Other Considerations for Yumezi Grit

Of course, the tests above were done in isolation. What happens when you take on Yumezi Grit in a pack of 50-100 riders, with some on road bikes and some on gravel? And which type of bike will deliver the best result for you?

That’s a more difficult question to answer. But here’s how I’d look at it…

The race begins with a 4.1km lead-in from the village start pens. That means riders have a bit of paved climbing, then the Temple KOM dirt section followed by a bit of flat pavement, before lap 1 begins. (And here’s where I’ll note that, if my test charts above included the lead-in, the gravel bike would come out ahead by a few seconds!)

If there are enough gravel riders in the peloton, the lead-in could prove to be crucial. Gravel riders could attack the Temple KOM, create a gap on the roadies, and never be seen again.

Alternatively, the lead-in may be a big nothingburger, with gravel riders not pushing hard enough to create those gaps because they are wary of breaking away so early in the race.

Will fortune favor the brave? Hard to say.

I consider the first two sections of each lap to be sort of a wash: roadies get a slight advantage on the first ~1.2km of pavement, then gravel riders get a bit of rest in the Golden Forest.

The paved climb up through the Fishing Village is where the gravel riders will suffer most, because road bike riders will be attacking, knowing they have to hurt or drop the gravel riders before the Temple KOM. Fortunately for gravel riders, this is a very draftable climb (averaging just 1.6%). If gravel riders can sit in the wheels and stay in touch with the peloton to the Temple KOM turnoff on lap 2, they’ll be in a great position to win the race.

The Temple KOM dirt section on lap 2 is where gravel riders must push and create a gap on the road riders in order to have a shot at the win, since road riders will have a big speed advantage on the paved finish.

Gravel riders’ attacks will bear the most fruit on the uphill portions of this segment. But keep in mind, road riders may hit the Temple KOM dirt fresher than gravel riders, having just come off a paved climb!

If gravel riders can hit the final paved section with 5+ seconds on the road riders, they can take the win. But if road riders survive the Temple KOM in the front group, they’ll be heavily favored to win.

The Pas Normal race is 2 laps long, and my guess is that the lead-in and first lap will be muted versions of the second lap. Riders will be more concerned about staying in touch with the front group on the first lap, while they know they need to create actual gaps on the second lap.

So what’s the best bike for this race? As someone who suffers on climbs but sits in easier on the flats, I’m leaning toward the gravel bike, as I want the advantage on the final key climb.

But here’s the thing: if I were a stronger climber, I might lean toward a road bike and plan to attack hard on that climb up through the Fishing Village, pushing to hang with any surviving gravel bikes on the Temple KOM dirt so I hit the flat, paved finish in the front group with the fastest bike available.

Your Thoughts

Zwift has set us up with a real bike choice quandary with Yumezi Grit. It will be interesting to see how the races unfold.

What are you going to use for the race? Share your thoughts below, and after you’ve done the race… share how it went!

Top 5 Zwift Videos: Training Results, IRONMAN Prep, and Zwift vs IRL

Oli Chi
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9
Top 5 Zwift Videos: Training Results, IRONMAN Prep, and Zwift vs IRL

Is 6 weeks enough time to see noticeable power gains? In this week’s top video, watch as one Zwifter shares the power results after a 6-week training block.

Also featured: IRONMAN training, riding outdoors after months of Zwifting, getting started on Zwift, and Zwift’s newest wheelsets.

I Gave Myself 6 Weeks to Hit 400W…. the Results are In!

After 6 weeks of training, can Ed Laverack hit a 400-watt 20-minute power?

A Week of IRONMAN 70.3 Training

Watch as Zach Levet takes viewers through a week of his IRONMAN 70.3 training, which features several bike sessions on Zwift.

Can Zwift Prepare You for Real Climbs?

After a long indoor season, Manuel Essl hits the roads to tackle several outdoor climbs. Hear from him as he discusses his efforts and shares how riding outdoors compares to his indoor training on Zwift.

What do you need to get on Zwift in 2026?

What do you really need to get started on Zwift? In his latest video, Rob Ingram Fitness breaks down everything you need to get started on Zwift.

Should You Actually Buy the New Wheels on Zwift?

Are the new wheelsets in Zwift worth purchasing? Adam from Road to A discusses whether he thinks it is worth purchasing these new wheels.

Got a Great Zwift Video?

Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!

Zwift Racing League Week 3 Guide: Croissant (Scratch Race)

Eric Schlange
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4
Zwift Racing League Week 3 Guide: Croissant (Scratch Race)

The third race of Zwift Racing League 2025/26 Round 4 happens Tuesday, April 21, and we’re back in France for our first-ever race on the Croissant route.

