The fifth race of Zwift Racing League 2023/24 Round 2 happens Tuesday, December 12, and we’re in Scotland for a points race on a new-to-ZRL course.
Let’s dig into crucial sections along with powerup tips, bike choice notes, and more!
Looking at the Route: The Muckle Yin
Never before raced in ZRL Scotland’s The Muckle Yin (Scottish for “Big One”) is the longest route in Scotland, taking you over most of the country roads in both directions as well as starting and finishing in Glasgow.
All categories will race one lap for a total of 23.7km with 282 meters of elevation gain.
As you can see, The Muckle Yin is basically never flat. Apart from the key climbs mentioned below, riders will need to be constantly vigilant to maintain their desired pack position.
Here are the key climbs where riders will be dropped and selections will be made:
Sgurr Summit Northat 8.5km: 1.6km long at 3.7% on gravel, this is the longest climb on the route. Expect the first big selection to take place here.
Sgurr Summit South at 18.1km: 1km long at 3.3% and paved, this is the second-longest climb on the route. With just over 4km from the top to the finish line, expect some riders to use this climb as a launchpad for a breakaway.
The Clyde Kicker at 21.7km: a short punch, but it ends just 1.7km from the finish line, providing a good breakaway opportunity for a strong rider with a weaker sprint.
Specific powerups are assigned to specific arches for this race, so instead of describing how each powerup works (you can read all about them here) we’ll list which powerups will be given at which arches. And since each of these powerups was chosen on purpose so it can be smartly used in between the arch where you receive it and the next arch where another powerup awaits, we’ll tell you the place you’ll probably want to use it!
Champion’s Sprint at 0.2km – Draft Boost: use this on the longish, draftable climb up through The Cliffs
Lap Arch at 3km – Feather: use it on the Corkscrew Castle climb, or on the climb that follows up to the Breakaway Brae banner
Breakaway Brae at 6km – Steamroller: use it on a gravel section of the Sgurr Summit North gravel climb
Sgurr Summit at 10km – Anvil: use it as you descend from the gravel climb
Lap Arch at 11.3km – Feather: use it on the Corkscrew Castle climb, or on the climb that follows up to the Breakaway Brae banner
Breakaway Brae at 14.8km – Steamroller: this is a rather useless powerup at this part of the race. Just make sure you use it or throw it away before the lap arch.
Lap Arch at 17.8km – Feather: use it on the Sgurr Summit South climb just up the road
Sgurr Summit at 19.1km – Anvil: use it as you descend the gravel road after the summit
The Clyde Kicker at 21.7km – Aero Boost: save it for the finish!
Bike Frame + Wheel Choice
An aero bike or all-arounder are the way to go on The Muckle Yin. If you’re confident in your climbing abilities go with an aero bike for maximum advantage in the final sprint. Not so confident? Go with an all-arounder like the Tron bike or Scott Addict RC + ENVE 7.8 wheels to give you a bit of an edge on the uphills.
Many recon rides are held each week on the upcoming ZRL route, and they even give you double XP! If you’re unfamiliar with this course, jump into an event and do some recon.
Si Bradeley
Zwift Grand Prix
Watch this week’s men’s ZGP races to get a preview of The Muckle Yin race! See them live on Zwift’s YouTube channel at 7pm UTC.
Oli Chi
Strategic Options
Points Distribution, The Muckle Yin (1 Lap)
This chart shows the maximum points a team of 6 could earn in the race.
How will the race unfold, and what strategies will riders employ in the second points race of round 2? Here’s what we predict:
Early Sprint FAL and FTS: as mentioned above, the first 40 seconds of the race will be hectic, as some riders will go all-out to grab FAL points through the Champion’s Sprint. Per WTRL, the second time through this segment won’t count for FTS or FAL, so there are a lot of points on the line early on!
Long Breakaway Attempts: expect riders to attack on the climb up to the lap banner just before hitting the Sgurr Summit South climb, and expect the same on the Sgurr Summit South climb itself. Lastly, look for riders trying to go free over the top of The Clyde Kicker just a couple minutes from the finish line.
Strength-Based Efforts: this route has a bit of something for just about everyone… some 3-5 minute climbs, some punchy short climbs, and two sprints. Many riders will just ride efficiently on segments that don’t suit them, while going all-in on the segments that do.
Attritional Sgurr Climbs: the two Sgurr climbs will stretch out the pack and snap the elastic. Expect the two biggest selections of the race to happen here.
Pure Survival: this is a tough course, and some riders will simply try to survive in the front group to the finish. But be warned: intermediate points make up almost 3/4 of the race’s points, so if your team isn’t chasing intermediates, you will lose.
Your Thoughts
Any insights or further thoughts on this race? Share below!
Level 100! Zwift Revamps Levels, Reorganizes Drop Shop
This week’s Zwift update includes a massive set of changes to rider levels, Drop Shop pricing/unlocks, and the ways in which XP and Drops are earned. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say this is the biggest change to Zwift’s “economy” that the game has ever seen, apart from the actual launch of features like the Drop Shop!
There’s a lot to talk about, so let’s dive in.
Summary of Changes
Here’s a simple list of what Zwift changed in this week’s update:
New Cycling Levels: riders can now go all the way to level 100!
