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Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of August 10-11

Eric Schlange
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Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of August 10-11

This weekend we’ve chosen a mix of badge hunter rides, interesting races, and a rare podcast ride highlighting the upcoming Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. See details below!

🤝 Phoenix Rising Tronathon (Banded) – Itza Party

✅ Route Badge　 ✅ Beginner Friendly　 ✅ Keep Together

Grab some elevation toward your Tron bike challenge with this “keep-together” group ride on one of Watopia’s newest routes: Itza Party! At 47km with 506m of elevation, this route is no joke. But you’ll be accompanied by friends from the Phoenix Rising team, and as long as you keep pedaling, you’ll stay in the pack, no matter how hard you push.

Sunday, August 11 @ 1:15pm UTC/9:15am EDT/6:15am PDT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/4470449

🥇 Tour de Stars – Stage 2 – Scorpius

✅ Popular Event

The “Tour de Stars” from Four Star Racing is a multi-stage event during the month of August. Stage 2 is on Sunday, covering 1 lap of Makuri Islands’ Temples and Towers (33.4km, 319m), and it’s already got a solid number of signups, making it the most popular race on Sunday.

You can, of course, race an individual event without completing all the stages. Each category starts separately, and the race uses standard category enforcement.

Three timeslots on Sunday, August 11
See events at https://www.zwift.com/events/tag/tourdestars

🤝 LEQP Provence Badge Hunter Series – Surrey Hills

✅ Route Badge 　✅ Endurance Challenge 　✅ Kit Unlock

We haven’t featured LEQP’s badge hunter series in a long time, but it was one of the first ride series to tackle less-popular routes, helping Zwifters earn badges that are tough to earn solo!

This Saturday’s ride features London’s Surrey Hills route. They’ll be doing two laps for a total ride of 83.2km and 1911m of climbing. Two pace options are available: a C group at 2.5-3.2w/kg, and a D group at 2.2-2.5w/kg.

Sunday, August 11 @ 6:30am UTC/2:30am EDT/Saturday 11:30pm PDT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/4470336

🥇 Zwift Women’s Racing Series – Short Scratch – Mech Isle Loop || Using Racing Score

　✅ Racing Score 　✅ Women Only

The latest round of Zwift’s popular Women’s Racing Series is well underway, and using the new Zwift Racing Score metric for categorization.

This Saturday is your last chance to finish this week’s stage, which is a shorter scratch race on 3 punchy laps of Makuri Islands’ Mech Isle Loop (12.2km, 117m). It’s gonna be all about that twisty dirt climb… can you hang on?

Saturday, August 10 @ 2:30pm UTC/10:30am EDT/7:30am PDT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/4431005

🤝 Pre-Race Podcast Ride (Watch the Femmes)

　✅ Beginner Friendly 　✅ #watchthefemmes 　✅ In-Game Audio

Zwift has a huge campaign of in-game events around the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, and that includes pre-race podcast rides from the Escape Collective starting this Sunday.

Join the ride, turn up your game audio, and listen to the podcast while you spin for 40 minutes on France’s Roule Ma Poule route. Knowing about key players and stages makes watching the race (which begins August 12) even more fun!

Hourly events starting Sunday, August 11
See upcoming rides at zwift.com/events/tag/wtfpodcastrides

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!

So… Why Zwift For Running?

Stuart Middlecoate
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So… Why Zwift For Running?

So… Why Zwift For Running?

Let’s face it, running on a treadmill is boring. For those that run regularly or for longer distances, staring at an LED console and watching numbers increase can be mind-numbing.

In my lifetime I’ve completed tens of thousands of kilometers on a treadmill, most of which were before Zwift existed. Other than music, there’s never been a good distraction to take my mind away from the monotony.

Then along came Zwift and treadmill running no longer feels a chore. In fact, it can be quite enjoyable! So why do many treadmill runners use it? Here’s why:

#1: It’s Immersive

As above, we’ve covered how dull staring at a treadmill screen or even worse a blank wall can be. Zwift provides that visual distraction by allowing you to run in numerous virtual worlds. Wherever you can cycle you can also run in Zwift, and there quite a few running-only routes where you can get away from those pesky cyclists if you so desire.

