Here in the midst of the northern hemisphere’s winter, we’ve got lots of fun events to choose from. Especially longer events to encourage endurance training on the weekend! See our picks below, including one workout session almost 4 hours long.
DIRT’s (in)famous Hors Category Series features six hard courses raced over 6 weekends, and it all kicks off this weekend on Watopia’s Bigger Loop (53.7km, 691m).
If you’re looking to get a long, steady effort in with a friendly group of folks, Bicycle Way of Life has just the ticket. This is a metric century (100km) at a D-level pace (1.9-2.2W/kg) on a flat route (France’s R.G.V.).
Tour de Zwift 2024 is in full flight, and lots of riders are showing up to each event. This weekend the “Epic” races continue. Choose from Stage 7’s race on NYC’s Everything Bagel (34.3km, 543m) or Stage 6 on Watopia’s Accelerate to Elevate (43.5km, 1157m).
If you don’t want to race or are just looking for a shorter TdZ route, check out the TdZ group rides this weekend as stage 7 takes us to New York!
There’s no substitute for time in the saddle. If you’re looking for an epic weekend workout, check out this 235-minute endurance session on Watopia’s Mega Pretzel route! The goal of the workout is “to complete an extended duration steady-state bout at a low intensity but with focussed blocks of riding in Z2 including cadence work to help improve your cycling efficiency and build muscular endurance.”
Cycling Canada is holding their Esports Championships on Zwift, and this is the last race of their warm-up series which is open to riders worldwide. Can Canadians win each race, or will someone else? This weekend’s race is on 3 laps of Rolling Highlands, which is where the actual championships will be held.
Be sure to read the event description for details, and sign up for the category that matches your age group. There are masters men’s, masters women’s, junior, and elite events happening this weekend.
Multiple events this weekend See links above for specific events.
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!
Zwift Companion Version 3.54 Delivers Workout Browsing
Yesterday, Zwift released the latest version of the Companion app for iOS and Android. It includes some significant changes, most notably a new workout browser and iOS minimum requirements.
Workout Browser
You can now explore all the Workouts and Workout Collections available in Zwift from the Zwift Companion App. Select a particular workout to see its details, including difficulty, length, intervals (customized based on your FTP), written description, and more. Here are some screenshots:
Tap “Workouts” from the homescreen (or under “More”) to enter the browserSelect a collection, or browse all workoutsSort workouts by duration, effort, or name.The list of workouts even shows the last time you completed each session.Workout detail view
The new workout browser actually has a feature you won’t find in game: the ability to sort workouts by duration, effort, or name.
Here’s a quick video walkthrough:
iOS 15+ Required
Time marches on, and so does tech. Starting with this release, Zwift Companion on iPhone will require iOS 15 or newer. Zwift says Companion version 3.53 will continue to function, but will be the last version compatible with iOS 13 or 14, and Zwifters on iOS 13 or 14 may not see feature updates.
Zwift supplied the following additional notes in yesterday’s release:
Removed Today’s Plan logo from the Save Activity screen, which removes the functionality to save activities to your Today’s Plan account. On February 15, Zwift will no longer support syncing workouts from Today’s Plan. See this post for more information.
Fixed an issue that prevented showing all Bluetooth devices from the paired device dialog.
Fixed an issue where the workout dashboard presents an error when not performing a workout.
Fixed an issue to prevent the “Keep Together” setting from appearing as part of group workout settings.
Updated the “Keep Together” toggle behavior and added improved messaging for Club events.
Fixed an issue where campaign progress on the Home Screen was not showing completion correctly.
Updated “hardware” event filter to now include steering-only events.
Fixed an issue where Zwifters with deleted accounts would show incorrect values on race results.
Added the ability to see other users’ pace group category on their profile if their privacy setting allows it.
Android:
Fixed an issue that impacted bridging performance if the user recently performed a firmware update for Zwift hardware.
Improved “Find Zwifter” search to return better results when searching by first and last name.
Fixed an issue where Zwift Play disconnects would generate repeated error messages.
Fixed an issue on the Zwift Hardware screen where error dialog would persist if the Bluetooth was disabled during a firmware update.
Improved color contrast on “Zone 3” workout blocks
iOS:
Fixed an issue where the player pin unexpectedly spins on the minimap.
Fixed an issue where tied race results would lead to incorrect data in the results page.
Fixed an issue where event restriction icons could have the wrong size.
Fixed an issue where the pace group category would show incorrect as ‘A’ for Zwifters without power data.
Updated calendar permissions to work with EKEventStore and iOS 17.