This is a fairly unremarkable route, particularly for a scratch race format that doesn’t encourage segment efforts. Will riders spice it up, or will everyone sit in the wheels and conserve?

Let’s dig into the course layout, powerups, bike decisions, and strategic options.

Looking at the Route

France’s Croissant is a quick, flattish loop covering all the new roads added to the map in April 2025. There’s a 3.2km lead-in, then each lap is 9.3km long, with 49m of elevation gain. A/B teams will be racing 4 laps (40.4km, 219m), while C/D will race 3 (31.1km, 170m).

Here’s a profile of 1 Croissant lap:

This is a rather unremarkable route, particularly for a scratch race. The bit most suited for attacks is the Dos d’Ane Sprint Reverse segment at the end of each lap (and at the end of the lead-in), since it’s the longest uphill on the circuit. While attacks will surely happen elsewhere, you can bet your sweaty bib straps they’ll happen on this segment, every lap.

The start of Dos d’Ane Sprint Reverse is easy to spot, as it’s the only place on the course where you ride beneath an overpass:

The Dos d’Ane Sprint Reverse segment is 750 meters long, but it’s far from a steady grade. I like to think of it in four parts:

  • Flat lead-in (~100 meters)
  • First climb (~250 meters)
  • Slight descent (~100 meters)
  • Second climb (~300 meters)

Timing will be crucial on the finish, as it’s easy to go too hard too soon and blow up on the rises of Dos d’Ane Sprint Reverse. You may want to recon this segment before your race, or even be a bit cheeky and use the first laps of the race to do your recon.

Powerups will play a huge role in the finish as well. Read on for those details.

Read more about the Croissant route >

PowerUp Notes

Three different powerups are on offer for this race, given with equally-weighted probability at each arch. There are three arches in each lap of the route: the Dos d’Âne Sprint at the start of each lap, followed by Sprint du Cratère ~2km later, then the Sprinteur Sprint just 1.4 after that.

We’ll also get a Draft Boost powerup in the start pens.

Lightweight (feather): reduces your weight by 10% for 30 seconds. Use on climbs, where weight slows you more than it does on flats and descents. This is probably the least useful of the three powerups, since this is such a flat route. Use it on the second climb of the Dos d’Âne Sprint Reverse if you’ve got it.

Draft Boost (van): increases the draft effect you are experiencing for 40 seconds.
Use at higher speeds (flats and descents) when you are already drafting off another rider (since this powerup only helps when you are drafting). This powerup lasts the longest and is most useful when sprinting in a pack at the finish, or if you want some recovery on the flats/descents while sitting in the wheels. Not a bad powerup for the finish, particularly if you trigger it on the downhill/flat middle section of Dos d’Âne Sprint Reverse and use it to sit in the pack and/or move up to a good position near the front.

A simple white helmet with a visor, shown in profile with three lines behind it to indicate speed, centered on a turquoise circle with a gray and white border.

Aero Boost (helmet): makes you more aerodynamic (reduces your CdA by 25%) for 15 seconds. Use at higher speeds (flats and descents), especially when no draft is available (although it is still useful when drafting). This powerup is the best of the three to use in the final sprint, even if it’s slightly uphill. It’s also useful if you want to put in a mid-race attack on the flats, or perhaps bridge up to riders just ahead.

Bike Recommendations

Bike recommendations for this race are simple: use the most aero road bike and wheelset you’ve got. That means one of these for most racers:

A note for the super-Zwifters: this is a rare ZRL race where using your fully-upgraded Halo bike (the Tron or Project 74) is also a good option, as they are super aero!

(And while the S-Works Venge is technically just a smidge faster than the top 4 all-arounders in terms of pure aero performance, it’s a much worse climber, so it’s hard to recommend.)

For wheels, I’d put the DT Swiss 85/Disc on, since it is about 4 seconds faster across an hour compared to the next best.

Of course, your frame’s upgrade status should impact your decision.

Related: All About Zwift’s New “Bike Upgrades” Functionality >

See Speed Tests: Tron Bike vs Top Performers for more nerd-level detail on frame and wheel performance, and check out Fastest Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level to determine the fastest setup available to you.

More Route Recons

Lots of recon events are scheduled on upcoming ZRL routes, led by various teams. See upcoming ZRL recons for this race at zwift.com/events/tag/zrlrecon.

Additionally, riders in the Zwift community do a great job every week creating recon videos that preview the courses and offer tips to help you perform your best on the day. I’ll add them below as I find them!