As you are traveling at a slower pace, it allows you to take the time to admire the scenery without it flashing by so quickly. You notice so much more, and you can really appreciate the detail that goes into creating the worlds. The Heads Up Display (HUD) has all the stats you need, such as speed, cadence, heart rate etc. You can also use the powerup circle to pick a target distance, calories, etc, and you’ll get a nice countdown to your goal. All this provides numerous visual distractions in order to take the focus away from the possible suffering of your effort.

Setting a target in the HUD

Pair your Zwift device with a monitor or large screen and it really can feel like you are there. 

#2: It’s For Everyone

No matter whether you are completely new to running or a pro athlete training for your next event, there’s something for you. There is a vast workout library and training plans that cover training for a half marathon or those aiming to be a parkrun master over 5k. 

Zwift Training Plans library

All you need to do is set your best times over various distances and Zwift will then tailor the workout speeds accordingly, much like setting your FTP as a cyclist does. (If you’re new to running, just do a free run and Zwift will estimate your times based on this. As you better these times then Zwift will update them for you.)

Although you cannot create your own running workouts in Zwift you can import ones you’ve created elsewhere. Zwift uses the .ZWO format that is used across other platforms. So you can create the workout on another platform and once you import these to Zwift they’ll appear in the workout library for you.

#3: Connectivity

One of the most common considerations when purchasing a treadmill is whether it connects to Zwift. The range of smart treadmills is rapidly increasing and many manufacturers provide direct connectivity to Zwift as standard but what if your budget doesn’t run to a smart treadmill?

There are many options available to you, including:

  • Smart watches with a virtual running option that transmits a speed signal based on the accelerometer in the watch. 
  • Heart rate straps that transmit a speed and cadence signal.
  • Footpods such as the Zwift Run Pod or Stryd
  • The NPE Runn, which detects the speed of the treadmill belt as a series of stickers on the belt pass by it.

There are also some 3rd party apps where even if your treadmill is not Zwift compatible, the app can read the Bluetooth signal from your treadmill and send it to Zwift. So if your treadmill uses its own fitness app such as JRNY or iFit, chances are it can be made compatible with Zwift.

#4: It’s Addictive

Zwift currently has 30 levels which you achieve as you run. Each level increase unlocks a new piece of kit for your avatar, and throughout the year there are major events that unlock new kit, also! Some group runs also include kit unlocks. 

Levelling up can be quite addictive, particularly if during your run you can see that an extra couple of KM could see you hit the next level.

There are also route badges for completing specific routes on Zwift (they added several in a recent update), and achievement badges for various distances and mile times.

All of this means that there’s always something to aim for, something to make you lace up the shoes and do that next run.

#5: The Community

Running on May Field

This is the biggest attraction for me. There’s a whole running community on Zwift, with many group runs throughout the day hosted by the numerous running clubs. Many of these are led by experienced runners who can offer advice and support. The chat can often provide another distraction to take your mind away from the run itself. Often these clubs have associated social media sites to join so you can feel part of something and reach out for guidance or encouragement. 

Browse upcoming events at zwift.com/events >

Nearly all of these runs are based on your own pace, so there’s no need to feel like you can’t join in if you can only walk (for example).

#6: The Price

Best of all, running on Zwift is free. The last conversation I had with Zwift HQ was that there are no plans to change this. Although the pace of development is slower than that of our fee-paying cycling friends, Zwift running still has its own team internally, which means the future will include new and exciting things. 

So, all that’s left for you to do is lace up those shoes and power on the treadmill. Let’s run!

Tiny Race Series – August 10 Routes, and Last Week’s Results

Eric Schlange
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0
Tiny Race Series – August 10 Routes, and Last Week’s Results

Tiny Race Series – August 10 Routes, and Last Week’s Results

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

“Epic Run” Route Details

Eric Schlange
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0
“Epic Run” Route Details

“Epic Run” Route Details

See zwiftinsider.com/route/epic-run/

“Titans Run” Route Details

Eric Schlange
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0
“Titans Run” Route Details

“Titans Run” Route Details

See zwiftinsider.com/route/titans-run/

Zwift Insider Tiny Race Stats 2024: Rider Counts, Naughty Countries, Prolific Racers

Eric Schlange
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25
Zwift Insider Tiny Race Stats 2024: Rider Counts, Naughty Countries, Prolific Racers

Zwift Insider Tiny Race Stats 2024: Rider Counts, Naughty Countries, Prolific Racers

With another year of Tiny Races under our belt, it’s time to crunch some numbers and share fun Tiny Race stats. How would recent numbers compare to last year’s stats? What do the week-to-week participation trends look like? Which country is home to the most well-behaved riders (and the naughtiest)? And who has completed more Tiny Races than any other rider on Earth?