Easier Level Progression: less XP is now required to achieve each level.
Neverending Level 100: once a rider hits level 100, they can continue to earn 50,000 Drops bonuses by filling up the level 100 progress bar again… and again… and again.
More Drops Rewards: receive a big Drops bonus for each level achievement.
More XP Rewards: earn XP for extending your weekly streak.
Updated Drop Shop Unlock Levels and Pricing: many frames and wheels in the Drop Shop have been repriced and/or set to unlock at different levels.
Level 100 and Progression Changes
Previously capped at level 60, riders can now ascend all the way to level 100 thanks to this week’s update! That means 40 fresh unlocks (see the full list here).
In the previous leveling scheme, higher levels required as much as 30,000 XP to achieve. Additionally, the amount of XP required wasn’t always consistent or even steadily increasing (for example: the old level 42 took 10,000 XP to achieve, while 41 took 20,000 XP).
Zwift has radically revamped the level requirements, reducing the XP required to hit each level while steadily increasing those XP requirements as the levels get higher. Here’s a breakdown of the old and new leveling schemes:
Zwift has also made a small change for riders who hit the new level 100 cap. Instead of feeling “stuck” at the max level with an unmoving progress bar, riders will see the level 100 progress bar filling up. Once it’s filled, they will earn a 50,000 Drops bonus, and then the bar will be reset to be filled again.
Accelerated Leveling
Between level 50+ riders having “banked” extra XP, plus the new XP requirements for levels (see above), Zwift had a real project on their hands in figuring out how riders would transition from the old leveling scheme to the new one. It’s not an easy thing to get right, either: Zwift wants to give everyone the fun of leveling up, but they also know most riders will have earned enough XP to be at a higher level than the game currently shows.
The good news is, Zwift’s solution is simple. You don’t need to set any options, and the Pause screen tells you plainly how much XP you need to reach the next level:
The screen also indicates if you are on an accelerated leveling program (the black rider icon will be riding a wheelie) and how long your acceleration will remain (that’s the LV60 >>> LV96 indicator).
So the Pause screen is easy to understand. But what’s actually going on behind the scenes? If you want the nitty-gritty, read on…
Nearly all Zwifters will get some amount of “accelerated leveling” to transition from the old level scheme to the new. The game calculates each rider’s “level curve” based on their current level and XP.
There are actually two forms of acceleration going on. First, we have what we’ll call “Level Discounts.” This applies to nearly all Zwifters, and discounts the XP needed to level up by 20%. You can see this above, where the screen tells me I need 5600 XP to go from level 60 to 61 (which normally takes 7000 XP – so I’m getting a 20% discount). That 20% “discount” comes from my XP.
Example: a level 20 Zwifter has accumulated 70,000 XP, but you only need 33,500 XP to reach level 20 in the new scheme. That “extra” XP (70,000-33,500 = 36,500 XP) will be used to cover 20% of the XP needed to reach each new level, which means that extra XP will stretch all the way through to level 59. Level 59 requires 183,500 XP more than level 20 in the new scheme, and 20% of 183,500=36,700 XP.
The second form of level acceleration we’ll call “Double XP”, and it applies to riders at level 50+ who have accumulated additional XP. Instead of simply applying all that banked XP and zooming you through all the levels the first time you log in, Zwift doubles any XP you earn, so you level up twice as fast until you use up your banked XP.
Example: since I’m receiving Double XP (40 XP per km), riding 140km will earn me the 5600 XP needed to level up.
Current level 60 (and some level 50+) riders will experience both forms (Level Discounts and Double XP) of accelerated leveling. Hidden in Zwift’s Pause screen UI is a small indicator of which types of accelerated leveling you’re experiencing. On the screenshot above, the black LV60 >>> LV96 text tells me I’m receiving both types of acceleration. Two chevrons (>>) means I’m only receiving Level Discounts, while three means I’m receiving both Double XP and Level Discounts.
How Far to Level 100?
How long will it take current level 60 riders to get to level 100?
Well, assuming you have enough XP banked to get double XP all the way through level 100, we can calculate this easily enough:
360,500 to get from level 60-100
Discounted by 20% = 288,400
With a typical rider earning 500-700 XP per hour (let’s say 600 XP), that means 1200 XP at the doubled rate.
That works out to 288,400/1200 = 240 hours of riding. That’s 34 weeks, or 8 months, of daily 1-hour rides.
More Drops
Riders previously received a Drops bonus for certain level achievements:
If your new level ended with a 5 (15, 25, etc) you received 25,000 Drops
If your new level ended with a 0 (10, 20, 30, etc) you received 100,000 Drops
This week’s change simplifies things while increasing the total number of Drops given as level-up bonuses. Now, riders will receive a 50,000 Drops bonus each time they level up.
XP Rewards for Streaks
If new levels weren’t enough, this week Zwift added a streaks feature. The idea is simple: ride on Zwift at least once a week for 2+ kilometers to keep your streak going.
You’ll earn a tidy XP bonus for your first ride each week as your streak progresses: 300 XP for your first two rides in week 1, 400 XP for the first two rides of week 2, then 500 XP for your first ride each week after that, as long as your streak continues.