Questions or Comments?
Got questions or comments? Post them below (unless you’re hoping for a direct response from a Zwift employee – it’s better to post on Zwift’s official forum thread for this update in that case.)
The third race of Zwift Racing League 2023/24 Round 3 happens Tuesday, February 6. Seasoned ZRL riders will be familiar with TTT races on this route – after all, the R.G.V. has been used at least three times in the past for ZRL TTTs, and it is also popular in WTRL’s Thursday TTT series.
There’s much to discuss including route details, bike choice, and team time trial best practices. Let’s go!
Looking at the Route: France’s R.G.V.
It’s a fairly simple TTT this week, riding France’s Route à Grande Vitesse (R.G.V.). One lap, 24.9km, 133 meters of elevation.
Here’s the race breakdown, courtesy of Sherpa Dave who put it together months ago for the Thursday TTTs!
It’s a beautiful ride, almost perfect for a Team Time Trial. I break this route into four sections:
Flat for 13.5km
Up the Aqueduct hill and down the other side
A little more flat
Twisty/lumpy stuff (Les Intestins) then a flat sprint to finish
Part 1 – Flat
R.G.V. is the perfect route for a team that is still learning about each other. It starts with a 13km flat to sort yourselves out then gets a bit more technical but never too much.
If your team is new to TTT, use the first flat section to work out your formation (whether you are blobbing, running a paceline, or something else) and get to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Those with more experience will just get in formation and ride!
Part 2 – Aqueduct Hill
Many will tell you this is a 400-meter hill averaging 2.5% starting 13.5km into the ride. They lie. What they are telling you is where the Aqueduc KOM starts, and that segment’s overall statistics. Unfortunately, the KOM segment starts two-thirds of the way up the hill – and ends halfway along the flat.
Right around 13km you will begin the rise – it is 2.5% on average and goes for 900M. The trick is that the actual aqueduct hill starts at 12.8km and bumps up in three ramps – two of which happen before the KOM marker. Even so, it’s not that hard. The technique here is simple – don’t let your lighter riders race ahead. It’s not that bad and if you’re careful you will barely notice it.
Part 3 – More Flat
After a 500m flat across the Aqueduct itself you’ll drop back down the other side and it will be flat once more until you hit 17.3 km. This is a good time to regroup after the climb/descent and get yourself back into formation.
Part 4 – Bumpy Stuff
This is the most challenging part of the course. A series of undulations – at first each one is just a meter or two (barely there!) but they are just enough to mess with the team’s momentum. You will be exhausted by now so concentrate on staying together. 4km of that sets you up for three small hillocks – each one approximately 10m ascent at around 3%. This whole area winds around and around, making it hard to get your bearings. Keep your eyes on the rider in front and stay there!
Don’t underestimate these three hillocks. The team will be wiped out by now if you have been going fast enough, and these three will split what’s left of you. Just remember you need 4 across the line, and it is the 4th rider’s time that matters.
From 24km to the start/finish gate is 1.2km of downhill and flat. Finish with a group sprint to show the crowd what you’re made of.
This week, bike choice is easy: grab your most aero TT setup! The CADEX Tri is the fastest frame in game by a solid margin, and the DT Swiss disc wheels are the fastest wheels. If you don’t have access to that setup (level 40+) then see this post to determine the fastest TT setup available at your level.
CADEX TriCanyon Speedmax Disc
Whatever you do, do not use a road frame. Even a “slow” TT frame is faster than a road frame, so now that we’re able to use TT frames and get a draft in TTT events, you’ll want to take advantage of that!
More Route Recons
Many events are now being planned each weekend on the upcoming ZRL route. If you’re unfamiliar with this course, jump into an event and do some recon! Here’s a list of upcoming R.G.V. events.
Flatter courses like this week give valuable seconds to teams who can keep their speeds high over the short rollers and false flats that pepper the route. Staying in formation while surging your power for these rises is challenging, especially if riders use various Trainer Difficulty settings.
Climbs like this week’s Aqueduc KOM also present an opportunity to gain or lose lots of time over a short distance. You will want a target pace and attack plan for this section to ensure your team is climbing as fast as possible.
Your goal in a ZRL TTT is to get four riders across the line in the shortest time possible. That means every team’s pace plan will differ based on the abilities of each rider. We highly recommend having an experienced DS on Discord directing your team, especially if your team contains some inexperienced TTT riders.