Let’s dive in and find out!

Overall Data

With Tiny Race results saved since October 15, 2022, we’ve got over 21 months of weekly data to work with. Here are the total number of races finished each week since I began saving the data. This is broken down by time zone into the three event timeslots we run (Zone 1 at 2am, Zone 2 at 8am, and Zone 3 at 2pm Pacific time):

Zones 1 and 2 track quite closely to each other, with zone 1 being popular in the UK/Europe and zone being popular in the US/Canada. Zone 3 is always much smaller. While Zone 3 mostly exists to cater to Australia and New Zealand, it’s interesting to note that race completions have dropped off during the southern hemisphere’s winter, indicating that 1) Aussies and Kiwis don’t Zwift more in the winter and/or 2) a good portion of Zone 3’s racers aren’t in the southern hemisphere.

Next, we look at how many unique riders participated each week, combined across all three zones. We see a similar trend to the chart above, with numbers decreasing in summer months.

We peaked at 1636 riders on February 18, 2023, which was the second week of our special Worlds Experience races.

This Year’s Data

If we narrow our scope to the past 12 months (August 2023 through July 2024) we can simplify the charts and concentrate on more recent trends.

One thing we’ve been doing for the past several months is experimenting with alternative ways to categorize riders. First we started moving the power windows, then Zwift Racing Score was released and we’ve been testing it, first with Zwift’s standard category bands, and now with our own custom bands.

Each of these tweaks affected the sizes of the categories. You’ll see the E category is finally getting some use now that we’re testing our Zwift Racing Score’s 5-category approach, and category sizes are closer than they’ve ever been before.

Next, we wanted to break down participation by location. Which countries participate the most in Tiny Races?

It may look like the USA is first and Great Britain second, but if we look closer, ZwiftPower breaks out England, Scotland, and Wales as separate countries. If you add their numbers to Great Britain’s, GB edges the US as the most Tiny Racing country!

The Naughty List

The intention of the Tiny Races is to do 4 back-to-back hard races in one hour, but we found some riders were jumping into later races in the set so they could get a better result against fatigued riders. Therefore, we developed a unique “no sniping” rule that basically says “You can’t skip a race then return.”

How many disqualifications do we issue to snipers? A lot, sadly:

We’ve noticed a consistent trend:: Zone 1 gets less DQs than Zone 2, who gets less than Zone 3. Why? We’re not sure.

Disqualification rates by zone for the past 12 months:

  • Zone 1: 6.83%
  • Zone 2: 9.09%
  • Zone 3: 9.58%

Going further down the rulebreaking rabbit hole, here’s a list of countries whose riders participate in the Tiny Races, sorted by who is naughtiest (or nicest, depending on how you look at it) in the past 12 months. This shows the percentage of race finishes which end up being disqualified for sniping. (Keep in mind you have to be registered on ZwiftPower to even show up in the results, so this chart – and all of the charts on this page – leaves out data from riders who aren’t on ZP.)

South Korea wins the award for being the naughtiest, followed by Russia. Both of these countries had relatively low participation rates, though, with around 250 race finishes for the year. And just like last year, Italy is the first major participant (over 2500 race finishes) to have a pretty bad score, averaging 12.5% disqualifications.

Kudos to Costa Rica for having the lowest overall DQ rate by a good margin. Also, a shout out to the good people of Sweden, who just like last year have the lowest DQ rate of any major participant, coming in at 5.6% with over 7000 race finishes.

Most Prolific Riders

Lastly, we wanted to see which riders had raced the most Tiny Races over the past year. The results are impressive, with last year’s most prolific rider maintaining their place at the top, averaging 7.2 Tiny Races per week. Nice work, Naofumi!

Looking a bit deeper, 67 riders have successfully completed 100 or more Tiny Races in the past year. Awesome!