Updated Drop Shop Unlock Levels and Pricing
Prices and level requirements have been adjusted throughout the Drop Shop. Where pricing was formerly based on real-world pricing and level requirements were (often) based on performance, Zwift says the Drop Shop is now priced based loosely on performance, with level requirements related to the desirability of the item and its price in relation to how many Drops a Zwifter should have at a given level.
Here are the old and new level requirements and prices for frames and wheels in Zwift’s Drop Shop:
Frames
CURRENT
UPDATED
Type
Make
Model
Level Req
Drop Price
Level Req
Drop Price
Road
BMC
RoadMachine
21
780,900
18
344,100
Road
BMC
SLR01
19
376,200
39
759,500
Road
BMC
TeamMachine
26
832,900
39
969,200
Road
Bridgestone
RS9s
15
511,200
10
200,000
Road
Cannondale
EVO
9
213,000
29
714,500
Road
Cannondale
Caad12
2
184,500
6
106,300
Road
Cannondale
Super 6 EVO
36
816,500
29
768,200
Road
Cannondale
Synapse
12
298,200
12
270,100
Road
Cannondale
System Six
27
497,000
20
725,100
Road
Canyon
Aeroad 2021
10
568,000
27
1,029,200
Road
Canyon
Ultimate
10
461,500
12
322,500
Road
Canyon
Ultimate CFR
19
639,000
12
350,700
Road
Cervelo
R5
24
461,500
28
633,600
Road
Cervelo
S3D
13
468,600
15
415,300
Road
Cervelo
S5
25
603,500
36
1,438,400
Road
Cervelo
S5 2020
27
852,000
36
1,481,000
Road
Chapter2
KOKO
11
639,000
21
505,500
Road
Chapter2
Rere
16
355,000
13
326,400
Road
Chapter2
Tere
6
390,500
6
199,400
Road
Chapter2
TOA
18
426,000
33
800,000
Road
Colnago
V3RS
18
695,800
38
800,000
Road
Cube
Litening
32
177,500
24
536,500
Road
Cube
Litening C:68x
32
373,500
24
604,200
Road
Factor
One
8
426,000
19
600,000
Road
Felt
AR
34
639,000
16
714,100
Road
Felt
FR
20
851,900
23
562,700
Road
Focus
Izalco Max 2020
8
426,000
22
712,900
Road
Giant
Propel Advanced SL Disc
22
816,500
35
1,102,900
Road
Giant
TCR Advanced SL
8
305,300
27
566,100
Road
Giant
TCR Advanced SL Disc
14
745,500
27
543,100
Road
Liv
Langma Advanced SL
22
745,500
24
511,300
Road
Liv
Langma SL Advanced 2021
22
745,500
24
613,200
Road
Moots
Vamoots RCS
15
852,000
8
275,000
Road
Mosaic
RT-1d
15
852,000
11
250,000
Road
Parlee
ESX
16
603,500
5
153,200
Road
Parlee
RZ7
28
511,200
32
771,800
Road
Pinarello
Dogma 65.1
29
603,500
40
577,800
Road
Pinarello
Dogma F
32
1,029,500
40
1,418,600
Road
Pinarello
Dogma F10
39
710,000
40
1,081,900
Road
Pinarello
Dogma F12
29
958,500
40
1,242,700
Road
Ribble
Endurance
7
390,500
21
505,500
Road
Ridley
Helium
3
461,500
15
272,500
Road
Ridley
Noah Fast 2019
9
426,000
33
950,000
Road
Scott
Addict RC
33
852,000
17
660,200
Road
Scott
Foil
17
781,000
26
676,900
Road
Scott
Foil 2023
22
816,500
26
864,600
Road
Specialized
Aethos
34
923,000
30
966,300
Road
Specialized
Allez
4
127,800
9
122,700
Road
Specialized
Allez Sprint
14
127,800
14
387,000
Road
Specialized
Amira
31
142,000
36
730,400
Road
Specialized
Amira S-Works
31
355,000
36
802,300
Road
Specialized
Roubaix
5
461,500
18
333,500
Road
Specialized
Roubaix S-Works
5
745,500
18
405,200
Road
Specialized
Ruby
5
461,500
18
333,500
Road
Specialized
Ruby S-Works
5
745,500
18
399,300
Road
Specialized
Tarmac*
0
0
36
786,300
Road
Specialized
Tarmac Pro
11
408,300
36
856,100
Road
Specialized
Tarmac SL7
5
674,500
36
1,200,000
Road
Specialized
Venge S-Works
33
798,800
37
1,200,000
Road
Trek
Emonda SL
26
142,000
25
560,300
Road
Trek
Madone
20
887,500
34
1,050,000
Road
Uranium
Nuclear
19
184,529
31
700,000
Road
Van Rysel
EDR CF
12
326,600
7
144,100
Road
Ventum
NS1
15
638,900
30
750,000
Road
Zwift
Aero
6
319,500
9
250,000
Road
Zwift
Carbon
0
0
3
55,000
Road
Zwift
Steel*
7
142,000
1
0
TT
BMC
Timemachine01
24
781,000
7
400,000
TT
Cadex
Tri
42
1,029,500
40
1,500,000
TT
Canyon
Speedmax
21
710,000
31
424,600
TT
Canyon
Speedmax CR SLX Disc
26