“Race Like a Champ” ZRacing February 2024 Series Details
Zwift’s “ZRacing” is the platform’s most popular ongoing race series, and in February we’re prepping for the upcoming Zwift Games by celebrating past championships. Sagan broke away to win in Richmond, Jay Vine sprinted for glory in New York, and Loes Adegeest tore up the streets of Glasgow. Now it’s our turn!
Read on for details about race routes, the overall monthly GC competition, and more…
Race Like a Champ – February’s Route Schedule
Here are the routes we’ll be racing in February (click route for details):
The ZRacing series consists of monthly sets of weekly races. Each race is scheduled for seven days (beginning 1:10am UTC on Monday and running through to the next Sunday). Timeslots are consistent week to week and month to month.
Races are scheduled ~15 times each day, so there are plenty of available times to find a race.
Each monthly series includes a time-based GC (general classification) tracking riders’ best finishing times for each week’s race. The overall winners in each category for the month are the riders with the lowest overall time for that month’s set of races.
See February’s GC on ZwiftPower > (link coming soon)
With over 100 weekly timeslots available, riders can race each week’s event multiple times and try to better their finishing time. Tip: the fastest times usually come from the largest race fields!
You must use a heart rate monitor and be on a smart trainer, smart bike, or power meter to show up in ZwiftPower results for this series.
Each month’s ZRacing series has a unique achievement badge, which you can unlock by finishing every stage for the month.
There are no makeup events, so if you miss a stage, you miss out on the badge and competing in the GC.
One and Done
Zwift has planned these events to deliver a solid 1-hour workout, so each race should only take around 1 hour to complete, including your warmup and cooldown.
Review: Using Hedgehogs (Balance Pods) For Smart Trainer Motion on Zwift
Hedgehogs. These cute little animals became a pet craze around 2019, and it’s easy to see why:
This season, a fresh hedgehog craze is sweeping the Zwift community. These hedgehogs are larger, brighter-colored, and much less cuddly than the hedgehog you see above. They also require no feeding or maintenance!
Zwifters are using the hedgehogs (better known as “balance pods” or balance balls”) to bring motion to their otherwise static trainer setup. Put a pod beneath your trainer’s legs and viola!, it can bounce and jiggle. Here are a few setups I’ve seen:
With rocker plates costing hundreds of dollars (anywhere from $150 for a basic trainer-only plate to several hundred dollars for a full-length one with fore-aft movement), some Zwifters report that balance pods (~$25 for a set of 4) offer an affordable alternative.
I recently acquired a set of hedgehogs (better known as “balance pods” or balance balls”) for the purpose of testing. This set of four arrived for $25 to my door, thanks to Amazon. They quickly infested my pain cave:
I spent a few hours with these hedgehogs, testing them on a KICKR Core in various positions and levels of inflation.
Initial Tests
In my first ride, I had the balls flipped upside-down (so the flat side is up) because I liked the idea of my trainer’s legs being on a flat surface. I didn’t inflate or deflate the balls at all – just used them as they arrived.
My initial reaction was that the balls felt better than expected when spinning along in zone 2 with Coco. A bit of side-to-side motion, even a bit of fore-aft movement, and not a lot of noticeable bounce or other unwanted movement.
But then I tried upping the power, hitting 300-500W while staying seated. Things started feeling a bit more bouncy.
Then I stood up and rode around 400W for a few seconds… until my trainer fell off one of the pods, and the whole setup came falling down like a house of spiky blue cards!
The standing test didn’t go well.
I flipped the pods over (the spikes, I discovered, were hard and sharp and would quickly chew up my foam gym mats) and tested things that way. Much better. Less unwanted fore-aft movement, thanks to the pods being stable and flat on the floor. Progress! I made a quick video:
Continued Tests
Things were still too bounce for my taste, so I deflated the pods until they were just about as squishy as possible, without my trainer legs bottoming out when moving side to side.
This was less bouncy, and came with the added benefit of allowing my trainer legs to “sink into” the spiky top of the pod, so there was less chance of my trainer coming off the pod, even in a hard effort.
I tried some hard efforts: seated and standing sprints and out-of-the-saddle climbs. I couldn’t get my trainer to come off the pods, which was good.
But there were two things I didn’t like:
Uncontrolled Motion: the pods allowed/enabled too much undesired motion. Too much bouncing, especially when out of the saddle and really stomping on the pedals. It felt like I was losing power, like climbing on a mountain bike with a bouncy rear shock.
Restricted Left-Right Motion: yes, the pods allow more side-to-side movement than a static setup, but they only allow for 2-3 inches of left-right movement (measured from my stem), which isn’t anywhere near the natural range of outdoor movement or the ~10″ you get with a rocker plate.