Three Requests for Zwift

The Tiny Races have always pushed the boundaries of Zwift’s race events. For example: did you know we had to customize the events to only remind you of the next race 1 minute before it starts? This avoids riders getting reminders popping up as they near the finish of an earlier Tiny Race!

There are two features I’d love to see from Zwift because they would simplify the signup process and greatly reduce cheating in Tiny Races:

  • Sign up for all 4 events at once: I get it, the idea of signing up for 4 race events isn’t exactly intuitive. I’d love it if Zwift could design it so you do one signup, and you’re signed up for all 4 events. This would reduce confusion, and reduce the number of snipers.
  • Verify rider category when entering pen: if a rider signs up for an event in, say, the C category, then gets upgraded to a B before that event begins, Zwift still lets them join the C race. Zwift should verify riders’ current category before letting them enter the start pens. Signed up for to low a category? Just pop up a message and let them pick their new category.
  • Don’t automatically move riders to an event when they’re already in one: if you do get within that 1-minute time window, Zwift might pop up the reminder of your upcoming Tiny Race then take you out of your current race and into the next one before you’re finished. That’s not ideal. It seems like an easy fix: if the rider is currently in an event, don’t automatically take them out to the next one. Force them to choose that option. This is how it should work throughout Zwift.

Looking For More Numbers

Perhaps I have a fourth request.

As I crunched the stats above, I was reminded of how painfully difficult it is to extract useful event data from Zwift’s systems. (There’s so much other data I’d love to see, and I’m only able to generate the data above because I have it stored in a custom database which I use for crunching numbers and disqualifying snipers.)

As an event organizer, I would love to have access to a portal that shows me participation numbers, rider satisfaction scores/comments, and other stats from my events. This sort of actionable data would help me create a better experience for racers, which would be a win all around.

Wrapping It Up

The Tiny Races have always been about trying something different. I’m not particularly interested in holding “just another Zwift race,” which is why these races have such a unique setup. It’s also why I jump at the chance to test beta features like pack dynamics and custom category boundaries.

Thank you for trusting me enough to race the races and share your feedback. It means a lot.

As we head into peak Zwifting months, we’ll continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in Zwift racing. See you on course!

Questions or Comments?

Did you find any of the data above particularly interesting? Got a Tiny Race question or comment? Share below!

Zwift Update Version 1.71 (133225) Released

Eric Schlange
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Zwift Update Version 1.71 (133225) Released

Zwift version 1.71 begins its phased rollout today. This update includes lots of new route badges for runners to earn (including two new run routes), plus some new short workouts for riders. See details below…

New Fitness Jumpstart “Lite” Workouts

Zwift added five new short workouts to the New Workouts Collection. These are shorter “Lite” versions of the workouts from the Fitness Jumpstart collection.

Note: these will not be visible in game until August 8.

New Run Badges

Zwift threw a bone to the runners in this update, adding two new routes (with badges):

They’ve also added badges for 8 existing routes:

Challenge Progression Added

Your selected Zwift challenge (Everest, California, or Italy) is now shown in the Challenges section of the home screen, along with a progress indicator. (Zwifters who have completed all three of these challenges will not see this card.)

Clicking the challenge card pops up a window showing your progress details:

Now all we need is that 4th challenge!

New Road Surface

If you’re riding through Watopia’s Fuego Flats, you may notice the pavement turns to a lighter color just before the desert start pens:

Start of new pavement surface
End of new surface

Zwift’s art team has been working to visually refresh road textures around Zwift. They’ve changed the look elsewhere as well – on wet roads, and “fresh” roads – but the desert is the most obvious. (Before you ask: don’t worry. This is just a visual change. It doesn’t change the Crr values!)

Here’s a comparison showing the old surface and the new, just outside of Saddle Springs:

More Release Notes

Zwift provided notes on additional tweaks and bug fixes in this update:

  • Fixed an issue where previous PRs may not be displayed when riding a Climb Portal route that was previously completed.
  • Fixed a visual issue with the minimap that could occur when teleporting from Oh Hill No to Alpe du Zwift (and vice versa) in Watopia.
  • Fixed an issue that could potentially cause black squares to appear in-game on some devices.
  • Fixed a crash that could occur in low memory conditions.