J Dirom

Nathan Krake

Strategic Options

It’s been a while since we had a scratch race on such a flat route. While it may very well result in boring races, remember: the riders make the race. It’ll be interesting to see how teams work to maximize their results.

Remember: all that matters is your finishing position.

Here are some of the strategies we’ll be seeing next Tuesday:

  • Planned Attacks: Strong climbers will put in hard attacks off the front, forcing other teams to chase while their teammates ride the wheels. A coordinated full-team breakaway, the holy grail of race victories, may even be an option.
  • Sitting In: Many riders will take the approach of sitting mid-pack, surfing the wheels, and letting others close down any gaps to attacking riders. This is the lowest-effort approach, but it also carries the risk of being dropped if the elastic snaps ahead.
  • Dos d’Ane Sprinting: This segment will be a hard effort every time, as it’s the only easy-recognizable location on the map where a slight uphill lends itself well to attacks.
  • Going Long: Riders who don’t fancy their chance in a bunch uphill sprint will begin rolling off the front well before the final Dos d’Ane Sprint segment. Expect the last 5 minutes of the race to be an over-threshold effort, with an extra hard 60-second finish as icing on the cake!

Your Thoughts

Any insights or further thoughts on this race? Share below!

Tour de 4 Ride Series Announced with Sir Chris Hoy and Special Guests

Eric Schlange
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Tour de 4 Ride Series Announced with Sir Chris Hoy and Special Guests

Tour de 4 Ride Series Announced with Sir Chris Hoy and Special Guests

Zwift joined Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 as a founding partner in 2025, and they’ve just announced a new series of training rides leading up to the IRL Tour de 4 event on September 6, 2026.

The rides bring the global Zwift community together around a shared purpose: raising awareness and funds for cancer research.

The Tour de 4 is an initiative launched by Sir Chris Hoy to change the perception of people living with stage 4 cancer and to raise vital funds for cancer charities across the UK. Tour de 4 also aims to help connect those affected by cancer.

Zwift is kicking things off with a £50k donation to the Tour de 4 charities. But the real power is in the community!

Donate at gofundme.com/f/zwift-td4-2026 >

Event Schedule

Along with Sir Chris, many VIPs will also be joining each ride. Mark Beaumont, Matthew Keenan, Lucy Charles-Barclay, Reece Barclay, and Alistair Brownlee already signed up for the April 18 kickoff.

Designed as a Saturday social ride, the group will roll out of the pens at 9am UTC/5am ET/2am PT for a 45-minute banded ride. Each event is on a different course:

See upcoming Tour de 4 events at zwift.com/events/series/tourde4 >

Kit + Cap Unlock

Finish any event in the Tour de 4 series to unlock the beautiful Tour de 4 kit and (new for 2026) cycling cap in game:

Questions or Comments?

To learn more about the Tour de 4, head to tourde4.com. Got questions or comments? Share below!

Fighting Cancer, Keeping My Identity – Mark Strevens

Kevin Winterfield
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Fighting Cancer, Keeping My Identity – Mark Strevens

Fighting Cancer, Keeping My Identity – Mark Strevens

Mark Strevens’ cancer journey started in 2013. He had an appointment with the doctor to remove some skin tags. While there, his wife Kim asked the doctor to look at one of his moles on the back of his shoulder. They didn’t like the look of it, and immediately set up a dermatology appointment where it was excised, followed by a wider excision.

No additional treatment was required for the malignant melanoma. After five years of monitoring, everything was fine, and he thought he was good to go. 

Discovering Zwift

Mark started zwifting in the winter of 2023 as a way to prep and drop some weight for a half-marathon he was aiming to do. He loved it. He raced cat D during prime time and then moved on to ladder races and ZRL with the HERD.

A Lump 

At the beginning of December 2024, he started to develop COVID-like symptoms. He went back to his doctor in January 2025 with a persistent cough and a painful small lump in his right armpit. His doctor estimated the size at 2 mm and suggested it was a fatty lump. 

“I was put on the non-urgent pathway for an ultrasound (6 weeks) and a variety of blood tests. A week later, I went back to the doctor complaining of the pain in my armpit. I was advised to wait for the ultrasound. As part of the blood work, I was misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetic due to a lab issue. My doctor put me on metformin, but declined to examine my lump.  I had a bad reaction to the metformin, and after 2 weeks, Kim took me back to the doctor due to general poor health.”

The doctor stopped the metformin and expressed concern over the lump, but Mark could not get an earlier appointment for ultrasound because it was only two weeks until the appointment. 

At the ultrasound appointment, his tumor was now 10 mm across and diagnosed as probable cancer. Bloodwork had come back with slightly elevated PSA and FIT test had blood present. 