Conclusions: Static vs Hedgehogs vs Rocker Plates
So, are balance pods a better experience than a static setup? And are they an affordable alternative to pricey rocker plates?
My conclusion is: it depends. If you’re a rider on a static setup who doesn’t get out of the saddle or hammer high watts, a few low-psi balance pods may give you some extra movement that adds a bit of comfort and realism to your ride. If you ride a lot on Zwift, it may be worth giving them a try.
But for riders who get out of the saddle, sprint at high watts, and/or want a really stable setup, balance pods aren’t the answer.
I’m firmly in the second camp. But I’ve also been spoiled by using quality rocker plates for years, so I know what I’m missing when I go back to balance pods or even (*gasp*) a completely static setup.
Perhaps hedgehogs are simply “gateway rockers” providing an affordable way to test if you like a bit of motion in your setup. I can get on board with this. But if you find you like the movement, I’d recommend giving a rocker plate a try. Because a set of balance pods adds nothing to your setup that a rocker plate doesn’t do better.
Your Thoughts
Have you tried balance pods on your setup? Are you using them now? Share your thoughts below!
Last weekend, Wahoo unveiled their latest piece of innovative hardware. And it’s a big one! The KICKR RUN is a smart treadmill with revolutionary features that may just raise the bar for treadmills like the original KICKR smart trainer did for bike trainers back in 2012.
What makes the KICKR RUN special? This is a premium, commercial-grade treadmill stuffed with innovative features and future-proofing capabilities. It’s very well-made, with a quiet and powerful motor. It also boasts top-quality features for stable connectivity, interaction with Zwift software and Wahoo’s ecosystem, and high max speeds.
But the big feature everyone is excited about is KICKR RUN’s “RunFree Mode”. In this mode, the high-speed motor reacts instantaneously to your position on the running surface, enabling natural and confident pace changes without touching the controls.
Key Specs
Top Pace:4:00/mi (2:28/km)
Top Speed:15MPH (24KPH)
Max Incline: +15%
Max Decline: -3%
Tested Accuracy: 3%
BeltDimensions: 69″x22″ (175x56cm)
Unit Weight: 275lbs
Max Runner Weight: 250lbs
Key Features
WiFI and Ethernet connectivity (Wahoo Direct Connect)
Bluetooth FTMS and ANT+ Control
Time of flight sensor for RunFree mode
Pace and tilt-changing “nudgeable” levers
Laptop/tablet/phone holder (up to 17” in size)
USB-C 24w charging plug for tablets/phones
110v or 220v options
3.0 horsepower motor
Individual actuators for incline and left/right tilt
Wahoo Treadmill API for future integrations
The KICKR RUN is a long-term project that Wahoo’s founder Chip Hawkins is passionate about. He says, “I have been working behind the scenes with a very talented group of Wahooligans developing KICKR RUN for over 7 years – so I am delighted to see it come to market. As passionate runners – we wanted to create the most realistic experience and create a tool that helps people improve, become better athletes and achieve their goals. The KICKR RUN will revolutionise indoor running, in the same way that the KICKR did for indoor cycling over a decade ago.“
Pricing and Availability
List price is $5000USC. Wahoo aims to start shipping in June 2024 to customers in the US, with worldwide shipping coming about a year later.
Our top 5 picks this week cover a wide range of topics, including one newer Zwifter’s take on the platform and its hardware after one year of use. We also feature Tour de Boudicca, one rider increasing his FTP in 4 weeks, a rider’s race against a pro cyclist, and a mistake that cost a race.
My First Year Training On Zwift & Hub One Conversion Guide
PEZ Cycling News has been on Zwift for a year now, and in this video, he discusses all things Zwifty including the Zwift Hub One, Zwift Play Controllers, and his take on Zwift.
Tour de Boudicca
The Tour de Boudicca is one of the biggest race series for women on Zwift. ZMS E-Sports covered all of the action live with commentary on their channel – check it out!
How I Increased My FTP in 4 Weeks
Ollie, aka Not Tadej Pogacar explains how he substantially increased his FTP over the past 4 weeks using Zwift.
Racing Freddy Ovett in Tour De Zwift
Max from The Watt Life provides commentary over his Tour De Zwift ride with none other than Freddy Ovett, who came 2nd in the UCI E-Sport World Championships. Can Max keep up with him?
Zwift Race: Don’t want to do that again
The Cycling Greek recently raced in the “Flat is Fast” race on Zwift. During this race, he makes a huge mistake that he learns to avoid in the future.
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