Discuss this release on Zwift’s forum > (link coming soon)

Questions or Comments?

If you spotted any other changes or bugs in the update, please comment below!

From Zero to ZRL: Every Pedal Stroke is a Win!

Leanne Gould
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From Zero to ZRL: Every Pedal Stroke is a Win!

From Zero to ZRL: Every Pedal Stroke is a Win!

Like so many, I started Zwifting in 2020 thankful for the online community which allowed me to continue to ride in the virtual and safe world of Watopia. I am a weekend warrior who turned to Zwift as a weekday workout alternative and never thought I would be racing in the Zwift Racing League, much less a captain of one of Coalition’s Women’s Cat D teams!

My foray into racing started in January 2021 when my competitive nature kicked in, bored with solo and Zwift group rides. I joined a race team not knowing what to expect. I soon found a group of women who shared my competitiveness and my love of cycling, appreciated my humor, put up with my heavy breathing and occasional swearing up the climbs, and most of all accepted me as I was, even when I was in the back of the pack. They motivated me to keep climbing, to keep mashing those sprint gears, and to keep getting stronger. They became some of my best friends – friends who have welcomed me into their lives virtually and in real life (IRL).

In the beginning, although I knew I had to work to get stronger and faster, I was discouraged because I couldn’t stay with the pack. I started to get down on myself. “You work out all the time, why can’t you keep up?” I had to change my perspective. I had to find a way to make racing fun.

What I found was a peace in understanding what my body could do, how I wanted to train, and how I could encourage others to be their best wherever they were in their fitness journey. After three years of Zwifting, I am still a Cat D racer while others have “graduated” to Cat C. I found I was a sprinter and had no endurance – something I work on to this day – but I still can’t keep up with many of the other Cat D women as they blast out of the pen. While I continue to improve my endurance and climbing, I have learned to use my sprint legs strategically and as a “puncheur” to pass “rabbits” on short climbs and with my sprinter’s focus to “kick it” in the last third of the race to pass more “rabbits” on the way to the finish with my teammates in my ear pushing me forward.

No one is ever on their own during a race. My teammates and I share successes and challenges. Whether in the front or back of the race, we count on each other to rally to the finish… and there are always lots of laughs on the way!

Here are a few quotes from Coalition teammates that reflect how many of us feel going from Zero to ZRL:

“What motivates me are the people on the team, always supportive no matter my ability, always making me feel welcome and part of the team. What I have gained are really good friends from across the globe, whom I know have my back virtually and in real life.”

“At first, in 2001, I was crossing the finish line as the 2nd to last racer. This, and my teammates, compelled me to train harder and become a better racer. It took a bit of work, but I finished in the Top 10 of my division last year! I race with a group that’s extremely inclusive. My teammates celebrate achievements together and lift each other up regardless of the outcome.”

“It’s all about having fun and encouraging each other. It doesn’t matter how fast or how slow you are – as long as you try your best!”

We hope you will join us as we ride and race through Zwift’s worlds! Know this truth… every pedal stroke is a win!

How many Zwifters are at each level? Here are Zwift’s (corrected) stats.

Eric Schlange
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How many Zwifters are at each level? Here are Zwift’s (corrected) stats.

How many Zwifters are at each level? Here are Zwift’s (corrected) stats.

Zwift has historically been very tight-lipped about membership numbers, but when Zwiftcast host Simon Schofield asked for a breakdown of members by level, Zwift surprisingly provided some stats! These were discussed in the latest Zwiftcast episode, where Simon described them as “absolutely gob-smacking.”

There was just one problem: some of those numbers weren’t accurate.

It turns out Zwift was in the middle of a system migration, and while they told Simon up front that some of the numbers might not be 100% accurate, I don’t think anyone realized just how inaccurate they were. Until this week, that is, when I asked Zwift for some clarification on the stats, and they came back with a mea culpa… and fresh stats.

So I’m sharing those new (accurate) numbers because I know they’ll be interesting to Zwift fans. I’m sure these will be further discussed in an upcoming Zwiftcast episode as well, but let’s go ahead and dive in!

Percentage Breakdown of Zwifters By Level

Most of the stats from Zwift are for what they call “engaged Zwifters.” These are people who are both paying subscribers and actively riding on the platform. (Zwift didn’t further define what “actively” riding entails.)