891,000
31
1,200,000
TT
Cervelo
P5
15
710,000
34
920,700
TT
Cervelo
P5X
45
1,065,000
34
1,000,000
TT
Cube
Aerium
28
248,500
10
251,700
TT
Diamondback
Andean
35
572,900
39
950,000
TT
Felt
IA
37
1,065,000
16
515,100
TT
Felt
IA 2.0
34
1,136,000
16
750,000
TT
Pinarello
Bolide TT
42
923,000
28
627,000
TT
Pinarello
Bolide
25
1,065,000
28
618,400
TT
Quintana
Roo V-PR
16
638,600
13
297,400
TT
Scott
Plasma
17
852,000
19
528,600
TT
Scott
Plasma RC Ultimate
33
1,136,000
19
600,000
TT
Specialized
Shiv
10
710,000
37
643,800
TT
Specialized
Shiv Disc
18
994,000
37
1,000,000
TT
Specialized
Shiv S-Works
10
852,000
37
910,600
TT
Trek
Speed Concept
32
958,500
22
670,500
TT
Ventum
One
31
482,800
25
440,800
TT
Zwift
TT
0
0
4
60,000
Gravel
Canyon
Grail
23
355,000
26
750,000
Gravel
Canyon
Inflite
10
234,300
8
200,000
Gravel
Cervelo
Aspero
13
426,000
32
800,000
Gravel
Giant
Revolt
14
298,200
23
475,000
Gravel
Lauf
True Grit
11
297,500
5
125,000
Gravel
Liv
Devote
14
298,200
17
450,000
Gravel
Specialized
Crux
17
869,800
35
950,000
Gravel
Specialized
Diverge
12
532,500
14
300,000
Gravel
Zwift
Gravel
0
163,300
2
50,000
MTB
Canyon
Lux
10
461,500
11
275,000
MTB
Scott
Spark RC
17
418,900
20
350,000
MTB
Scott
Spark RC World Cup
21
745,400
20
750,000
MTB
Specialized
Epic S-Works
5
675,900
29
950,000
MTB
Trek
Super Caliber
20
532,500
38
750,000
MTB
Zwift
Mountain
0
0
2
50,000
* Specialized Venge (2015) is now the new Ride California Challenge Reward, and the Zwift Steel frame is the new default bike frame.
Wheels
CURRENT
UPDATED
Type
Make
Model
Level Req
Price
Level Req
Price
Standard
Bontrager
Aeolus5
20
170,400
11
67,700
Standard
Cadex
36
26
257,400
29
216,900
Standard
Cadex
42
8
227,200
17
119,500
Standard
Cadex
65
21
241,400
33
223,900
Standard
Campagnolo
Bora Ultra 35
33
248,500
35
250,000
Standard
Campagnolo
Bora Ultra 50
27
262,700
12
150,000
Standard
DT Swiss
ARC 1100 DiCut 62
6
184,600
40
400,000
Standard
DT Swiss
ARC 1100 DISC Aero TT
42
1,579,800
39
655,600
Standard
ENVE
SES 2.2
17
191,700
26
174,300
Standard
ENVE
SES 3.4
4
191,700
27
200,000
Standard
ENVE
SES 6.7
25
191,700
22
150,000
Standard
ENVE
SES 7.8
39
205,900
36
278,900
Standard
ENVE
SES 8.9
31
205,900
28
250,000
Standard
FFWD
RYOT55
23
113,600
18
136,100
Standard
Giant
SLR 0
22
191,800
21
165,100
Standard
Mavic
Comete Pro Carbon SL UST
23
142,000
13
45,400
Standard
Mavic
Cosmic CXR60c
16
142,000
7
39,800
Standard
Mavic
Cosmic Ultimate UST
9
142,000
6
38,400
Standard
Novatec
R4
24
95,850
8
37,900
Standard
Roval
Alpinist CLX
32
135,300
38
634,300
Standard
Roval
CLX64
5
170,400
16
150,000
Standard
Roval
Rapide CLX
14
195,300
15
200,000
Standard
Shimano
C40
12
85,300
4
35,900
Standard
Shimano
C50
28
88,700
4
34,600
Standard
Shimano
C60
18
92,300
10
41,100
Standard
Zipp
202
11
149,200
20
135,200
Standard
Zipp
353
19
255,600
24
168,800
Standard
Zipp
404
15
149,200
19
115,600
Standard
Zipp
454
24
284,000
30
204,300
Standard
Zipp
808
13
177,600
25
200,000
Standard
Zipp
808/Super9
35
1,075,700
34
450,000
Standard
Zipp
858
37
312,400
31
300,000
Standard
Zipp
858/Super9
45
1,508,800
37
550,000
Standard
Zwift
32mm Carbon
1
0
3
32,000
Standard
Zwift
50mm Carbon
7
120,700
9
43,700
Standard
Zwift
Classic*
2
35,600
1
0
Gravel
Cadex
AR 35
1
21,300
14
154,500
Gravel
Enve
G23
1
17,800
23
241,800
Gravel
Reserve
25 GR
1
11,400
5
83,900
Gravel
Roval
TerraCLX
1
17,800
32
330,800
Gravel
Zwift
Gravel
1
0
1
0
MTB
Zwift
Mountain
1
0
1
0
* new default wheels
A Note About New Unlocks
Zwift has made some small changes to unlocks, including:
New accounts will now start with the Zwift Steel frame and Zwift Classic wheels by default, and unlock the Carbon, Gravel, and Mountain Bike frames within the first three levels to help introduce riders to the Drop Shop.