“I was placed on three cancer pathways: melanoma, colon, and prostate. I had a prostate MRI two days later and a two-week appointment for an ultrasound-guided biopsy. Two days prior to the biopsy, I  was extremely unwell, so Kim took me to Accident and Emergency. I was admitted to the hospital with a high CRP and a slightly low white cell count. I was on IV antibiotics over the next two weeks to control the unknown infection. A biopsy confirmed metastatic melanoma, CT scan showed no brain metastasis.” 

Mark’s prostate MRI showed a lesion, but the investigation was paused due to the melanoma. His colon investigation was also paused.

“Sent Home to Die”

Mark was discharged from the hospital with an expectation of two weeks to live. 

“I was sent home to die.” He had lost about 15 kg and was added to the palliative care team case load. His pain was managed with morphine. Surgery was set for 3 weeks time – a right axillary node dissection for the purpose of life extension. 

Once home, the palliative care team arranged DNR, prescription and a supply of end-of-life drugs. “My brothers came up, and I spent time with my wife and kids. We all took farewell photos. I put all my Zwift equipment and bikes up for sale, too.”

Mark loved riding and racing with Herd. “Sheldon Mair, the team captain for the Herd of Seahorses, kept in regular contact with Kim and sent me an aid package of a Lego F1 car to build.” This was great for morale. 

Defying Expectations

“Despite expectations, I survived until surgery and the tumor was completely excised intact.  It was 20 cm across.” 

The tumor had not compromised any other organs. Along with the tumor, 25 lymph nodes were also removed, seven of which had cancer present and one of which was extra-capsular, meaning that the cancer had spread beyond the boundary of the lymph node. 

“I recovered well from surgery and was referred to the oncology team for adjuvant treatment. They attempted targeted therapy, but it was a complete sh*t show. After four weeks, the side effects were so bad I wanted to die.”

They stopped treatment for two weeks and then restarted it on a lower dose. “Again, side effects started to kick in, and an echocardiogram showed significant damage to my heart.” 

Back On the Bike: Odds Improving

Post-surgery and during targeted therapy, Mark really wanted to get back to riding. “I was in no shape to ride outdoors. If it wasn’t for Zwift, I wouldn’t have been able to ride at all.” 

And he got some good news: a subsequent echocardiogram showed his heart had mostly recovered.

Mark was discharged from oncology with an expected 10-year survival chance of around 60% and a 50% chance of being disease-free over the same period.

“Once we had given up targeted therapy, I was able to get back on the bike in full swing and saw significant improvements in my performance.”

An Uncertain Future

After his surgery and after he was feeling a bit better, he was able to get his previously paused colonoscopy and prostate biopsy tests run. The colonoscopy was clear, but the prostate showed intermediate prostate cancer. Radiotherapy on his prostate was completed in the middle of December 2025. 

“However, about a week before starting radiotherapy, I discovered a painful lump on my right flank. We managed to get a next-day appointment with a dermatologist.” The doctor was concerned, and they went straight down for an ultrasound-guided biopsy and CT scan. “I almost canceled the radiotherapy, as we did not have the result, and what was the point of treating the prostate cancer if the melanoma was back?” The biopsy was inconclusive, so he had a second biopsy a week later which showed it to be benign.

“This incident really damaged my calm. We had an expectation of at least 2-3 years of good health and had started looking at holidays for this summer, but now feel we can’t book anything more than a few weeks in advance.” 

Helps Through Tough Times

Current side effects of the surgery are lymphoedema in Mark’s right arm and breast, nerve damage and pain in his right hand and right thigh, and reduced mobility in his right shoulder along with non-specific pain and discomfort in his right shoulder. Mark is now waiting on the results of more investigations on his shoulder. 

“The response from Zwift riders has been amazing. And he’s never even met them in person. Social interaction is very important for Mark,” says Kim.

“It can’t be overstated, Zwift is a mental health saver,” says Mark adamantly. 

Keeping His Identity

Because of his condition, he hasn’t been able to work, and the medication has impacted his memory and kept him from doing most of what he used to do. “He looks forward to zwifting as much as possible. He saves all his energy to get up and ride – to maintain his identity as a cyclist. Also, there’s so much support from other Zwifters going through the same thing,” says Kim.

“We support each other,” Mark adds. “Zwift has let me exercise and improve my recovery and maintain my mental health.”

Kim adds: “Whenever he’s done riding on Zwift he’s got a spring in his step!” 

Keep that spring in your step, Mark! We are all cheering you on! 

You can follow Mark on Zwift at: Mark Strevens

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