Here’s how engaged Zwifters break down by level:

  • Levels 1-10: 10% of all engaged Zwifters
  • Levels 11-20: 14% of all engaged Zwifters
  • Levels 21-30: 19% of all engaged Zwifters
  • Levels 31-60: 47% of all engaged Zwifters
  • Levels 61-100: 10% of all engaged Zwifters

Additionally, Zwift provided another stat: only 0.06% of Zwifters have reached level 100, the highest level possible.

Levels 1-10

Getting to level 11 is pretty easy. It requires earning 13,000 XP, which works out to around 650km (400 miles) of riding if you don’t include route achievement bonuses, XP+ powerups, and weekly streak bonuses.

I went back and checked my first month on Zwift (November 2015). Based on kilometers ridden, I would have hit level 11 in less than a month.

What is it about Zwift and the Zwift experience that leads to 10% of engaged Zwifters being at levels 1-10? A few thoughts:

  • Seasonality matters: yes, Zwift has certainly attracted some new customers by advertising at the Tour de France. But this is still a quiet time of year for new signups. Internal contacts tell me this number grows to around 20% in January when the platform sees its largest influx of new riders.
  • New member churn: some portion of these low-level Zwifters are new members who just haven’t been around long enough to level up. Some of them may even (*gasp*) decide Zwift isn’t their thing and cancel their account within a few months.
  • Barely active subscribers: As with any fitness platform/venue (think: your local gym) there will be people who sign up, ride a bit, but never become frequent users. These are the folks who pay for a service in hopes that it motivates them to use it regularly (this rarely works). If you only ride once a week for 30km it would take you over 20 weeks to reach level 11. That means this level 1-10 group may contain riders who signed up several months ago!
  • Not “indoor riders”: some of these newer “engaged Zwifters” may prefer to spend the vast majority of their riding outside. They maintain a Zwift membership, but only ride when absolutely necessary, perhaps 1-4 times per month when the weather is bad.
  • Average Zwifter ability: as a dedicated, competitive cyclist, it’s easy to project my abilities/priorities onto others. But the truth is, most riders on Zwift are less fit and put in fewer miles than I do. (That’s no brag on my part, either: I know exactly where I stand as a middle-of-the-road B racer!) Or to put it another way: most new Zwifters will need more than a month to get to level 11. And that’s OK!

Levels 11-20

Getting to level 21 requires 36,500 XP, which works out to 1,825km (1134 miles). While that might take a dedicated indoor cyclist 3 months to knock out, someone who only uses Zwift occasionally (say, one 35km ride per week) would need an entire year to get to level 21.

Having 14% of Zwifters in this level range isn’t surprising to me. It means nearly 1 in 4 Zwifters is level 20 or below, and that’s actually a slightly smaller number than I would have guessed.

Levels 21-30

Zwift says 19% of engaged Zwifters are at level 21-30. It takes 73,000 XP to reach level 31, meaning:

  • It would take around 22 weeks to reach level 31 riding 100 miles per week on Zwift
  • If you rode just 35km once a week on Zwift, it would take you 2 years to reach level 31

Levels 31 to 60

Zwift lumped the next set of 30 levels into one group, sharing that 47% of engaged Zwifters are at levels 31-60. This is slightly more than the 43% who are at levels 1-30.

Zwift’s levels get harder to reach as they increase, so getting to level 61 requires 321,000 XP, while getting halfway there (level 31) only requires 73,000 XP. It may take you 2 years to reach level 31 if you’re only riding 35km once a week, but it would take you over 8.5 years to reach level 61 at that pace!

(Or if you’re a very dedicated rider, putting in 100 miles per week on average, it would take you nearly 2 years to level up to 61.)

Levels 61-100

One in ten Zwifters is in this final cohort. What can we say about this group? It contains three classes of Zwifter, as I see it:

  • Medium to long-time riders who recently reached level 61 and aren’t on an accelerated leveling program. Many of these riders are also very seasonal in their Zwifting.
  • Long-time riders with more than 807,000 XP who are still working their way through accelerated levels, although they’ve got enough XP to be at level 100.
  • A small group of riders who have already reached level 100 and are now stuck doing level 100 repeats until Zwift changes things.