Zwift says riders won’t have any bikes removed from their garage – but you might have one or two added, thanks to this new setup!
What’s Next?
Whew. That was a lot! New levels, a Drop Shop shakeup, more opportunities for more Drops and XP… what’s next?
Three things I’d love to see:
More stuff in the Drop Shop: earning more Drops is fun, I suppose… but I’ve already got almost 50 million Drops, with nothing in the Shop I want to buy! I’d love to have the chance to purchase some funky bikes, cool hardware, tattoos, fancy cycling kit… you get the idea. Or (and this is still my favorite idea) let me cash in my Drops for a donation to one of several pre-chosen charities!
Garage maintenance/organization tools: we need the ability to “favorite” items in our garage, as well as remove items we no longer want. Two simple bits of functionality that would make the garage experience much better.
Compelling new unlocks: Zwift hit it out of the park with the level 50 Fire Socks. Could they do it again with some unlocks for levels 61-100? We’ll know soon enough, I guess.
Questions or Comments?
What do you think of the swath of changes Zwift made? Share below!
The latest Zwift update has been announced and will be released in phases over the next few days. It’s a feature-stuffed release, too, with Streak incentives added and big changes to Zwift levels, the Drop Shop, and the Climb Portal. Let’s dive into the details!
Level 100
That’s right, level 60 Zwifters: we’ve got 40 more levels to work toward!
In fact, this week’s update does much more than add 40 levels and their corresponding unlocks. Zwift has reworked the entire “leveling curve”, reducing and “evening out” the amount of XP needed to attain each level. They’ve also put in place two types of “accelerated leveling” so Zwifters can transition from their current level to their “correct” higher level in the new system at a faster rate while still enjoying the fun of leveling up.
To keep this post as short as possible we’ll cover the new levels, Drop Shop shuffle (below), and related topics in a separate post:
Zwift didn’t add new features or items to the Drop Shop (although we hear that is coming!), but they modified the prices and level requirements for nearly every frame and wheelset in the Shop.
Zwift says they did this to “better tie equipment performance to the level they are unlocked.”
The idea is simple: ride on Zwift at least once a week for 2+ kilometers to keep your streak going. A streak summary screen is now shown after every ride so you get metrics for your streak, learn if this activity earned you any bonus XP, see how far you have to go to the next level, and more:
You’ll earn a tidy XP bonus for your first two days riding each week (Monday thru Sunday) as your streak progresses: 300 XP for your first two days in week 1, 400 XP for the first two days of week 2, then 500 XP for your first two days each week after that, as long as your streak continues.
Climb Portal Scaling, Completion Tracking, and Rankings
This update brings some big changes to the Climb Portal:
Scaling lets you change the gradient (but not distance) of a climb
Completion Tracking tells you which scaled versions of a climb you’ve completed (50/75/100/125%)
Percentile Rankings show how your best completion time compares to other Zwifters
The Climb Portal now allows climb elevation scaling. Zwifters can reduce the climb segment’s elevation to 50% and 75%. And if you’re hardcore, you get the option to increase it to 125% after completing it at 100%! Scaling does not change the length of the climb, only the gradients.
You select your scaling when choosing your portal climb – but you can also change it just before entering the portal:
All the numbers on screen are adjusted based on your chosen scaling percentage, including the average gradient and total elevation shown on the left as you climb.
Separate in-game leaderboards are kept for each scaled version of the climb, so you’re only “competing” against others who did the same climb as you. Top the leaderboard (on any version of the climb) and you’ll get the polka dot leader’s jersey.
All riders are visible on the climb regardless of chosen scale, but the rider list and icons behind each rider indicate which scaling factor they are using.
What about Strava? Will 50% scaled climbers be blowing up the Climb Portal segment leaderboards?
Nope. Zwift has worked with Strava to automatically exclude the easier scaled efforts from Strava leaderboards by tagging these efforts as “gamified.” This is the message you’ll see on the Strava site if you ride the 50% or 75% versions:
Important note: if you ride a 50% or 75% scaled version of your climb during an activity, your entire activity will be tagged as “gamified,” and all Strava segments will be excluded. So if you want your activity to match with Strava segments, don’t mix in a scaled climb portal effort!
This scaling feature includes a tracking element that records which version(s) of each climb you’ve completed. (This is an essential part of the 125% scaling feature, since it only unlocks after you complete the climb at 100%.) See below, indicating completion of Old La Honda at 100% and 50%:
Riders have been asking for a way to track completed climbs ever since the Portal was released, so this will be a welcome addition for many! And good news – it appears to track completions since the Portal launched, although we haven’t confirmed that with Zwift.
You’ll also see a percentile ranking next to the completed climb versions in the screenshot above. This is a super-fun feature, and the first of its kind in Zwift: a perpetual leaderboard showing how you rank against other’s efforts!
If you’re looking at the current climb of the month, the percentile shown is only for efforts in the current calendar month. This way, each month’s featured climb turns into a month-long game-wide competition, which is a super fun idea.
If you’re looking at a climb that isn’t the climb of the month, but just one of the featured climbs (see climb portal schedule), the percentile you see is an all-time percentile.
Virtual Shifting Change for Free Ride Workout Blocks
ZA Workout #1 (note free ride maximal efforts)
Today’s release notes include this line: “Zwift Hub: For Zwifters with virtual shifting enabled, free ride blocks within Zwift Academy workouts now start at the default gear 12.”
Zwift’s virtual shifting presents an interesting challenge in certain workouts with free ride blocks, including the first workout of Zwift Academy 2023 which had riders going straight from Erg mode into an all-out effort in free ride mode. With virtual shifting you don’t know what gear you’re in while in Erg mode since that UI element is (sensibly) hidden. Then, when the free ride block begins, the game shows your virtual gear and immediately “shifts” into it.
Today’s change doesn’t fix the problem entirely, but it at least lets you know what gear to expect at the start of any free ride block.
More Release Notes
Zwift provided notes on additional tweaks and bug fixes in this update:
Added route intersection options when opting to freeride after completing Repack Rush.
Updated rider lean visual to be more realistic.
Fixed an issue on Repack Rush where the Restart button was hidden when the HUD was disabled.
Fixed an issue where cyclists with steering devices could steer off of the road in several locations throughout Watopia.
Fixed an issue which caused some rivers to dry up in London and Makuri Islands.
Fixed an issue where grass was missing in some locations in Makuri Islands.
Zwiftalizer 2.0 Tutorial And In-Depth Analysis Video
Hello everyone. Today, I am excited to share with you my brand-new video tutorial and in-depth analysis of Zwiftalizer – the free online tool for reading Zwift game log files. This video has something for everyone, from complete Zwift newcomers to level 60 pros.
First, I cover the basics. Then I go over all the metrics in each chart step by step. Also, for the first time ever, I’m showing summary reports that use community data that I’ve been gathering for over two years – over two hundred thousand activities by ten thousand users. This level of in-depth research won’t be found anywhere else, folks. This is a Zwiftalizer exclusive. This happened with your help; this is your data!
Here is a sneak peek at what the video has to offer (video included at the bottom of the post)…
ANT+ vs Bluetooth Popularity
I delve into the topic of ANT+ vs Bluetooth connection type popularity among PC and Mac users, specifically looking at the trends between 2022 and 2023. I wanted to know if the increasing popularity of Bluetooth-centric gadgets like Zwift Play controls and Elite Strezo steering devices had affected Bluetooth adoption in the PC world. I won’t spoil the details here (you’ll have to watch the video for that!). I can share that the trends in usage between ANT+ and Bluetooth were fascinating.
ANT+ vs Bluetooth Reliability Debate Settled
I also go deep into the data to settle the often-debated topic of which technology is more reliable. Let’s just say, the data gathered from over two hundred thousand activities, logged by ten thousand users over two years, reveals a clear winner.
How ANT+ and Bluetooth Reliability Differs For Trainer Models
I also explore the reliability of wireless for various smart trainers and power meters. This part of the analysis required a careful approach to ensure fairness in comparison, considering different usage frequencies of devices. I examined everything from ANT+ connected power meters to the latest smart trainers on Bluetooth, and the insights I gathered were quite surprising.
Most Popular Graphics Profiles and Resolutions
Finally, I go back to the subject that made me want to make Zwiftalizer in the first place, way back in 2015: graphics performance for different devices. To be more specific, I find out which profiles and resolutions Zwiftalizer users use most often, as well as which laptops, PCs, and Macs are the most popular at each graphics setting. I will give you a spoiler alert for this one right now – it’s laptops, and by a whopping 80% across the board.
Check out the video
While I’m keen to share all the specifics and outcomes of my study, I’ll hold back here because the real depth and nuance of these findings are best explained through the video. So, if you’re as interested in the crowd-sourced data as I am, make sure to check out the full video for a comprehensive understanding of the current state of fitness equipment wireless connectivity and device reliability with Zwift. Trust me, it’s an eye-opener!
Subscribe and Like to Support Zwiftalizer
Now, I have a request. Please subscribe to my new YouTube channel and give my tutorial video a like. It’s completely free and really helps promote the channel. Who knows, maybe I’ll even make a few bucks from it one day to keep the site going. Zwiftalizer is a free service. Let’s keep it that way. Eric Min, CEO of Zwift, has given his own money to my project through Patreon in the past. Zwiftalizer users and I thank you very much for years of support. This is no longer the case. It might have been a mistake due to an expired credit card, but I don’t know because he wasn’t available for comment. I also no longer get any commission from the Amazon Affiliates program. It’s my fault. A link on my homepage did not lead to a specific product page or search results on Amazon.com, which is an immediate ban for life. Read those EULAs folks; they’re not messing around.
Thank you to everyone who has made a donation via PayPal, BuyMeACoffee and Patreon. More than ever, it’s because of you that the site stays up and running.
Elite has just released a firmware update for their flagship Justo direct-drive smart trainer. Let’s dive into the details!
Fast Track Mode: 10Hz
First, the Justo has joined the ranks of smart trainers offering higher frequency “race mode” power transmission. (That list includes newer Wahoo KICKRs, Wahoo KICKR Bikes, Zwift Hub, Jetblack Volt V2, and Tacx Neo to a lesser extent).