One thing is certain: this group has Zwift experience. If you’ve put in the time to earn 321,000 XP or more (level 61), you’ve put some time into Zwift.

Level 100

Only 0.06% of all Zwifters have reached level 100. That’s a very small subset of the Zwift community, but it’s based on all Zwift accounts, not just engaged Zwifters. To be precise, this is based on every Zwift account ever created which has recorded at least one activity.

Look at it this way: Eric Min recently confirmed that Zwift has over 1 million active subscribers. If we say there are 3 million total accounts, that means 1800 Zwifters are at level 100. A very small percentage of the whole. But also, not a small number of riders!

On top of that, one could argue that this number is artificially skewed low due to the way Zwift rolled out levels 61-100, requiring riders to put in work to level up even if they had the XP to earn those higher levels. As mentioned above, because of Zwift’s accelerated leveling scheme there are certainly Zwifters who have earned more than 807,000 XP but aren’t yet at level 100. We don’t know how many Zwifters fall into that camp, though, since Zwift didn’t provide that data.

Concluding Thoughts

When Zwift gave us the initial data stating that 45% of all engaged Zwifters were at levels 1-10, Simon was rightly gob-smacked. Having nearly half of your user base new and/or barely engaged didn’t seem possible. Nor did it seem healthy.

The updated numbers above, though, are wildly different. They’ve also been verified by Zwift’s data team, so we know they’re trustworthy! Lastly, they pass the sniff test, which is something I’ve learned to trust in my dealings with Zwift over the years.

The data above tells me that Zwift has a very sticky business. Sure, athletes will come and go. But Zwift has a dedicated community of long-time users – 57% of them at level 31+ – who are invested and engaged in the platform.

Which leads me to consider one other cohort not mentioned above. Many (most?) Zwifters don’t maintain their subscription year-round. What about long-time users who have stopped their subscriptions for the summer? They aren’t included in the numbers above, since they aren’t currently paying subscribers.

I don’t know how large this group is, and Zwift’s recent price increase, coupled with strong competition from other platforms, probably made this cohort larger today than it’s been in past years. Would their inclusion drastically alter the level breakdown percentages above? Quite possibly. Maybe I’ll ask for some follow-up level breakdowns from Zwift in January!

Your Thoughts

What do you think of the level breakdowns above? In your view, what do they say about the Zwift community and Zwift as a business? Share your thoughts below!

Top 5 Zwift Videos: Fitness Goals, Meeting Pogacar, and Budget Set-ups

Oli Chi
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Top 5 Zwift Videos: Fitness Goals, Meeting Pogacar, and Budget Set-ups

It’s hard to believe that we are already over halfway through the year! This week’s top video highlights a Zwifter’s gameplan for reaching his big goal for the remainder of the year: a 4 w/kg FTP.

We’ve also included an inspirational film about meeting Tadej Pogacar, a comparison of Zwift and reality, a budget Zwifting PC build, and a video about Zwift Racing Score. 

Plan to hit 4 w/kg | How to…

Max from The Watt Life has his eyes set on reaching a 4 w/kg Functional Threshold Power (FTP) by the end of the year. Max talks with his coach and shares his plan to achieve his goal.

The Dream of a Lifetime: Meeting Pogačar

Tadej Pogacar has quickly become one of the top cyclists in the world. While doing so, he’s inspired the next generation of cyclists to push themselves to be their best selves. Watch as Elite Cycling brings Mattia, a young cyclist who dreams of being a professional cyclist, to meet Tadej at the 2024 Tour de France.

Zwift versus Reality | Cote de Domancy

Zwift’s Climb Portals aim to be almost exact replicas of real-life climbs. In this video, a Zwifter gives a side-by-side comparison between the virtual and real Cote de Domancy.

4K 60fps Zwift PC budget build!

Looking to upgrade your Zwifting device but don’t know where to start? JPulley puts together a budget PC that can run Zwift in 4k at 60fps. (Related: check out Zwift Insider’s guide to running Zwift at its very best.)

Zwift Racing Score

After being discouraged by his seed score at the launch of the new Zwift Racing Score, Maydeus sets a new goal. Watch as he pushes toward that goal during one of his recent Zwift races.

Got a Great Zwift Video?

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

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