Elite calls this option “Fast Track” in their MyETraining app, where you can toggle it on and off.
Odometer
You can now connect to your trainer in the MyETraining app to see the total distance it has been ridden.
Di2 Connectivity
This is an interesting one. You can pair your bike’s Shimano Di2 controls to the Justo via ANT+, then use your Di2 to directly control the Justo in a few different ways:
“Pain Break” tap a D-FLY button during a workout or normal SIM mode ride and all resistance on the Justo will be removed for up to 60 seconds (tap again to re-enable normal operation)
You can also use your Di2 shifters to move the Justo through 16 levels of resistance when the trainer is in “manual mode” (that is, no software is controlling it). So not exactly virtual shifting akin to the Zwift Hub… but perhaps a step in that direction.
You’ll need the wireless module installed on your Shimano Di2, and ANT+ transmission enabled, for these features to work.
Watch the Video
Get a full rundown on the new Justo features from Shane Miller:
Zwift Ride Series “Rewind” Events Announced for December
The Zwift Ride Series continues for December with the “Rewind” theme, reliving some of Zwift’s best group rides from the year!
Tour de Zwift (Stage 7), Race Scotland (Stage 1), Tour of Watopia (Stage 3), and Watch the Femmes (Zracing Stage 1) are all back on deck, including the unlocks and other fun extras from those original rides!Get all the details below…
Route, Schedule, and Unlock Details
Rides are open-paced and scheduled hourly at five minutes past the hour.
To sign up for the series, click the card at the top of the homescreen and click “Register”. You’re all done! Clicking the card will now show your progress as you complete each stage.
Next you’ll need to join and complete at least one ride from each of the four stages. They’re scheduled hourly, so you should be able to fit one into your schedule.
Badge Unlocks
Complete all four stages this month to unlock the Zwift Ride Series: Rewind badge!
After a super impressive performance in Round 3, Lou Bates and Coalition Alpha were looking to extend their lead atop the Zwift Grand Prix Series leaderboard. On tap in Round 4 were two laps of Suki’s Playground for a total of 36.8km with 300 meters of climbing. There were four points on the course where the riders would have a 33% chance of getting a Draft Boost, Feather, or Aero Boost.
Between the rolling climbs, fast descents, and downhill finish, there were plenty of tactical choices to be made – would riders save their power-ups for the final sprint? Or would they attack on the climbs, attempting to break away from the peloton?
It didn’t take long for Åsa Fast-Berglund (Team Swedish Zwifters) to start pushing the pace on the first long and draggy climb of the day.
Less than a quarter of the way through the race, around 15 riders had been dropped as the peloton sped towards the next section of Suki’s Playground. For the next 10km, the best women’s Zwifters in the world put on a clinic in drafting and saving energy.
The live broadcast put it into perspective, as nearly every rider in the peloton was saving precious energy on the fast roads of Makuri Islands.
Kathrin Fuhrer (Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24) put in the first big attack of the race, dropping the Feather powerup with 20km to go. Fuhrer’s attack firmly split the field at the end of Lap 1, leaving just half the field left in contention.
Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24 confirmed the message that they weren’t waiting for the final sprint when Kristen Kulchinsky launched off the front with 16.5km to go. The American earned a five-second gap before Coalition Alpha took up the chase.
Kulchinsky kept pushing, and with 13km to go, her gap was 17 seconds and growing. As the road began climbing with 12km to go, Kulchinsky’s lead started to fade as Coalition Alpha and Wahoo Le Col pushed the pace in the peloton.
With 10.6km to go, Kulchinsky was caught, and there were only 34 riders left in the peloton. After the long and lightning-fast descent, Gabriela Guerra (Saris | Nopinz) was the next rider to attack with 5.8km to go.
The Brazilian was closed down almost immediately, but that didn’t stop her from trying again with 4km to go. However, the peloton seemed set on a sprint, and so the lead group came into the final kilometer with very few gaps. With 900m to go, Bates (Coalition Alpha) surprised the sprinters with an all-out attack, going clear into the final descent.
Just like she did in Round 3, Bates held her attack all the way to the finish, earning maximum points for Coalition Alpha with 1st place. Mika Söderström (Movistar eTeam) won the field sprint for 2nd, while Lizzi Brooke (Wahoo Le Col) rounded out the podium in 3rd.
Bates’ finish helped Coalition Alpha make it two in a row by winning Round 4 of the 2023/2024 Zwift Grand Prix. The team points were incredibly close at the top of the leaderboard, with Coalition Alpha winning (305 pts) ahead of Wahoo Le Col (297 pts) and Hexagone (294 pts).
Coalition Alpha extended their lead atop the Zwift Grand Prix – Series leaderboard, and they now have a 13-point lead over Hexagone in second. With three rounds to go, here is what the women’s Series leaderboard looks like.
Coming Up Next
The 2023/2024 Zwift Grand Prix returns next week with Round 5 – Men’s Points Race on The Muckle Yin. In yet another round mimicking the Zwift Racing League, the Round 5 – Men’s Points Race will include five intermediate sprints and points at the finish line. FTS and FAL points are available for the Top 10 at each intermediate sprint.
On December 14th, the women’s 2023/2024 Zwift Grand Prix continues with one of the longest Team Time Trials (TTT) in Zwift Grand Prix history at 36.3km on Triple Flat Loops. All 16 teams will start with five riders, with their time being taken from their third riders across the line.
In the Zwift Hot Topic series we focus on popular discussions, controversies, questions, or creative ideas in the Zwift community. We’ll share a couple of different perspectives, but we want to hear your thoughts, too. So read on and chime in below!
Another Tour of Watopia has come and gone, and with it, more arguments about the jungle roads. I found lots of people willing to share their opinions in the Zwift Riders and Zwift Racers Facebook groups.
Do dirt and gravel roads belong on Zwift? Should they act any differently than smooth asphalt? Sure, they can bring some visual variety to routes in Watopia, Makuri Islands, and Scotland. But adding resistance and slowing them down can turn a smooth cruise into more of a slog.
Petra Jungmann: “It used to be my favorite ride on Zwift. From downtown Watopia around the jungle and back. Then they brought in the gravel and totally ruined it for me. … I think nevertheless that it would be nicer to just have dedicated roads for gravel enthusiasts.”
Craig Schaepe: “I just don’t get at all the hate for the jungle loop. Are people put off that they are virtually a few mph slower than on pavement? I have never paid that much attention to the virtual speed since it is fake. … It comes down to just putting in your effort and forget the speed.”
To me, the real potential of mixed surfaces comes out when you’re racing. Do you change your bike and risk not being able to catch your group again? Stay on your bike and risk falling behind? Start with a bike that will let you attack where it matters most? Answer these questions well and you’ll get an advantage on your opponents. Answer them poorly and you’ll be cursing the dirt.
David Hivey: “The change in road surface should add a tactical aspect to the game. Until recently it certainly did. The difference in speeds for the gravel and road bikes made it just faster to do a bike swap on many sections such as the temple KOM.”
David isn’t happy with the recent update that made dirt and gravel surfaces faster. It makes that tactical advantage smaller – to the point where changing bikes no longer helps in some places. I wonder whether this will make anyone happy. Road bikes are still slower on dirt and gravel, but maybe not enough to make a tactical difference anymore.
Some racers don’t want to bother with changing equipment, though. They might find it hard to change bikes and wheels quickly, especially if they have limited access to input controls (like a mouse and keyboard).
What if you’re just trying to ride with a group? Another Zwifter pointed out that dirt and gravel roads can make group rides chaotic, as people naturally lift their effort to keep up speed.
Whitney Stidham: “For mixed surfaces on group rides, it can be tricky; you have people really pushing pace on a mixed surface which of course, pushes the pace of the group. A mass bike exchange entails a mass stop, then everyone changing, and then a mass start… It makes for slower times on group rides, and riders that aren’t as strong have a tendency to fall off the rear because they are tired from pushing on a mixed surface.”
Your Thoughts
What do you think? Should Zwift stick to road cycling and pave the jungle? Keep road, dirt, and gravel roads separate? Make all roads ride the same on all bikes, or put them back as they were and keep the challenge? Let us know in the comments!
This weekend marks the return of the ZFondo series – one of the most popular endurance events on Zwift! In addition, we’ve selected a popular badge hunt ride, a memorial ride, and two social group rides.
The first Fondos of the ZFondo 2023-24 series are here! Join Zwifters from around the world for a fun long ride around the roads of France. Unlike prior years, Fondos will be taking place in Zwift worlds other than Watopia, bringing more variation with the route choices. Each month will have a different Fondo kit unlock associated with it, with this month’s feast-themed.
As usual, there will be three different categories, each with a different distance. Can you complete all three this weekend?
The AHDR Bagel Rolls ride will be taking place on the Mega Pretzel this week, making it the perfect opportunity to complete this route badge with the company of others. This ride is typically very well-led, with this week’s ride being led by Whitney Stidham, an experienced and fun leader.
With the advertised pace set to 2.6-2.8 w/kg, this ride is a little bit quicker-paced than most group rides. Because of this, riders will likely complete the Mega Pretzel course in ~3 hours with the lead group.
Recently Galaxy Cycling Club member Martin Friedrich passed away after a fatal cycling accident involving a car. Martin, along with his wife, were avid Zwifters. Join hundreds of riders to honor and remember Martin.
The group ride will be held on The Big Ring and has an advertised pace of 1.6-2 w/kg.
In May 2024, riders from Cirencester and Bathurst will celebrate the friendship between these two cities. Join the ride and learn more about the events that wil be taking place in real life. Former professional cyclist Mark Renshaw will also be in the ride to help lead.
The group ride will be taking place on the Tick Tock course in Watopia and last 60 minutes.
✅ Popular Event ✅ Endurance Ride ✅ Innovative Format
The Breakfast with the Pscyclepaths is a bit of a unique endurance ride as it is set up similarly to a chase race. Category C will start 15 minutes before category B and category B’s goal is to try to catch the C’s by the end of the 100 kilometers.
This week’s ride takes place on The Big Ring, a rolling course which takes riders through the new Southern Coast. Riders will be riding ~2 laps for a grand total of 100 kilometers (62.1 miles).
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!
Your Thoughts
Got other events that stand out this weekend? Share below in the comments!
